PsyD Educational Requirements

The PsyD program is designed to meet the requirements of the American Psychological Association (APA), APA’s Commission on Accreditation (CoA), and the National Association of School Psychologists (NASP) Program Approval Board (School Psychology concentration only) to lead to licensure/credentials in the appropriate concentration. Students can choose one or more concentrations in Clinical, Counseling, or School Psychology.

Students in the program should expect to develop critical thinking and application skills to prepare them to complete 2000 hours of field experience as part of their curricular requirements. The curriculum includes academic and experiential components and culminates in a capstone or applied research project instead of a traditional dissertation. Graduates of the program will be eligible for licensure as a psychologist in Mississippi.

Admission to the program is evaluated based on qualitative and quantitative criteria, and applicants must have a degree in a related mental health field or education (e.g., social work, educational psychology, counseling, human services). Applicants must include a statement of purpose that explains why the applicant would like to pursue the degree, three letters of recommendation, and transcripts with their application. Upon review of materials, highly qualified applicants will also be invited to complete an interview (in-person or virtual) with faculty.