The Department of Psychological Sciences offers a doctoral program with emphases in Clinical Psychology, Cognition and Neuroscience, Developmental Psychology, Quantitative Psychology, and Social/Personality Psychology. The department also offers a dual program in Child Clinical and Developmental Psychology. All emphasis areas offer broad empirical and theoretical training with a research emphasis. The Clinical Psychology emphasis area is accredited by the American Psychological Association and by the Psychological Clinical Science Accreditation System, and is a member of the Academy of Psychological Clinical Science.
Degrees Offered
Doctoral
On Campus
*This program is eligible for the STEM OPT Extension.
Admission Criteria
| Entrance Term | Application Deadline |
| Fall | December 1 |
- Minimum GPA: 3.0
- Minimum GRE score: There is no minimum GRE score required. Submission of GRE Scores is optional. Please know that we do not view a lack of GRE scores negatively. No application will be dinged in the review process by not including GRE scores. However, if an applicant has taken the GRE and feels their inclusion would enhance their application, then scores should be included.
- An interview is required for admission to the clinical psychology program.
- Students earn an MA en route to the PhD, but we do not admit students seeking a terminal master’s degree.
- Most students accepted have an undergraduate major in psychology or its equivalent. Acceptance is based on training, quality of work, recommendations, GRE scores and other information. For additional information on admission requirements, consult Graduate Study in Psychology and Associated Fields, published annually by the American Psychological Association and available in most libraries.
Minimum Language Requirements
Click here to view the minimum English language proficiency test scores
Required Application Materials
For the Graduate School
- Completed Graduate School online application
- Unofficial Transcripts- As part of the application submission process, all applicants are required to upload unofficial copies of all post-secondary transcripts to the online application. Official transcripts are only required if accepted by the academic program.
- Official Results of English Proficiency Exams (International applicants only)
For the Psychology Program
- All application materials should be submitted directly through the Graduate School Online Application
- Select at least one, but not more than three, faculty members as potential mentors.
- 500 word personal statement
- Three letters of recommendation
- Writing Sample/Sample of Work: Research or academic paper you authored, preferably in your area of interest.
- Submission of GRE scores is optional
- CV/Resume: Your resume or vita should list relevant research achievements, including published papers, conference presentation and fellowships.
- Psychology departmental application (built into the Graduate School online application)
Graduate Certificate
On Campus
Officially approved as:
Degree Dependent: Yes
Total Credit Hours: 15
Certificate description: Developmental psychology and lifespan developmental studies include the scientific study of psychological changes that occur over the life course. Therefore, developmental studies are inherently interested in many of the same questions of other areas of psychology, education, family studies, etc., but by investigating the ways in which particular psychological processes change and develop from infancy to adolescence, and through to adulthood. The purpose of the graduate certificate in lifespan development is to provide students in other areas of psychological study, or human behavior broadly defined, a better understanding of the ways in which psychological functions change with age, as well as the challenges and special considerations that are a part of research with children and adolescents and how they may be different from those of working with adults.
Certificate web site:
https://catalog.missouri.edu/collegeofartsandscience/additionalcertificatesminors/grad-cert-lifespan-development/
Minor
On Campus
The Minor in Psychological Statistics and Methods is a joint program between the Department of Psychological Sciences and the Department of Statistics.
Requirements
A total of seven courses at the 7000 level or above in statistics and methods is required. The course options are dependent on the doctoral program in which the student is admitted. More detailed specification of the courses required in the plan of study may be stipulated by the student’s major department and the student should consult with them in this regard.
Doctoral students in the Department of Psychological Sciences or Statistics must take at least two of the seven required courses outside their major department.
Doctoral students in other departments must take five courses within the Department of Psychological Sciences or the Department of Statistics, at least two of which are in statistics and two of which are in psychology.
Click here to see more information.