Psychology, PhD
If you want to pursue advanced studies in psychological science while contributing to groundbreaking research, our Psychology PhD program is an ideal fit. You will work alongside renowned faculty to push boundaries as you develop a deep understanding of complex human behavior and make your own innovative impact in the field. This program is designed for individuals seeking to become thought leaders in psychology, whether your goal is to excel in academia, lead cutting-edge research initiatives, or apply advanced psychological principles in diverse professional settings.
Program Overview
The Psychology PhD prepares students for careers as clinical or counseling psychologists, professors, or researchers in specialized psychology areas.
Through the Department of Psychology and Neuroscience’s renowned courses and three concentrations, students will gain strong research and teaching skills, all while learning practical skills in psychological assessment, psychotherapy, and clinical settings.
Whether you’re interested in becoming a psychology practitioner or leading research in your field, the doctorate in psychology provides students with experiential learning opportunities that prepare them to excel in their future respective fields.
Concentrations
In the Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, you’ll have the opportunity to choose from three concentrations:
- Clinical Psychology – Students in this concentration receive strong training in research, psychological assessment, psychotherapy, and teaching. Our faculty approach clinical work from a variety of theoretical perspectives and orientations. The Clinical program follows the Tennessee Model and views practice and research as similar enterprises to be conducted in an integrated manner. Program graduates go on to careers in a wide variety of settings, including (but not limited to) universities, academic medical centers, and practice settings.
- Counseling Psychology – Students in the this concentration are trained as scientist-practitioner-advocates. Graduates of our program are competent and ethical researchers, consumers of research, and individual and group therapists. They use highly developed research skills to enhance the effectiveness of their practice and use their clinical skills to inform their research questions. The integration of the advocate role means our graduates study the impacts of social context and systemic inequity, and use research to raise critical consciousness, inform policy, and advocate for systemic change. The integration of advocacy and practice means graduates examine the impact of inequity on the lived experiences and presenting concerns of their clients, they work outside the therapy room to advocate for clients and the communities with whom they work, and they aim to empower clients and community groups to advocate for themselves.
- Experimental Psychology
Why Study Psychology?
At UT, you won’t just gain the skills needed to be a successful psychology practitioner or researcher, you’ll work with renowned psychology faculty, have the opportunity to participate in the Psychology Graduate Student Association, and have access to robust funding opportunities, all of which offer unparalleled opportunities for professional development.
Faculty in the Department of Psychology and Neuroscience serve as mentors to students, offering them feedback, guidance, and opportunities to work on collaborative projects. Meanwhile, the Psychology Graduate Student Association opens doors for participating in conferences, research projects, and guest lectures, providing excellent experiential learning opportunities, in addition to the coursework of the PhD’s three concentrations.
And with the department’s numerous funding opportunities, students can complete their PhD serving as Graduate Research Assistants (GRAs), Teaching Assistants (TAs), or Graduate Teaching Associates (GTAs). Other funding opportunities also include Fellowships and Summer Teaching Assistantships.
What Sets Us Apart
Accredited
since 1949
Our Clinical Psychology Program has been fully accredited by the American Psychological Association (APA) since 1949.
1st
accredited doctoral program under a scientist-practitioner-advocate model
The Counseling Psychology Program is proud to be the first doctoral program to be accredited by the APA under a scientist-practitioner-advocate training model.
Excellent
Funding Opportunities
Our program offers generous funding for graduate students including GRAs, TAs, GTAs, and fellowship opportunities.
What Can You Do with a PhD in Psychology After Graduation?
Getting a degree in psychology opens up a world of possibilities for your career. You can bring what you’ve learned into various different fields, such as human services, research, education, human resources, and business!
Many of our alumni go on to work as mental health technicians, child care workers, college admissions counselors, or social service directors. You could also bring psychology to the business world as an employment counselor, marketing researcher, or occupational analyst, using your skills to help support people and organizations around you.
With an advanced degree in this field, you could even go into clinical counseling, research analysis, school psychology, or industrial-organizational psychology.
Featured Courses
PSYC 597 Development and Psychopathology
This course covers the developmental aspects of behavior from a life course perspective and how normative development informs the development of psychopathology and vice versa.
PSYC 550 Social Psychology
Students will conduct a survey of theory and research concerning interpersonal interaction and individual behavior in social context.
PSYC 577 – Multicultural Psychology: Theory and Research
This course provides graduate students who are interested in mental health with a basic foundation of knowledge, awareness, and skills in multicultural issues. This course also covers theories, research, and counseling interventions for working effectively with clients from different socio-cultural groups.
PSYC 522 Multiple Regression for Social Sciences
In this course, students will learn complexities of regression analyses and theory: application within social science framework. Bivariate correlation and regression, multiple regression, analysis of variable sets, interactions among continuous predictors, reducing co-linearity between main effects and application of multiple regression to testing procedures of mediation and moderation.
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