If you're looking to make the most of a career in school psychology, then it's highly advisable to earn a doctoral degree. The doctoral degree is the highest degree awarded within the field of psychology. It has also been set as the minimum credential for working as a psychology practitioner, teaching at a university, or being involved in research. The Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) is the most common doctoral psychology degree, but there is another option. Some psychologists pursue a Psy.D. instead of a Ph.D. The Psy.D is an applied degree that emphasizes practical training aimed at preparing students for a career as a practitioner. The Ph.D. emphasizes psychology theory and research methodology. While either degree will qualify an individual to practice psychology, the Ph.D. is the better option for students who think they may want to be involved in research or pursue a career in higher education.Why a Doctoral Degree?In most career fields, a doctoral degree is reserved for those professionals who want to position themselves as an expert, perform research, or teach at a four-year university. A doctoral degree in psychology also prepares students for career opportunities in research and higher education, however, it is also a requirement for licensure. Today, all fifty states in the nation require psychologists to have a doctoral degree (Ph.D. or Psy.D) before they can apply to receive a license. But even if you plan on working in the private sector as a business consultant or organizational-industrial psychologist, having a doctoral degree is very advantageous. On average, psychology professionals with a doctoral degree receive higher pay and have more career advancement opportunities than psychology professionals with only a bachelor's or master's degree – this is especially true for school psychologists working in the education system.Earning a Doctoral Degree in PsychologyThe only prerequisite to apply to graduate school to earn a doctoral in psychology is having a bachelor's degree in psychology or a closely related field of study. Earning a master's degree in psychology may be helpful when trying to get into a top Ph.D. program, but ultimately unecessary as most program only require a bachelor's degree. A few schools offer accelerated doctoral degree programs for student entering with a master's degree in psychology.The Doctorate in School PsychologySchool psychology is one of the largest psychology subfields – and it is growing. As our nation has recognized the importance of early childhood education and its impact on society more resources have been allocated toward the development and training of our youth and young adults. School psychologists address the emotional, social, learning and mental-health issues relating to learning and development. Below you'll find a list of the APA accredited schools offering school psychology doctoral programs. Listings include information on the school locations, accreditation status, how long they have been accredited, and when the next accreditation site visit is scheduled.University at Albany, State University of New York (PsyD) Division of Counseling and School Psychology Alfred, NY 14802-1205 October 13, 2000 Accredited Next site visit scheduled 2014University of Arizona (PhD) Department of Disability and Psychoeducational Studies Tucson, AZ 85721 October 19, 1979 Accredited Next site visit scheduled 2016Arizona State University (PhD) Mary Lou Fulton Institute and Graduate School of Education Tempe, AZ 85287-0611 April 30, 1982 Accredited Next site visit scheduled 2013Ball State University (PhD) Department of Educational Psychology Muncie, IN 47306 May 3, 1985 Accredited Next site visit scheduled 2013University of California, Berkeley (PhD) Graduate School of Education Berkeley, CA 94720 November 25, 1980 Accredited Next site visit scheduled 2014University of California, Riverside (PhD) Graduate School of Education Riverside, CA 92521 February 24, 2004 Accredited Next site visit scheduled 2013University of Central Arkansas (PhD) Department of Psychology and Counseling Conway, AR 72035 November 11, 2005 Accredited Next site visit scheduled 2013Central Michigan University (PhD) Department of Psychology College of Humanities, Social and Behavioral Sciences Mount Pleasant, MI 48859 October 12, 2001 Accredited Next site visit scheduled 2015City University of New York, Graduate Center (PhD) Graduate School and University Center New York, NY 10016 December 8, 2000 Accredited Next site visit scheduled 2013University of Connecticut (PhD) Department of Educational Psychology Neag School of Education Storrs, CT 06269 May 1, 2001 Accredited Next site visit scheduled 2015Duquesne University (PhD) Department of Counseling, Psychology, and Special Education Pittsburgh, PA 15282 October 19, 2007 Accredited Next site visit scheduled 2015University of Florida (PhD) College of Education Department of Special Education, School Psychology & Early Childhood Studies Gainesville, FL 32611-7047 October 28, 1997 Accredited Next site visit scheduled 2013Fordham University (PhD) Division of Psychological and Educational Services New York, NY 10023 October 25, 1983 Accredited Next site visit scheduled 2015University of Georgia (PhD) Department of Educational Psychology and Instructional Technology Athens, GA 30602 September 27, 1983 Accredited Next site visit scheduled 2013Georgia State University (PhD) Department of Counseling and Psychological Services Atlanta, GA 30302 May 1, 1979 Accredited Next site visit scheduled 2015Hofstra University (PsyD) Program in School-Community Psychology Department of Psychology Hempstead, NY 11549 March 18, 2003 Accredited Next site visit scheduled 2015 University of Houston (PhD) Department of Educational Psychology Houston, TX 77204 June 3, 2009 Accredited Next site visit scheduled 2014Illinois State University (PhD) Department of Psychology Normal, IL 61790-4620 April 7, 1998 Accredited Next site visit scheduled 2015Indiana State University (PhD) Department of Communications Disorders and Counseling, School, & Educational Psychology Terre Haute, IN 47809 June 20, 1980 Accredited Next site visit scheduled 2013Indiana University'Bloomington (PhD) School of Education Bloomington, IN 47405 April 20, 1983 Accredited Next site visit scheduled 2015University of Iowa (PhD) Department of Psychological and Quantitative Foundations Iowa City, IA 52242 March 31, 1992 Accredited Next site visit scheduled 2015University of Kansas (PhD) Department of Psychology and Research in Education Lawrence, KS 66045 March 9, 1983 Accredited Next site visit scheduled 2015Kent State University (PhD) School of Lifespan Development and Educational Sciences Kent, OH 44242 May 1, 1984 Accredited Next site visit scheduled 2013University of Kentucky (PhD) Department of Educational, School, and Counseling Psychology Lexington, KY 40506-0017 February 18, 1986 Accredited Next site visit scheduled 2015Lehigh University (PhD) Department of Education and Human Services Bethlehem, PA 18015-4792 October 12, 1990 Accredited Next site visit scheduled 2013Louisiana State University (PhD) Department of Psychology Baton Rouge, LA 70803 March 3, 2000 Accredited Next site visit scheduled 2013University of Maryland'College Park (PhD) Department of Counseling and Personnel Services College Park, MD 20742-1125 February 28, 1984 Accredited Next site visit scheduled 2013University of Massachusetts'Amherst (PhD) Department of Student Development and Pupil Personnel Services Amherst, MA 01003 April 8, 1992 Accredited Next site visit scheduled 2013McGill University (PhD) School-Applied Child Psychology Program Department of Educational and Counseling Psychology Montreal, Quebec H3A 1B1 Canada May 22, 1998 Accredited Next site visit scheduled 2013Michigan State University (PhD) Department of Counseling, Educational Psychology, and Special Education East Lansing, MI 48824 October 25, 1985 Accredited Next site visit scheduled 2013University of Minnesota (PhD) Department of Educational Psychology College of Education and Human Development Minneapolis, MN 55455 May 1, 1972 Accredited Next site visit scheduled 2015Mississippi State University (PhD) Department of Counseling and Educational Psychology Mississippi, MS 39762 December 10, 1996 Accredited Next site visit scheduled 2014University of Missouri'Columbia (PhD) Department of Educational and Counseling Psychology Columbia, MO 65211 February 5, 1999 Accredited, on probation (Appealable) Next site visit scheduled Fall 2013University of Nebraska'Lincoln (PhD) Department of Educational Psychology Lincoln, NE 68588 December 5, 1980 Accredited Next site visit scheduled 2015New York University (PhD) Department of Applied Psychology Steinhardt School of Culture, Education, and Human Development New York, NY 10003 April 13, 1979 Accredited, inactive *This program is no longer admitting students and is scheduled to be phased-out.New York University (PsyD) Department of Applied Psychology New York, NY 10003 April 26, 1985 Accredited, inactive *This program is no longer admitting students and is scheduled to be phased-out.University of North Carolina'Chapel Hill (PhD) School of Education Chapel Hill, NC 27599-3500 June 5, 1979 Accredited Next site visit scheduled 2016North Carolina State University (PhD) Department of Psychology Raleigh, NC 27695 April 10, 1987 Accredited Next site visit scheduled 2014University of Northern Colorado (PhD) School of Applied Psychology and Counselor Education Greeley, CO 80639 June 25, 1981 Accredited, on probation Next site visit scheduled Spring/Summer 2013Northern Illinois University (PhD) Department of Psychology DeKalb, IL 60115 October 30, 2009 Accredited Next site visit scheduled 2014Oklahoma State University (PhD) School of Applied Health and Educational Psychology Stillwater, OK 74078 October 28, 1997 Accredited Next site visit scheduled 2016University of Oregon (PhD) School Psychology Program Eugene, OR 97403 June 1, 1994 Accredited Next site visit scheduled 2014Pennsylvania State University (PhD) Division of Educational and School Psychology and Special Education University Park, PA 16802 June 19, 1978 Accredited Next site visit scheduled 2013University of Rhode Island (PhD) Department of Psychology Kingston, RI 02881 November 1, 1975 Accredited Next site visit scheduled 2014Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey (PsyD) Department of Applied Psychology Graduate School of Applied and Professional Psychology Piscataway, NJ 08854 April 1, 1977 Accredited Next site visit scheduled 2014University of South Carolina (PhD) Department of Psychology Columbia, SC 29208 February 1, 1974 Accredited Next site visit scheduled 2015University of South Florida (PhD) Department of Psychological and Social Foundations Tampa, FL 33620 November 20, 1998 Accredited Next site visit scheduled 2017University of Southern Mississippi (PhD) Department of Psychology Hattiesburg, MS 39406 September 27, 1983 Accredited Next site visit scheduled 2015St. John's University (PsyD) Department of Psychology Jamaica, NY 11439 April 23, 2007 Accredited Next site visit scheduled 2015Syracuse University (PhD) Department of Psychology Syracuse, NY 13244-2340 April 26, 1988 Accredited Next site visit scheduled 2015Teachers College, Columbia University (PhD) Department of Health and Behavior Studies New York, NY 10027 March 31, 1988 Accredited Next site visit scheduled 2013Temple University (PhD) Department of Psychological Studies in Education Philadelphia, PA 19122 April 4, 1978 Accredited Next site visit scheduled 2013University of Tennessee'Knoxville (PhD) Educational Psychology and Counseling Knoxville, TN 37996 April 23, 1991 Accredited Next site visit scheduled 2014Texas A&M University (PhD) Department of Educational Psychology College Station, TX 77843 October 29, 1985 Accredited Next site visit scheduled 2017University of Texas at Austin (PhD) Department of Educational Psychology Austin, TX 78712 February 1, 1971 Accredited Next site visit scheduled 2013Tulane University (PhD) Department of Psychology New Orleans, LA 70118 August 9, 1991 Accredited Next site visit scheduled 2017University of Utah (PhD) Department of Educational Psychology Salt Lake City, UT 84112 January 14, 1983 Accredited Next site visit scheduled 2013University of Washington (PhD) Department of Educational Psychology Seattle, WA 98195 October 25, 1991 Accredited Next site visit scheduled 2015University of Wisconsin'Madison (PhD) Department of Educational Psychology Madison, WI 53706 February 27, 1986 Accredited Next site visit scheduled 2015University of Wisconsin'Milwaukee (PhD) School of Education Milwaukee, WI 53201 October 14, 1996 Accredited Next site visit scheduled 2014 |