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Ph.D. Clinical Psychology Program

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 Our Program

Our Ph.D. Clinical Psychology program is currently in accordance with the scientist-practitioner model of training and is based on the understanding that doctoral-level psychologists i n the future are unlikely to function solely in a service capacity as psychotherapists. Applicants to our program should also be aware of the possibility that our program may transition to the clinical science training model at some point during their program of study with us (to learn more, visit the Academy of Psychological Clinical Science website ).  Indeed, our alumni surveys indicate that most of our graduates have some combination of supervisory, teaching, training, administration, program evaluation, basic research, grant-writing, and other non-service roles in addition to, or rather than, direct service responsibilities. The program curriculum provides academically rigorous preparation so that our graduates can excel in these complex roles and responsibilities. This means that all of our students are expected to develop strong research skills, and strong clinical skills, and to form professional identities that integrate science and practice.

Our Ph.D. Clinical Psychology Program was recently named as one of the 50 Great Tuition-Free Doctoral Programs in Clinical and Counseling 2018 .

See the tables regarding Time to Completion, Program Costs, Internship Data, and Student Attrition .

Strong Research Environment

Our program has a significant research emphasis and is embedded within a strong research university. The University of Missouri-St. Louis faculty continue to be among the leading researchers in their fields. By using a mentorship model of research training, students who work closely with their research advisor are most successful in gaining the conceptual and methodological skills needed to function as scientists. Thus, our students select research topics that fall within their faculty advisor's program of research, and that also allow for growing independence and personal achievements in professional research activities (conference presentations, publications, involvement in preparation of grant applications).

Excellence in Clinical Training

In addition to providing high-quality clinical training in assessment and intervention in our primary training clinic , our program is also affiliated with two specialty training clinics that provide supplementary experiences: Center for Trauma Recovery and the Children's Advocacy Center. A number of our faculty members are involved in clinical research aimed at the development and evaluation of new interventions. Our campus has been ranked one of the top 15 in the nation for its strong relationship with the local community. Thus, research and clinical experiences are truly integrated in the best of the Scientist-Practitioner tradition.

Our Commitment to Diversity

Our program recognizes the importance of cultural and individual differences and diversity in the training of psychologists. These include, but are not limited to ethnicity, race, sexual orientation, culture, age, disability, gender, gender identity, language, national origin, religion and social economic status. Thus, we are committed to achieving a diverse student body and welcome inquiries about our program from potential applicants. During the selection process, all students receive full consideration and are judged only by criteria required for success in the program. While in the program, all students, including ethnic and sexual minority students, are given ample faculty attention and support to allow them to proceed through the program successfully. In regard to the program curriculum, a diversity course is offered, and components of all core courses are designed to prepare students for work with diverse populations. Students gain extensive clinical experience working with diverse populations our training clinic, program-based practica, and clerkships. A Monday Forum, held throughout the academic year, is dedicated to addressing diversity issues. Students are expected to attain both demographic competency and demonstrate the competency of dynamic worldview inclusivity. Clinical faculty members and a most of our students are members of the UM-St. Louis Safe Zone community.

In addition, our program has formed a specialized Diversity Committee, comprised of volunteer students and faculty members. This committee works each semester to specifically attend to diversity-related matters such as coordinating our annual program climate survey, receiving student feedback, hosting program forums and speakers on diversity-related topics in research/clinical work/teaching, informing the program about St. Louis news and events, linking students to national diversity-related resources, and generally ensuring that inclusion remains a foundation and focus of all aspects of our program. Students are welcome to serve on this committee at some point during their time in the program.

The following resources may be useful for students who are interested in applying to our program and for students in our program.

University of Missouri-St. Louis (UMSL) Doctoral Program in Clinical Psychology: Commitment to Diversity

UMSL's Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion 

APA Guidebook: Applying to Graduate and Professional Programs

APA Resource Guide for Graduate Students with Disabilities

APAGS Guide for LGBT Students Navigating Graduate Training (Proud and Prepared)

APAGS Resource Guide for Ethnic Minority Students

APA Minority Fellowship Program

The Examination for Professional Practice in Psychology (the psychology national licensing exam) is considered one of the most objective criteria for evaluating the quality of clinical psychology training programs. Graduates of the program at the University of Missouri-St. Louis have consistently scored in the top 15% of all training programs in the United States on this exam.

Accreditation Status

The University of Missouri-St. Louis Doctoral Program in Clinical Psychology has been continuously approved by the American Psychological Association since 1977. 

Prospective applicants can confirm the program's accreditation status with the American Psychological Association's Office of Program Consultation and Accreditation .

Applicants should carefully review instructions provided on our Admissions page.

Tables regarding Time to Completion, Program Costs, Internship Data, and Student Attrition can be found  here.

For additional questions about the clinical program, email the Director of Clinical Training, Dr. Steven Bruce, at [email protected].

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Clinical Psychology, Ph.D.

• Learning Outcomes
• Requirements
• Contact Info

The Clinical Psychology Doctoral Training Program at Saint Louis University adheres to the scientist-practitioner model of training in clinical psychology. As part of the SLU Department of Psychology , our students receive strong generalist training and develop extensive skills in research. Our diverse faculty members offer specialized clinical training opportunities in clinical child psychology, clinical neuropsychology, health psychology, trauma psychology and sports psychology.

U.S. News & World Report consistently ranks Saint Louis University's clinical psychology graduate education program among the top programs in the United States.

Program Highlights

Areas of emphasis, experience or exposure.

Our program’s major area of study is adult clinical psychology. Consistent with the APA taxonomy, you may elect one of the following areas of emphasis, experience or exposure: clinical neuropsychology, clinical child psychology, health psychology, trauma psychology or sports psychology. Students interested in pursuing one of these areas work with their advisor to establish an individualized curriculum and training plan. Relevant research may be conducted in any of these areas.

Clinical Child Psychology (Experience or Exposure)

Elective graduate courses for students interested in clinical child psychology include Child Assessment and Psychopathology, Child Interventions, Couples and Family Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Interventions and Psychopharmacology. External placements involving pediatric, child and adolescent assessment, consultation and intervention are also available.

Clinical Neuropsychology (Emphasis, Experience or Exposure)

Elective graduate courses for students interested in clinical neuropsychology include Fundamentals of Neuropsychology, Neuropsychological Assessment, Memory and Cognition, Physiological Psychology and Psychopharmacology. Supervised clinical experience in neuropsychological assessment, consultation and treatment is offered through external placements.

Health Psychology (Experience or Exposure)

Students interested in health psychology should consider taking courses in clinical health psychology, cognitive behavior interventions, psychopharmacology, sports psychology and addictions: assessment and interventions. Additional courses related to health psychology are offered in SLU's College for Public Health and Social Justice . External placements in the application of psychological services to enhance physical well-being and health are available.

Trauma Psychology (Experience or Exposure)

Students interested in working in the field of trauma are offered elective graduate coursework in the psychology of trauma, cognitive-behavioral interventions and addictions: assessment and interventions. Additional courses related to traumatic stress are offered through SLU's College for Public Health and Social Justice . Supervised clinical training experiences with those who have experienced trauma are offered within the on-campus Psychological Services Center on a trauma-focused team.

Sports Psychology (Experience or Exposure)

Elective graduate courses in sports psychology, health psychology and cognitive-behavioral interventions are offered to students interested in sports and performance psychology. Students work with teams and athletes across the community, including the SLU Department of Athletics, through research, practicum and clinical training opportunities.

Curriculum Overview

The clinical psychology program at Saint Louis University is designed to provide broad and general doctoral education and training in health service psychology. Our faculty members are committed to training and education that evidences the integration of science and practice, that is sequential, cumulative, graded in complexity, designed to prepare students for further organized training and that indicates respect for and understanding of individual and cultural diversity.

Thirty-six credits are required for SLU's master's degree in clinical psychology, including 30 credits of departmental and clinical core coursework and six credits of thesis research. Each student must complete and defend a thesis. Upon completing the master's degree, doctoral students complete an additional 42 credits of coursework and 12 credits of dissertation research.

Ph.D. students conduct a public presentation and oral defense of the dissertation after completing this research project. They must also complete an APA-approved internship in clinical psychology before receiving their doctoral degree.

Students enrolled in the program can also complete a graduate certificate in Public Health .

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Fieldwork and Research Opportunities

Training in psychological assessment and intervention for children, adolescents and adults is provided through the on-campus Psychological Services Center.

Advanced clinical training opportunities in neuropsychology, pediatric and clinical child psychology, health psychology and academic psychology are available through collaborative relationships with medical centers, agencies and practitioners in the St. Louis community. Specialized research, clinical and academic opportunities also are available through various fellowships, grants and contracts.

SLU's American Psychological Association-accredited clinical psychology program will train students to be competent and ethical scientist-practitioners in various health care settings. Job possibilities include clinical psychology, clinical health psychology, neuropsychology and child and pediatric psychology positions.

Students in SLU's graduate program in clinical psychology have gained professional experience through internships at Baylor College of Medicine, Boston Medical Center, Vanderbilt University VA Medical Center, Rush University Medical Center and the University of Louisville, among others.

Admission Requirements

Most students enter the program with a bachelor's degree and complete both the Master of Science degree and the Doctor of Philosophy degree in the clinical program.

All applicants apply to the Ph.D. program. Applicants who have earned a Master of Arts or Master of Science degree in psychology may apply for advanced standing upon matriculation into the program.

Students admitted to the program typically have an average undergraduate GPA of 3.7 (on a 4.0 scale). Admitted students usually also have relevant clinical and research experience. Students must have completed a minimum of 21 credits in psychology, including courses in general psychology, abnormal psychology and research and/or statistical methods. Applications must be submitted by December 1.

Application Requirements

• Application form (no fee required)
• Transcript(s)
• Three letters of recommendation
• Personal statement
• Diversity statement

Requirements for International Students 

All admission policies and requirements for domestic students apply to international students. International students must also meet the following additional requirements:

• Demonstrate  English Language Proficiency
• Courses taken and/or lectures attended
• Practical laboratory work
• The maximum and minimum grades attainable
• The grades earned or the results of all end-of-term examinations
• Any honors or degrees received.
• WES and ECE transcripts are accepted.
• A letter of financial support from the person(s) or sponsoring agency funding the student's time at Saint Louis University
• A letter from the sponsor's bank verifying that the funds are available and will be so for the duration of the student's study at the University

Assistantship Application Deadline

Students who want to be considered for an assistantship must submit their application by Dec.1. All applicants accepted for admission are considered for assistantships. No separate assistantship application is required.

Review Process

A committee of psychology department faculty members reviews the applications.

Additional charges may apply. Other resources are listed below:

Net Price Calculator

Information on Tuition and Fees

Miscellaneous Fees

Information on Summer Tuition

Scholarships, Assistantships and Financial Aid

For priority consideration for a graduate assistantship, apply by the program admission deadlines listed. Fellowships and assistantships provide a stipend and may include health insurance and a tuition scholarship for the duration of the award. 

Explore Scholarships and Financial Aid Options

Accreditation

The American Psychological Association has continually accredited Saint Louis University's clinical psychology program since 1965.

Questions related to the program's accreditation status should be directed to the American Psychological Association's Commission on Accreditation:

Office of Program Consultation and Accreditation American Psychological Association 750 1st Street, NE Washington, DC 20002 Phone: 202-336-5979 http://apa.org/ed/accreditation

Student Admissions, Outcomes and Other Data

• Graduates will be able to demonstrate discipline-specific knowledge (DSK) (categories 1- 3) as defined by the American Psychological Association’s Office of Accreditation.
• Graduates will be able to demonstrate the ability to apply knowledge of DSK category 4 as defined by the American Psychological Association’s Office of Accreditation.
• Graduates will be able to meet or exceed expectations on the profession-wide competencies (PWCs) as defined by the American Psychological Association’s Office of Accreditation.

Students with a relevant master's degree may apply for up to 24 hours advanced standing. Students without a previously earned master's will earn the M.S. of Clinical Psychology on the way to the Ph.D. 

At least one taken each semester in residence

Upon completion of these 36 credits--30 academic course credits and 6 credits of thesis research--students will earn the M.S. in Clinical Psychology. 

Continuation Standards

Students must maintain a cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 3.00 in all graduate/professional courses.

Roadmaps are recommended semester-by-semester plans of study for programs and assume full-time enrollment unless otherwise noted.  

Courses and milestones designated as critical (marked with !) must be completed in the semester listed to ensure a timely graduation. Transfer credit may change the roadmap.

This roadmap should not be used in the place of regular academic advising appointments. All students are encouraged to meet with their advisor/mentor each semester. Requirements, course availability and sequencing are subject to change.

Bachelor's Degree Entry

Program Notes

We do not have a terminal master’s degree. Coursework generally includes 90 credits including six hours of thesis research and 12 hours of dissertation research. In certain cases, credit may be awarded for completion of History and Systems of Psychology prior to program matriculation.

Students apply for an internship during their fourth year and generally complete it during their fifth year. The internship is required for the award of the doctoral degree. Once in a while, a student does not match for an internship. In that case, we work with the student to determine how to best spend the fifth year, during which time they reapply for internship. Dissertation hours (0-3 credits) may be taken while on internship.

Master's Degree Entry

Coursework generally involves 60 graduate credits including 42 hours of coursework, six practicum hours and 12 hours of dissertation research.

Students entering with a clinical master’s degree must have fulfilled the requirements for the profession-wide competency (PWC) courses in their master’s degree programs. These courses will need to be taken if these courses were not completed, were not completed at the graduate level, lacked original source material, were not completed with a grade of "B" or better or in any other way did not meet our curricular requirements. This plan also assumes that students have completed at least nine hours of discipline-specific knowledge (DSK) credit in research methods/statistics in their master’s programs. In total, six hours of statistics and six hours of research methods (at least three hours of which address psychometric theory and/or test development) are required at the graduate level.

Students entering with a clinical master’s degree usually apply for an internship during their third year and generally complete it during their fourth year. The internship is required for the award of the doctoral degree. Once in a while, a student does not match for an internship. In that case, we work with the student to determine how to best spend the fourth year, during which time they reapply for an internship. Dissertation hours (0-3 credits) may be taken while on internship.

For additional information about our program, please contact

David Kaufman, Ph.D., ABPP Director of the Clinical Psychology Program [email protected]

Annie Garner, Ph.D. Coordinator of Admissions [email protected] .

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College of Education & Human Development

University of missouri, counseling psychology (phd).

This degree is a Doctorate of Philosophy in the Department of Educational, School & Counseling Psychology with an emphasis in Counseling Psychology .

This degree is part of the counseling psychology program , housed in the Department of Educational, School & Counseling Psychology .

MU’s Counseling Psychology program strives for excellence in the integration of practice, science and diversity. The program aims to prepare counseling psychologists to work in academic and applied settings (a) to think critically and to apply scientific-based practices, (b) to promote social justice, (c) who are ethical and culturally competent, and (d) who continue to become self-aware and mindful of personal power and privilege.

Our Ph.D. program has been continuously accredited by APA since 1953, and we are consistently rated as one of the top training programs in the country. Counseling Psychology at MU continues to be committed to a strong scientist-practitioner model which fosters student growth through professional identification. We are committed to multicultural and cross-cultural competence, social justice, and maintaining our values of mentoring and apprenticeship.

Degree Requirements

A student’s plan of study will vary depending on her/his program track and career goals and should be completed in consultation with her/his academic adviser. Students who are admitted with a master’s degree typically complete the program in 4-5 years, which includes required coursework, comprehensive exams, dissertation, and predoctoral internship. Students who are admitted with a bachelor’s degree typically complete the program in 5-6 years, which includes required coursework, thesis, comprehensive exams, dissertation, and predoctoral internship.

For a sample plan of study and course listing, go to the course catalog . Applicants with a bachelor’s degree in a field not related to psychology will be required to complete 15 hours of prerequisite courses in the behavioral sciences (including an introductory statistics course) either prior to or concurrently with course work in the program. This prerequisite course work is over and above that required for the master’s degree itself and is not counted on the program of study for the master’s degree.

Counseling Psychology Doctoral Planner

Clinical Training

Within a scientist-practitioner paradigm, our program requires students to engage early in a variety of supervised counseling practice experiences. These are integrated with scientific aspects of the discipline and graduated in depth and complexity to train students to become independently functioning  professional psychologists. Learning occurs through formal coursework and supervised direct client contact. The Counseling Psychology program maintains relationships with many local practicum sites to meet the training interests of our diverse students. Students typically complete practicum at multiple sites during their tenure at MU. This table shows where students have completed practicum in recent years.

Program Faculty

Faculty members who will be accepting new doctoral advisees for the 2025-2026 school year are noted below.

Joshua Parmenter

Patrick rottinghaus, christopher slaten, application, deadlines, and admission.

The application deadline for the doctoral program in Counseling Psychology is December 1 . The admissions process is competitive; the program receives 100-150 applications for 5-8 openings each year, and students are only admitted to begin fall term. We admit applicants with either a Bachelor’s or Master’s degree. You are welcome to visit the University of Missouri and attend a campus tour , but faculty members are typically not available to meet with prospective applicants because of the large volume of meeting requests. If you want to learn more about faculty members’ research and scholarly interests, please visit their individual web pages . Applicants are required to meet two sets of minimum qualifications for admission:

• Requirements of the doctor of philosophy in educational, school and counseling psychology program
• Minimum requirements of the Office of Graduate Studies

How to Apply

For Fall 2024 applicants, the department has decided to temporarily suspend the requirement of the Graduate Record Examination (GRE).

Submit the following documents using the MU Office of Graduate Studies application by Dec. 1 for the next fall cohort:

• Three letters of recommendation
• See CV requirements
• Minimum undergraduate GPA of 3.0 from an accredited institution in psychology, education or a related major
• Statement of purpose addressing the following:Describe (1) your previous experience serving in a helping or counseling role; (2) your interests and experiences working with people from diverse backgrounds (e.g., ethnic, cultural, socio-economic, religious, ability status, sexual orientation). How have these experiences influenced you?; (3) your interests and career objectives; (4) how these interests and career objectives have developed; (5) how these interests match those of specific program faculty; and (6) how being accepted into the Counseling Psychology Program would benefit your career aspirations and implement (or actualize) your beliefs, values, and goals? (1200 word maximum)
• Institution code: 6875

Financial Support

Policy and Procedures for Annual Assistantship

The department’s goal is to provide every full-time ESCP doctoral student with a .25 FTE assistantship in year 1.  Historically, however, almost all doctoral students who have requested funding have received .50 FTE from departmental placements or from sources outside the department.  Beginning in the Fall, 2016, only students receiving 0.5 FTE stipends will be eligible for full tuition waiver.  Students receiving less than 0.5 FTE stipends will be eligible for a 50% tuition waiver. Assistantships from non-academic units will still be required to provide an academic focus for the assistantship and students may not cobble together two non-academic 0.25 FTE assistantships to qualify for a full tuition waiver without very strong justification. Students with 0.25 FTE support from their academic unit, may combine that with a 0.25 FTE from an appropriate non-academic unit to qualify for a full tuition waiver provided there is an academic focus and justification for the second assistantship.Fellowships are not considered in the assignment of departmental placements, and are viewed as additional financial compensation for outstanding academic performance. Fellowship recipients will receive a .25 FTE assistantship which can consist of an additional fellowship, teaching, or research assistantship at the most competitive level in the department. .

College of Education Graduate Scholarship Opportunities

The College of Education offers a variety of scholarships for students enrolled as education majors, both as undergraduates and graduates. Scholarships are a great way to financially support your education and are awarded to individuals on the basis of any number of criteria, including: financial need, academic achievement, choice of program area, public service, nationality or ethnicity.Some scholarships are renewable or may be awarded to the same students in succeeding years; however, these awards are based upon continued eligibility with scholarship criteria; grade point average; the contingency of available funds; and a current, completed application that must be submitted each year.  Please note, should a College of Education scholarship recipient change enrollment to another University or another college within MU, the scholarship will be rescinded.

Applicants without a Masters in Psychology or Related Discipline

Each year, the doctoral program accepts a limited number of applicants with only a bachelor’s degree or a masters degree in a field other than psychology. Over the past three years, 14% of our incoming doctoral students had only a Bachelor’s degree. Thus, we encourage such applicants to indicate if they also want to be considered for our Masters Program. Doing so will not impact your chances for being accepted into the PhD Program; your interest in the Masters Program will only be considered should you not receive acceptance to the PhD Program.

Note: Enrolling in our Masters Program will allow you to further develop the necessary clinical and scientific skills to successfully earn a PhD in a scientifically rigorous program such as ours. Moreover, most PhD programs in Counseling Psychology will allow you to transfer credits from our Masters Program in partial fulfillment of earning a PhD. 

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Educational, school and counseling psychology, escp offers master’s, educational specialist, and phd degrees. the phd programs in counseling psychology and school psychology are accredited by the american psychological association. the counseling program area continues to garner a strong national reputation and is currently ranked by us news world report as the #12 program in the country in 2023. our faculty members create a rich and stimulating learning environment for students through their teaching, research, and service. escp has three centers that provide students and faculty with many opportunities to collaborate on research and service-related projects while focusing on improving life for learners in all environments. click here to request more information., degrees offered, director of graduate study, matthew easter.

[email protected]

Departmental Contact

Alexandria spears (on-campus advising).

[email protected] 573-882-7738 16 Hill Hall

Admission Criteria

Application inquiries.

• Click here to request information from the ESCP program

Application Deadlines

Preferred GRE Scores (Required for SMEE Applicants Only)

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 Educational, School and Counseling Psychology Program

• 3 letters of recommendation via the online application
• Personal statement and vitae via online application  per departmental requirements
• Educational Psychology program applicants only: Scholarly paper that you have written as a substitute for the GRE.  This paper is widely defined but should showcase your ability to analyze a topic in depth and/or showcase your knowledge in terms of research methods.
• GRE scores (required for  Statistics, Measurement, & Evaluation in Education applicants only)
• TOEFL or IELTS scores

Educational Specialist

100% Online On Campus

David Lineberry (Online Advising)

[email protected] 573-882-7609 17 Hill Hall

On Campus Master’s & Educational Specialist Programs

Online Master’s & Educational Specialist Programs

Minimum Requirements

• Minimum GPA: 3.0
• If an applicant is admitted but does not hold a bachelor’s degree in a related discipline or does not have relevant background course work, the applicant must complete prerequisite courses as specified by the faculty of the department.
• GRE scores are required for Statistics, Measurement, & Evaluation in Education applicants only

Preferred GRE Scores

For the educational, school and counseling psychology program (campus).

• Personal statement and vitae via online application  per departmental requirements
• Educational Psychology program applicants only: Scholarly paper that you have written as a substitute for the GRE.  This paper is widely defined but should showcase your ability to analyze a topic in depth and/or showcase your knowledge in terms of research methods
• TOEFL or IELTS scores (International only)

For the Educational, School and Counseling Psychology Program (Online)

Application requirements and deadlines vary depending on emphasis areas. Please check out links below to view detailed information on each program’s application requirements and deadlines.

• Mental Health Practices in Schools (M.Ed.)
• Mental Health Practices in Schools (EdSp)
• Positive Coaching & Athletic Leadership (M.Ed.)
• Student Learning and Well-being (M.Ed.)
• School Counseling (M.Ed.)
• Graduate Certificate

100% Online

Gregory Sullivan

[email protected]

Officially approved as:

Stand Alone:  Yes

Total Credit Hours:   15

Certificate description:

The online Positive Coaching program is intended for all athletic coaches and sports coordinators who have completed a bachelor’s degree program, and now wish to obtain a graduate certificate. The program is well-suited for athletic coaches at all levels of sport participation, as well as any individuals in educational or other settings, who provide instructional, leadership or counseling services to students or to others.

Certificate web site : https://online.missouri.edu/degrees-programs/mu/education/positive-coaching-and-athletic-leadership/grad-cert

For the Graduate Certificate Program

• 1 letter of recommendation: In the online application, you will need to supply the name and contact details of a former instructor or professor whose course you completed and who will provide your academic reference. Their letter should focus on your academic performance and potential for success in graduate academic programs. Applications without at least one letter from a former instructor or professor of the applicant will not be reviewed.
• Departmental application (built into the Graduate School online application)

Leigh Neier

[email protected] 573-882-5653 22 Hill Hall

Certificate description:  Positive Psychology is a specific focus area within the field of psychology that explores the positive, creative, and fulfilling aspects of human behavior. It is the scientific study of well-being: how humans flourish and in turn, unlock their potential. Through a purposeful sequence of courses, students will examine positive emotions, engagement, relationships, virtues and strengths, meaning, purpose, and accomplishment. Positive Psychology theories and practices are often applied to individual lived experiences, but coursework will also focus Positive Psychology’s “value-add” to organizations, governments, businesses, and education. The Graduate Certificate of Positive Psychology aims to articulate theory, apply research, and introduce intervention strategies students will use to enhance individual, interpersonal (social), community, institutional, and cultural well-being.

• Examine theoretical cornerstones, concepts, research, and application of positive psychology in the modern era.
• Increase awareness of human strengths and collective contributors to well-being leading to personal, social, academic, and professional development.
• Learn methods to facilitate increases in health and well-being within five measures of flourishing: positive emotionality, engagement in one’s strengths and experiences, relationship growth and development, meaning and purpose, and achievement.
• Understand how to effectively apply positive psychology interventions that promote thriving individuals, communities and organizations.
• Actively engage in directed personal reflections, efforts to expand awareness, and developing strategies to increase well-being measures.

Certificate web site : https://online.missouri.edu/degrees-programs/mu/education/positive-psychology/grad-cert

• 2 letters of recommendation: should attest to your professional competence, academic preparation and potential for graduate work.
• Personal statement

*Program not accepting applications at this time.

Stand Alone:   Yes  

Total Credit Hours:   12

Certificate description:  This certificate will provide the requisite awareness, knowledge and skill to effectively work with students and families from diverse cultural backgrounds and is ideal for teachers, counselors and administrators in P-12 school settings. By creating this online certificate, Mizzou is working to increase the number of qualified teachers and other school personnel who can serve diverse populations and prepare all students to function more effectively in society. The 15-hour certificate can be completed entirely online, but some students may choose electives that are offered on campus in Columbia, Mo.

Certificate web site: https://online.missouri.edu/degrees-programs/mu/education/multicultural-education/grad-cert

Wesley Bonifay

[email protected] 16 Hill Hall

Stand Alone : Yes

Total Credit Hours : 18 Certificate description: The 18-hour Quantitative Research Certificate (QRC) is designed to prepare researchers and scholars to be users and critical consumers of quantitative research. Certificate holders are trained in various methods in order to conduct rigorous, scientific quantitative research. Students completing the QRC (depending on the chosen track) will be able to:

• Design effective experimental and quasi-experimental studies
• Manage and use large scale datasets
• Analyze various types of datasets (e.g., nested data, longitudinal data) with the appropriate modeling techniques
• Apply advanced statistical methods (e.g., structural equation modeling, multilevel modeling) in their own research
• Critically review studies that make use of a diverse set of statistical methods
• Conduct measurement related studies using techniques such as factor analysis or item response theory

Certificate web site: https://education.missouri.edu/degrees-programs/certificates-minors/quantitative-research/

Application Process

The QRC is a stand-alone graduate certificate program and is available to all current graduate students and non-degree seeking post-baccalaureate graduate students. See the Office of Graduate School Graduate Certificates for more information. To apply, see either the below process for current or prospective MU graduate students:

Current Graduate Students

For current MU graduate students, “good standing” in the current academic degree program is required and the following documents should be submitted to  [email protected] .

• Two letters of recommendation (one of which should be a letter of support from the current degree advisor)
• The QRC APPLICATION/Initial Plan of Study Form
• Unofficial academic transcripts of all previous undergraduate and graduate work
• A new program/department should be added to current degree program
• The new “Academic Program” should be Educational, School, and Counseling Psychology and the “Emphasis” area should be Quantitative Research Certificate

Prospective Graduate Students

Individuals not currently an MU graduate student will need to meet the minimum requirements of the Office of Graduate Studies and apply for the QRC by submitting the following documents using the  MU Graduate School application .

• Two letters of recommendation
• Unofficial academic transcripts of all previous undergraduat and graduate work
• Tests taken within the last 5 years with a preferred quantitative score of 152
• Institution code: 6875
• Non-native English speakers must score at least a 550 on the paper-based TOEFL, 80 on the Internet-based TOEFL or 6.5 on the Academic IELTS. In addition, it is expected that applicants will achieve subsection minimums of no less than 17 on IBT, 52 on PBT or 6.0 on IELTS (subsections: Reading, Listening, Speaking and Writing)

As we enter the new millennium, the U.S. population is becoming more multiracial, multiethnic, and multilingual.  Some estimate that by the year 2020, racial and ethnic minorities will become the numerical majority.  This demographic shift has already occurred in specific contexts, such as K-12 schools in Los Angeles.  Applied psychologists and educators have begun to develop competency standards for professionals to provide culturally relevant and effective services to our ever-changing population.  In fact, multiculturalism has been identified as the fourth focus in counseling psychology.  The purpose of the graduate minor in multicultural psychology and education would be to (a) expose graduate students to the growing theoretical and empirical research completed in the fields of multicultural psychology and education, (b) help graduate students develop multicultural competencies in research and practice, and (c) provide graduate students with training necessary to meet the psychological and educational demands of diverse populations.

The requirements for the minor are listed below.

• A minimum of 12 credit hours
• 9 credit hours must be taken as a graduate student at the University of Missouri
• No more than 6 credit hours should be listed in the masters or doctoral planner. That is, a maximum of 6 hours can overlap between the courses applied to the Minor in Multicultural Psychology and the courses applied toward a masters or doctoral degree.
• A minimum of 9 credit hours must be 8000 or above (graduate level)
• 6 credit hours must be taken within the core area with a foci on racial and ethnic minorities  (see listing below)
• 3 credit hours must be taken in the auxiliary area (see listing below)
• 3 credit hours must be taken in the skills area (see listing below)

Core Courses  (must complete at least 6 graduate-level credit hours from the following courses with a main emphasis on race/ethnicity in psychology and/or education.)

• ESCP 9000 Multicultural Issues in Counseling (3):  This course surveys the research and theories of counseling various racial/ethnic minority and gay, lesbian and bisexual populations in the U.S.  Special consideration is given to examining the intersection among race/ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender, and class on psychosocial adjustment.
• ESCP 8580 Social and Cultural Identity Development (3): This course is designed to introduce students to (a) the dominant social and cultural identity theories and paradigms and (b) how these theories have been operationalized and measured.
• ESCP 8590 Multicultural Counseling Competencies (3):  This course reviews theory, research, assessment, and clinical practice in multicultural counseling.
• We encourage students to explore other courses pertaining to race/ethnicity issues in other departments. Any Racial/Ethnic-focused graduate level courses offered outside of the ESCP department should be approved by one of the Directors of the Center.

Auxiliary Courses  (must complete 3 credit hours from the following courses emphasizing a wide range of diversity and social change issues):

• ESCP 8585 Gender Issues in Counseling and Education (3): This course covers topics including conceptions of gender roles, measurement of gender-related constructs, gender role socialization process, high incidence of gender-related problems, and psycho-educational and counseling interventions.
• ESCP 8990 Career Development Theory for Women (3):  This course considers the relevance of theories of career development for women, and their application to the counseling of women.  Supervised clinical experience in the application of theories to counseling high school age women provided.
• ESCP 8510 Medical and Psychological Aspects of Disability (3 ) . Presentation of medical aspects of major disabilities and their effects upon social, vocational, personal, and economic adjustment. Study of basic restoration and accommodating services.
• ESCP 8540  Theory and Practice in Feminist Therapy 3) .Theory, research, practice standards and current debates within feminist therapy. Includes both examination of topical areas in a seminar format and live observation of feminist therapy.
• We encourage students to explore other courses pertaining to diversity issues and inequality in social system in other departments. Pre-approval from the Directors of the Center is needed.

Skill Courses  (must complete 3 credit hours from one of the options below)

I. Research Skills:  successful completion of at least 3 hours of A450/A490 (or departmental equivalent) for research hours on an independent, substantive research project such as a master’s thesis or doctoral dissertation.  The scope and quality of the research project is expected to be of such a caliber that it could be submitted to a refereed journal in the student’s discipline.  The research project must be on a multicultural-related topic (i.e., issues related to race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender, and international concerns).

Successful completion of this requirement will consist of:

Approval of the proposed project can be obtained in one of two ways:  (1) approval of the project from a director of the Center for Multicultural Research, Training, and Consultation, or (2) have an ESCP faculty affiliated with the Center on the thesis/research/dissertation committee.

One committee member must have expertise in multicultural issues.

A passing grade in the course.

Approval of the completed project by a director of the Center, or having an ESCP faculty affiliated with the Center on the thesis/research/dissertation committee,

II. Applied Multicultural Skills:  The person must demonstrate competencies in working with diverse populations (with an emphasis on racial and ethnic minority populations).  This experience will result in 3 hours of graduate credit that can be obtained in the two ways listed below.

Successful completion of this requirement will consist  one of the following :

Completion of 3 credit hours of applied work.  This can be obtained in one of three ways:  (1) successful completion (with a passing grade) of ESCP 8943 (Applied Multicultural Interventions); (2) successful completion (with a passing grade) of a multiculturally-designated applied course (e.g., counseling practica classes, teaching practica classes, group counseling practica classes:  a list of approved courses can be obtained at the Center); or (3) applied experience via community outreach programs, work placements in agencies, or extended volunteer experiences in community agencies.  For the third option, the student must receive direct, individual supervision for minimum of 15 hours from an advanced-level person (MA degree or higher) at the community/work site.  The supervisor must have expertise in the area of multicultural psychology or education.  The student must document this experience by completing the Multicultural Applied Experience and Supervision Form (obtained from the Center for Multicultural Research, Training, and Consultation).  The form requires a supervisor signature, description of the work experience and general evaluation of the student’s performance. (After the student completes this requirement and the Multicultural Competency Portfolio described below, he or she will receive 3 credits of 8085: Problem).

Approval by a Center director of a Multicultural Competency Portfolio completed by the student to demonstrate awareness, knowledge and skill competencies in the area.

Consultation: Successful completion of any consultation courses in organization or systemic changes including applied consultation activities. Pre-approval from one of the Co-directors of the Center is needed.

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Psychology Doctoral Programs in Missouri

Are you ready to compare Doctoral Programs in Psychology in Missouri? If you are a resident of the “Show-Me State”, and looking to advance your career within the discipline of Psychology, the first step is enrolling in Psychology Doctoral Programs that will help you prepare for licensure.

There are a variety of different traditional and modern doctoral programs that you can choose from as a major in Psychology. Unfortunately, not all programs in the state of Missouri are created equal, and choosing an accredited program is vital. Here are doctoral-level psychology graduate programs that are well-known and focus on clinical and counseling psychology.

University of Missouri–Columbia

College of arts and science, department of psychological sciences.

The Graduate School at University of Missouri currently offers 93 different Master’s degree programs and 68 doctoral programs. As the only public institution to be selected for membership to the Association of American Universities, admission to the four-campus University of Missouri System is very competitive. The Department of Psychological Sciences reviews many applications for programs with an emphasis on Clinical Psychology, Quantitative Psychology, Neuroscience, Developmental Psychology, and Personality Psychology. The department also has a lot of interest in unique dual program opportunities that are currently being offered, which all offer theoretical training with an emphasis on research-oriented curriculum.

Clinical Psychology PhD

The Clinical Psychology PhD offered by the Department of Psychology within the College of Arts and Science is an accredited research-oriented program that takes a traditional approach to curriculum. By enrolling in this program, students will receive broad and empirical training with an emphasis on research rather than an emphasis on generalist psychological sciences. Those who complete a Clinical Psychology PhD program will be eligible for licensure, and will be prepared for field-related positions in research and education.

Counseling Psychology PhD

The Counseling Psychology PhD is offered by the College of Education at the University of Missouri-Columbia. The program is accredited by the American Psychological Association and is currently ranked number 9 on a national list by the U.S. News & World Report. This Educational, School, and Counseling Psychology program is full of rich and stimulating lectures and core curriculum centered around the integration of research and service-related projects. Graduates who complete a Counseling Psychology PhD will be prepared to work in fields like Health Education, School Psychology, and Educational Psychology as a practicing counselor.

School Psychology PhD

The School Psychology PhD Program is a doctoral-level research-oriented degree program with an emphasis on psychology in the learning environment. The program is research-oriented, but also includes applied training and theoretical teaching so that students can learn how to use research while improving the life of learners in an educational setting. The school currently has three different centers and each of these centers collaborates with one another to stimulate students. In 2005, the program was ranked 4th in the nation on a list published by the Faculty Scholarly Productivity Index for outcomes.

Accreditations

• American Psychological Association
• Psychological Clinical Science Accreditation System

College of Arts and Science 210 McAlester Hall Columbia, MO 65211 573-882-0838 https://psychology.missouri.edu/grad/graduate-program

University of Missouri–Kansas City

College of arts and sciences, department of psychology.

The Department of Psychology offers programs at an undergraduate level, psychology master’s programs, and also two different tracks for students studying for their PhD. The primary focus of the department is to study how behavioral sciences and the contribution to the discipline of Psychology has changed health and health care. The faculty members teaching Bachelor’s, Master’s, traditional and online doctorate programs at UMKC are national and international leaders is researching a variety of factors that can affect behavior and health.

The Department of Psychology is an active member of the community and works directly with several institutions, including the Cancer Institute, St. Luke’s Hospital, Truman Medical Centers, and University of Kansas City Medical Center to improve health care. The mission of the department is to enhance public health by training students in the field, and to enhance the health outcomes through empirical research. All doctoral programs take a research-oriented approach to delivering knowledge.

The Clinical Psychology PhD program is a license-eligible accredited clinical program that provides students with an entry-level foundation of knowledge in science and practice. There is a very strong emphasis in Health Psychology and the curriculum emphasizes  the integration of research and clinical practice so that students receive what is referred to as science-practice training.

This PhD program is suitable for students who would like to pursue a career in a research, medical, or academic setting, but will also prepare you for licensure. Because the program is based on a scientist-practitioner model, you will cover a broad range of topics which can range from psychophysiology research all the way to public health research. The outcome is to learn how to contribute as a professional to promote a high quality of life for all through the integration of science and practice.

Experimental Health Psychology PhD

Experimental Health Psychology is a doctoral-level degree program with a primary focus on preparing advanced-level students to enhance the health outcomes for both communities and the individuals living within the communities. This full-time graduate program covers fundamental areas of quantitative, methodological, health, and experimental psychology, and integrates all of the areas together. You will learn how to develop your research skills in this research-oriented program, and will be able to apply the skills to real-world problems so that you are prepared for professional positions in academia, research facilities, or government offices.

Upon completion of this degree, you will have a core of knowledge on research methods, scientific psychology, empirical evidence, and theoretical foundations so that you can carry out your own individual research. Training can be done on-campus, with the option to complete some courses online.

Contact Department of Psychology 5030 Cherry Street Cherry Hall, Room 324 Kansas City, MO 64110 Phone: 816.235.1318 E-Mail: [email protected] https://cas.umkc.edu/psychology/degree-programs/graduate-programs/clinical-ph-d-option/

University of Missouri–St. Louis

The Department of Psychology at the University of Missouri-St. Louis currently has the largest program in the College of Arts and Sciences, with over 700 undergraduate majors and 70 PhD students. The primary goal of the department is to prepare students, both undergraduate and graduate-level, for careers directly or indirectly in modern psychology. What makes each of the three graduate programs unique is that they are designed with modernity in mind. This makes research within the university and the department extremely important as well as a priority. With departmental laboratories where faculty and students work alongside one another, the department has earned the nickname the department of diversity.

The Clinical Psychology PhD program offered by the Department of Psychology at UMSL integrates the academic, research and applied aspects of Psychology to prepare students to become competent researchers, educators, or scientifically-based practitioners. As an accredited program that is in accordance with with scientist-practitioner training model, doctorate-level students who graduate are not likely to function in a service level role. In fact, the surveys show that graduates of the program more often play non-service roles in basic research, supervisory, and teaching.

As you might expect, because this program takes the scientist-practitioner approach, there is a strong emphasis on research and faculty members are among the top leaders of research within their fields. Following a mentorship model, you have peace of mind in knowing that you will work closely with faculty and research advisors so that you can gain the skills that you need to succeed in conceptual and methodological research. Based on the data released on the Examination for Professional Practice in Psychology, graduates of this program have consistently scored in the top 15% of all programs nationally.

• American Psychological Association since 1977

Department of Psychology One University Boulevard 325 Stadler Hall St. Louis, MO 63121-4499 (314) 516-5391 http://www.umsl.edu/divisions/artscience/psychology/psychology/clinical/index.html

Saint Louis University

The Department of Psychology currently teaches over 300 undergraduate students and 100 graduate students in different areas of Psychology. With more than 25 leading faculty members, the department sets a diverse tone to the study of exploring the complexities of the brain and human behavior. Currently, the Department of Psychology offers both undergraduate and graduate study options. The mission of the department as a whole is to encourage students to apply their critical thinking skills and use curiosity as they gain a value-based, holistic education.

The mission of the clinical psychology Doctor of Psychology program is to prepare graduates for a career in clinical psychology by training students on broad topics like practice and science. By enrolling in this program, you will learn how to be an ethical clinical psychologist as you develop a broad understanding and knowledge of theoretical, scientific, and conceptual foundations in the field of psychology and other sub-disciplines.

Students who have completed this scientist-practitioner modeled program have been successful in the field. Based on the outcome published by the school, 96 percent of the students who earned a doctoral degree through the college went on to earn their license. It took an average of 4.3 years for students with an advanced standing, and 5.5 years for bachelor-level students to complete the program. These averages consider the time it takes for full-time and part-time students to graduate.

• American Psychological Association since 1965

Shannon Hall, Room 209 3511 Laclede Ave. St. Louis, MO 63103-2010 [email protected] phone:314.977.2300 https://www.slu.edu/arts-and-sciences/academics/degrees/graduate/psychology-clinical-ms.php

Washington University in St. Louis

Graduate school of arts and sciences.

Washington University in St. Louis is home to 6500 graduate students and 1000 non-traditional students studying weekends, evenings, and online. As a nationally and internationally known institute for teaching, patient care, and research, the university is dedicated to delivering high quality academic programs through leading faculty members and experts in their respective fields. The Graduate School of Arts and Sciences has innovative programs that address the mind-brain connection, including the Clinical Psychology PhD program taught by the Department of Psychology which was established in 1924.

The Clinical Psychology Doctor of Psychology program is a research-oriented program with a focus on teaching and theoretical subject matter. You will be prepared to be a clinical scientist in careers in teaching, research, and governmental agencies. Students will examine the in-depth study of many different subject areas including: aging, abnormal psychology, cognition, learning, memory, social interactions, personality, perception, and neuropsychology.

Washington University Campus Box 1089 One Brookings Drive St. Louis, Missouri 63130-4899 (314) 935-5000 [email protected] https://psych.wustl.edu/graduate-program

As you can see, there are myriad doctoral-level programs for Psychology majors who would like to work in a research setting or directly in a practice. It is important to sift through different relevant majors and different study models until you choose the model and major that is best for you. Compare the traditional and online doctoral programs, and apply to the Doctoral Programs in Psychology in Missouri that top your own very unique and personalized list.

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University of Missouri

College of Arts and Science

Psychological Sciences

We are a vibrant and research-focused department that also emphasizes teaching excellence at all levels. The department is composed of tenured and tenure-track faculty, teaching faculty focused on instruction, clinical faculty who work at the affiliated Psychological Services Clinic, and dedicated staff supporting the department’s mission. Each year, more than 1,000 undergraduate students pursue their Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science in Psychology degree in the Department. Our doctoral program has emphasis areas in clinical (nationally accredited), cognition and neuroscience, developmental, quantitative, and social/personality psychology.

In The News

On Wednesday, March 6, Professor Nicole Campione-Barr was awarded a 2024 William T. Kemper Fellowship for Teaching Excellence. Kemper Fellowships are awarded to five outstanding instructors at the University of Missouri each year.

Based upon their research interests, Mizzou Psychological Sciences faculty are affiliated with one (or more) of the following research areas or training programs. Each one focuses on different psychological research questions.

The Social/Personality training area at the University of Missouri represents a unique and vibrant collection of active scholars. This energetic community provides the basis for collaborative endeavors among faculty and students, with the goal of making groundbreaking contributions to our understanding of human behavior.

The PhD program in clinical psychology is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of American Psychological Association and by the Psychological Clinical Science Accreditation System, and is a member of the Academy of Psychological Clinical Science.

The program in Developmental Psychology began in 1999 and currently has 6 core-faculty representing research interests in cognitive development and social development, as well as emphasis in infancy through emerging adulthood. At this time, the program is directed by Dr. Nicole Campione-Barr.

Research in the C&N area is diverse spanning memory, perception, action, cognition, animal learning, decision making, reward systems, addiction, and aging. Our researchers engage in a wide variety of experimental approaches.

The goal of the graduate program in Quantitative Psychology is to produce researchers able to develop, evaluate, and apply advanced methodological techniques to psychological research questions.

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• PsyD vs PhD

Missouri Psychology Doctorate Programs

The guide below provides information for students looking to pursue a PsyD degree in the state of Missouri. The guide will not only provide you with information about obtaining your degree but also requirements by the state to become licensed to practice in the field.

What’s On This Page

Quick facts.

• Missouri PsyD Programs
• Other Psychology Doctorates
• Missouri Psychologist Requirements
• Missouri Doctorate Salary Outlook
• 13 schools in Missouri offer graduate or doctorate level programs in the field of psychology.
• The state has three schools that ranked on Kiplinger’s Best Values in Public Colleges in 2017. They were Missouri University of Science and Technology, Truman State University, and University of Missouri.
• The University of Missouri was the only public institution to be selected by the Association of American Universities.
• The university with the lowest net price is the University of Missouri – St. Louis at $8,774.
• The University of Missouri has performed more than 400 clinical trials at the Missouri University Hospital.

List of PsyD Degree Programs in Missouri

Several colleges and universities offer Psy.D. (Doctor of Psychology) and Ph.D. (Doctor of Philosophy) degrees in Missouri, which are crucial for gaining the experience required to become licensed by the state to practice psychology. Let’s explore their vital statistics.

Kansas City University

Servicing students in both Missouri and Kansas, Kansas City University is one of the few in the region to offer a Psy.D. in Clinical Psychology. But the program hasn’t received APA accreditation.

• Institution type: Private, not-for-profit
• Campus: Kansas City
• Annual tuition: $33,552
• Degrees offered: PsyD in Clinical Psychology
• Accreditation: Higher Learning Commission and North Central Association of Colleges and Schools; APA accreditation application hasn’t yet been approved
• Visit school: Click here

Other Psychology Doctorates in Missouri

University of missouri.

Several branches of the University of Missouri system offer APA-accredited Ph.D. degrees in multiple fields within psychology, including clinical (Columbia, St. Louis and Kansas City), counseling (Columbia and Kansas City) and school (Columbia). The trio of clinical programs have produced a total of 112 graduates over the past 10 years for which data is available, and their average licensure rate is more than 83%.

• Institution type: Public
• Campuses: Columbia, St. Louis, Kansas City
• Annual tuition: Most clinical students receive tuition remission and annual stipends
• Degrees offered: PhD in Clinical Psychology (all three campuses), PhD in Counseling Psychology (Columbia and Kansas City), PhD in School Psychology (Columbia)
• Accreditation: APA

Washington University

WashU’s Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology first earned APA accreditation in 1948, giving the program a long history in Missouri and around the rest of the United States. Since the 2009-10 school year, 35 scholars have completed the program, with 86% earning psychologist licenses.

• Campus: Louis
• Annual tuition: All students receive full tuition remission and annual stipends
• Degrees offered: PhD in Clinical Psychology

St. Louis University

St. Louis University’s Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology first earned APA accreditation in 1964, and today the Jesuit Catholic institution offers students the opportunity to focus their training in a few areas of psychology, including clinical child, neuropsychology, health, trauma or sports. Just shy of 75 students have completed the clinical program at SLU, and all but one have earned professional licensure.

• Annual tuition: $10,440 (after tuition remission)

How to Become a Psychologist in Missouri

Let’s take a look at the educational and experiential requirements that the state of Missouri has established for earning a psychologist license in the state.

• Get a bachelor’s degree in psychology or a closely related field. While the state of Missouri does not require this, doctoral programs in Missouri generally will only admit students who have psychology majors under their belt, or a degree in a related field like social work or biology.
• Earn a doctoral degree. Completing either a Psy.D. or Ph.D. program in psychology is crucial to meeting the experience requirement established by the state of Missouri, so while getting your doctorate isn’t the only way to become licensed in the state, it is the easiest and most effective. The state requires all applicants for licensure to have graduate or doctoral degrees from APA-accredited institutions.
• Fulfill all other state requirements. Applicants with master’s degrees must complete three full years of supervised professional experience, while those with doctoral degrees must complete a year of supervised experience after they have completed their Ph.D. or Psy.D. degree. Applicants must also take the Examination for Professional Practice in Psychology and the state’s jurisprudence exams.
• Keep your license valid. Missouri psychologist licenses expire every two years, and 40 hours of continuing education are required to keep them valid.

Missouri Clinical Psychologist Salary and Job Outlook

Clinical, counseling and school psychologists in Missouri make almost double the annual salary of the average worker in the state. The average yearly wage for psychologists is $81,700, compared to about $48,000 for all workers in the state, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics .

These jobs are expected to grow by about 16.2% over the next 10 years, compared to the expected growth rate of about 5% for all occupations in the U.S.

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PhD in Psychology with Emphasis in Social/Personality Psychology

Degree requirements.

Social/Personality psychology offers training in the traditional areas of social and personality psychology, as well as their relevance for several applied areas including health psychology. This Social/Personality area integrates the psychology of the person and the situation, with the goal of understanding the psychological processes that underlie people’s emotions, motivations, beliefs, actions, and decisions.

Training focuses on the multi-faceted view of social behavior from three levels:

• the individual level;
• the contextual level (or social level); and
• the interaction of the individual and the contextual levels.

All three levels are vital to fully understanding human psychology. Particular research foci in the area include the sources of motivation, both individual and social; the nature of meaning-making, both existential and interpersonal; the determinants of optimal and destructive functioning, both within and between groups and in relationships; and the causes and consequences of psychological well-being, growth, and defense.

• 83 total hours of coursework
• Distribution courses from four different content area, including abnormal psychology, biological foundations, cognition and learning, developmental psychology, motivation and personality, and social psychology (12 hours)
• Training area courses (24 hours)
• Statistics (9 hours)
• Ethics and Professional Issues (1 hour)
• Completion of Masters
• Completion of comprehensive examination
• A written doctoral dissertation
• Oral examination on thesis research

Applicants are required to meet two sets of minimum qualifications for admission: the requirements of the PhD in Psychology program and the minimum requirements of the Graduate School . Because requirements vary, you must refer to a degree program’s graduate admission page to learn about specific admission criteria, application deadlines, eligibility and application process. Before official admissions to the University of Missouri, your application materials will be reviewed by both the Graduate School and the degree program to which you’ve applied.

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Emerging Principal Investigators: Dr. Dana Bakula

September 06, 2024.

Dana Bakula, PhD

Child psychologist; program and research director; assistant professor of pediatrics, university of missouri-kansas city school of medicine.

As Children’s Mercy Research Institute (CMRI) grows its research programs, the institute has welcomed many innovative, early-career investigators to its roster of researchers. These investigators bring their novel ideas, unique talents, and diverse interests to CMRI. The following profile is one in our series on emerging principal investigators.

Dana Bakula, PhD , Gastroenterology, is the Program & Research Director for the Interdisciplinary Feeding and Swallowing Program and an assistant professor at University of Missouri – Kansas City School of Medicine. From an early age, she knew she wanted to be a child psychologist. “I have no idea how I decided this so early in life, but I've always wanted to work with kids,” said Dr. Bakula. “I've always liked talking to people, and I knew I wanted to be a psychologist. It wasn't until late college that I realized I also wanted to do research.”

When she first began graduate school in psychology at Oklahoma State University, she planned to someday work one-on-one with children with medical conditions. During her research and clinical training, her career goals evolved when she observed how much stress parents experienced because of their children’s medical conditions. While studying for her PhD, she conducted two meta-analyses studies and found a link between parent mental health and a child’s wellbeing. “When parents aren't feeling supported, it has downstream effects on child health and wellbeing,” said Dr. Bakula. “That got me interested in understanding what interventions we can do at this two-generation level to improve both parent and child outcomes.”

In 2020, Dr. Bakula began her fellowship in pediatric psychology at Children’s Mercy Kansas City (CMKC), and she joined the faculty in 2022. Much of her research focuses on improving the wellbeing of children with pediatric feeding disorder (PFD) and their families. PFD is common, affecting one in 37 children. Children with PFD have so much difficulty eating that it affects their growth and nutrition. Without effective treatment, it can lead to severe malnutrition. 

Caring for a child with this disorder is very stressful, and 40% of parents of children with PFD report mental health concerns like depression, anxiety, and parenting stress. “It is one of the most stressful conditions that parents face,” said Dr. Bakula. “It’s so prevalent among young children, and there's such a need to support these parents.” Parent mental health issues are known to impact PFD treatment, including mealtime interactions. Yet, addressing parent mental health in PFD care is not part of the standard of care, and no mental health treatments for these parents have been tested. Dr. Bakula is one the first researchers to address this problem.

In May 2023, she received a National Institutes of Health K23 award to study a brief mental health treatment for parents of children with PFD. The intervention uses focused acceptance and commitment therapy, which is a type of therapy that can be helpful in just two sessions. Her team will measure whether the treatment results in positive effects on parent mental health and parent-child interactions at mealtimes. The study’s mental health treatment is designed to be easily scalable so that it can be shared and implemented at children’s hospitals around the country. Because of this, it has the potential to reach parents of children with PFD throughout the United States. This project builds on her earlier study to develop and pilot test the mental health intervention.  

Along with her research into parent mental health, Dr. Bakula also focuses on other projects to improve the quality of life of children with pediatric feeding disorder. She is a co-investigator on a project with Lori Erickson, PhD, RN, MSN, CPNP-PC , Remote Health Solutions, and Sarah Edwards, DO , Gastroenterology, to implement CHAMP® App , a mobile health software platform to help patients with feeding tubes transition from tube to oral feeding in the home. 

Dr. Bakula has also worked with community advisors in her research projects at CMKC. She would like to continue working with community members on future research projects, including in a qualitative investigation that looks at gaps in support systems for parents of children with medical conditions. She is planning the project with community member Nicole Crump who is the parent of a child with a rare genetic disorder. Crump would serve as a co-investigator on the project. “Nicole is very active in community advocacy and has a great sense of what’s going on in the community of parents of children with feeding issues,” Dr. Bakula said. “It’s nice to partner directly with her. When we partner with the community, the research we do is so much stronger and better informed.”

Dr. Bakula is mentored by Ann Davis, PhD, MPH , Director, Center for Children’s Healthy Lifestyles and Nutrition ; Delwyn Catley, PhD, San Diego State University; and Kandace Fleming, PhD, University of Kansas.

Behind the Research

Grants & projects.

• Frontiers KL2 Mentored Career Development Award
• CHAMP App for Feeding Tube Weaning

Departments

• Gastroenterology
• Feeding Clinic

Children's Mercy Mentors & Collaborators

• Ann Davis, PhD, MPH
• Lori Erickson, PhD, RN, MSN, CPNP-PC
• Sarah Edwards, DO

Student Admissions, Outcomes and Other Data

Time to completion for all students entering the program.

Program Costs

Internship Placement - Table 1

Internship Placement - Table 2

*Cell should only include students who applied for internship and are included in applied cell count from "Internship Placement - Table 1."