If you’re interested in making a difference in the lives of kids, earning your doctorate in school psychology can be a fantastic way to achieve your career goals. As a school psychologist, you’ll get to work with students, teachers, and families, helping everyone learn the best way they can support your client.

You’ll likely serve as a jack of all trades when it comes to mental health issues with young people, addressing everything from depression and anxiety to learning differences. You may work in a single school, or you may work with an entire district, switching between schools throughout the week depending on district needs.

You may also have the opportunity to teach sessions in classrooms, helping students with their social-emotional learning goals. Here, we’ll explore what you can expect to learn from an online school psychology doctorate program, as well as the standard admission requirements for earning your doctorate in school psychology and becoming a school psychologist.

2024 - Best Doctorate Degree in School Psychology Programs

Counselingpsychology.org provides rankings of Doctorate Degrees in School Psychology based off of a carefully-crafted methodology. This methodology includes criteria such as completion rates, affordability and cost of living, the competitiveness of the institution, the diversity of programs offered, and the years of experience of the faculty. You can find more information on their methodology here. With this information, you can make an informed decision when selecting a doctorate program in school psychology.

1.

Hofstra University

Hempstead, NY

Hofstra University's School Psychology PhD and PsyD programs, housed in the Department of Counseling and Mental Health Professions on its Long Island campus, prioritize evidence-based practices and practical, hands-on experience for students. With a strong emphasis on diversity and social justice, graduates are well-equipped to address the complex needs of children and adolescents in educational and mental health settings.

2.

Adelphi University

Garden City, NY

Adelphi University is a private, coeducational institution located on Long Island, New York. It offers a wide range of undergraduate and graduate degree programs, including a Doctorate Degree in School Psychology. With a student body of over 8,000, Adelphi provides an intimate learning environment that allows students to receive a personalized education.

3.

University of Northern Colorado

Greeley, CO

The University of Northern Colorado is a public university located in Greeley, Colorado. It offers a wide range of academic programs, including a Doctorate Degree in School Psychology. The university is home to around 12,000 students, making it a medium-sized college with a welcoming atmosphere. UNC is proud to offer a diverse array of programs and services to students, faculty, and staff.

4.

University of Denver

Denver, CO

The University of Denver is a private, 4-year institution located in Denver, Colorado. With a student body of over 11,000, UD offers a variety of degree programs, including a Doctorate Degree in School Psychology. The university's rigorous curriculum and commitment to research and scholarship help prepare students for successful careers and lives.

5.

The University of Tennessee-Knoxville

Knoxville, TN

The University of Tennessee-Knoxville (UTK) is a public, coeducational research university located in Knoxville, Tennessee. With over 28,000 students, UTK is the state’s flagship university. UTK offers more than 300 undergraduate and graduate degrees, including a Doctorate Degree in School Psychology. With world-renowned faculty and research opportunities, UTK is a premier institution in the Southeast.

What Will I Learn in an Online School Psychology Doctorate Program?

Earning your Ph.D. or Psy.D. in school psychology online qualifies you for a number of jobs working with young minds, from serving school districts develop effective social-emotional learning curricula to helping students develop ways to reduce test anxiety. Typically, it takes about eight years to complete a doctorate program in school psychology online. You may need to go through a residency or internship program, which may add to the amount of time it takes for you to complete your doctorate.

As you work through your school psychology doctorate program, you’ll cover many topics, including:

  • Child and adolescent psychopathology: In your psychopathology courses, you’ll learn about mental health issues that often affect children and adolescents, how to identify these conditions, and how to work with students and their families to create effective treatment plans that allow each of your clients to maximize their potential.
  • Academic assessment and intervention: As a school psychologist, you’ll work to support students in the classroom. Often, this involves observing students working with their teachers and their peers and identifying issues that are holding them back. After completing assessments, you’ll work with students, teachers, and administrators to develop effective interventions that boost student achievement.
  • Cognitive assessment: In your doctoral program, you’ll learn how to assess students’ cognitive abilities, allowing teachers to get the information they need to craft appropriate curricula.
  • Research design and methods: As a school psychologist, you’ll have the unique opportunity to contribute to research in the field. In your research design and methods class, you’ll get the chance to explore how to create an effective study, and you’ll learn how to unpack complicated academic studies into actionable steps that you can put into practice with your students.

Admissions Requirements for a Doctorate in School Psychology

In order to gain admission to an online school psychology doctorate program, you’ll need to submit both your undergraduate and graduate transcripts. If you don’t have a master’s degree, you may be able to submit a combination of work experience and your bachelor’s transcripts. In some cases, you may need to have a minimum GPA in order to be considered for admission to a program. Your program may require that your undergraduate degree be in a related field, such as education, psychology, or sociology.

Many programs also require that you submit a statement of purpose explaining what you’d like to do with your career. You may also need to include letters of recommendation from your professors or work supervisors.

List of School Psychology Doctorate Degree Programs

Find an online or campus-based doctorate program in school psychology today – our state-by-state listings make it easy to find a great program near you.

Jump to Your State Listings

Arizona

1900 S Knoles Dr, Babbitt Administrative Center, Room 200
Flagstaff, AZ 86011-4092
(928) 523-9011

Arkansas

201 Donaghey Ave
Conway, AR 72035-0001
(501) 450-5000

California

PhD Programs
5221 Cheadle Hall
Santa Barbara, CA 93106
(805) 893-8000

Colorado

Regent Drive at Broadway
Boulder, CO 80309-0017
(303) 492-1411

1380 Lawrence Street, Lawrence Street Center, Suite 1400
Denver, CO 80217-3364
(303) 556-5600

PhD Programs
2199 S. University Blvd
Denver, CO 80208
(303) 871-2000

PhD Programs
Carter Hall - Rm 4000
Greeley, CO 80639
(970) 351-1890

Connecticut

PhD Programs
352 Mansfield Road
Storrs, CT 06269
(860) 486-2000

Florida

222 S. Copeland Street
Tallahassee, FL 32306-1037
(850) 644-2525

PsyD Programs
3301 College Ave
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33314-7796
(954) 262-7300

PhD Programs
4202 East Fowler Ave
Tampa, FL 33620-9951
(813) 974-2011

Georgia

PhD Programs
33 gilmer st
Atlanta, GA 30303-3083
(404) 413-2000

Illinois

North and School Streets
Normal, IL 61790-1000
(309) 438-2111

Indiana

PhD Programs
107 South Indiana Ave.
Bloomington, IN 47405-7000
(812) 855-4848

Iowa

PhD Programs
101 Jessup Hall
Iowa City, IA 52242-1316
(319) 335-3500

Kansas

PhD Programs
Strong Hall, 1450 Jayhawk Blvd, Room 230
Lawrence, KS 66045
(785) 864-2700

Maine

PsyD Programs
96 Falmouth St
Portland, ME 04103
(207) 780-4141

Minnesota

PsyD Programs
225 South 6th Street, 9th Floor
Minneapolis, MN 55402-3389
(866) 808-4080

South Rd and Ellis Ave
Mankato, MN 56001
(507) 389-1866

Mississippi

118 College Drive # 0001
Hattiesburg, MS 39406-0001
(601) 266-1000

Montana

PhD Programs
Missoula, Montana
Missoula, MT 59812
(406) 243-0211

Nebraska

PhD Programs
1400 R Street
Lincoln, NE 68588-0419
(402) 472-7211

Nevada

4505 S Maryland Pky
Las Vegas, NV 89154
(702) 895-3011

New Jersey

New Mexico

2850 Weddell Street
Las Cruces, NM 88003-8001
(575) 646-0111

New York

PsyD Programs
South Ave
Garden City, NY 11530-0701
(516) 877-3000

PhD Programs
West 116 St and Broadway
New York, NY 10027
(212) 854-1754

PhD Programs
441 E Fordham Rd
Bronx, NY 10458
(718) 817-1000

PhD ProgramsPsyD Programs
100 Hofstra University
Hempstead, NY 11549
(516) 463-6600

North Carolina

PhD Programs
East 5th Street
Greenville, NC 27858-4353
(252) 328-6131

Ohio

PhD Programs
2624 Clifton Avenue
Cincinnati, OH 45221-0063
(513) 556-6000

Oregon

PhD Programs
110 Johnson Hall
Eugene, OR 97403
(541) 346-1000

Pennsylvania

PsyD ProgramsPhD Programs
Administration Bldg 600 Forbes Ave
Pittsburgh, PA 15282
(412) 396-6000

PhD Programs
1011 South Dr 201 Sutton Hall
Indiana, PA 15705-1098
(724) 357-2100

PhD Programs
1801 North Broad Street
Philadelphia, PA 19122-6096
(215) 204-7000

South Carolina

PhD Programs
Columbia-Campus
Columbia, SC 29208
(803) 777-7000

South Dakota

414 E Clark St
Vermillion, SD 57069-2390
(605) 658-6200

Tennessee

PhD Programs
527 Andy Holt Tower
Knoxville, TN 37996
(865) 974-1000

PhD Programs
Southern Avenue
Memphis, TN 38152
(901) 678-2000

Texas

PhD Programs
2008 Alumni Drive, Rusk 206
Nacogdoches, TX 75961
(936) 468-2011

PhD Programs
304 Administration Dr
Denton, TX 76204
(940) 898-2000

PhD Programs
212 E. Cullen Building
Houston, TX 77204-2018
(713) 743-1000

Utah

Old Main Hill
Logan, UT 84322-1400
(435) 797-1000

Are we missing your school's program or need to update information listed? Please contact us so we can make the necessary changes.

Joel Gill
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