School Psychology Doctoral Program - University of Houston
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The University of Houston's School Psychology doctoral program is home to faculty and students committed to impacting the academic, behavioral and social-emotional functioning of children. Our faculty teaches students how to apply the core principles of school psychology inside and outside of schools. They challenge students to develop innovative solutions that connect the systems in which children and their families exist.

About the Program

Our goal: Develop professional school psychologists who are engaged in applied research and ecologically sensitive evidence-based practice. To accomplish this, the School Psychology program adheres to a scientist-practitioner training model, and students learn to conceptualize according to an ecological-behavioral theoretical model. We aim to instill an awareness of diversity issues into our students, a task made easier considering the University of Houston’s status as one of our nation’s most culturally and linguistically diverse research institutions. That diversity extends to the program itself: almost one-half of our doctoral students claim non-Caucasian ancestry.

Office of Program Consultation and Accreditation
American Psychological Association
750 First Street NE
Washington D.C. 20002-4242
Phone: (202) 336-5979
TDD/TTY: (202) 336-6123
Fax: (202) 336-5978
apaaccred@apa.org

  • Accreditedby the American Psychological Association
  • Approvedby the National Association of School Psychologists
  • 5 - 6 yearsto complete program without transferable graduate credit
  • 4 - 5 yearsto complete program with prior graduate credit
Upon completion of the program, School Psychology graduates will develop skills in the following areas:
  • Scholarly inquiry, research, writing and presentation skills
  • Application of critical analysis and inquiry to existing research and the ability to identify, select, implement and evaluate evidence-based practices.
  • Sensitivity to ecological, diverse and developmental considerations and concern for client preferences
  • Exposure and supervised experience with diverse populations, conditions, professionals, settings and procedures.
  • Understanding of the scientist-practitioner model which emphasizes an integrated, hierarchical sequence of coursework, practica, internship and research experiences

A doctoral degree in School Psychology prepares graduates for professional work as psychologists in academic and non-academic positions. Students who complete the program are prepared to apply for the following credentials:

  • Licensed Psychologist
  • Licensed Specialist in School Psychology
  • National Certified School Psychologist
  • Designation as a Health Service Provider by the National Register of Health Service Providers in Psychology
  • Diplomate in School Psychology.
The School Psychology program at the University of Houston meets applicable licensure requirements in the state of Texas. The program has not made a determination whether the curriculum meets the educational requirements for licensure in states outside of Texas.

The following is a list of current School Psychology faculty:

Research

The School Psychology faculty's research ranges from Autism Spectrum Disorder and language development to student assessments and multilingual classrooms. Visit the PHLS Research Portal to learn more about our diverse interests and discover faculty pursuing answers to the questions that matter to you.

Feel free to contact faculty directly to learn more about their research. You can find contact information in the Research Portal or by visiting the COE Faculty Directory.

Financial Aid

All School Psychology doctoral students are encouraged to apply for scholarships through the UH and the College of Education. To learn more about how to fund your graduate studies, visit the Graduate Funding page.

Graduate Tuition Fellowship

Graduate Tuition Fellowship (GTF) provides tuition remission for 9 credit hours, during the academic year, to students who enroll in at least 9 credit hours. During the summer term, GTFs are contingent upon available budget. Not all years in the graduate program may be covered by this program.

Assistantships

Graduate appointments are usually available to students during the first two years of graduate studies. The program doesn't cover mandatory fees or course fees. Not all years in the graduate program are covered by this program. 

To learn more about funding your education, contact the COE's College of Graduate Studies at coegrad@central.uh.edu or call 713-743-7676.

Houston, Texas

Houston is the fourth largest city in the United States and one of the nation's most diverse cities. This fact benefits our students and faculty both personally and professionally. Home to more than 100 different nationalities and where more than 60 different languages are spoken, Houston is the perfect environment to practice what you're learning in the classroom. The city also boasts more than 12,000 theater seats and 11,000 diverse restaurants featuring cuisines from around the globe (Don't know where to start? Just ask a Houstonian, and they're sure to bombard you with at least a dozen places to eat.) 

Houston is bustling with culture, energy and offers something for everyone inside and outside the classroom.

(Background photo: “Metropolis” by eflon is licensed under CC BY 2.0.)

Ready to Apply?

Are you ready to apply to the University of Houston School Psychology doctoral program? Yes? You can learn more about the application process by visiting the College of Education's Graduate Admissions page or jump right into the application process by visiting the UH's How to Apply to Graduate School page.

If you need more information about the School Psychology program, we are here to help. You can always contact the COE Office of Graduate Studies by phone at 713-743-7676 or by email.

Farish Hall

Contact Us

The School Psychology doctoral program is a member of UH's Psychological, Health, & Learning Sciences department.

Program Director: Dr. Brad Smith

UH College of Education
Stephen Power Farish Hall
3657 Cullen Blvd., Room 491
Houston, TX 77204-5023

Undergraduate: coeug@uh.edu or 713-743-5000
Graduate: coegrad@central.uh.edu or 713-743-7676
General: coecomm@uh.edu or 713-743-5010

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