phd in psychology vs masters in psychology

Doctorate in Psychology (Ph.D. and Psy.D.) – everything you need to know in 2024

What’s in this guide, ph.d. or psy.d..

• Why get a doctorate in psychology?

Entry Requirements

• PhD in psychology jobs
• How long does it take to study?

How to choose a program

How much does it cost, earning potential , find your degree.

By psychologyjobs.com Staff Writer

A doctorate in psychology is a terminal degree typically lasting 4-7 years. It prepares graduates for independent research, clinical practice, or university-level teaching careers in psychology.

There are many reasons you may want to pursue a doctorate degree in Psychology, the following guide will provide everything you need to know; from the options, costs, timeframes, career advantages and more.

First up, what are the two types of doctorate degree you can get and what are the differences?

The two doctorate degrees you can get in psychology are Ph.D. and Psy.D.

In simple terms, a Ph.D. in psychology is more research-focused, while a Psy.D. emphasizes clinical practice. The best choice between the two depends on your career goals and whether you prefer research and academia or direct clinical work.

Why study for a doctorate in psychology?

• Doctorate-level psychologists typically have higher earning potential compared to those with a master’s degree or bachelor’s degree in the field.
• Gain in-depth knowledge and expertise in your chosen area of specialization within psychology.
• Potentially make significant contributions to the field.
• Advanced career opportunities in various settings, such as academia, research institutions, government agencies, hospitals, and private practice.
• Connect with other professionals, researchers, and academics in the field of psychology, expanding your professional network

The minimum requirements to study a doctorate degree in psychology will vary from institution to institution. However, there are several common requirements:

• Bachelor’s degree:  all programs require applicants to have completed a  bachelor’s degree , in psychology or a related field. Some programs may accept candidates with a degree in another discipline if they have completed prerequisite coursework in psychology.
• Master’s degree : Some doctoral programs require applicants to have a  master’s degree in psychology  or a related field. Others may admit students directly from their bachelor’s degree and incorporate a master’s degree into the doctorate program.
• GPA : Many programs have a minimum GPA requirement, usually 3.0 or higher. Some competitive programs require a higher GPA.
• Letters of recommendation : Applicants typically need to submit letters of recommendation from professors or professionals who can speak to their academic and research abilities.
• Research experience : Prior research experience is often valued by doctoral programs in psychology. This may include experience working on research projects, completing a thesis, or participating in research internships or assistantships.
• Personal statement:  Applicants usually need to submit a personal statement or statement of purpose that outlines their academic and research interests, career goals, and why they are interested in the specific doctoral program.

Doctorate in psychology jobs

• Addiction Counselor
• ABA Therapist
• Mental Health Therapist
• Licensed Mental Health Conselor
• Licensed Professional Counselor
• Licensed Clinical Social Worker
• Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist
• School Psychologist
• Organizational Psychologist
• Forensic Psychologist
• Sports Psychologist
• Clinical Psychologist
• Counseling Psychologist
• Research Psychologist
• Professor of Psychology
• Child Psychologist

*Outside of the licensed psychologist jobs listed above many of the above roles  do not require a doctorate but it is important to note that employers for these roles are increasingly favoring candidates with a doctorate. 

How Long Does It Take To Study?

For the majority of students, a doctorate in Psychology may take anywhere from 4-7 years to finish, which will include a research dissertation and most likely residency or an internship in clinical or medical environments.

By far and away the question our career coaches get asked most frequently about doctorate degrees is how to choose a program. The choice of institutions and programs is truly overwhelming.

Here are some key factors to consider:

• Accreditation – Ensuring the program is accredited by the American Psychological Association . Accreditation affects the quality of education you will receive, your eligibility for professional licensure, and your job prospects after graduation.
• Program Focus and Curriculum –  Different programs may emphasize various aspects of psychology, such as clinical practice, counseling, research, or specific subfields like neuropsychology or health psychology. Match the program’s strengths and curriculum to your career interests and goals. Investigate whether the program offers courses and training that are critical to your desired career path.
• Faculty Expertise – Look into the backgrounds and areas of expertise of the faculty within the program. Consider how these align with your research interests or the professional skills you wish to acquire. Having mentors who are experts in your area of interest can provide invaluable guidance and opportunities for collaboration.
• Research Opportunities – For those interested in research, evaluate the resources available, such as labs, funding, and support for attending conferences or conducting fieldwork. Check if the program encourages or requires publications and what kind of support it offers to achieve these milestones.
• Clinical Training and Internships – For clinically oriented programs, look at the quality and variety of their practicum and internship placements. These are often required for licensure.
• Funding and Financial Support – Understand the types of financial support offered by the program, including teaching and research assistantships, fellowships, and grants. Funding can significantly impact your experience by allowing you to focus more fully on your studies and research without needing to seek employment externally.
• Alumni Success and Networking Opportunities –  Investigate where alumni of the program are currently working. This can give you a sense of the program’s reputation and effectiveness in placing graduates in jobs. Additionally, networking opportunities through alumni networks, professional associations, and academic conferences can be critical for career development.
• Program Size and Student Support Services – Consider the size of the program and the ratio of faculty to students, which can affect the amount of individual attention and mentoring you receive.
• Location – Certain locations might offer better practicum, internship, and employment opportunities in your field of interest due to the presence of significant healthcare facilities, research institutions, or industries.

Depending upon the institution, method of study, location and type of program then you can expect to pay $25,000-$80,000 per year to study for a doctorate in psychology.

An online program would likely fall at the lower end of this range whilst an out of state student in a private university might expect to pay the upper end of this range.

Many psychology doctoral programs, particularly in research-oriented universities, offer funding packages to their students. These can include full or partial tuition waivers, health insurance coverage, and a stipend to help with living expenses

The average salary for an individual with a doctorate in psychology is $114,768.

Earning potential varies considerably by specialty, location and industry but we see roles requiring a doctorate advertised in the $80,000-$130,000 range.

• PhD in Organizational Psychology
• PhD in Educational Psychology
• PhD in Forensic Psychology
• PhD in Counseling Psychology
• PhD in Behavioral Psychology
• PhD in Child Psychology
• PhD in Clinical Psychology
• PhD in Neuropsychology
• PhD in Sports Psychology

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Difference between a Masters and Doctoral Degree

What's the difference between a masters degree and a doctoral degree, rank and salary.

Relative to individuals with masters degrees, those with doctoral degrees have more opportunities to obtain higher-ranking positions with more independence. For example, a masters degree would enable you to get a job in marketing, but to become the head of marketing research at a company you would probably need a Ph.D. Likewise a masters degree would enable you to get a job conducting research, but to become the head of the lab (the person responsible for designing and overseeing all the studies being conducted) you would probably need a Ph.D.

Preparation for particular kinds of careers

A Ph.D. is usually required for a career as a professor, or as the head of a research lab. However, note that many other positions can be held with either a masters or a doctoral degree.

Amount of credits/time required to complete the degree

A doctoral program takes a minimum of 4 years, while a masters program takes approximately 2 years. Often people in doctoral programs will receive a masters along the way, after about 2 years.

Research focus during graduate school

Doctoral programs in psychology are highly research oriented, and require a doctoral dissertation on research you conduct. Masters programs in psychology and related fields may or may not be particularly research oriented (it depends on the program).

Who pays for graduate school

Ph.D. programs often provide funding to cover the cost of tuition, and offer their students research assistant and teaching assistant positions to help pay for living costs while attending graduate school full time.

Application process

Applications to doctoral programs often involve applying to work with a particular professor who would become your research advisor/mentor as well as your primary source of funding. You’d first explore various professors’ research interests, read their papers, and find out if they will be taking any new students to work with them. When you apply, you’d write a different essay for each school explaining your own research ideas and skills and highlighting how they would make a good fit for a particular professor’s labs.

When applying to masters programs you’ll still want to familiarize yourself with the departments you are applying to, but there is rarely a need to apply to work with specific potential mentors at each school.

Which program are you applying to?

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Graduate School in Psychology: PsyD or Psy Phd, Which Is Right for You?

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Occupational Outlook Handbook states, “Overall employment of psychologists is projected to grow 6 percent from 2021 to 2031, about as fast as the average for all occupations,” though the anticipated bump for specialists in clinical and counseling psychology is slightly higher, at a projected 10%.

The publication continues, “About 14,100 openings for psychologists are projected each year, on average, over the decade. Many of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire.” 

Are you considering graduate school in psychology?  

There are master of science degree programs in clinical counseling that provide the education and pathway to become a licensed professional counselor (LPC) or a licensed social worker (LSW), both of which are essentially secure careers as mental health counselor professionals. An LPC must work under the supervision of an LPCC (licensed professional clinical counselor), whereas an LSW must work under the supervision of an LISW (licensed independent social worker). Both the LPC and the LSW have career paths that require a master’s degree from an accredited university, a minimum of 3,000 hours of clinical work supervised by an independent practitioner, and certification with an advanced licensing exam. Once an LPC or LSW has met the criteria to advance in their field and practice without mandatory supervision, they may become an LPCC or LISW counselor and are able to diagnose and treat mental health issues, though they are not able to prescribe medications.

According to a May 2020 Psychology Today article called “Careers in Psychology 2020,” “Master’s-level programs overlap more with undergraduate education. People may pursue a master’s education as an end in itself, to deepen and broaden their knowledge in a certain area.” Some mental health caseworkers pursue a graduate degree through a work incentive to achieve licensing; others do so because they’re ladder climbers and can find themselves – upon completing an accredited master’s program in psychology – eager to keep climbing after encountering the work of a clinical psychologist or clinical psychology researcher. 

Do you want a medical degree (MD, DO) or a doctorate or PhD in psychology?

Some people come to clinical psychology after weighing the options: psychiatry versus a doctorate in clinical psychology versus a PhD in clinical psychology.  

A psychiatrist is a medical doctor (MD or DO) who completes medical school and pursues a specialization in psychiatry. Following medical school, they complete a residency in psychiatry, which involves specialized training in the diagnosis and treatment of mental health disorders. Psychiatrists often work in clinical settings, hospitals, and private practices. Psychiatrists are qualified to provide talk therapy, but they more commonly focus on medical management of mental health conditions. They can prescribe medication to address psychiatric disorders and might use a combination of therapy and medication for treatment. Their approach to assessment might lean more toward medical and biological factors when determining whether medication is appropriate. Patient care is often managed in tandem with a clinical counselor or therapist who provides therapy and counseling services.

Psychology doctoral programs demand a different level of motivation and commitment than master’s degree programs, and they require one to be quite clear about one’s life and career goals. A PhD in psychology (Psy PhD), a doctorate degree in psychology (PsyD), and a doctorate in education (EdD) in psychology are all pathways to professional counseling careers, though not with the same career goals. 

Generally, the application and graduation requirements for EdD and PsyD programs can be less rigorous than those for PhD programs. However, any doctoral-level grad school degree is highly competitive and a means to a rewarding and reputable career.

The EdD appeals to teachers and administrators who will continue to work in higher education and schools. According to Psychology.org , “The Ed.D. remains a popular option for professional educators like teachers, administrators, and counselors wanting to gain more expertise, qualify for an additional license, or move into a leadership position.” The site notes that school psychologists who hope to enter independent clinical practice would benefit more from completing a PsyD. 

Choosing between a Psy PhD and a PsyD program depends on one’s career goals, interests, and preferences. Both programs lead to a doctoral degree in psychology, but they have different emphases and outcomes. 

If your primary goal is to work as a clinical psychologist providing therapy and counseling, a PsyD program aligns better with your career aspirations. Licensed clinical psychologists work in clinical settings such as hospitals, clinics, and private practice. They primarily use talk therapy and counseling techniques to help individuals address emotional, psychological, and behavioral issues using various therapeutic modalities, such as cognitive behavioral therapy, psychoanalysis, and humanistic therapy, to help clients understand and manage their thoughts, emotions, and behaviors. Clinical psychologists are trained in conducting psychological assessments and diagnostic testing to evaluate a person’s mental health and cognitive functioning.

PsyD programs typically take four to six years to complete. They can involve fewer research requirements than PhD programs, and although some PsyD programs do include research activity, the focus is primarily on developing clinical skills and practical experience. 

If you are more interested in conducting research , teaching, and potentially pursing an academic career, a PhD program is a better fit. PhD programs in psychology emphasize research and academic scholarship. Students are trained to conduct original research, contribute to the field’s knowledge base, and publish scientific papers. PhD graduates pursue academic careers as professors, researchers, and scholars. They might teach at universities, conduct research, and mentor students. Some work at research institutions, government agencies, and private organizations.

PhD programs are typically longer than PsyD programs, taking five to seven years to complete. They require comprehensive exams and a dissertation on original research.

Either way, know the specific focus of the schools and programs you’re interested in attending. Look for accredited schools with certifications in subspecialities conferred by professional associations, including the American Board of Professional Psychology and the American Psychological Association.

Know the clinical counseling focus and philosophy of a PsyD program and the career aims of those orientations. Some schools have a wide reach in that their curriculum and research cover many tracks, from neuropsychology to multiculturalism, whereas other schools’ research interests are narrow. 

Take Rutgers University’s PsyD program, for instance. The program focuses primarily on two tracks, clinical counseling and school psychology. As a result, the research focus is on these areas of specialization, offering research exposure and experience in applied behavioral analysis, autism spectrum disorders, and addiction.

The University of Hartford, on the other hand, is a general program serving students who want a population focus in child and adolescent development and psychology broadly. 

Aim to find a school that presents a program, curriculum, service learning, and faculty that are committed to your field of interest. Additionally, for Psy PhD programs, know the research focus and philosophy goals of the professors and their laboratories. PhD research in clinical psychology often falls into the following categories: clinical, counseling, school, cognitive, social, industrial organizational, marriage and the family, behavioral neuroscience psychology, and forensic.

For PsyD programs, know their curriculum orientation within the scope of employment you’ll be seeking, because they often differentiate between adult clinical, child clinical, and health tracks. Many schools have subspecialities and corollary tracks.

Whether the EdD, PsyD, or Psy PhD degree is for you, always seek out an accredited program . Do your school research, looking at specializations, the scope of the educational experience, the orientation to the field and subfields, the expertise of the faculty, graduation rates, and work placement success – and start that application early.

Dr. Mary Mahoney, PhD, is the medical humanities director at Elmira College and has more than 20 years of experience as an advisor and essay reviewer for med school applicants. She is a tenured English professor with an MFA in creative writing from Sarah Lawrence College and a PhD in literature and writing from the University of Houston. For the past 20 years, Mary has served as a grad school advisor and essay reviewer for med school applicants.  Want Mary to help you get Accepted? Click here to get in touch!

Related Resources:

• Acing the PsyD Interview: The 3-P Plan
• Insider Tips on Applying to PsyD Programs
• The “Sizzle Factor”: 5 Tips for Writing PsyD Personal Statements

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What Are the Different Types of Psychology Degrees?

May 10, 2021 

Interested in a career that focuses on how the mind, brain and behavior work together? Earning a psychology degree may place you on the path to pursuing a variety of roles in the field. Professionals in this area observe, interpret and record individuals’ cognitive, emotional and social skills. They focus their work on how humans interact with one another and their environments. And in turn, they provide their clients with the resources to cope more effectively with challenging life issues. 

Different psychology degrees can be earned at every level of higher education. An associate degree may fulfill requirements for jobs as a medical assistant or preschool teacher, while a bachelor’s degree in psychology can lead to potential opportunities to be a training specialist or market research analyst. A master’s degree may satisfy requirements for psychologist positions in settings including industrial organizations. A master’s can also prepare individuals for jobs as marriage and family therapists or applied behavior analysts, or it can be a step toward a doctoral degree, which some states require to become a licensed therapist.

According to the American Psychological Association (APA), the two most common doctoral degrees are the Doctor of Philosophy, or PhD, and the Doctor of Psychology, or PsyD . The former is designed for students looking to engage in research and produce new knowledge and the latter focuses on the application of psychological science to provide a service to individuals or groups. 

Types of Psychology Graduate Programs

The APA explains that professionals may pursue master’s degrees in psychology to receive more training and credentials to qualify for a doctoral program or to gain skills and knowledge for advancement in a specific career or organization—from marriage and family therapy to applied behavior analysis. Graduates with master’s degrees may find employment in a variety of sectors, including private business, government, education and healthcare. They may pursue doctoral programs for greater depth of knowledge and to make new discoveries through scientific research.

Pepperdine University Graduate School of Education and Psychology (GSEP) offers master’s degree programs that provide skills for graduates to be able to become licensed and work as marriage and family therapists, clinical psychologists or applied behavior analysts. With a mission to prepare people to inspire change and enrich lives in their organizations and communities, Pepperdine’s online psychology graduate programs are available to students all over the world.

Learn about different psychology degrees to determine which type matches your professional goals.

Master of Arts in Clinical Psychology (LPC or LMFT)  

Clinical psychology programs may lead to a career as a licensed marriage and family therapist (LMFT) or licensed professional counselor (LPC). 

MA in clinical psychology programs usually require a bachelor’s degree. In addition, transcripts, a minimum undergraduate GPA, GRE scores, letters of recommendation, personal statements, a resume and application fee may be required.

Academic Experience: 

Curriculum for an MA in clinical psychology may cover a variety of topics including diagnosis and treatment of mental health disorders, multicultural counseling, theory of counseling and psychotherapy, trauma in diverse populations, research methodology, psychological assessment and intervention science. Students can expect to complete a practicum where a practicing clinical psychologist supervises their work in a clinical setting.

Program Outcomes:  

Graduates of clinical psychology MA programs may pursue a doctoral degree in clinical psychology. They can also become research coordinators or research assistants, building their credentials to enter a doctoral program. Those interested in employment options can use their knowledge of research methods, analysis and intervention techniques in workplace settings that involve counseling, behavioral research or treatment development plans. In some states, MA clinical psychology graduates may apply for MFT licensure. Contact your state’s licensing board for more specifics.

As mentioned, Pepperdine offers online psychology graduate programs, including an MA in clinical psychology that offers paths to licensure for LPC or LMFT careers. The licensure paths available to students outside of California depend specifically on the program’s ability to operate within certain states. 

Master of Arts in Psychology (MAP)

Master of Arts in Psychology programs may lead to doctoral study in psychology, a career in the field of human services or professional advancement in a related field.

MAP programs typically require a bachelor’s degree. Other requirements may include transcripts, a minimum undergraduate GPA, GRE scores, letters of recommendation, personal statements, a resume and application fee. 

Curriculum for MA in psychology programs may encompass topic areas such as research methods, data collection and analysis, core psychological concepts, mental and emotional disorders, professional ethics and scientific writing in psychology. Students may learn how psychological principles can be used to evaluate behavior, personality and intelligence. Multiple electives may be offered, allowing a customized graduate program experience.

Professionals who have a MAP degree may use the breadth of knowledge that they acquired in graduate school in various settings. Their skills may be applied to high-level research, which can lead to doctoral degrees. Graduates who want to enter the workforce may find employment in areas such as behavioral counseling, human resources, advertising and market research.

Pepperdine offers online psychology graduate programs, including an MA in psychology. You are not required to provide GRE scores to apply to an online psychology program from Pepperdine’s GSEP.

Master of Science in Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA)

Applied behavior analysis master’s programs may lead to careers involving the application of behavioral psychology. Students acquire skills to work with individuals diagnosed with impairments such as autism, developmental disabilities or traumatic brain injury.

MS in ABA programs usually require a bachelor’s degree. In addition, transcripts, a minimum undergraduate GPA, GRE scores, letters of recommendation, personal statements, a resume and application fee may be required.

Students in MS in applied behavior analysis programs typically take courses in areas such as concepts and principles of applied behavior analysis, autism spectrum disorders, assessment procedures, interventions, ethical and professional conduct, research methods and child psychopathology. Students usually are required to complete clinical training that helps them learn to observe and assess behavior patterns, identify target behaviors, consider evidence-based treatments and determine strategies to promote positive changes.

Some MS in ABA programs help prepare graduates to sit for the Board Certified Behavior Analysts (BCBA) exam. Graduates who become certified behavior analysts may seek employment in a sector of their choice—government, private industry, schools and colleges, hospitals and mental health clinics. They also may be qualified for a variety of roles, including behavior analyst, clinical director, educational consultant, instructional designer and organizational consultant. Applied behavior analysts often provide assessment and intervention services to people with autism spectrum disorders.

Pepperdine offers online psychology graduate programs, including an MS in ABA designed for students who want to learn more about human behavior to help those in need. 

Master of Science in Forensic Psychology

Master of Science in forensic psychology programs may open doors to careers that merge mental health and criminal justice. 

MS programs in forensic psychology usually require a bachelor’s degree. In addition, transcripts, a minimum undergraduate GPA, letters of recommendation, personal statements, a resume and application fee may be required.

Master’s in forensic psychology programs typically will include coursework in criminal law, psychopathology, criminal behavior, behavioral interventions, research methods and witness testimony. Graduates are generally expected to complete supervised field work that provides them with hands-on training in a forensic setting where they may perform administrative tasks and make clinical observations.

An MS in forensic psychology may open the door to opportunities for people looking to begin a career or advance in the realms of law enforcement, corrections, mental health advocacy and administration, criminal analysis, victim advocacy and policy analysis.

PhD in Psychology

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in psychology programs may prepare graduates to pursue careers in academia, where the emphasis is on engaging in research and producing new knowledge.

PhD in psychology programs, which often have areas of specialization, typically require a bachelor’s degree, and applicants may have a master’s degree. Professionals seeking PhDs in psychology usually have completed coursework in psychology and statistics and are able to show competence as researchers. In addition, transcripts, a statement of purpose, GRE scores, letters of recommendation, a resume, writing samples and an application fee may be required.

Professionals who earn a PhD in psychology may have a specialty area of graduate study. Specialities include clinical psychology, developmental psychology and quantitative psychology. They may be required to have teaching experience and will complete coursework on experimental procedures. A dissertation, internship experience, comprehensive written exam or oral examination may be required before graduation.

While licensing laws vary by state, most clinical and counseling psychologists need a doctoral degree, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Doctor of Psychology PsyD

Doctor of Psychology (PsyD) programs may lead to careers that are focused more on administering psychological services rather than engaging in research. 

Applicants to PsyD programs typically have a bachelor’s degree in psychology or another subject, with additional classes such as general psychology, psychopathology, statistics, research methods and learning theory. In addition, transcripts, a statement of purpose, GRE scores, letters of recommendation, a resume, writing samples and an application fee may be required.

PsyD programs typically offer a curriculum that covers advanced psychotherapy and research methods, case studies and clinical training with supervision. Students are generally expected to complete a dissertation with guidance from faculty.

Professionals with PsyD degrees may pursue state licensure to work as practicing psychologists, according to an APA article.

Different Types of Psychology Fields

Psychology is an area of science that encompasses several specialties. While more ubiquitous areas include clinical psychology, applied behavioral analysis and counseling, other types of psychology and their concentrations include: 

Cognitive: Processes of thinking, remembering and learning.

Climate and environmental: Interaction of people with their environment.

Counseling: People’s development so they can be independent and thrive at all stages of life.

Developmental: Improving the lives of people with developmental challenges.

Experimental: Behavior of humans and animals.

Health: Improving people’s health and wellness using psychology.

Industrial and organizational: Behavior of people in organizations and at work.

Sports and performance: Improving psychological obstacles impeding athletic performance.

For professionals interested in pursuing a master’s degree in psychology, Pepperdine GSEP offers the following online graduate degree programs: MA in clinical psychology, MA in psychology and MS in applied behavior analysis.

The same master’s degree programs are available to those interested in earning a degree in person. Professionals who wish to further their education can consider Pepperdine GSEP’s Doctor of Psychology (PsyD) in Clinical Psychology program.  

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Masters vs. Doctorate in Clinical Psychology

Know the facts when deciding between a master's or doctorate in clinical psych..

Posted June 13, 2016 | Reviewed by Ekua Hagan

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In choosing a career related to clinical psychology, there are a lot of decisions that must be made. In a previous post we discussed the Ph.D.-PsyD decision. Today, we want to explore another tough decision: Master's (e.g., MA/MS in Psychology, Marriage , and Family (Counseling) Therapy , Mental Health Counseling or MSW) versus Doctorate (Ph.D. or PsyD).

Let’s start with some basic characteristics of each type of degree. First, a Master of Psychology can be in clinical (best suited for those with an interest in psychopathological populations and behavioral health), counseling (best for those interested in vocational and career processes, human diversity, and professional training) or educational (provide counseling services to students, including those with a learning disability or those with behavioral or social problems).

Second, a Master's of Social Work (MSW) degree can be in a clinical direct practice track, or a macro-practice track (i.e., focus on political advocacy, community organizing, policy analysis and/or human services management ).

Third, a PsyD is a Doctor of Psychology degree that is best suited for those with an interest in psychopathological populations and behavioral health, and places greater emphasis on the practice of psychology and less emphasis on research. Finally, a Ph.D. (a Doctor of Philosophy degree) can be obtained in the same domains as a Master’s degree, and puts greater emphasis on research than a PsyD.

The time frame for completing each of these graduate degrees is MSW: 2 years, MA: 2 years, PsyD: 4-6 years, and Ph.D.: 5-7 years. During these years of study, it is important to note that (in general) only Ph.D. students will receive support (tuition paid and a stipend) during their years in graduate school.

Of course, there are funding exceptions, especially in cases where a university only has a Master’s program. In addition, scholarships are sometimes available to MSW, MA and PsyD students, but this is generally rare. Support during graduate school might be very important for you, because you can rack up literally tens of thousands of dollars each year in financial assistance, and the amount of money you will earn with your graduate degree may not be as high as you imagined.

Master’s and PsyD programs, in general, are unable to provide the same type of support as a Ph.D. program. Part of this is tied to the fact that typically only Ph.D. students serve as Teaching Assistants or Research Assistants. Also, because Ph.D. programs have far fewer graduate students than PsyD programs, schools are able to afford to support their Ph.D. students.

As far as deciding to go Master or Doctorate degree, there are several issues to keep in mind. First, the general state of affairs for graduate school acceptance is that there is a hierarchy, with Master's programs being easier to get into than PsyD programs and Ph.D programs being the hardest to get into. For the sake of this post, ease of being accepted is defined in terms of grades and GRE scores, although other factors (e.g., clinical and research experience) do come into play. Of course, there are exceptions to this hierarchy, and you may decide to seek a degree at a for-profit school where grades and GRE score are not deemed as important as a non-profit public or private institution.

Our point is simply that your decision about going for a Master’s or Doctorate degree in a graduate program may be a function of what type of program your grades can get you into. We are not saying this is fair, but we hope you understand that schools need some way to pare down the number of students they will accept, with grades and (especially) GRE scores are seen as two important criteria to make these decisions.

We want to add one more point about all of this. It may be the case that your undergraduate academic record is not strong enough to get into a Doctoral program, but you can get accepted into a Master’s program and you do very well in this program. This can work to your advantage if you still want a Doctorate. The thinking here is that if you do well in the Master’s program, you show a Doctoral program that your undergraduate academic record was not indicative of your true potential. However, your stellar record in your Master’s program can show you have what it takes to continue your education in a Doctoral program.

The second issue to think about is the length of time you will be in graduate school. As stated above, the time in graduate school is shorter for a Master’s student than a Ph.D. student. Of course, this means a typical Master’s student can be earning a real salary a few years before a Ph.D. student. Although this is true, one must keep in mind (1) a Master’s degree leads (on average) to a lower salary than a PhD, and (2) a Master’s student will typically have some debt incurred during their two years in school. Let me add that to find out tuition costs for any APA-accredited graduate program, go to their website and look for the link that says “Student Admissions, Outcomes and Other Data.” I think you will be very surprised to see the tuition costs at graduate programs—they’re pretty high. As stated earlier, a Ph.D. student will typically not have any tuition debt hanging over their head. Thus the extra salary for a Master’s student in the time they are out of graduate school working compared to the stipend of a Ph.D. student will probably be offset by the debt the Master’s student must repay.

Third, whether you go for a Master’s or Doctoral degree, you need to consider issues of accreditation of your graduate program and (for Doctoral degrees) your clinical internship. The reason for this is that graduating from an accredited program will offer a greater range of job opportunities. In fact, some employers will only hire those from accredited graduate programs (e.g., the Veterans Administration). If a school does not indicate that it is accredited (e.g., from the American Psychological Association) it should be viewed with caution. With all of this in mind, you should know that to be licensed (certified to practice by a state) in your chosen field it is often the case that you need an accredited graduate degree or internship. Also, note that licensure requires supervised professional experience, an examination at both the state and national levels. Specific courses may be required if a state deems it necessary.

Fourth, as discussed earlier, you must be clear about the issue of job opportunities and salary. In general, it is the case that Master’s degrees lead to fewer job opportunities and lower salaries than Doctoral degrees. One could argue that this is a function of the amount of training--employers are looking for potential employees who have more experience and supervised training. Some might argue that in this regard, a Doctoral student has a stronger foundation of training than a Master's student.

Fifth, you need to decide how much research training versus clinical practice training you want. If you are hoping for the former, then a Ph.D. is definitely for you. A Master’s in Psychology degree may include some research experience. An MSW and a PsyD will likely offer the least research training. One must keep in mind, however, that regardless of the clinical degree you pursue, there will always be some discussion of research, since the basis of diagnoses, testing, therapeutic techniques, etc. is based on research. The key point here is that certain clinical degrees do not require you to be actually conducting research.

Finally, give some thought to how much independence you want to have when you graduate. This all revolves around the issue of licensure that was raised earlier, and it gets very complicated because every state has its own laws regarding licensure for psychology-related degrees. Make sure you understand the laws for the state where you will practice. Of course, you might not know where you will end up, but you must be aware that the state where you end up living may have very different laws than what you expected or from where you originally were working. An important point to keep in mind about licensure is that once you are licensed, if you decide to go into private practice, your fee schedule is typically market-driven.

With all of this in mind, licensure issues require you to consider the following (also check out this info from the APA ):

You need to see what are the licenses your state approves. For a PsyD and PhD, this is not a problem, because all states will have a license for a Psychologist. The issue gets tricky when you have a Master's degree, because states tend to have different types of licensure for these individuals.

• If your state does not have a license that meets your background, what requirements are needed to get a license in a different area? For example, your Master’s degree may not allow you to be licensed as a Psychologist, but after meeting additional requirements you might get licensed as a Licensed Clinical Counselor.
• You need to be clear which licenses require you to be supervised (by a colleague with a certain license) and which allow for autonomous functioning (i.e., functioning on your own). Keep in mind that an employer typically likes an employee to be autonomous—they do not like paying for two hours of supervision (your time and that of your supervisor).
• When you apply for a license that will eventually allow autonomous functioning, what are the requirements to ultimately receive this license (e.g., supervision hours, direct service hours) that you must fulfill?

In presenting these important factors to think about with regard to a Master's vs. Doctoral degree], we, of course, understand that each individual has unique circumstances that must be taken into account. Still, we hope that presenting these factors gives you some food for thought as you consider your ultimate career path in clinical psychology.

Please note that the comments of Dr. Golding, Dr. Lippert and the others who post on this blog express their own opinion and not that of the University of Kentucky.

Want more? Check out our website for more psychology-related career information.

Jonathan Golding, Ph.D. , is a professor of psychology at the University of Kentucky. Anne Lippert, Ph.D. , is a post-doctoral fellow at the University of Kentucky.

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Welcome to the Psychology PhD program at Harvard University!

Our work is united in the focus on the science of mental life, yet highly interdisciplinary.

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Students enrolled in the PhD program may follow one of two tracks: Clinical Science or the Common Curriculum, which includes Social Psychology, Developmental Psychology, and Cognition, Brain, and Behavior (CBB). Students may only be considered for Clinical Science during the graduate school application process, and may not transfer in at a later date.

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Getting Your Psychology PhD or PsyD Without a Master’s

Completing a doctoral degree in psychology can be a crucial educational step toward a challenging but rewarding career in the field, whether working with patients or contributing to the field in other ways.

With multiple possible degree paths that end in similar outcomes, it can be difficult for students to understand the best route to take, depending on the education they already have. Specifically, for students who have only a bachelor’s degree, many worry their options for a psychology Ph.D. or a Psy.D. may be limited.

So let’s explore what students need to know about getting a psychology Ph.D. or Psy.D. without having a master’s degree.

Psychology Doctorate Options

At the end of both a Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in Psychology and a Doctor of Psychology (Psy.D.), an individual will have earned a doctorate and, depending on their personal preferences and professional goals, could use the “Dr.” title. But the details of the degrees are quite different, and which is right likely will depend on the individual and their career dreams.

In general, Psy.D. degrees are more appropriate for those who want to work directly with patients or clients, while Ph.D. degrees may appeal more to those who want to work in academic research to help advance understanding of human behavior.

SEE ALSO:   Online Accredited PsyD Programs

Of course, that’s a guideline rather than a rule, and students who earn either type of degree can work in many different areas of psychology, or may earn enough experience and education to overlap a few areas of the field.

Importantly, though, it’s more common for Psy.D. tracks than Ph.D. tracks to include supervised professional experience as part of the doctoral program, which may impact a graduate’s ability to earn professional licensure (more on that later).

Starting Point

Regardless of what comes next, prospective psychology doctoral students will need to earn a bachelor’s degree. Ideally, they’d major in psychology in college, though there are a handful of other subjects that could suffice, depending on their doctoral program.

These include:

• Social work
• Anthropology

Many doctoral programs will accept applicants who have only a bachelor’s degree, but there are several considerations that may impact whether doctoral candidates can apply with only an undergrad degree:

• Length of doctoral program: Shorter Ph.D. or Psy.D. programs, meaning those that are designed to be completed in only a few years, will usually require students to complete a master’s degree before they apply. For example, an optional completion timeline offered in the Psy.D. program at the University of Indianapolis accepts only those applicants who have already completed a master’s degree in the field, and the admissions office prefers those who already have some practical experience under their belts. UIndy’s 3+1 track can be completed in only four years, while most psychology doctorates will take at least five and sometimes closer to seven years.
• Master’s en route: In most longer-timeline programs, students will earn a master’s degree on their way to getting their doctorate. For example, the Tufts University  Ph.D. in Psychology will last at least five years, and students will complete a master’s degree at the end of their second year in the program.
• Prior coursework: In many psychology doctoral programs, students aren’t required to have majored in psychology at any level but rather it’s necessary for them to have completed certain coursework integral to the study of psychology. At the Rutgers Graduate School of Applied and Professional Psychology , Clinical Psy.D. applicants are required to have completed undergrad courses in introductory psychology, statistics, abnormal psychology and biological bases of psychology, in addition to at least one course in cognitive, developmental and/or social psychology, psychology and perception, conditioning and learning, and psychology of personality.

SEE ALSO:   List of Combined Master’s and PsyD Programs

In every state, a series of rules and guidelines apply to the licensure of psychologists. States vary quite dramatically in what they require, but a psychology doctorate is generally the most important educational step.

However, professional experience is also required in every state, usually both before and after earning a doctorate. That means that students who attend Psy.D. or Ph.D. programs that don’t include a supervised professional experience period, such as an internship or other professional practicum, may not satisfy the licensure requirements in their state.

Additionally, many states require students who attend programs that are not accredited by the American Psychology Association to provide a detailed list of all coursework at the doctoral level, and students may have to take remedial graduate courses if their programs don’t meet the standards.

Earning your doctoral degree in psychology, whether by completing a Ph.D. or a Psy.D., is the single best way to earn licensure and become a professional psychologist. While there’s no single possible way of getting there, students who don’t have a master’s degree, and have no need to earn one, likely will find many options for doctorate programs.

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Doctoral degrees in psychology: How are they different, or not so different?

Doctoral degrees in psychology offer individuals preparation to conduct scientific research, professional practice or both. Most individuals receive either the Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) or the Doctor of Psychology (PsyD) degree. Although each of these degrees is designed to engage students in deep knowledge and skills within a subfield of psychology, there are substantial differences in the type of training and career plans of individuals with these degrees. Finding the best-fitting program for an individual student begins with understanding these differences.

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

The PhD is the most common degree conferred in psychology and is generally offered at either private or public research universities. 1  PhD degrees are intended for students interested in generating new knowledge through scientific research (i.e., setting up experiments, collecting data, applying statistical and analytical techniques) and/or gaining teaching experience . PhD graduate students receive substantial training in research methods and statistics in order to independently produce new scientific knowledge and are often required to produce a dissertation to demonstrate research competency. Students enrolling in PhD programs may also be interested in pursuing professional careers in applied work — such as health services, counseling in school settings and consulting in businesses and organizations in addition to research and academic work.

Doctor of Psychology (PsyD)

The PsyD degree came into existence in the 1970s as an alternative to the PhD for those more interested in providing psychological services than conducting disciplinary research. The PsyD degree is generally offered in professional schools of psychology — either affiliated with research or teaching universities or housed in a free-standing graduate school. 2  The focus of PsyD programs is to train students to engage in careers that apply scientific knowledge of psychology and deliver empirically based service to individuals, groups and organizations. Most programs require students to write a thesis or dissertation, and students may use quantitative or qualitative methodologies to demonstrate how psychological research is applied to human behavior.

Both PsyD and PhD programs can prepare students to be licensed psychologists, and training in these types of programs prepares graduates to take state licensing exams (licenses are awarded by individual states, not graduate programs). 3  Many states require graduates to have attended accredited graduate programs to ensure that all students have minimum training and competency necessary for treating patients and serving clients. APA accredits doctoral programs in clinical, counseling and school psychology, and you can find a list of these programs on the APA Office of Program Consultation and Accreditation website.

When you’re gathering information about particular programs, it is important you understand what training and education the program provides so you are aware of what skills and abilities you will acquire and how those prepare you for a career after you get your doctorate. There is no “best” doctoral degree in psychology: There are, however, “best-fits” for your academic and professional goals. Please visit the Office of Graduate and Postgraduate Education and Training website for more resources on graduate study in psychology. The APA Office of Program Consultation also provides further details on the distinctions between PhD and PsyD degrees in its Standards of Accreditation for Health Service Psychology (PDF, 222KB).

1  According to the most recent Graduate Study in Psychology data from 2013-2014, 94 percent of participating PhD programs were housed in university colleges of arts and sciences or education. Participating PhD programs housed within nonspecified or indeterminate institutional locations were excluded from analysis.

2  According to the most recent Graduate Study in Psychology data from 2013-2014, 72 percent of participating PsyD programs were housed within professional schools of psychology (university-based or free-standing) or in medical/health science institutions. Participating PsyD programs housed within non-specified or indeterminate institutional locations were excluded from analysis.

3  The Association of State and Provincial Psychology Boards offers comprehensive resources pertaining to psychology licensure regulations and examination requirements.

About the Authors

Fowler leads the Education Directorate’s efforts to develop resources, guidelines and policies that promote and enhance disciplinary education and training in psychology at the graduate and postdoctoral levels. Throughout his career, Fowler has been active in education, training and career development for young scientists. He served on the National Postdoctoral Association’s board of directors from 2009-12 and is a member of its finance committee. He has been an invited speaker or keynote presenter at more than 100 career development events and has served as a panelist for two National Academies of Science Committees, the State of the Postdoctoral Experience and the Committee on Research Universities. From 2005-07, he was the director of the science careers outreach program at the American Association for the Advancement of Science, where he developed workshops, presentations and seminars and wrote articles to help early career scientists promote and pursue their chosen career paths. He has served as a consultant for universities and research institutions on developing training grants for graduate students and postdoctoral scholars and developing learning outcomes and assessing career outcomes.

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PsyD vs. PhD in Psychology: What’s the Difference?

A PsyD (Doctor of Psychology) degree and a PhD (Doctor of Philosophy) in psychology both offer advanced education and training to develop expertise in psychology. While both degrees prepare you for careers in the field of psychology, deciding which degree is right for you can depend on your career interests. So, PsyD vs. PhD in Psychology: What’s the Difference?

One important factor to consider is whether the doctoral program you are interested in is clinical or non-clinical. A PsyD program focuses on clinical training, while a PhD in psychology is more oriented towards scientific research. It is essential to evaluate your goals for obtaining a graduate degree and choose the program that best aligns with those goals.

Although many PsyD-holders work in research or teaching roles, and many non-clinical PhD-holders work in helping professions, if your objective is to obtain licensure for clinical practice, pursuing a PsyD may be the appropriate choice. Conversely, if you have no interest in clinical practice and prefer a career in other areas, a non-clinical PhD might be a better fit.

What Is a PhD in Psychology?

A non-clinical PhD program in psychology generally focuses on the knowledge of psychology without the focus of specifically working with clients. Usually, PhD programs focus on information rather than practice – how the mind works, how humans develop throughout their lives, or even how changing conditions (in the environment, in a community, or in a family) can impact different populations.

Non-clinical programs also focus on research skills – how to conduct research that contributes to the body of knowledge about psychology. Ultimately, pursuing a PhD in Psychology prepares students for a wide range of career opportunities in the field of psychology, whether in research, consulting, or teaching.

What Is a PsyD?

A PsyD is a doctoral degree in psychology that prepares students for careers as clinical psychologists. It is an applied clinical doctorate degree that is one of the highest-level degrees available in the field of psychology. The degree is a terminal degree, similar to the PhD and EdD, and in many states, the PsyD leads to licensure as long as you also meet the other requirements established by the state’s licensing board.

What’s the Difference Between PsyD and PhD in Psychology?

The key difference between a PsyD and a PhD in psychology lies in the primary focus and training emphasis of each degree. PsyD programs concentrate on clinical work and practical application, preparing students for licensure eligibility and careers as practicing psychologists. In contrast, PhD programs in psychology, particularly those following the scientist-practitioner model, place a greater emphasis on research training and may lead to careers in academia, research, or non-clinical settings.

Feel free to reach out to professors, professionals in the field you are interested in, as well as organizations of interest to determine if your career goals will require licensure. You will need to do some soul-searching and some research, but these efforts will help you choose the best path toward realizing your goals. Contact state and national psychological organizations to request information about licensing requirements. You can also call your state licensing board and speak with an advisor about what jobs and positions require licensure. You can even browse through local job listings to see what the employer’s requirements are.

Courses/Training

PsyD programs typically provide a comprehensive curriculum encompassing clinical theory and application, core psychological principles, research methodologies, and psychological evaluation and assessment. The training component is structured to facilitate practical exposure throughout the program duration, comprising ethnographic learning in the initial stage, followed by multiple practicum placements, an Externship in the penultimate year, and a predoctoral Internship in the final year.

PhD programs typically emphasize scholarly writing and foundational psychological knowledge, coupled with basic to advanced research methods and study planning, as well as psychological tests and measurements. Students have the flexibility to pursue a general PhD program or opt for a specialization in fields such as Gerontology, Health Psychology, Industrial/Organizational Psychology, Gender and Sexuality Psychology, Social Policy and Behavioral Health Administration, Substance-Related and Addictive Disorders, or Trauma and Disaster Relief. For those pursuing a specialization, the curriculum includes additional courses pertinent to the selected field.

Licensing/Certification

The PhD in psychology program does not lead to certification or licensure. Graduates of the PsyD program who have completed a year-long postdoctoral residency can take the licensing exam in professional psychology, known as the EPPP. Passing this exam enables the individual to apply for licensure in any state, although some additional state requirements may vary. More information about the EPPP may be found on the Association of State and Provincial Psychology Boards (SPPB) website.

How to Choose Between PhD and PsyD

If your goal is to work in a job or career where state licensure to practice psychology is required, a PsyD or clinical PhD program is your best option. However, there are many positions where you might work directly with people or within the mental health field that do not require state licensure. As part of choosing the correct program, consider your goals and the career path you want to pursue.

If you want a job that requires licensure, choose a PsyD. If you are interested in jobs that don’t involve working as a clinician, consider if a PhD might be the right path. It’s also important to consider issues such as class size, graduation rates, doctoral projects, and financial assistance/scholarships available.

Career Options for PhD and PsyD

Here, we delve into the wide range of professional opportunities for those with advanced psychology degrees. Discover the multitude of rewarding careers across academia, research, clinical practice, and more.

Clinical Career Options

Most PsyD graduates work in a variety of clinical roles: psychotherapy (individual, family, and group); assessor, administering and interpreting psychological test data; Neuropsychology; consultation; and forensic work. Increasingly, clinical psychologists collaborate in teams with other healthcare providers, such as social workers, physicians, nurses, and counselors.

According to APA’s Center for Workforce Analysis , 74% of clinical psychologists report that they work collaboratively with other healthcare providers. As a result, the PsyD is a versatile degree, enabling one to potentially work in business, education, healthcare, and research, in addition to the traditional practice settings of psychotherapy and assessment.

In a recent survey, there were approximately 106,000 licensed psychologists in the US, 87% of whom were employed 5 years post-graduation (APA, 2019), earning a median annual salary of $90,000. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, demand for licensed psychologists is set to grow by over 12% in the next 10 years. They predict further that clinical career opportunities in Neuropsychology, Geropsychology, and Forensic psychology are expected to show even stronger growth.

Non-clinical Career Options

If you need to complete a clinical program such as a PsyD to become a clinician, what can you do as a non-clinical PhD in psychology? Individuals with a PhD in Psychology work in a wide variety of career fields. Recent research suggests 50% of those with a psychology PhD reported working as counselors, top-level managers and administrators, training and labor relations specialists, and managers in the medical and health services fields ( Pappas & Samm, 2021 ). The National Science Foundation (2021) reported that over the past ten years, those with a doctorate in psychology entering business or industry has increased by 10%.

Psychology Professor (non-clinical)

A psychology professor is an expert in their field of psychological study (non-clinical) who instructs students at a bachelor’s, master’s, or doctoral level and conducts psychological research. They often work at a college or university where they specialize in a particular area of psychology, including organizational/industrial, developmental, forensic, health, or neuropsychology. As of May 2022, the BLS reported the median average salary for a psychology professor is $78,810.

Research psychologists investigate different topics, carry out experiments, and contribute to the advancement of our scientific understanding. They are predominantly employed in psychology departments, medical schools, and business schools within higher education institutions. However, researchers also hold positions in government, non-profit organizations, and the private sector. As of May 2021, the BLS reported the median average salary for a research psychologist is $81,040.

Organizational Psychologist

Industrial-organizational psychologists concentrate on studying the actions of workers within their work environment. By utilizing research methods and psychological principles, they aim to enhance various aspects of the work environment, such as performance, communication, job satisfaction, and safety. I/O psychologists are employed in diverse work settings, such as organizational development, talent management, or people analytics. As of May 2022, the BLS reports the median average salary for an Industrial-organizational psychologist is $139,280.

Forensic Psychologist

Forensic psychologists specialize in the application of scientific psychological principles to legal matters at all levels of the justice system. Non-clinical forensic psychologists don’t provide evaluation or treatment services but instead engage in research, consultation, and non-clinical service delivery pertaining to psychology and the law. Consultation involves providing expert psychological knowledge within the legal and judicial systems, while research may focus on areas such as memory, perception, child development, and decision-making as they relate to eyewitnesses, juvenile offenders, or police training and procedures.

They may also be employed by mental health, substance abuse, and intellectual or developmental disability facilities or in policing. The overall objective of forensic psychology is to support law enforcement officers, attorneys, and judges in implementing evidence-based policies that promote fairness and accuracy in the justice system. As of July 2022, data from Indeed reported the median average salary for a forensic psychologist is $94,045.

Sports Psychologist

Sports psychologists specialize in both the psychological and physical aspects that impact an individual’s motivation and performance in competitive sports and athletic activities. Although they are not clinical psychologists and do not conduct psychological counseling or assessments, they can become a Certified Mental Performance Consultant (CMP) and offer support to clients in developing and utilizing cognitive, life, or self-regulation skills to improve their performance, personal growth, and enjoyment in sports or other areas such as the military or performing arts.

These professionals may work in various settings, including private practice, health clinics, academic institutions, government agencies, or with professional or collegiate sports teams. As of July 2022, data from Indeed reported the median average salary for a sports psychologist is $54,000.

Developmental Psychologist

Developmental psychologists explore the process of growth and adaptation across different life stages. They engage in research that is intended to assist of people of all ages to achieve their full potential and support their growth, and collaborate with people of all ages to comprehend and promote their development. Developmental psychologists operate in a range of contexts, including academic institutions, government agencies, healthcare facilities, and schools.

Those employed in colleges and universities usually concentrate on research or teaching, while those employed in applied settings, such as healthcare facilities or clinics, help evaluate, assess, and treat individuals who have developmental disabilities. Developmental psychologists might also work in nursing homes, hospitals, mental health clinics, or centers for the homeless. As of May 2023, the BLS reported the average salary for a developmental psychologist is $74,509

Health Psychologist

Health psychologists investigate how patients manage illness, reasons people may fail to follow medical advice, and effective approaches to alleviate pain or modify unhealthy behaviors. They also create healthcare programs aimed at enhancing emotional and physical wellness.

A health psychologist who does not work in a clinical setting typically collaborates with clinical psychologists or physicians in areas such as weight management, pain management, aiding individuals in coping with genetic diseases, preventing patient re-hospitalization, and designing walkable communities that encourage physical activity. As of May 2023, according to data provided by ZipRecruiter , the average salary for a health psychologist is $91,884.

Neuropsychologist

Non-clinical neuropsychologists research cognitive impairment and its effects on behavior, emotions, and cognitive abilities. They may also investigate various therapeutic and alternative methods for diagnosing and treating neurological disorders. While non-clinical neuropsychologists do not provide medical treatment, they do work with other healthcare professionals to help them understand the causes of neurological disorders, the impact these disorders can have on daily life, and to provide training to professionals such as clinical psychologists and psychotherapists on how to manage cognitive disorders and diseases. As of July 2022, data from Indeed reported the median average salary for neuropsychologists is $162,400.

Earn Your PsyD or PhD from National University

The PsyD program at NU offers small classes and individual attention, owing to our 10:1 student: faculty ratio. A small number of scholarships are available through the Dean’s office at the JFK School of Psychology and Social Sciences. 94% of our students graduate from the program. The PsyD program is currently in its last phase of securing accreditation from APA (a reapplication for the program was necessitated by the closure of JFKU in 2020). For further information about the program’s accreditation status, please contact Dr. Doug Haldeman, Program Director ( [email protected] ).

The Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Psychology

The Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Psychology program at National University offers students the opportunity to complete their studies on their own time, with a new start date every Monday. The program is 100% online and can be completed in 46 months, with 20 courses, and is taught in the 1;1 teaching model.

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PhD Admissions

The PhD program in Psychology trains students for careers in research and teaching. In addition to a wide range of courses, the PhD program is characterized by close collaboration between students and their faculty advisors. 

General Information

The Department of Psychology holistically reviews each candidate's complete application to assess the promise of a career in teaching and research. Consideration is based on various factors, including courses taken, grade point average, letters of recommendation, and the statement of purpose. Additionally, the Department of Psychology places considerable emphasis on research training, and admitted students have often been involved in independent research as undergraduate students or post-baccalaureate settings. Although there are no course requirements for admission, all applicants should have sufficient foundational knowledge and research experience to engage in graduate-level coursework and research.

We accept students with undergraduate degrees and those with both undergraduate and master's degrees. An undergraduate psychology major is not required; the Department welcomes applicants from other academic backgrounds.

Our application portal will open for the AY25-26 admissions cycle on September 15, 2024.

How to Apply

Application and deadline.

Our 2025-26 Admissions application will open on September 15, 2024.

Applications will be due on November 30, 2024

The deadline for letters of recommendation will be  November 30, 2024 . 

Once an applicant submits the recommenders' information, the recommenders will receive an automated email with instructions for submitting the letter. Late letters should be sent directly to psych-admissions [at] stanford.edu (psych-admissions[at]stanford[dot]edu) . Staff will add them to the application file if the review process is still underway. Still, the faculty reviewers are not obligated to re-review files for materials submitted after the deadline.

Generally, students will hear from us by the end of January. 

The status of submitted applications can be viewed anytime by logging in to the   application portal . 

The deadline to apply for the '25-26 PhD cohort this year is  November 30, 2024 . Applicants who are admitted to the program will matriculate in Autumn 2025. 

Our next admissions cycle will open in September 2025 and have a November 30, 2025 deadline.

In addition to the information below, please review the  Graduate Admissions  website prior to starting your application. The Department of Psychology does not have rolling admissions. We admit for the Autumn term only.

Requirements

• U.S. Bachelor's degree or its  foreign equivalent
• Statement of Purpose (submitted electronically as part of the graduate application). You will be able to specify three  Psychology Department faculty members , in order of preference, with whom you would like to work. 
• Three  Letters of Recommendation  (submitted electronically). A maximum of six letters will be accepted.
• Unofficial transcripts from all universities and colleges you have attended for at least one year must be uploaded to the graduate application. Applicants who reach the interview stage will be asked to provide official transcripts as well; Department staff will reach out to these applicants with instructions for submitting official transcripts. Please do  not  submit official transcripts with your initial application.
• Required for non-native English speakers: TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) scores, submitted by the Educational Testing Service (ETS) electronically to Stanford. 

Application Fee

The fee to apply for graduate study at Stanford is $125. Fee waivers are available for some applicants. Please visit Graduate Admissions for information on applying for an  Application Fee Waiver .

Application Review & Status Check

The Department of Psychology welcomes graduate applications from individuals with a broad range of life experiences, perspectives, and backgrounds who would contribute to our community of scholars. The review of applications is holistic and individualized, considering each applicant’s academic record and accomplishments, letters of recommendation, and admissions essays to understand how an applicant’s life experiences have shaped their past and potential contributions to their field.

To check the status or activity of your application, please log into your  application account . You can also send reminders to recommenders who have not yet submitted their letter of recommendation.

Due to limited bandwidth, the Department of Psychology staff will not answer any phone or email queries about application status, including requests to confirm the receipt of official transcripts.

Our faculty will interview prospective students before making final admission decisions. Candidates who progress to the interview round will be informed in January. Interviews are generally conducted in February.

The Department of Psychology recognizes that the Supreme Court issued a ruling in June 2023 about the consideration of certain types of demographic information as part of an admission review. All applications submitted during upcoming application cycles will be reviewed in conformance with that decision.

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Please see our  list of Frequently Asked Questions  and  psych-admissions [at] stanford.edu (contact us)  should you have additional questions.

The Differences Between a PhD in Psychology and PsyD

Written by Jennifer Cione-Kroeschel

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Mental health professionals looking to further their education in the field have two major degrees to choose from: A PhD in Psychology, which is a Doctor of Philosophy degree, and a PsyD, which is Doctor of Psychology degree. They sound nearly the same, so what is the difference between a PhD and PsyD?

Do psychologists have a PhD or PsyD? Well, either, but an increasing number of psychologists in clinical practice or who see patients in a traditional therapy setting are earning a PsyD. In order to be a psychologist, you need a doctoral-level degree in the field, which both of these are, but a PsyD is more oriented toward becoming a practicing clinician. However, most PhDs also go on to work with clients in a clinical setting and apply their specialized research and knowledge to providing therapy for the specific issues they study.

In the end, both satisfy the requirements for full authority licensure and neither limits you from clinical practice or research work, but the training in a PhD is a bit more traditionally oriented to academia while the PsyD focuses more narrowly on clinical practice.

What Is a PhD in Psychology?

A PhD in Psychology is a doctorate degree designed to lead to the development of new information in the field, though it can just as well be used to go into clinical practice. Someone who holds a PhD, though, will be well prepared to teach psychology or work with other researchers on experimental trials and studies. The goal of having a PhD in Psychology is to advance the knowledge of mental health issues as well as the methods used to treat them.

While it used to be the only doctoral level degree in the field, now that a PsyD is available, a PhD is beginning to be viewed a bit more as being better suited for people who want to go into psychology education, clinical trials, or research.

But ultimately, pursuing a PhD in Psychology prepares students for a wide range of career opportunities in the field of psychology, whether in research, consulting, teaching, or clinical practice.

What Is a PsyD?

Professionals with a PsyD usually use their degrees to work with people who seek therapy, or for more serious clinical interventions for the severely mentally ill in psychiatric hospitals. Knowledge from the studies done in the degree program is applied to providing therapy, rather than continuing research. As opposed to a PhD, a PsyD is a more straightforward, hands-on degree for the practice of psychology.

Is someone with a PsyD a doctor? Short answer: Yes, but not a medical doctor. Anyone with a doctoral-level degree holds the title of doctor, but unless they have a medical degree, they can’t prescribe medication or conduct medical treatments. The same goes for those with a PhD in Psychology.

Earning a PsyD degree puts you on a direct path to practicing psychology in a clinical setting.

Similarities and Differences

The main difference between a PhD in Psychology and PsyD is that a PhD emphasizes research while a PsyD prepares student for practicing psychology.

PsyD programs focus on applying scientific knowledge directly to the practice of psychology, while PhD programs study the theories behind psychology. While PsyD students will have classes in human behavior, therapy, and mental health conditions, PhD candidates will have coursework like research methodology and statistical models. Although, PsyD students will still have some exposure to research and analyzing data, and PhD students will also have plenty of coursework that deals with clinical practice.

Both degrees develop research skills and build knowledge and skill sets that can be applied to either clinical practice or education. While there is overlap, there are also clear differences, like acceptance rates, cost, coursework, and common career outcomes

Things to Consider When Choosing a PhD and PsyD

Before pursing either of these degrees, some important factors need to be considered, like your interests and expectations. They’re not identical degrees, and one might be better suited to a student than the other on an individual basis.

Generally, PhD programs may be more difficult to get into and the program usually lasts between 5 and 8 years. PsyD programs, while still competitive, have a relatively higher acceptance rate and take 1-2 years fewer to complete. While tuition for both programs can be high, PhD students are often offered tuition assistance in exchange for teaching and research assistance.

Is a PsyD better than a PhD? Nobody could really make a case that a PsyD is categorically better than a PhD, but it might be a little more geared to exactly what you want to do with your career. If you really want to focus in on the application of your psychology skills working directly with clients or in a clinical setting with people suffering with more serious mental health problems, a PsyD will give you the focus you’re looking for. If you want a more traditional doctorate experience that also includes a research focus and dissertation, a PhD is the more fitting choice.

Let’s talk money. Realistically, earning potential does factor into which degree program to choose and which path to go down. It’s fair to assume that most people reading this are wondering, do PsyD or PhD make more money? The answer is that there is absolutely nothing to suggest that one or the other will result in making more money. Both PsyD and PhD graduates have the same kind of career prospects, and the same salary potential based on which career path they might take.

But there’s more to this question than just whether one or the other will result in making more money. A PsyD will typically take less time, allowing the holder to start making a salary sooner, but a PhD may have less tuition to pay back if they receive any waivers or stipends for teaching and research during the program. The amount of money either makes will depend on what type of job they choose. If a PhD becomes a tenured professor, clinician, or lead researcher at a university, in private practice, or at a medical facility. If comparing apples to apples, practicing psychologists with a PhD earn slightly more than those with a PsyD, but the difference is small.

The difference between PsyD and PhD is enough to make someone stop and think about which would be best for them, while both are valuable degrees that share similarities and can lead to rewarding careers.

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What are the Key Differences Between a PsyD and Ph.D Program in Psychology?

If psychology is your major of choice, and you want to get an advanced degree, you might be faced with choosing between a PsyD and Ph.D. The question is, what are the differences between the two?

Ultimately, both degrees offer a high level of training in psychology, but how these programs go about doing that differs, both in terms of some of the coursework and the learning outcomes you are expected to master.

Likewise, you will find differences in the careers you might pursue after completing a PsyD as opposed to a Ph.D. Other differences exist, too – which are explained in the detailed guide below.

PsyD Vs Ph.D.

PsyD (Doctor of Psychology) emphasizes clinical practice and hands-on therapy. Ph.D. (Doctor of Philosophy in Psychology) often focuses on research, theory, and teaching. While both can lead to therapeutic roles, their primary goals differ: PsyD trains clinicians, while PhD prepares researchers and academics.

PsyD programs are much newer. While Ph.D. programs in psychology date back to the late 1800s , PsyD programs weren’t developed until the early 1970s . But why did the psychology community feel the need to add another high-level degree offering?

Simply put, back then, as today, Ph.D. programs in psychology focused mostly on research and academic pursuits, not clinical applications of psychology. PsyD programs, on the other hand, were developed as professional training specifically for students who wished to provide psychological services to clients in a clinical setting.

As a result of this key difference, these programs approach coursework and learning outcomes in different ways.

Differences in Coursework

The core coursework of most PsyD and Ph.D. programs is actually quite similar. In both programs, you will spend the first couple of years of your studies exploring the central tenets of psychology in courses like psychopathology, developmental psychology, and ethical issues in psychology.

Likewise, PsyD and Ph.D. programs typically include coursework in psychological assessment, history and systems of psychology, and cognitive psychology. Behavioral psychology, psychological interventions, and psychoanalysis are common.

However, as one progresses through these programs, the focus of the coursework begins to diverge. For example, as a PsyD student, you can expect to continue a path of psychology coursework for much of the remainder of the program. But as a Ph.D. student, the third through sixth years of the program focus much more on research-related topics.

Let’s assume you are a third-year PsyD student. Since PsyD programs focus more on clinical applications of psychology, your semester course schedule might look like this:

• Projective personality assessment
• Couples and family therapy
• Psychopharmacology

Now let’s assume you are a third-year Ph.D. student. With a focus on psychological research, your semester course load might look like this:

• Biostatistics
• Experimental design
• Data analysis

So, while the foundational courses students initially take might be very similar, the focus in many programs begins to shift such that PsyD students get the needed training to apply their knowledge as a clinician, whereas Ph.D. students get the needed training to conduct research .

It’s worth mentioning that not all Ph.D. programs are wholly focused on research – some Ph.D. options mirror the training provided by a Psy.D.

Differences in Duration, Core Subjects, and Electives

When deciding between a PsyD and a PhD in psychology, understanding the duration and course structure can help prospective you align their choices with your personal and professional goals.

• Duration : Typically, PsyD programs last between 4 to 6 years , including internship. The exact duration can vary based on full-time vs. part-time enrollment, the program’s intensity, and individual progress.
• Course Structure :
• Core Subjects : PsyD programs often include core courses in psychotherapy, diagnostics, psychological assessment, human development, and psychopathology.
• Electives : PsyD programs may offer electives in areas like child psychology, forensic psychology, neuropsychology, and health psychology, allowing you to tailor your education to specific interests.
• Clinical Training : Hands-on clinical experience is central to the PsyD curriculum. You will engage in supervised internships or practicums throughout your program.
• Duration : PhD programs typically last between 5 to 7 years , with the variation often due to the time required for original research and dissertation completion.
• Core Subjects : PhD programs frequently include core courses in research methods, statistics, cognitive psychology, biological psychology, and psychometrics.
• Electives : As a PhD candidate, you can choose electives related to your specific research interests, be it in social psychology, developmental psychology, organizational psychology, or other specializations.
• Research : A significant portion of a PhD program is dedicated to research. You will be expected to produce original research, culminating in a dissertation. Some programs also require teaching or assisting in undergraduate courses.

Differences in Learning Outcomes

As a result of the differences in coursework between these programs, there are often distinct differences in learning outcomes as well.

A good example of this is in the application of knowledge and skills acquired in a PsyD versus a Ph.D. program:

• A primary learning outcome for PsyD students might be successfully assessing and diagnosing a client with a specific psychological disorder. This would include having competency using the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders to identify the presenting issue and outlining a course of treatment to address the presenting.
• A primary learning outcome for Ph.D. students might be to design and carry out a psychological experiment successfully. This would include the competency to examine relevant psychological research, conduct detailed data analyses, and interpret data to draw evidence-based conclusions.

We can drill down to even more specific differences in these learning outcomes. For example, a PsyD student might be evaluated on their ability to form a trusting relationship with a client in a clinical setting. This skill would be evaluated and assessed in the context of a supervised field experience, such as a pre-doctoral internship. The PsyD student would be observed by their supervisor, who would provide actionable feedback regarding the student’s demeanor with the client, application of relevant skills, and so forth.

Meanwhile, a Ph.D. student might be evaluated on their research competencies in the context of their dissertation research. The dissertation process is a lengthy one, with years of research devoted to the project and feedback provided by one’s dissertation committee at various points in the process.

But, rather than being evaluated on their ability to provide psychological services to a client, a Ph.D. student’s dissertation committee would provide a final evaluation of the quality of research and academic value of that research during the student’s dissertation defense. Again, while the underlying theory and training might be similar, the application of knowledge gained in a PsyD versus a Ph.D. program can be quite different.

Licensing and Certifications

After completing a PsyD program, graduates typically need to pass a state licensing exam, often referred to as the Examination for Professional Practice in Psychology (EPPP) . Additionally, all states have post-doctoral supervised practice requirements before granting full licensure.

If you are looking to specialize further, there are various certifications available. These can be in areas like clinical child psychology, forensic psychology, school psychology, or neuropsychology. These certifications may enhance your job prospects, professional reputation, and potential earning capacity.

Just like PsyD graduates, PhD graduates aiming for clinical practice must pass the EPPP and fulfill any state-specific requirements. If you are planning to venture into academia, credentials like teaching certifications or post-doctoral fellowships can further bolster your academic profile.

Differences in Career Opportunities

As a result of the differences in coursework and learning outcomes in PsyD and Ph.D. programs, you’ll find that the career opportunities can be quite different as well.

Assume you are a PsyD graduate looking for your first job. With your background in psychological assessment, diagnosis, and treatment, it stands to reason that the career opportunities ahead of you would be in areas like clinical psychology, counseling psychology, or marriage and family therapy.

Bear in mind that the specific job opportunities you have depend on your specific PsyD training. For example, some PsyD programs focus on forensic psychology. In that case, the career opportunities you pursue would be specific to that field, such as clinical forensic psychology. With this specialization, jobs in marriage and family therapy would likely not be on your radar.

Even though PsyD programs might have a narrowed focus on a specific niche of psychology, what binds PsyD programs together is clinical training. Regardless of whether your PsyD program focuses on clinical psychology, developmental psychology, forensic psychology, or something in between, your training will lead to a career in which you apply your skills in a therapeutic setting with clients.

The career opportunities for Ph.D. students can be much broader than Psy.D. students. On the one hand, if you complete a traditional Ph.D. program focusing on psychology research, your career opportunities will mostly exist in the research and academic realms.

For example, you might pursue employment at a psychology research lab, conducting research trials for new medications to treat psychological conditions. Alternatively, you might pursue employment at a college as a teaching professor in psychology. In both instances, you’re applying your training in non-clinical fields.

However, as noted earlier, not all Ph.D. programs in psychology are research-focused. For example, you can complete a Ph.D. program in counseling psychology and pursue a career in community mental health. Likewise, your Ph.D. program might provide you with training in child psychology, which would lead to a career working with children and adolescents in a clinical setting.

Differences in Admission Requirements

The application process for PsyD and PhD programs can be competitive. Admission requirements for PsyD and PhD programs slightly differ:

• Educational Background : Most PsyD programs require a bachelor’s degree, but not always in psychology. However, having a foundation in psychology can be beneficial.
• Prerequisite Courses : Some programs might require completion of specific coursework, such as statistics, research methods, or foundational psychology courses.
• Graduate Record Examination (GRE) : Many programs require GRE scores, but some might waive this requirement.
• Letters of Recommendation : Typically, 2-3 letters from academic or professional references..
• Personal Statement : An essay detailing your interest in the field, career goals, and reasons for choosing a PsyD program.
• Clinical Experience : While not always mandatory, having prior experience in a relevant clinical or counseling setting can strengthen an application.
• Educational Background : A bachelor’s or master’s degree, often with a preference for psychology or a related field.
• Research Experience : Given the research emphasis of PhD programs, prior research experience, publications, or presentations can be a significant advantage.
• Graduate Record Examination (GRE) : Required by most, though some institutions have started to eliminate this requirement.
• Letters of Recommendation : Generally, 2-3 letters, with a preference for those from research advisors or professors familiar with your academic abilities.
• Statement of Purpose : This is more than just a personal statement. It should detail your research interests, potential faculty mentors, past research projects, and long-term career aspirations.
• Interview : Many PhD programs have an interview component, either in-person or virtual, where the fit between you and the program is evaluated.

Both PsyD and PhD programs may also assess other materials like writing samples and CVs.

Is a PsyD Harder than a PhD?

Whether a PsyD is harder than a Ph.D. really comes down to your individual strengths as a student and prospective psychologist.

For example, if you aren’t comfortable working with clients with serious psychological issues, you might have difficulty completing a PsyD program since much of its focus is on developing the skills necessary to build an effective therapeutic relationship with a client. Likewise, if you aren’t terribly interested in mastering the techniques of specific psychological approaches (e.g., cognitive-behavioral therapy), you will find a PsyD program hard to complete.

Conversely, a Ph.D. program would be difficult if you struggle with the scientific applications of psychology. If statistics, for example, is hard for you to understand, you will have trouble in a Ph.D. program since statistics is a much larger component of the curriculum than in a PsyD program.

In other words, in a vacuum, a PsyD program isn’t harder than a Ph.D. program, nor is a Ph.D. program harder than a PsyD program. What it comes down to is what your strengths are, what your goals are, and what you’re interested in as a future psychologist. If you align your selected program to those components, you’ll have an easier time completing the program.

It should go without saying, though, that both PsyD and Ph.D. programs are difficult. They require years of training and practical experience, an enormous output of time and money, and require a sincere dedication to mastering relevant knowledge and skills. No matter which type of program you select, you will have to work hard to achieve your educational goals!

Is a PsyD as Good as a PhD?

Yes, a PsyD is every bit as accepted as a high-level psychology degree as a Ph.D. Think about it like the differences between a Master of Science and a Master of Arts – though these degrees have distinct differences, they are widely accepted as equal qualifications for many jobs in the psychology field.

Which is Better? A PhD or PsyD?

As discussed earlier, a Ph.D. is often preparatory for a career in research psychology and academics, which usually makes it a better choice if you wish to pursue jobs in those specific fields. On the other hand, a PsyD might be a better option if you prefer to explore a career in a helping profession like clinical or counseling psychology.

But this isn’t a clear-cut, black-and-white issue in which one of these degrees is always better than the other. Each degree has developed as a quality training program for different psychology applications. Which one is better for your specific needs and interests depends mainly on how you want to apply what you’ve learned in a work setting.

Either way you go, a PsyD. or Ph.D. in psychology is an excellent vehicle for advancing your education. When it comes down to it, you will emerge from either program with a terminal degree in your field backed by years of training and practical experience that makes you an expert in psychology.

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Masters vs. Doctoral Degree Programs

Once you have decided on an area of psychology the next step is to decide whether to pursue a doctorate or masters degree. In general, it is my opinion that  it is better to pursue a doctorate. Most (but not all) research jobs will require the PhD, and the better professional psychology careers will go to those with a doctoral degree. Some of my colleagues disagree with me and see a masters degree as a good option. This is because they see a lack of significant difference in job opportunities between masters and PhD holders. This is especially true for jobs that provide direct counseling or social work services. It does seem likely that most jobs that directly provide counseling or social work services will not require a doctorate in the future. In my opinion, however, these jobs are likely to be low paying and without much opportunity for career advancement.

There are, of course, some instances when getting a masters degree makes sense. The first and most common scenario is when you want to pursue a doctorate in some area of psychology, but you will be hindered from getting into a graduate program because your grade point average and/or GRE scores are too low. In this case it makes sense to go to a masters program that can better prepare you to enter a doctoral program. You will have a chance to bring up your grades and hopefully study harder for the GREs. The risk with this strategy is that even after getting a masters degree you still might not get into a doctoral program in your chosen area. It is important, therefore, if you choose this strategy to make sure the masters program you are entering has a good track record of getting its graduates into doctoral programs.

A common question is what grade point average (gpa) and GRE scores are needed to successfully apply for a doctoral program. Unfortunately there is no set answer to this question. It depends on the specialty area sought, the status of school you want to get into, the status of your undergraduate program, and (perhaps the most intangible thing) how interesting you are as a person to a specific program. It is possible, however, to make some sweeping generalizations about the probability of getting into a doctoral program based on gpa and GRE scores. These are a bit different depending on whether or not you are seeking entrance to a university or a professional school based doctoral program.

University-based doctoral programs will provide you with some kind of support for your doctoral study. This support can range from student loans all the way to a full ride scholarship that also covers living expenses (Since university systems have been suffering financially over the past few years the level of support for doctoral students has decreased and students have had to rely more of loans than in the past.). As might be expected, university doctoral programs are typically harder to get in to than professional school doctoral programs.

Universities tend to want to train researchers, even in areas of professional psychology such as Clinical Psychology. They take far fewer students per year and, as mentioned, usually offer some sort of support for their doctoral students. This results in a lot of competition for a small number of positions in doctoral programs. Again, this is different among the different psychological specialties. For instance a PhD in Social Psychology make accept 10 students out of 100 applicants, while a PhD in Clinical Psychology may take 5 out of 700 (the university-based clinical programs are now harder to get into than medical school even though they seek to primarily produce clinical researchers). 

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• Master’s vs PhD | A Complete Guide to the Differences

Master's vs PhD | A Complete Guide to the Differences

Published on November 27, 2020 by Lauren Thomas . Revised on May 10, 2024.

The two most common types of graduate degrees are master’s and doctoral degrees:

• A master’s is a 1–2 year degree that can prepare you for a multitude of careers.
• A PhD, or doctoral degree, takes 3–7 years to complete (depending on the country) and prepares you for a career in academic research.

A master’s is also the necessary first step to a PhD. In the US, the master’s is built into PhD programs, while in most other countries, a separate master’s degree is required before applying for PhDs.

Master’s are far more common than PhDs. In the US, 24 million people have master’s or professional degrees, whereas only 4.5 million have doctorates.

Table of contents

Master’s vs phd at a glance, which is right for you, length of time required, career prospects, costs and salaries, application process, other interesting articles, frequently asked questions about master's and phd degrees.

The table below shows the key differences between the two.

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A PhD is right for you if:

• Your goal is to become a professor at a university or some other type of professional researcher.
• You love research and are passionate about discovering the answer to a particular question.
• You are willing to spend years pursuing your research even if you have to put up with a lot of dead ends and roadblocks.

A master’s degree is the better choice if any of the following apply:

• You want to continue studies in your field, but you’re not committed to a career as a professional researcher.
• You want to develop professional skills for a specific career.
• You are willing to pay a higher upfront cost if it means finishing with your degree (and thus being able to work) much faster.
• You want the option to study part-time while working.

The length of time required to complete a PhD or master’s degree varies. Unsurprisingly, PhDs take much longer, usually between 3–7 years. Master’s degrees are usually only 1–2 years.

Length of a master’s

Master’s degrees are usually 2 years, although 1-year master’s degrees also exist, mainly in the UK.

Most of the degree consists of classes and coursework, although many master’s programs include an intensive, semester-long master’s thesis or capstone project in which students bring together all they’ve learned to produce an original piece of work.

Length of a PhD

In the US, a PhD usually takes between 5 and 7 years to complete. The first 2 years are spent on coursework. Students, even those who choose to leave without finishing the program, usually receive a master’s degree at this point.

The next 3–5 years are spent preparing a dissertation —a lengthy piece of writing based on independent research, which aims to make a significant original contribution to one’s field.

Master’s degrees tend to prepare you for a career outside of academia, while PhDs are designed to lead to a career in research.

Careers for master’s graduates

There are two types of master’s degrees: terminal and research-intensive. The career prospects are different for each.

Terminal master’s degrees are intended to prepare students for careers outside of academia. Some degrees, known as professional degrees, specifically prepare students for particular professions; these include the Master of Public Policy (MPP), Master of Business Administration (MBA), Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT), Master of Fine Arts (MFA), and Master of Public Health (MPH) degrees.

Other master’s degrees, usually Master of Arts (MA) or Master of Sciences (MS or MSc) degrees, do not necessarily lead to a specific career, but are intended to be a final degree. Examples include an MS in Communications or MS in Data Analytics.

In research-intensive master’s programs, students take coursework intended to prepare them for writing an original piece of research known as the master’s thesis . Such programs are usually intended to prepare for further study in a doctoral program.

Careers for PhD graduates

As research degrees, PhDs are usually intended to lead to an academic career. A PhD can be thought of like an apprenticeship, where students learn from professional researchers (academics) how to produce their own research.

Most students aspire to become a university professor upon the completion of their degree. However, careers in academia are highly competitive, and the skills learned in a doctoral program often lend themselves well to other types of careers.

Some graduates who find they prefer teaching to producing research go on to be teachers at liberal arts colleges or even secondary schools. Others work in research-intensive careers in the government, private sector, or at think tanks.

Below are a few examples of specific fields and non-academic careers that are common destinations of graduates of those fields.

• Computer Science
• Lab Sciences

Many government jobs, including economists at a country’s central bank, are research-intensive and require a PhD. Think tanks also hire economists to carry out independent research.

In the private sector, economic consulting and technology firms frequently hire PhDs to solve real-world problems that require complex mathematical modeling.

Graduate students from the humanities are sometimes hired by museums, who can make use of their research and writing skills to curate exhibits and run public outreach.

Humanities PhDs are often well-suited to research and grant-writing roles at nonprofits. Since so much of research is funded by grants, PhD students often gain a lot of experience applying for them, which is a useful skill in the nonprofit sector.

There are a wide range of non-academic research jobs for lab scientists with doctorates in subjects like chemistry, biology, ecology and physics.

Many PhD graduates are hired by pharmaceutical companies that need to perform research to create and test their products. Government agencies, such as the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), also hire lab scientists to work on research projects.

Job prospects after graduation vary widely based on the field. In fields like management, computer science, statistics, and economics, there’s little underemployment—even graduates from less well-known programs can easily find jobs that pay well and use the skills they’ve gained from the PhD.

However, in other fields, particularly in the humanities, many PhD graduates have difficulty in the job market. Unfortunately, there are far more PhD graduates than assistant professor roles, so many instead take on part-time and low-paid roles as adjunct instructors. Even non-academic careers can sometimes be difficult for PhDs to move into, as they may be seen as “overqualified”  or as lacking in relevant professional experience.

Because career options post-PhD vary so much, you should take the time to figure out what the career prospects are in your field. Doctoral programs often have detailed “placement” records online in which they list the career outcomes of their graduates immediately upon leaving the program. If you can’t find these records, contact the program and ask for them—placement information should play an important role in your choice of PhD program.

Although PhDs take far longer to complete, students often receive a living stipend in exchange for being a teaching or research assistant. Master’s degrees are shorter but less likely to be funded.

Both master’s degrees and PhDs lead to increased salaries upon graduation. While PhDs usually earn a bit more than those with a master’s degree, in some fields, the wages are identical, meaning that no financial benefit is gained from going on to a PhD.

Cost of a master’s

The upfront cost of a master’s degree is usually higher than a doctoral degree due to the lower amount of financial aid available. However, increased salaries also arrive faster than with a doctoral degree, because people graduate much earlier from a master’s program.

Some master’s students do receive stipends for their degrees, usually as compensation for being a teaching or research assistant. In addition, many people complete master’s degrees part time while working full-time, which allows them to fund their living costs as well as tuition.

The cost varies significantly by school and program. Public schools are usually cheaper than private ones. Some master’s degrees, such as MBAs, are notoriously expensive, but also result in much higher wages afterwards that make up for the high cost.

The master’s wage premium , or the extra amount that someone with a master’s degree makes than someone with just a high school diploma, is 23% on average. Many universities provide detailed statistics on the career and salary outcomes of their students. If they do not have this online, you should feel free to contact an administrator of the program and ask.

Cost of a PhD

PhDs, particularly outside the humanities, are usually (though not always) funded, meaning that tuition fees are fully waived and students receive a small living stipend. During the last 3–5 years of a PhD, after finishing their coursework (and sometimes before), students are usually expected to work as graduate instructors or research assistants in exchange for the stipend.

Sometimes students can apply for a fellowship (such as the National Science Foundation Graduate Research Program in the United States) that relieves them of any obligations to be a teaching or research assistant. Doctoral programs in the US tend to be better funded than in the rest of the world.

Sometimes, PhD degrees can be completed part-time, but this is rare. Students are usually expected to devote at least 40 hours a week to their research and work as teaching or research assistants.

The main cost of doctoral programs comes in the form of opportunity cost—all the years that students could be working a regular, full-time job, which usually pays much better than a graduate school stipend.

The average wage premium for PhDs is 26%, which is not much higher than the master’s degree premium.

In the US, the application process is similar for master’s and PhD programs. Both will generally ask for:

• At least one application essay, often called a personal statement or statement of purpose .
• Letters of recommendation .
• A resume or CV .
• Transcripts.
• Writing samples.

Applications for both types of programs also often require a standardized test. PhDs usually require the Graduate Record Examination (GRE), which tries to measure verbal reasoning, quantitative, critical thinking , and analytical writing skills. Many master’s programs require this test as well.

Applying for a master’s

Master’s degrees programs will often ask you to respond to specific essay prompts that may ask you to reflect upon not just your academic background, but also your personal character and future career ambitions.

Northwestern University’s Kellogg Business School requires Master’s of Business Administration (MBA) applicants write two essays, one about a recent time they demonstrated leadership and the second about their personal values.

Who you should ask for your letters of recommendation varies by program. If you are applying to a research-intensive master’s program, then you should choose former professors or research supervisors. For other programs, particularly business school, current work supervisors may be a better choice.

Some professional master’s programs require a specific test. For example, to apply to law school, you must take the Law School Admissions Test, or LSAT. For business school, you must take either the GRE or the Graduate Management Admissions Test (GMAT).

Applying for a PhD

When applying for a PhD, your resume should focus more on your research background—you should especially emphasize any publications you’ve authored or presentations that you’ve given.

Similarly, your statement of purpose should discuss research that you’ve participated in, whether as an assistant or the lead author. You should detail what exactly you did in projects you’ve contributed to, whether that’s conducting a literature review, coding regressions, or writing an entire article.

Your letters of recommendations should be from former professors or supervisors who can speak to your abilities and potential as a researcher. A good rule of thumb is to avoid asking for recommendations from anyone who does not themselves have a PhD.

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A master’s is a 1- or 2-year graduate degree that can prepare you for a variety of careers.

All master’s involve graduate-level coursework. Some are research-intensive and intend to prepare students for further study in a PhD; these usually require their students to write a master’s thesis . Others focus on professional training for a specific career.

A PhD, which is short for philosophiae doctor (doctor of philosophy in Latin), is the highest university degree that can be obtained. In a PhD, students spend 3–5 years writing a dissertation , which aims to make a significant, original contribution to current knowledge.

A PhD is intended to prepare students for a career as a researcher, whether that be in academia, the public sector, or the private sector.

This depends on the country. In the United States, you can generally go directly to a PhD  with only a bachelor’s degree, as a master’s program is included as part of the doctoral program.

Elsewhere, you generally need to graduate from a research-intensive master’s degree before continuing to the PhD.

This varies by country. In the United States, PhDs usually take between 5–7 years: 2 years of coursework followed by 3–5 years of independent research work to produce a dissertation.

In the rest of the world, students normally have a master’s degree before beginning the PhD, so they proceed directly to the research stage and complete a PhD in 3–5 years.

A master’s degree usually has a higher upfront cost, but it also allows you to start earning a higher salary more quickly. The exact cost depends on the country and the school: private universities usually cost more than public ones, and European degrees usually cost less than North American ones. There are limited possibilities for financial aid.

PhDs often waive tuition fees and offer a living stipend in exchange for a teaching or research assistantship. However, they take many years to complete, during which time you earn very little.

In the US, the graduate school application process is similar whether you’re applying for a master’s or a PhD . Both require letters of recommendation , a statement of purpose or personal statement , a resume or CV , and transcripts. Programs in the US and Canada usually also require a certain type of standardized test—often the GRE.

Outside the US, PhD programs usually also require applicants to write a research proposal , because students are expected to begin dissertation research in the first year of their PhD.

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PhD Vs PsyD Of Psychology

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There are three options available for those who want to achieve a doctorate degree in psychology. The Ed.D. is a possibility but it is the least popular since it is the newest among the three options. Most people tend to choose the Ph.D. or the Psy.D. But before you choose between these two, you will need to know what the differences are. They have a different history, their emphasis is different, and the way they are delivered is different too.

Psy.D. – All About Practice

The Psy.D. or Doctor of Psychology, is a reasonably new degree. It first became available at the beginning of the 1970s. The goal was to create a degree that focuses on applied work, in the same way as what a lawyer does. Naturally, in this case, the focus would be not on law but rather on therapy. The belief is that the Ph.D. degree has a strong focus on research, but many people who have an interest in psychology and its clinical practice do not benefit from the Ph.D. at all. As a result, the Psy.D. degree was developed so that graduates could be the best of their kind as practicing psychologists. These doctorate degree programs, while delivered differently by different schools, tend to focus strongly on different therapeutic techniques, as well as offering supervised experiences. Although some research will also be conducted, it is not as significant as what is done in a Ph.D. program. Graduates can expect to have excellent knowledge and experience about practice areas within psychology. Additionally, they have a great understanding of the different research methodologies, are able to read and comprehend articles on research and can apply the findings from these articles to their own areas of work. In a sense, a Psy.D. graduate is a consumer of knowledge obtained through Ph.D. research on psychology.

Ph.D. – All About Research (and a Bit of Practice)

The very first kind of doctorate in psychology, which was a Ph.D., was awarded in 1886 to Joseph Jastrow at Johns Hopkins University. Ph.D. programs have been created in order to produce psychologists who understand research and are able to apply it, just like Psy.D. graduates. However, they have further training that teaches them to actually accumulate new knowledge based on research. The emphasis, as such, is on both practice and research.

Different programs focus strongly on specific areas, with some producing scientists, for instance. Here, there is almost no emphasis on any practice activities, with full attention being paid to research. Indeed, students are actively discouraged from taking part in any kind of practice. The programs that emphasized practice became available after the Psy.D. program was developed, as it allowed students to take an either/or approach to learning. At the same time, however, there are still a number of programs that offer combination degrees. Here, science and practice are blended together to create scientist-practitioners. This means a graduate is not only competent in the practice of psychology but also in conducting psychological research. If you are considering the Ph.D. in psychology pathway, it is very important to research the different schools and their programs, so that you are clear about the degree of research and the degree of practice that will be included in the program.

Things to Consider When Choosing Between the Ph.D. and Psy.D.

Choosing between a Ph.D. and a Psy.D. can be difficult if you want to combine both research and practical work. The official recommendation for someone who is unsure, or someone who would like to do research or teach at some point in the future, is to choose the Ph.D. This is because it is a more flexible degree with more career opportunities as well.

In most cases, there are more funding options for Ph.D. programs. Indeed, Psy.D. programs are generally paid for through personal loans. Finding a research grant for a Ph.D. program is much easier. This is because research faculties have the finances to hire a student to actually work at the same time, which means that they get benefits from lowering their tuition fees. At the same time, you are not guaranteed to receive funding as a Ph.D. student.

Completion Time

As a rule of thumb, it takes less time to complete a Psy.D. program than a Ph.D. degree. Psy.D. degrees do require quite a lot of theoretical and practical learning, however. Additionally, students must write a research dissertation and defend it. These take a considerable amount of time. At the same time, however, the Ph.D. has similar educational requirements, but their dissertation is much harder to complete. This is because a student must take part in an original piece of research and have this published. This can take an additional two years to achieve.

The bottom line is that both degrees educate to graduate level. Choosing between them is a hard decision that is dependent on a variety of different factors. Financial capability is one of those factors, as is the type of degree and the completion time. However, many courses are now offered online, which make completion time more manageable overall.

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Master’s Degree in Psychology: Beginner’s Guide

A Master's Degree in Psychology is typically a 2-year graduate degree that provides advanced study in human behavior and mental processes, building upon an undergraduate psychology degree. This degree offers specializations such as counseling, applied, or forensic psychology, and can be a stepping stone to various career paths or further academic pursuits, with studying abroad offering diverse perspectives and opportunities.

Highlights:

• Why Pursue a Master's in Psychology: A Master's in Psychology can open doors to various career opportunities, including roles such as therapist or counselor, researcher, human resources specialist, market researcher, educator, and forensic consultant.
• Types of Master's in Psychology: The focus of a Master's in Psychology can vary widely, with common specializations including clinical psychology, counseling psychology, industrial-organizational psychology, school psychology, experimental psychology, and forensic psychology.
• Why Study Psychology Abroad: Studying for a Master's in Psychology abroad offers global exposure to different cultures and their impact on human behavior, networking opportunities with international peers and professionals, and enhanced career prospects with a globally recognized degree.

Through  Yocket Premium , we have got you covered. Here, we have expert counselors with years of experience to guide you through every aspect of your higher education. Also, helped 10,000+ students get admitted into top universities around the world. If you are interested in pursuing master’s in Psychology, but you’re confused about where and how to apply- don’t worry, we’ve got you covered.

Why Pursue a Msc. in Psychology?

A Master's in Psychology offers academic depth and practical application, providing a deeper understanding of human behavior, critical thinking development, and enhanced problem-solving skills.

Career advancement is a significant benefit, qualifying you for higher-level positions, increasing earning potential, and enabling specialization in areas like clinical, industrial-organizational, or counseling psychology.

Additionally, personal growth is fostered through empathy, improved communication, and better interpersonal relationships.

Potential career paths include clinical, counseling, industrial-organizational, and school psychology, research, human resources, and marketing.

Pursuing a Master's in Psychology abroad combines academic excellence with cultural immersion and professional growth. It broadens your perspective on cultural diversity and global psychological theories, while providing access to unique programs, research opportunities, and internships.

Types of Msc. in Psychology

The field of psychology is vast, and so are the options for a Master's degree. Here are some of the most common types:

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Best Universities for Pursuing Msc. in Psychology

Here are some globally renowned universities offering exceptional psychology programs:

Application Requirements for Msc. in Psychology

The application process for a Master's in Psychology abroad involves several common elements:

Bachelor's Degree: In psychology or a related field.

Letters of Recommendation: Typically 2-3 from professors or professionals.

Statement of Purpose: An essay outlining academic and career goals.

English Language Proficiency: TOEFL or IELTS scores for non-native speakers.

Standardized Tests: GRE or GMAT scores, if required.

Resume/CV: Detailing academic and professional experience.

Curriculum and Coursework for Msc. in Psychology

The specific curriculum for a Master's in Psychology can vary significantly depending on the program's focus, whether it's clinical, counseling, industrial-organizational, or research-oriented. However, there are some core subjects that are commonly included:

Core Courses:

Specialized Courses:

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Career Prospects of Msc. in Psychology

A Master's in Psychology offers a wide range of career opportunities, with specific roles varying based on the chosen specialization. 

From the Desk of Yocket

A Master's in Psychology provides a strong foundation for a fulfilling and impactful career. It offers a versatile skill set, opens doors to diverse opportunities, and equips you with a deep understanding of human nature. 

Searching for the best global university for Master’s in Psychology can be a task.If you’re looking for further help with university shortlisting or any other higher education issues, hop on a FREE call with our Yocket counselors today to clear your doubts!

Frequently Asked Questions on pursuing a Msc. in Psychology

How to study master's in psychology?

In order to be eligible to apply for MSc must hold a BA or B.Sc . Psychology degree from a recognized university with an aggregate of at least 50% marks. However, students holding any other degree such as Bachelor of Social Work (BSW), BA Sociology, B.Sc . Home Science, B.A. Philosophy or B.

What experience do you need for psychology masters?

You will most likely also need research experience to get into a graduate level Psychology program.

What is the average duration of a Master's program in psychology?

Usually 2 years, depending on the program and whether it's full-time or part-time.

What is the difference between a Master of Arts (MA) and Master of Science (MS) in Psychology?

MA programs focus on research and theory, while MS programs emphasize applied skills and practical knowledge.

Do I need a license to practice as a psychologist?

Licensure requirements vary by state or country. Typically, clinical and counseling psychologists need additional education and supervised experience to obtain a license.

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Department of Psychology

Prospective Graduate Students

We offer an outstanding research-oriented Ph.D. program in the following areas:

• Behavioral Neuroscience
• Cognition and Cognitive Neuroscience
• Developmental Psychology
• Social/Personality Psychology

We also offer specialized training in the following subfields of study:

• Quantitative Psychology
• Health and Well-Being Psychology
• Diversity and Inequality Psychology

Our graduates secure positions in academic institutions, research institutes, government health and social service agencies, and corporate research and consulting companies.

Please note that we do not offer a terminal master’s degree, nor do we provide training in Clinical, Counseling, Educational, or School Psychology. Applicants interested in Educational or School Psychology should consult the  Graduate School of Education .

Currently, our students are admitted for the Fall quarter only. The Application Portal opens in early September for the following fall quarter. The deadline to submit your application and all supporting documents for the Psychology Graduate Program is December 1st.

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Application Deadlines, Requirements, and Guidelines

Please review all of the below information carefully. The most successful applications are submitted on-time, with all required prerequisites completed.

Application Deadlines

M.A. in Industrial/Organizational Psychology Applications

• February 15: Fall 
• The I/O Psychology program will NOT be accepting applications for Spring 2024

M.A. in Psychology Applications

• March 1: Fall 
• October 1: Spring 

Non-degree Applications

All application materials must be received by 5 p.m. eastern time on the deadline date. If an application deadline falls on a Saturday, Sunday or legal U.S. holiday, then the next business day will be the deadline date.

Coursework Prerequisites

• Introductory Psychology
• Statistics (Behavioral Statistics preferred)

An undergraduate psychology major is not required, but  all applicants (including Non-Degree applicants) must complete both an Introductory Psychology class and a basic Statistics class (behavioral statistics preferred), with grades of B or better, prior to applying to the M.A. program.    See our Prospective Student FAQ's page  for recommendations for completing the prerequisites.

Application Requirements

All applicants to the Graduate School of Arts and Science (GSAS) are required to submit a complete application for admission. A complete application includes the online application, academic transcripts, test scores, letters of recommendation, a resume or curriculum vitae, a statement of purpose, and the application fee. Please refer to the Instructions section of the online application for full details. In addition, the department specifically requires the following:

• TOEFL or IELTS:   required of all applicants who are not native English speakers or who do not have a bachelor's or master's degree from an institution where the language of instruction is English. We recommend you plan on taking the TOEFL or IELTS 6-8 weeks prior to the application deadline to ensure your scores arrive on time.
• Case Study:  Required. Click Here for Case Study Guidelines .
• Video Submission:  Required. The department requires you to submit a short video statement as part of the Case Study assignment. Instructions included in the Case Study Guidelines.
• Statement of Academic Purpose:   In a concisely written statement, please describe your past and present work as it relates to your intended field of study, your educational objectives, and your career goals. In addition, please include your intellectual and professional reasons for choosing your field of study and why your studies/research can best be done at the Graduate School of Arts and Science at NYU. The statement should not exceed two double-spaced pages. 
• Letters of Recommendation:  Applicants must submit three letters of recommendation. Preferably, the letters should come from former professors at college. For applicants who have been out of school for some time, letters from supervisors are acceptable, but they should address academic skills related to writing, research, and quantitative analysis. Letters should not be from family friends or counselors, or from religious or political figures.
• Statement of Academic Purpose:  Please describe briefly and concisely your past and present academic and/or professional accomplishments as they relate to your intended field of study, your educational objectives while at NYU, and your career goals following the master's program. State your specific optional area of focus in the general master's program in psychology and include your reasons for choosing this field of study. What specific goals and objectives do you have for applying to NYU? The statement should be concisely written, in a professional/academic, rather than a personal/informal style, and should not exceed two double-spaced pages.

Non-degree applicants to Psychology who are U.S. citizens or permanent residents, or applicants who hold a current H1-B visa, must use the online application to apply. Other non-degree applicants must submit a paper non-degree application.  As part of the application, all applicants must provide:

• Statement of Academic Purpose
• One (1) letter of recommendation
• Final and official academic transcripts showing proof that the bachelor’s degree or equivalent was conferred, including all courses with grades received
• TOEFL or IELTS required of all applicants who are not native English speakers (see Testing Requirements).

For non-degree applicants, additional letters of recommendation are optional. The statement of purpose should explain why you want to attend the program as a non-degree student. Note: Not all courses are available to non-degree students due to enrollment limits, courses that are only open to degree-seeking students or courses that require prerequisites that must be taken in the master’s program. If you are planning to later apply as a degree-seeking student you may be required to take specific courses as part of your non-degree coursework.

Refer to  Instructions for the Non-Degree Application  for more information. 

GPA and Standardized Test Guidelines

Please note that we do not use absolute minimum GPA or standardized test scores to make admissions decisions. Our decisions are based on a composite of criteria applied to all of the credentials presented in your application. However, to help applicants assess their standing with respect to our usual applicant pool, we offer the following guidelines.

Cumulative GPA: 3.0 or above from a reputable four-year program

TOEFL: 105 or above

IELTS: 7.5 or above

Useful Links

• Application and Instructions
• GSAS Application Resource Center
• I/O Case Study Guidelines

Frequently Asked Questions

• Testing Requirements
• Letters of Recommendation
• Academic Transcripts
• International Students
• Prospective Student FAQ's
• FAQ's for Admitted Students

Psychology - Master of Arts (MA)

Psychology, Anthropology and Sociology (PAS) Building on Waterloo's South Campus, across from Laurel Creek.

Conduct high-impact research in one of the top psychology departments in Canada with the Master of Arts in Psychology program .

This program is best suited to you if your goal is to continue your studies in psychology at the PhD level, which is expected of those who are accepted to the MA program.  

Choose between five research fields in which to specialize including clinical psychology, cognitive neuroscience, cognitive psychology, developmental psychology, or social psychology, and complete either a thesis or a master’s research paper.  

The department is known for producing award-winning scholars and being at the forefront of psychological research, and you’ll gain access to advanced research groups and labs. Pursue your studies in an intellectually stimulating, flexible, and friendly environment.  

Research areas and degree options

• Clinical Psychology
• Cognitive Neuroscience
• Cognitive Psychology
• Developmental Psychology
• Social Psychology

Program overview

Department/School : Psychology Faculty : Faculty of Arts Admit term(s) : Fall (September - December) Delivery mode : On-campus Program type : Master's, Research Length of program : 24 months Registration option(s) : Full-time Study option(s) : Thesis, Master's Research Paper

Application deadlines

•  December 1 (for admission in September of the following year)*

*NOTE: all relevant documents pertaining to your application must be uploaded by December 1. See the  Department of Psychology - Application procedures page for detailed information.

Key contacts

Emily O'Connor [email protected]

Admission limitations

Due to funding restrictions, the Faculty of Arts is currently limiting the number of international students we can admit. Please contact the department's Associate Chair, Graduate Studies prior to applying to discuss your interest in this program.

Shame is closely related to attachment insecurity and to fears of receiving compassion. My PhD research will extend this work by examining the role of shame in the development and maintenance of obsessions and compulsions. Aliya McNeil, Clinical Psychology - MA

Supervisors

• Review the finding a supervisor resources

Admission requirements

• Normally an Honours Bachelor's degree or its equivalent in Psychology with at least a 80% overall standing, in the last two years, or equivalent.
• Completion of the Department of Psychology Application.
• Candidates applying to the Cognitive Neuroscience and Cognitive Psychology graduate research fields within the program may submit results from the Graduate Record Examination (Verbal, Quantitative, and Analytic scores), though this is not a requirement.
• Candidates with an Honours Bachelor's degree or equivalent preparation may be admitted to a Master's program or directly to a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) program.
• Qualified candidates are admitted to either a MA or a PhD program (in which a Master's degree may be obtained along the way). The program to which candidates are admitted to varies by program Area (e.g., Clinical and Social applicants are typically accepted into an MA program, while Cognition, Cognitive Neuroscience, Developmental, and Industrial Organizational students are typically accepted to a PhD program). Candidates accepted to the MA program are expected to continue to a PhD program.

Degree requirements

• Review the degree requirements  on the Graduate Studies Academic Calendar, including the courses that you can anticipate taking as part of completing the degree

Application materials

• Personal statement (Letter)
• Supplementary information form (SIF) The SIF contains questions specific to your program, typically about why you want to enrol and your experience in that field. Review the application documents web page for more information about this requirement If a statement or letter is required by your program, review the writing your personal statement resources for helpful tips and tricks on completion
• Transcript(s)
• References Three academic references are required
• Proof of English language proficiency, if applicable TOEFL 90 (writing 25, speaking 25), IELTS 7.0 (writing 6.5, speaking 6.5)

Tuition and fees

Visit the  graduate program tuition page  on the Finance website to determine the tuition and incidental fees per term for your program

Review living costs and housing

Review the   funding graduate school resources   for graduate students