Mar 28, 2024  
2023-2024 Graduate Catalog 
    
2023-2024 Graduate Catalog

School Psychology Major, PhD


The School Psychology program offers graded, sequential, and hierarchical training in foundational coursework and applied practica in the areas of research, assessment, consultation, and intervention. The program prepares professionals who work collaboratively with educators, administrators, parents, and children to promote learning and development in general education students and students with special needs. Opportunities for students to meet these requirements will occur in the classroom and during field experiences. The school psychology faculty, along with current and previous students, practicum and internship supervisors, and various other groups have contributed to the development of the curricula.

Campus Code


Knoxville Campus

Admissions standards/procedures


  • Students must submit an online graduate application to the Office of Graduate Admissions. Following a review of applications, an interview with the faculty is required. Admissions decisions are made on a holistic basis to discern the candidate’s promise for doctoral study and to ascertain the match of the candidate’s educational goals with the resources and goals of the program/department.
  • Students with an undergraduate degree who are admitted to the PhD School Psychology Program will typically take 5 years of full time study to complete the program. In some instances students, with a relevant EdS or Master’s degree, can complete the program in 3-4 years.

Credit Hours Required


114 required graduate credit hours

Required Courses


Non-course Requirements


  • Comprehensive Exam: Students complete the Praxis in School Psychology exam after their third year. Students must pass with a score of 147 to be eligible for state certification as a school psychologist. 
  • All students must complete a 2000 hour internship (SCHP 649) in the final year of their training.
  • Doctoral candidates work closely with their dissertation chair to complete a dissertation proposal. A candidate will present the proposal to the dissertation committee, and once approved by all committee members, will begin work on the dissertation research. With the chair’s approval, the candidate will schedule an oral defense for the dissertation. During the dissertation defense, the candidate will present the work completed for the dissertation, which will be reviewed by the dissertation committee.