PhD in School Psychology

The aim of the PhD Program in School Psychology at Ball State is to prepare students for entry to practice in health service psychology. The PhD Program in School Psychology is a pathway toward eligibility to pursue a career as a licensed psychologist. This program is a full time, on campus curriculum sequence and is not an online training program. The PhD in School Psychology program prepares all students who have completed a bachelor's degree by the time of program start. The MA degree is not required for admission and may be earned during the PhD in School Psychology program. The program curriculum is designed to be completed in 5 years of full time study. Admitted students who have a master’s degree in school psychology or a closely related area can request that their courses be reviewed for transfer or course equivalency waivers (up to 45 credits). All students must be enrolled in graduate study a minimum of 3 years, with at least 2 of the training years within this program. This program provides students with training experiences to become proficient in the following profession-wide competencies in health service psychology: psychological assessment, consultation, prevention, intervention, ethical and legal issues, and research. Professionalism, communication skills, interdisciplinary collaboration, and advocacy is also emphasized. The program requires a minimum of 119 credits (five academic years) of full-time study beyond a bachelor's degree. This includes four years of full-time coursework (including summer courses) and a final one-year internship.