Home Doctorate in Psychology Maryland Ph.D. and Psy.D. Degree Programs

Maryland Ph.D. and Psy.D. Degree Programs

Find Doctoral Degree Programs in Maryland

Earning a bachelor’s degree in psychology or taking undergraduate psychology courses can give you a solid introduction to this field and its many subspecialties. However, to become licensed as a psychologist and have a full scope of practice, doctoral-level education is required.

In Maryland, there are many renowned colleges and universities that have psychology Ph.D. and Psy.D. programs. In fact, many schools offer both of these options.

This type of degree may put you on the path to several different careers. You may go into research and help uncover new treatment options, causes of disorders, and counseling techniques. You can also teach psychology at the undergraduate level, which often involves research as well. You may opt to go into the clinical field and provide mental healthcare services to the people of Maryland.

No matter which of these areas interest you, you can get more information by contacting doctorate in psychology programs in MD.

Getting Your Doctorate Degree in Psychology in Maryland

As you start learning more about Maryland psychology programs, make sure to learn about as many different schools as possible. Each school sets its own admissions requirements, and you may find that some programs are too competitive or demanding for your current education and experience.

Generally, Psy.D. and Ph.D. in psychology degrees in MD require a bachelor’s degree and some undergraduate psychology coursework. A GPA of 3.0 is the baseline, but having a higher GPA may help you. You should also know a bit about different areas of research in psychology and which areas of research hold your interest.

When you talk to professors and advisors, it should become clear to you whether a Ph.D. or Psy.D. is the right choice for you. Ph.D. programs are typically based on the clinical science model, which prepares students equally for clinical roles and research roles.

These degree programs may include courses like:

  • Quantitative Methods in Research
  • Qualitative Methods in Research
  • Psychological Assessment Methods
  • Ethical and Professional Issues in Clinical Psychology
  • Child Psychopathology
  • Adult Psychopathology
  • Behavioral and Cognitive Behavioral Interventions for Adults/Children

On the other hand, you have Psy.D. in psychology degrees in MD. These degrees prepare you for a clinical career by helping you gain supervised experience with many different patients throughout your education. Some schools require several thousand hours of supervised experience by graduation.

Commonly required courses include:

  • Theories of Counseling and Psychotherapy
  • Advanced Psychopathology
  • Intellectual and Objective Personality Assessment
  • Professional Issues in Counseling Psychology
  • Diversity Issues in Psychology
  • Advanced Techniques of Counseling and Psychotherapy
  • Research Methods in Psychology

Clinical work and research experience are mandatory for students of both degree programs. Throughout your education, plan on spending at least 10 hours per week conducting research or seeing patients.

Working With Your Doctoral Degree in Psychology in Maryland

To become a licensed psychologist in Maryland and get the qualifications to work in different clinical settings, you must first pass two exams. The first is the Examination for Professional Practice of Psychology and the second is the Maryland Jurisprudence Exam. You can then submit your required paperwork to the Maryland Board of Examiners of Psychologists, including the Practice Oriented Programs Application and your school transcripts.

The job outlook is expected to remain stable in Maryland through 2022. During this time frame, O*Net anticipates a 3% increase in psychologist job openings and a 7% boost in job openings for psychology professors (2016). An average salary of $75,780 per year is reported for Maryland psychologists, compared to an average of $96,340 per year for psychology professors (Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2016). Your salary may vary, depending on whether you have specialized training, lots of experience, or connections within the industry.

You can take the next step in your psychology education right now. Just look at the list of schools below to contact Psy.D. and Ph.D. in psychology programs in Maryland.