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

Psychology Ph.D. and Psy.D. Degree Programs in Mississippi

Find Doctoral Degree Programs in Mississippi

When you make the commitment to work in psychology, you are investing your efforts in a field that has the potential to help millions of people. Earning an advanced degree may offer you the best payoff for your work, giving you the chance to become a licensed psychologist and work with patients in a variety of settings.

With the wide scope of practice given to psychologists, you may use your degree to work in schools, mental health clinics, counseling centers, and inpatient settings.

In Mississippi, your psychology work may be particularly valuable. Mississippi, like many other rural states, has a shortage of mental health practitioners. People in rural communities often face extensive waits for mental health services or a shortage of providers. Regardless of your area of specialty or your type of doctorate degree, doctorate in psychology schools MS could be the key to starting your new career.

Find out what schools are located in your area, what practical experience requirements you have to meet, and how long this degree takes.

Getting Your Doctorate Degree in Psychology in Mississippi

As an aspiring doctoral student, you’re likely curious about the time and financial commitment required for a doctoral degree in psychology. Whether you choose a Ph.D. or Psy.D., degree requirements are generally the same.

You should expect to earn close to 120 credits beyond the undergraduate level, an endeavor that typically lasts between five and seven years. If you earn a Master’s degree before looking into doctorate programs, your time spent in school may be slightly shorter.

Each school’s course schedule and practical experience schedule is different. Generally, you spend approximately two years completing classroom courses and developing a sense of clinical reasoning. From there, you may move on to structured research activities, clinical experience courses, elective courses, and research development.

Mississippi Student Using Tablet to Study Online For Psychology Doctorate Degree

Your curriculum may be structured around any area of specialty you choose, although some schools do not require you to choose a specialized area of study. Some commonly required Ph.D. courses include:

  • Cognitive Psychology
  • Small Group Research Design
  • Theories of Learning
  • Developmental Disorders
  • Method and Theory in Program Evaluation
  • Psychological Assessment
  • Physiological Psychology
  • Individual Experimental Research
  • Psychopharmacology
  • Advanced Social Science Statistics

The Psy.D. is the clinical response to the Ph.D. While still offering research experience, your time in a Psy.D. program is primarily spent gaining clinical experience and discovering how to be a more effective practitioner. Doctorate in psychology requirements Mississippi tend to cover evidence-based care standards and different approaches to clinical care.

Courses that may be included in a Psy.D. curriculum include:

  • Cognitive Processes
  • Advanced Behavioral Neuroscience
  • Advanced Developmental Psychology
  • Research Evaluation
  • History and Systems of Psychology
  • Cultural Bases of Behavior
  • Psychometric Theory
  • Psychological Disorders of Childhood
  • Adult Psychopathology
  • Adult Cognitive Assessment
  • Child Cognitive Assessment
  • Behavior Therapy for Children
  • Behavior Therapy for Adults

Working With Your Doctoral Degree in Psychology in Mississippi

After earning your Ph.D. or Psy.D. from an accredited school in Mississippi, the next step is getting your license through the Mississippi Board of Psychology. They require thorough documentation of your education, your clinical experience, and any internships you completed. You must also submit a fingerprint card to the Board of Psychology. After your application has been processed and approved, you can take the Examination for Professional Practice of Psychology. Upon passing this test and paying a $300 licensing fee, you may become a licensed psychologist.

Generally speaking, there are two directions you can choose for your psychology career. You may go into practice as a clinical, counseling, or school psychologist. While there is currently no salary data available for Mississippi professionals in this field, O*Net expects job openings to increase 9% through the year 2022 (2016). The other option involves going into academia. In this position, you may teach undergraduate and graduate courses, direct research, and publish papers. The average salary for a Mississippi psychology professor is $67,120 per year (Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2016). Between 2012 and 2022, job openings may swell 18% (O*Net, 2016).

When it comes to Psy.D. and Ph.D. in psychology schools, Mississippi has a variety of options to consider. Start preparing for this stage of your career now by contacting the schools listed below.