Overview of Doctorate in Psychology Degree Programs in Texas
Texas is home to some of the largest and most well-known universities and colleges in the United States. As an extremely large and diverse state, Texas has a great need for clinical mental health practitioners and researchers who can create effective, cost-efficient treatment plans and interventions for patients. Earning a PhD or PsyD in psychology is an excellent way to explore new career opportunities, delve into the practical application of psychology theories, and learn about the role of research in this social science.
To earn a doctorate in psychology, TX schools require you to complete approximately five years of full-time education. During this time, you learn about clinical standards and interventions, research methods and goals, and postsecondary instruction in the field of psychology. Finding a program that aligns with your previous education, work experience, and research goals is an imperative part of success.
Learn more now by contacting psychology programs in Texas.
Getting Your Doctorate Degree in Psychology in Texas
As you work your way through a doctoral program in psychology, you should plan on earning between 100 and 120 credits. These credits are comprised of conventional classroom courses, research lab classes, and clinical experience rotations. This is generally a full-time commitment; few programs have part-time options, due to the time involved in a doctorate.
To cover your expenses and pay for your tuition, you may be able to secure a position as a research or teaching assistant. These funding programs are often reserved for students with a great deal of potential or promising research aims.
It's important to differentiate between the two types of degrees. A PhD in psychology Texas program gives equal weight to clinical work, research, and teaching.
You may explore research in a variety of specialties through courses like:
- Functional Neuroanatomy
- Learning and Memory
- Human Language Processing
- Cognitive Neuroscience
- Evolutionary Psychology
- Social Psychology
- Theory and Techniques of Assessment
- Current Topics in Clinical Psychology
- Inferential Advanced Statistics
The other primary option is a PsyD, which aims to turn students into independent clinicians. While earning a PsyD, you may learn to work specifically with one population, such as children, mental health patients, or elderly patients. Clinical work makes up a significant amount of your credits, allowing you to find the practice setting that best fits your skills and experience.
Some of the courses that are commonly required in PsyD programs include:
- Ethics and Professional Issues in Clinical Psychology
- Psychological Assessment
- Psychotherapy
- Clinical Psychopathology
- Psychopathology and Assessment of Children
- Social-Organizational Psychology
- Administration and Supervision
- History and Systems
- Group and Systems Approaches to Psychotherapy
- Psychological Treatment of Children
In either type of degree, you'll need to get well over 1,000 hours of clinical experience. Many schools require you to start at the school's mental health clinic or free clinic, where you work with many patients under the supervision of a licensed psychiatrist. You may then be assigned to clinical sites throughout the community, depending on your preferences.
Working With Your Doctoral Degree in Psychology in Texas
After you earn your PhD or PsyD, you may decide to work in clinical work or academia. Before you can establish yourself in academia, you may need to gain some relevant clinical experience and publish research in respected journals.
Clinical, school, and counseling psychologists in Texas have an average income of $64,130 per year (Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2016). Psychology professors earn, on average, $66,670 per year (BLS, 2016). From 2012 through 2022, demand for psychologists is expected to increase 17% (O*Net, 2016). Job openings for psychology professors may jump 19% during this time (O*Net, 2016).
Prior to enjoying the benefits of a career in psychology, you must get your license through the Texas State Board of Examiners of Psychologists. Your license is not administered until you pass the Examination for Professional Practice of Psychology and the oral exam administered by the Board.
