Psychology Ph.D. and Psy.D. Degree Programs in Tennessee
Find Doctoral Degree Programs in Tennessee
The field of psychology has exploded in size and scope since it came onto the academic scene in the last 1800s. Now defined as a social science, psychology has strict ethical limitations, standards of practice, and clearly defined areas of practice. While a Bachelor’s degree or Master’s degree in psychology may allow you to work in certain areas of counseling and psychology, you must earn a doctorate in psychology to legally call yourself a psychologist. The training you complete at this level is crucial to the psychology licensure process in Tennessee.
Depending on what your long-term career goals are and how much experience you have, a variety of doctoral programs may be a good fit for you. To start, keep reading to learn more about earning a Ph.D. in psychology or a Psy.D. in Tennessee. Then, contact Ph.D. psychology programs Tennessee to get more information about your options in this field.
Getting Your Doctorate Degree in Psychology in Tennessee
A Ph.D. or Psy.D. is a five to seven year commitment for the average student. State licensing requirements require you to spend at least three years earning a psychology Ph.D. prior to getting licensed. As you meet these requirements, you should earn between 90 and 120 credits. General psychology programs tend to be on the low end of this requirement, while specialized programs that explore a specific area of study tend to be on the high end.
To gain admission to psychology Ph.D. programs, Tennessee schools may require a high GRE score. If you have a Bachelor’s degree in a field other than psychology, be prepared to show that you are well-prepared for this program by earning a high score on the psychology GRE.
When you pursue a psychology Ph.D., your coursework may include extensive research and teaching experience. Many students choose to focus on this career path, rather than clinical study.
If this is your area of interest, you may take courses like:
- Behavioral Neuroscience
- History and Systems of Psychology
- Social Psychology
- Multiple Regression for Social Sciences
- Multicultural Counseling
- Research Questions and Design
- Ethical Issues in Professional Psychology
- Psychotherapy
- Clinical Psychopathology
- Personality, Cognition, and Affect
If clinical practice is your end goal, earning a Psy.D. may give you more varied types of practical experience with patients. Over the course of your degree, you should gain over 2,000 hours of supervised work experience, including a one-year full-time internship.
While becoming a skilled clinician, you may build your skills in courses like:
- Ethics and Professional Issues in Counseling Psychology
- Psychopathology
- Assessment of Psychopathology
- Individual Assessment, Theory, and Intervention
- Consultation and Program Evaluation
- Multicultural Counseling
- Health Psychology
- Social Psychology
- Psychopharmacology
Working With Your Doctoral Degree in Psychology in Tennessee
As long as you complete your education at an APA-accredited institution, you can swiftly move onto the licensing process in Tennessee. The Tennessee Board of Examiners of Psychology has several testing requirements. First, you must submit an application and a $485 licensing fee. You also need a letter from your internship supervisor and three references from licensed psychologists. Earning passing scores on the Examination for Professional Practice of Psychology and the Tennessee Jurisprudence Examination puts you in line to get your full practice license.
Tennessee may be an excellent place to begin your psychology career. Job openings for psychologists are expected to increase 13% through 2022 (O*Net, 2016). Psychology professors may see an 8% boost in job openings by 2022 (O*Net, 2016).
The salary you earn is partially determined by your level of experience, your location, and your area of specialty. Psychologists in Tennessee bring in an average of $74,660 per year (Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2016). The average salary for a psychology professor is $59,910 per year (BLS, 2016).
Are you ready to invest in your education? Learn more about your options in this field by contacting doctorate in psychology Tennessee programs.
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