Mar 29, 2024  
2017-2018 Graduate Catalog 
    
2017-2018 Graduate Catalog [Not Current Academic Year. Consult with Your Academic Advisor for Your Catalog Year]

School Psychology, PhD


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Education  > Department of Psychological, Health, and Learning Sciences  > School Psychology, PhD


Accredited by the American Psychological Association and adhering to a scientist-practitioner training model, the School Psychology program develops professional school psychologists. Graduates engage in applied research and apply critical analysis and inquiry to identify, select, implement, and evaluate evidence-based practices with sensitivity to cultural and linguistic considerations, and in consideration of diverse client preferences. Embedded throughout the training experience, sensitivity to diversity issues becomes an essential tool, in part because the UH is one of the most culturally and linguistically diverse research institutions in the nation.

Varied practicum placements provide opportunities in more than a dozen school districts, specialized assessment and intervention clinics at the Texas Children’s Hospital (e.g., Disruptive Behavior Disorders and ADHD, Autism Spectrum Disorders, Pediatric Neuropsychology, Pediatric Neurology, Developmental-Behavioral Pediatrics), the Behavioral Pediatrics Neuro-oncology Clinic at the M.D. Anderson Children’s Cancer Hospital, and in other settings within the Houston area. These settings provide opportunities for students to obtain supervised experience with diverse populations, conditions, professionals, settings, and procedures as they matriculate through the program. Program graduates typically meet requirements for licensure in Texas as a licensed psychologist. 

For more information, please visit http://www.uh.edu/education/degree-programs/school-psyc-phd/.

Admission Requirements


The College of Education takes into consideration a number of criteria when determining admission, including prior college or university performance, letters of recommendation, standardized test scores and statement of intent. All applicants must abide by the minimum qualifications for admissions to a masters or doctoral program. All graduate applicants (regardless of citizenship status) must demonstrate proficiency in English to obtain admission to the University. For more information, visit http://www.uh.edu/graduate-school/admissions/international-students/english-proficiency/.

An applicant is responsible for ensuring that all required materials for the evaluation of admissions are received by the College before the program’s deadline. If the application is not complete by the program’s deadline, it will not be evaluated for the admissions. Full details of the online application process can be found at www.uh.edu/graduate-school/admissions/how-to-apply.

Applicant checklist:

  1. Complete online graduate application including statement of interest, resume/c.v., writing sample, letters of recommendation, and application fee payment
  2. Official transcripts from all previous college/university work sent to the UH Graduate School
  3.  Official reporting of GRE scores taken in the last five years
  4. International students have additional documentation requirements which can be found at www.uh.edu/graduate-school/admissions/international-students/

Grade Point Average Requirements

Admission requirements for the College of Education require a minimum cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 2.6 for undergraduate coursework or over the last 60 credit hours of coursework. The College requires a minimum cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 3.0 for graduate coursework. The College’s admission committees evaluate all credentials submitted by applicants to determine a student’s ability and potential to succeed in graduate study. In addition, the committee is interested in the applicant’s potential to contribute to his/her program of study and the University community as a whole.

Please visit the program’s Admission Application Instructions page for more information.

Degree Requirements


Credit hours required for this degree: 106.0

Students are required to complete all 106 hours of coursework listed below in three categories:

  1. School Psychology Doctoral Courses
  2. Department /College Required Courses
  3. Additional Courses

and would also have to demonstrate that they have achieved the Program’s 39 professional and personal competencies.

No courses from Category A can be waived or transferred. In very rare instances, with appropriate documentation and demonstration of competency, students may waive or transfer courses from Category B. Students entering with waived courses or transferable credit (no more than 30 hrs.) would take all courses in categories A and B as well as courses from Category C that are necessary to ensure that the student has (a) achieved the Program’s 39 professional and personal competencies, and (b) completed no less than the 106 hours of graduate coursework necessary for degree completion (including transfer or waived coursework credits).

The Program does not include any elective courses. Students who wish to complete additional courses to broaden or deepen their competencies are encouraged to discuss the advantages and disadvantages associated with such choices with their advisor before registering for an additional course.

School Psychology Specialty Courses


Category A: Required Doctoral School Psychology Specialty Courses (47 credit hours)

Additional Courses


Category C: Additional Required Courses (39 credit hours)

This list identifies additional required courses that also may be eligible for transfer credit.

Academic Policies


College Academic Policies

University of Houston Academic Policies   

Ongoing and Annual Review

During the summer, or no later than the first week of classes in the fall term, the student’s academic advisor formally conducts an annual review of each advisee’s progress (first year students may also complete a preliminary review at the end of their first term). However, to ensure that emerging issues and concerns are addressed in a timely fashion, any or all of the following may also occur at any time.

At this review meeting, the student must submit proof of current membership in two professional organizations and proof of attendance at two professionally relevant continuing education activities during the prior year.

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