MS/PhD Degree Program
There are three broad programs within the MS/PhD degree program: Clinical Psychology (APA accredited), School Psychology (APA accredited), and Experimental Psychology. Across these doctoral programs, faculty and students participate in five research areas: Clinical Health Psychology; Behavioral Neuroscience; Child and Family Studies; Cognitive Psychology; and Psychotherapy Research. Students interested in other areas should contact the department for further information.
In each of these programs, the MS is preparatory to continuation in the program. In order to be advanced to doctoral study, a student must have satisfactorily completed all requirements for the MS (including a thesis that is empirical and psychological) at The University of Memphis, or have completed an equivalent degree, with empirical thesis, from another institution. Students possessing a master鈥檚 degree without a thesis will be required to complete a thesis before being advanced to doctoral study.
Across the MS/PhD degree programs, the general training objectives are: (1) understanding of theoretical principles and practices of psychology; (2) development of expertise in experimental design, data analysis, and oral and written presentation of research results; and (3) being competitive for professional positions in psychology.
Program Requirements
Credit Hours:
A minimum of 33 semester hours of graduate credit beyond the bachelor鈥檚 degree is required for the MS degree in Psychology, and a minimum of 80 semester hours of graduate credit beyond the bachelor鈥檚 degree is required for the PhD degree in Psychology. All work for graduate credit must be approved by, and must be completed at a level of performance satisfactory to the graduate faculty of the department. Students also may take coursework for degree credit outside the department with program approval.
*Price shown is for indicative purposes, please
September 2025
College of Arts and Sciences
107 Scates Hall,
MEMPHIS,
Tennessee,
38152, United States
A Baccalaureate or Master鈥檚 Degree: The applicant must provide an official transcript showing an earned bachelor鈥檚 or master鈥檚 degree, depending on program requirements. In cases, where a program鈥檚 accrediting body allows alternate admissions standards, exceptions may be made. If you are a UofM undergraduate student applying to Graduate School at UofM, you do not need to request that an official transcript be sent to Graduate Admissions. This office has access to your transcript. The degree must have been awarded by an accredited college or university. Only transcripts received directly from an issuing institution are considered official. Personal copies are not acceptable as official documents.
GPA: The applicant must have earned an acceptable grade point average, typically a minimum of 2.5 on a scale of 4.0, but departments may make exceptions for students whose overall GPA does not adequately reflect their ability to succeed in their chosen field.
International students must provide evidence of English Language Proficiency.
English proficiency test scores accepted by the University:
*There may be different IELTS requirements depending on your chosen course.
A degree from the University of Memphis is much more than a qualification. It is a community and an experience which prepares students for success.
