Psychology (Ph.D.)

Basic Degree Information/Description

The Doctor of Philosophy degree in Psychology is designed for students who have completed a Master’s degree and are interested pursing advanced doctoral training in topics related to health and mental health, statistics, and research methods.

Why pursue a Ph.D. in Psychology at UTSA?

• Graduates will have a reputation for research excellence and make contributions to applied areas of knowledge, especially in settings related to health and military health.
• Only one other doctoral program in the country offers a comparable emphasis on research skills that are uniquely tailored to investigate issues related to military health. 
• The program provides students with the opportunity to acquire a strong conceptual background in Psychology and gives them opportunities for advanced training in quantitative and research methodologies. 
• Although the program does not prepare students for licensure, students will have opportunities to develop their scientific writing and oral communication skills and to apply their knowledge and skills in both laboratory settings and in ecologically-valid settings pertaining to health and military health. 

Admissions Requirements and Prerequisites

Admission Prerequisites:

• Required Degree: 36-hour Master’s degree in Psychology that required completion of a research-based master’s thesis and course comparable to those required by the UTSA Master of Science in Psychology program. Applicants who have not completed a Master’s thesis, and/or did not take courses comparable to those required by the UTSA Psychology M.S. program, may be considered for admission with conditional status pending successful completion of all deficiencies.
• Other Degree Requirements: 3.5 GPA (4.0) scale.

Application Requirements:

Admission to the program is limited and competitive. Meeting the minimum admission requirements does not guarantee acceptance into the program. Competitive applicants often exceed minimum requirements.

For more specific requirements, please visit the Online Graduate Catalog.

• Admission to the program is limited and competitive. Meeting the minimum admission requirements does not guarantee acceptance into the program. Competitive applicants often exceed minimum requirements.
  For more specific requirements, please visit the Online Graduate Catalog.
• General University Requirements: A degree-seeking applicant must meet university wide requirements.
• Application: A complete Graduate School application.
• Transcripts: Official transcripts from all institutions attended. All international transcripts must be recorded in English or officially translated to English.
• Resume or Curriculum Vitae: None.
• Letters of Recommendation: Three letters of recommendation from behavioral researchers (e.g., graduate instructors, research advisors) indicating the applicant has the necessary academic and personal attributes for success in the program and has the potential for making significant contributions in the field of psychology.
• Statement of Purpose: A 3-page statement of career goals, research interests, and purpose for pursuing a Ph.D. in Psychology at UTSA. This statement will be evaluated and considered as part of the selection criteria for admission to the program.
• Test Scores: General Graduate Record Examination (GRE), not older than five years.
• Other: Documentation of prior research experience. A completed master’s thesis is the most common form of document submitted. Acceptable alternatives include a published research article, a manuscript prepared for publication, or a research paper submitted for credit in an independent or honors study project.
• Evaluation of Foreign Credentials: All applicants including non-U.S. citizens (International), U.S. citizens (Domestic), or permanent residents who have earned university-level credit from foreign institutions are required to submit an evaluation from an approved Foreign Credential Agency of transcripts from all foreign institutions attended. If official transcripts are used in the foreign credential evaluation, the official transcript requirement will be considered met. However, if unofficial documents are used in the foreign credential evaluation, final official transcripts must be sent to UTSA.
  
  • An approved evaluation requires a detailed course-by-course evaluation. Summaries will not be accepted.
  • The Foreign Credentials Service of America (FCSA) is a private corporation that provides evaluations of foreign school credentials. The application is available at: Application for Credentials Evaluation.
  International Applicants:
  
  • IELTS: Minimum score of 6.5.
  • TOEFL: Minimum scores of 79 or 60 for Internet or paper versions, respectively.
  Additional Requirements: A degree seeking applicant must meet international graduate student admission requirements.

Career options Available for a Ph.D. in Psychology Graduate

Leaders in the growth area of military health care, as well as in the broader area of health and wellness

Research taking place in the Psychology Ph.D. program

Theories from many areas of psychology are applied in research on health issues, including social psychology, cognitive psychology, biopsychology, developmental psychology, and clinical psychology. The interests of the faculty reflect an integrative approach to training students to conduct research on issues related to health and mental health among members of the military and their family. For example, ongoing research by faculty addresses PTSD, substance use, partner violence, health related risk taking, stress and coping, pain, anger management, emotional experience and regulation in the workplace, training for stressful environments, depression and suicide ideation, and measurement of these factors.