Program Overview

The School Psychology Track of the Educational Psychology PhD program at Texas Tech University prepares school psychologists to become leaders in the field using evidence-based practice, defined as the “conscientious, explicit, and judicious use of the best available research evidence to inform each stage of clinical decision making and service delivery” (Canadian Psychological Association Task Force, 2012, p. 7) and to critically evaluate and investigate these practices to not only ensure effective outcomes for their clients but to also disseminate meaningful contributions to the field. The Track trains school psychologists to produce research that meaningfully benefits children, families, schools, teachers, and communities and that is ultimately viewed as credible by clinicians. 

• Program Handbook
• Licensed Students FAQ
• License Seeking Students FAQ

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Tuition Cost Estimate

For the most accurate estimates of tuition please see the Cost Estimator located on the Student Business Services page. Below estimates do not account for potential scholarships, assistantships, or program-specific fees added to your bill. Please also remember that this not a tuition guarantee as the Texas Tech Board of Regents reviews tuition and fees annually.

Get a detailed tuition estimate ❯ - all fully online graduate students should select "TTU Online."

Degrees Offered

The Ph.D. in Educational Psychology-School Psychology Track is a hybrid program requiring the completion of 92 credit hours. Although most of the degree requirements can be completed online, some face-to-face courses are required. Individuals with master's degrees in psychology or counseling, including the M.Ed. in Educational Psychology, who may wish to complete coursework to be eligible for licensure or certification as a school psychologist but are not interested in the Ph.D., should consider the 15-hour School Psychology Certificate.

Career Opportunities With This Degree

Completing the PhD in Educational Psychology- School Psychology Track prepares school psychologists to become leaders in the field. Many graduates have continued working in schools and advanced their careers into leadership positions such as special education directors, special education coordinators, and lead school psychologist roles. Other graduates have transitioned into higher education as faculty members in school psychology programs. 

How Do I Become A School Psychologist?

The Texas State Board of Examiners of Psychologists (TSBEP) licenses school psychologists in the State of Texas as Licensed School Psychologists (LSP). The LSP can be obtained with a graduate degree in psychology with the completion of at least 60 hours, including a practicum and internship in school psychology. The Texas licensure requirements can be found on the TSBEP website. Information on licensing and credentialing requirements in other states can be found at NASP's website.

About the Program

The School Psychology Track prepares students to become leaders in school psychology, capable not only of providing the full range of professional services but also of effectively leading teams, mentoring/supervising trainees, and offering professional development opportunities for other educators. The School Psychology Track further emphasizes students’ skill development in the ongoing evaluation and monitoring of interventions. Students are mentored in the field to simultaneously engage in the provision of psychological services in educational settings and evaluate each stage of service delivery. This is accomplished through community and school-based experiences that accompany coursework in each year of study. These experiences are carefully and uniquely guided by university-supported clinical staff and researchers who facilitate partnerships across area schools, especially those in rural communities without access to comprehensive and integrated school psychological services.  

Why Choose School Psychology at Texas Tech University? 

Most students in the School Psychology Track live outside of the Lubbock area and already work in public schools as school psychologists. Prospective students are drawn to our program because they aspire to refine their skills and advance their careers, but as full-time employees, they require a more flexible schedule than traditional school psychology programs offer. 

Typically, school psychology doctoral programs are face-to-face and have weekly in-person class requirements. Many programs also prohibit students from working full-time because of the rigorous coursework demands. Although our program is not 100% online, our hybrid modality makes training as a school psychologist possible for many who live in more remote locations or just need a lesser face-to-face commitment for family or employment reasons. 

Applying to the Program

The School Psychology Track uses a cohort model and only accepts applications for the fall semesters. Applications for the next fall semester are available from October 1 through March 15, and to be considered for scholarships, students should submit their applications on or before December 1. 

The application is available through the online application portal on the Graduate School website. There, you will create an application and upload the required application materials. You can check the status of your application within the same portal.

When applying, please select the option that includes the School Psychology Track “Educational Psychology – School Psychology (PHD)”. Please upload the following materials to your application:

• Statement of Purpose to include the prospective student’s
  
  • Learning goals
  • Career goals
  • Prior experience working in education and school settings
  • Prior experience working with children
  • Prior experience working with special populations
  • Special skills, knowledge base, and/or abilities 
  • Specific and detailed research and practice interests that align with those of a core school psychology faculty member
• Curriculum Vitae (or résumé)
  • Educational background
  • Specialized training and licensure/certifications
  • Work experience
  • Conference presentations
  • Publications
  • Manuscripts in preparation
  • Awards, fellowships, and scholarships
• Writing Sample
  • Master’s thesis
  • Sample publication
  • Section of research paper or proposal
  • De-identified professional writing sample other than an FIE
• GRE scores 
  
  • TTU Graduate School has made the GRE optional through Fall 2026
  • If you have them, official scores must be sent from ETS to TTU
  • Must be no older than 5 years. No cut point is set for scores. 
• Transcripts 
  
  • Unofficial transcripts from all institutions attended should be submitted, including TTU. 
  • No cutoff has been set for the GPA in order to be reviewed. Students with an undergraduate Grade Point Average (GPA) below 3.00 or graduate Grade Point Average below 3.50 are encouraged to provide an explanation in their Statement of Purpose
• Three letters of recommendation  
  
  • The three recommenders should include individuals with knowledge of the prospective student’s academic performance and their experience working in education, in school settings, and/or with children 

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schoolpsychology.educ@ttu.edu

Faculty and Coordinators