Psychology PhD programs Texas offers span clinical, counseling, and school psychology, mostly APA-accredited and housed at major research universities. Most take five to seven years and require a full-time predoctoral internship. Many are designed to meet the state’s licensure education requirements, though applicants should confirm current standards with the Texas State Board of Examiners of Psychologists.
With 12 APA-accredited doctoral programs across the state, Texas gives prospective psychologists real choice in clinical, counseling, and school psychology. Anyone comparing psychology PhD programs Texas has to offer will run into the same fork early on: PhD or PsyD?
PhD vs. PsyD: Which Track Fits Your Goals?
Every program on this list leads toward licensure and requires passing the Examination for Professional Practice in Psychology (EPPP), but PhD and PsyD programs get there differently. PhD programs follow the scientist-practitioner or clinical-science model, weight coursework toward original research, and more often fund students through research or teaching assistantships.
PsyD programs follow the practitioner-scholar model, weight coursework toward clinical training over dissertation-style research, and more often rely on tuition rather than assistantship funding. Neither path is the “lesser” degree. For a full breakdown, see our PsyD vs. PhD comparison.
Texas Psychology Doctoral Programs at a Glance
Every program below is accredited by the APA Commission on Accreditation. Select a school name to jump to its full profile.
| School | Degree | Focus | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| Baylor University | PsyD, PhD | Clinical Psychology | Waco, TX |
| Our Lady of the Lake University | PsyD | Counseling Psychology | San Antonio, TX |
| Sam Houston State University | PhD | Clinical Psychology | Huntsville, TX |
| Southern Methodist University | PhD | Clinical Psychology | Dallas, TX |
| Texas A&M University | PhD | Clinical, Counseling, School | College Station, TX |
| Texas Tech University | PhD | Clinical, Counseling | Lubbock, TX |
| Texas Woman’s University | PhD | Counseling, School | Denton, TX |
| University of Houston | PhD | Clinical, Counseling, School | Houston, TX |
| University of North Texas | PhD | Clinical, Counseling | Denton, TX |
| UNT & UNT Health Fort Worth Consortium | PhD | Clinical Health Psychology | Fort Worth, TX |
| University of Texas at Austin | PhD | Clinical, Counseling, School | Austin, TX |
| UT Southwestern Medical Center | PhD | Clinical Psychology | Dallas, TX |
Baylor University
Baylor’s psychology department offers a Psy.D. in Clinical Psychology built around interdisciplinary team collaboration, psychological assessment, and treatment planning. The program follows a practitioner-scientist model, has been APA-accredited since 1976, and runs 115 semester hours over approximately five years, ending in a dissertation and a predoctoral internship.
Psy.D. in Clinical Psychology
Students accumulate 1,000 to 1,200 hours of pre-internship clinical practicum experience alongside coursework in assessment, intervention, and cultural competence. All students receive comparable financial support, including a practicum stipend and full tuition remission through the program’s first three years.
Ph.D. in Psychology
Baylor also offers a research-weighted Ph.D. in Psychology with tracks in Behavioral Neuroscience, Social Psychology, and General Experimental Psychology, preparing graduates for university teaching, research, and applied positions rather than clinical licensure.
Accreditation: APA-accredited. Waco, TX. Program website.
Our Lady of the Lake University
OLLU’s Psy.D. in Counseling Psychology prepares graduates to work with individuals, couples, families, and groups as independent practitioners. Candidates enter with a master’s degree and complete 117 hours toward the doctorate, including hours for internship and dissertation, with up to 39 approved master’s-level credits transferable into the program.
Psy.D. in Counseling Psychology
Concentrations include Child, Adolescent, and Family Therapy and Behavioral Health, as well as a Psychological Services for Spanish-Speaking Populations track. The program requires written and clinical evaluations plus a predoctoral internship. Texas residency for licensure requires at least 18 semester hours of full-time study yearly for three consecutive years.
Accreditation: APA-accredited. San Antonio, TX. Program website.
Sam Houston State University
SHSU’s Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology trains licensed clinicians with a strong forensic foundation, preparing graduates to work within the legal system and interpret psycho-pathology for courts. The program requires 108 hours of coursework, research, and applied experience, plus a full-time dissertation.
Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology
Students train across multiple faculty-mentored settings, including private practices, neuro-psychiatric facilities, residential and group homes, correctional institutions, and the university’s own Psychological Services Center. Graduates are eligible to pursue licensure and work with conditions ranging from traumatic brain injury to personality disorders and addictive behaviors.
Accreditation: APA-accredited. Huntsville, TX. Program website.
Southern Methodist University
SMU’s Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology uses the scientist-practitioner model, treating research and clinical training as equally important. Candidates choose a Health or Family and Child focus area and typically finish in about six years, including roughly 50 hours of coursework plus research and clinical training.
Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology
Practicum and internship placements are available at public health agencies, correctional facilities, schools, medical centers, and private practices. Candidates complete a thesis, a research article review, and a dissertation.
Accreditation: APA-accredited. Dallas, TX. Program website.
Texas A&M University
Texas A&M offers three doctoral psychology tracks: Clinical, Counseling, and School Psychology. All three combine core psychology coursework with research, practicum, and internship experience, ending in a dissertation.
Clinical Psychology PhD
This 96-credit track blends clinical and practitioner models and lets students choose up to two specialization areas, including child and adolescent psychology, forensics, and neuro-behavioral sciences. Full-time students typically finish in five years.
Counseling Psychology PhD
Roughly 109 credit hours taken over four to five years, with field placements at child and family guidance centers, outpatient veteran’s clinics, and university counseling centers.
School Psychology PhD
A five- to six-year program requiring 100 to 112 credit hours, with practicum experience beginning in year one, working directly with public school students.
Accreditation: APA-accredited. College Station, TX. Program website.
Texas Tech University
Texas Tech’s Department of Psychological Sciences offers doctorates in Clinical and Counseling Psychology with a strong practitioner-mentor model.
Clinical Psychology PhD
This 100-to-135-credit track spans six years: core coursework and practicum in years one through four, dissertation work in year five, and an extended internship in year six.
Counseling Psychology PhD
A five-year track requiring a minimum of 102 core credit hours, with practicum placements across hospitals, psychiatric and rehabilitation programs, and community mental health facilities.
Accreditation: APA-accredited. Lubbock, TX. Program website.
Texas Woman’s University
TWU offers Counseling and School Psychology doctorates using a practitioner-scientist model, with a diverse candidate pool drawn from its broader student body.
Counseling Psychology PhD
About 130 credits covering behavioral psychology, neuroscience, research and statistics, and cross-cultural practice, plus supervised practicum, internship, and a dissertation.
School Psychology PhD
A minimum of 121 hours focused on school psychology principles, cognitive and academic assessment, and human development, culminating in practicum placements and a dissertation.
Accreditation: APA-accredited. Denton, TX. Program website.
University of Houston
UH’s Department of Psychology, housed in the College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences, offers Clinical, Counseling, and School Psychology doctorates.
Clinical Psychology PhD
Students conduct on-campus research culminating in a faculty-reviewed thesis defense, with coursework covering medical ethics, inpatient disorder care, and treatment methods that bridge inpatient and outpatient services.
Counseling Psychology PhD
Focused on specialized cases, including PTSD from combat or home trauma, with a required practicum alongside a licensed counselor and a thesis defense before graduation.
School Psychology PhD
A research-heavy track examining the roots of psychological difficulty in school settings, including school violence and the effects of home environment on performance, with a required supervised placement and thesis.
Accreditation: APA-accredited. Houston, TX. Program website.
University of North Texas
UNT offers Clinical and Counseling Psychology doctorates through a heavily research-funded program, with most doctoral students supported by university stipends.
Clinical Psychology PhD
Prepares graduates for inpatient work with conditions such as severe depression, schizophrenia, and PTSD, requiring practical experience in year two, a thesis, and a long-term medical residency before graduation.
Counseling Psychology PhD
Focused on outpatient treatment for everyday psychological challenges rather than diagnosis, requiring a practical counseling placement, thesis, and defense, though not a medical residency.
Accreditation: APA-accredited. Denton, TX. Program website.
UNT & UNT Health Fort Worth Consortium
This consortium between UNT’s Department of Psychology and UNT Health Fort Worth (formerly the University of North Texas Health Science Center) offers a Clinical Health Psychology PhD, distinct from UNT’s standalone clinical and counseling tracks, focused on the intersection of physical health and psychological well-being.
Clinical Health Psychology PhD
Requires a research-based thesis and a long-term medical residency, with coursework covering the psychological impact of chronic and terminal illness and ethical considerations in treating medically complex patients.
Accreditation: APA-accredited. Fort Worth, TX. Program website.
University of Texas at Austin
UT Austin’s College of Liberal Arts offers doctorates in Clinical, Counseling, and School Psychology, taught by nationally published faculty.
Clinical Psychology PhD
Focused on hospital-based treatment for patients needing long-term inpatient care, requiring a medical residency and a research-based thesis defended before a faculty panel.
Counseling Psychology PhD
Prepares psychologists for a range of disorders, requiring a counseling internship and a thesis based on campus lab research.
School Psychology PhD
A research-heavy track requiring a year-long internship with a doctoral-level school psychologist and a thesis addressing school and student psychology.
Accreditation: APA-accredited. Austin, TX. Program website.
UT Southwestern Medical Center
Based at a teaching hospital in Dallas, this Clinical Psychology PhD combines in-hospital clinical appointments with fully funded research and student stipends throughout the program.
Clinical Psychology PhD
Requires a long-term medical residency and hospital-based research culminating in a defended thesis, with coursework in medical ethics and inpatient-to-outpatient care transitions.
Accreditation: APA-accredited. Dallas, TX. Program website.
A doctorate in psychology can lead to a wide range of careers in Texas and beyond, from clinical practice to research and academia. See our list of the most lucrative psychology careers for where these degrees can take you.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many psychology doctoral programs does Texas have?
Texas has 12 APA-accredited doctoral programs in psychology, spanning clinical, counseling, and school psychology at public and private universities across the state.
What’s the difference between a PhD and a PsyD in Texas?
Both lead to licensure and require passing the EPPP. A PhD emphasizes research alongside clinical training and is more often funded through assistantships. A PsyD emphasizes clinical practice over original research and more often relies on tuition. See our PsyD vs. PhD guide for more details.
How long does a psychology doctorate take in Texas?
Most PhD and PsyD programs in Texas take five to seven years, including a full-time predoctoral internship required for licensure.
Do I need a doctorate to become a licensed psychologist in Texas?
Yes. Many APA-accredited programs are designed to meet Texas’s education requirements for psychologist licensure. However,h applicants should confirm current standards with the Texas State Board of Examiners of Psychologists, since licensure also requires supervised experience and a passing EPPP score.
Are there online psychology doctoral programs in Texas?
Doctoral psychology programs require in-person supervised practicum and internship hours, so fully online options aren’t currently available in Texas. Some programs offer hybrid coursework, but the clinical training itself happens in person.
Select your state below to find accredited psychology programs, application links, and licensing requirements for your jurisdiction.