Admission to Doctoral Program at KU
The University of Kansas is a great place to pursue a graduate degree, since graduate education is central to KU’s mission of learning, scholarship and creative activity. We invite you to explore our graduate degree information, review our student resources, and learn more on our knowledgeable faculty and the vibrant community of Lawrence, Kansas.
Admission Requirements
- Minimum undergraduate GPA of 3.0; and (if applicable) minimum graduate GPA of 3.5
- Official GRE general exam scores (taken within the last five years) at the 50th percentile or higher
Approximately 15% of the students who were admitted to the doctoral program and pursued the Ph.D. in School Psychology at KU were originally admitted to the Ed.S. program. Most students entered the Ph.D. program specifically for doctoral study. Some of these students have come from Avila University, Brigham Young University, Guangdong University of Foreign Studies, Hastings College, University of Iowa, Luther College, Minnesota State University, University of Adelaide, University of Cincinnati, University of Puget Sound, University of Utah, and Wichita State University. The average age of the Ph.D. students is 28 (23-41 range) and 85% are female.
Application Deadline for Ph.D. in School Psychology
Domestic & International Applicants:
Apply before December 1st to begin in the following summer or fall semester
Interested in a Graduate Teaching Assistantship? Apply Here.
Graduate Application Checklist
Getting started
- Begin the online application through the KU Graduate Admissions. Application fee: $65 for U.S. Residents, $85 for international applicants.
- Complete the application in one setting or save your work on each page and finish it later.
Gather and upload supporting documents
- Transcripts: Official transcripts from each institution of higher education from which you received or are earning a degree (official KU transcripts are not required; submit an academic summary or advising report instead). Minimum GPA: undergrad 3.0; graduate 3.5, if applicable.
- Resume: A current copy of your professional resume or curriculum vita (CV).
- Statement of intent: Please describe: 1) your career goals, 2) how you see your career goals relating to this degree program (how you see this program preparing you to meet your career objectives), 3) past work or educational experiences related to this degree program, 4) what skills/competencies and experiences you hope to gain in this program, 5) any past research experiences and accomplishments, 6) one research topic/issue that you would like to pursue in this program, 7) any additional information concerning your background, experience, goals, or accomplishments/awards you believe are pertinent to your application.
- GRE: Scores from the General test from the past 5 years at or above the 50th percentile (preferred).
- Recommendations: 3 recommendation forms and letters from qualified individuals are collected via the online application system. Recommendations should speak specifically to the applicant's academic skills and potential to complete the program.
- English proficiency (non-native English speakers): Due to high demand for English proficiency in this profession, our program requires an average TOEFL score of 24 or above, with no section score lower than 23, which is higher than the University’s requirement.
For International applicants
- Financial document: Required by the U.S. Government to issue the DS-2019 or I-20.
- Complete application in advance of the deadline to ensure adequate time for processing.
Additional information
- Selecting your program: On page 4, select “Education” for the Academic Area of Interest and then find the right major in the Academic Program section. Then, select an entry term and click continue.
- Submitting the form: Review your application and, when satisfied, click the “Finalize Application and Pay” button. This saves your application in final form and takes you to the payment page.
- Application fee: You can pay the fee by debit/credit card or check (U.S. bank accounts only). Cash payments are not accepted.
After submitting your application
- You will receive email verification that your application has been received.
- The Department will follow up with your official application status via email, noting that the application is complete or that additional materials are necessary.
- Admission decisions are communicated via an email with log-in information for the official decision portal. You can expect to be notified anytime between late January and April 15.
This program has an in-person interview component that will be extended to selected applicants; if needed, a phone or other online media interview can also be arranged.
School of Education Resources
SOE Policies, forms, dissertation rubrics, handbooks and other information
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