School Psychology

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.

Once you’ve decided to Apply, please note that KU does not accept paper applications for admission. The online application is designed to give you the ability to submit all supporting documents in one form. Not sure of how to proceed? We’ve created a Graduate Application Checklist, just for you!

Admission Requirements

Minimum Undergraduate GPA of 3.0 and, if applicable, minimum Graduate GPA of 3.5.
Official GRE general test scores, taken within the last five years and scores should be at the 50th percentile or higher.
English proficiency requirement verified via: 1) Graduation with a baccalaureate degree (or higher) earned in residence from an accredited English-medium U.S. college or university or a college or university in the United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, Ireland, English-speaking province of Canada, or an English-speaking Caribbean country, with instruction conducted in English; or 2) Official scores from the TOEFL (25 on all part scores), IELTS-Academic (6.0 total score with no part score below 5.5), or PTE (55 overall score with no part score below 50). Scores must be less than two years old from the semester of admission.
Completed bachelor's or master’s degree in counseling, psychology, or a related area. Applicants who do not have an undergraduate degree in education or psychology should have a minimum of 15 undergraduate credit hours in the behavioral sciences, such as Psychology, Human Development, Sociology, Education, etc.

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 15th to begin in the following summer or fall semester
(Admission decision notifications are shared no later than February 1)

Interested in a Graduate Teaching Assistantship? Apply Here.