Kentucky offers psychology graduate programs that are designed for various career paths in clinical practice, research, and applied psychology.
At the University of Kentucky, you can pursue a Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology, with specializations in Cognitive Neuroscience, Developmental, Social, and Health Psychology. Western Kentucky University provides master’s degrees in Clinical and Industrial/Organizational Psychology, along with a Doctor of Psychology (Psy.D.) in Applied Psychology.
Eastern Kentucky University offers a Psy.D. in Clinical Psychology, emphasizing real-world experience through practicum opportunities. Murray State University presents M.A. and M.S. degrees in Clinical and General Experimental Psychology.
This guide highlights some of the popular psychology graduate programs in Kentucky. Explore each option to make an informed decision about your educational path.
Best Psychology Graduate Programs in Kentucky
Listed below are some of the popular schools offering psychology graduate programs in Kentucky:
- Western Kentucky University
- Morehead State University
- Brescia University
- Eastern Kentucky University
- University of Kentucky
- Southern New Hampshire University
- Walden University
- Grand Canyon University
To find out how we select colleges and universities, please click here.
Western Kentucky University
Master of Science in Psychology
Enrolling in the Master of Science in Psychology program at Western Kentucky University allows you to prepare for careers in business, research, or government. This program will also help you in continuing your studies in a doctoral program in psychology or a related area.
You may choose one of two available concentrations:
- Industrial/Organizational Psychology
- Psychological Science
To complete the program, you must earn 27 to 28 credit hours in required core courses, along with additional coursework specific to your chosen concentration. You will be required to complete a thesis based on original research under the guidance of a graduate faculty member. You must also pass a comprehensive exam during your thesis defense.
Industrial/Organizational Psychology Concentration
If you select the Industrial/Organizational concentration, you will complete a two-year program designed to prepare you for roles in business, industry, service organizations, consulting firms, or government. This track is intended to help you build marketable skills in test development, personnel selection, performance evaluation, and employee training. You will also study motivation at work, job satisfaction, and organizational improvement strategies. Practical experience is combined with formal coursework to support your development.
This concentration follows the scientist-practitioner model. You will be trained to evaluate theories and apply research findings. After graduation, you may work in areas such as human resources, people analytics, talent development, or organizational effectiveness.
Courses required for this concentration include:
- Advanced Research Methods in Psychology: You will study advanced research techniques used in psychological studies.
- Analysis of Variance: You will focus on the design and analysis of experimental data using between-subjects, within-subjects, and mixed models.
- Correlation and Regression Analysis: You will learn advanced statistical methods, including regression, partial correlation, and analysis of covariance.
- Statistics and Psychometric Theory: You will be introduced to psychometric principles and techniques for creating psychological assessments.
- Advanced Social Psychology: You will examine individual behavior in social settings, including topics such as group behavior, persuasion, and communication.
- Job Analysis and Compensation: You will explore foundational I/O methods including job evaluation and compensation planning.
- Personnel Psychology: You will study hiring procedures and examine issues related to measurement, validation, and performance standards.
- Organizational Psychology: You will review current theories and research in organizational behavior.
- Internship in Industrial-Organizational Psychology: You will complete a field placement that aligns with your training. Your internship site must be approved in advance by program faculty.
- Advanced Training in Business and Industry: You will explore how to assess training needs and evaluate the success of training programs.
- Equal Employment Opportunity, the Law, and Ethical Considerations: You will examine legal and ethical guidelines that affect employee selection, including court rulings and federal regulations.
Psychological Science Concentration
If you choose the Psychological Science concentration, you will complete a two-year research-based program that prepares you for doctoral studies or research-focused careers. You will receive training and mentorship in areas such as cognitive psychology, development, neuroscience, perception, clinical, social psychology, and more. After graduation, you may continue to a Ph.D. program or begin a career in science, government, or business where research and data analysis are important.
Courses required for this concentration include:
- Advanced Research Methods in Psychology: You will learn research design and methodology used in psychological research.
- Correlation and Regression Analysis: You will study advanced statistical techniques including multiple regression and related procedures.
- Statistics and Psychometric Theory: You will focus on creating valid psychological tests and understanding psychometric principles.
- Advanced Child Developmental Psychology: You will review current findings and theories in child development research.
- Advanced Topics in Cognition: You will explore human thought processes including learning, memory, attention, and decision-making.
- Advanced Social Psychology: You will analyze how individuals behave in social environments and examine the factors that influence those behaviors.
- Advanced Physiological Psychology: You will study the structure of the nervous system and its role in behavior and mental processes.
- Practicum in Psychological Sciences: You will gain supervised experience working in a research setting.
In addition to the university’s graduate admissions process, you must meet the following department requirements:
- Complete the Psychological Sciences Departmental Application.
- Submit a 500-word personal statement that describes your professional interests and long-term goals.
- Provide three letters of recommendation.
- If you are applying to the Psychological Science concentration, you must identify two to three faculty mentors with whom you would like to work.
You are also encouraged to provide the following, though they are not required:
- Completion of courses in statistics and research methods.
- Background in psychology.
- A minimum 3.0 GPA in your psychology coursework.
- An academic writing sample (such as a paper or thesis).
- GRE scores (optional).
This program offers both academic training and practical experience to help you build the qualifications necessary for a wide range of careers or continued study at the doctoral level.
Morehead State University
Master of Science in Clinical Psychology
The Master of Science degree program in Clinical Psychology at Morehead State University was created with three main goals. First, it aims to offer you a quality education that prepares you to work effectively in clinical psychology roles, whether inside or beyond the university’s local area. This goal aligns with the overall mission and values of the university.
Second, following guidelines from the APA and the Kentucky Board of Examiners of Psychology, this program focuses on training you to become a clinical psychology practitioner working under the supervision of a doctoral psychologist. Your training will build a solid foundation in scientific psychology, combined with the knowledge, skills, and attitudes needed to work effectively with clients from different ethnic and social backgrounds. The program includes key preparation in scientific psychology and research, as well as clinical skills and supervised field work.
Finally, the program aims to help you successfully pass the licensure exam conducted by the Kentucky Board of Examiners of Psychology so you can become a Licensed Psychological Associate or Licensed Psychological Practitioner.
To meet these goals, the program sets several specific objectives for your learning:
- You will gain basic knowledge about the biological foundations of behavior, including neuropsychology and psychopharmacology.
- You will learn about cognitive and emotional factors influencing behavior, including various learning models.
- You will understand social influences on behavior.
- You will study individual differences, including knowledge about ethnically and socially diverse clinical populations, as well as personality theories and processes.
- You will acquire skills in research design and statistics to become a thoughtful consumer of research literature in clinical psychology.
- You will become familiar with ethical and legal issues in clinical psychology practice.
- You will learn how to conduct diagnostic interviews and understand the DSM-5 diagnostic system.
- You will develop knowledge in psychometrics.
- You will study major theoretical systems of evidence-based psychotherapy.
- You will advance your understanding of the practice of evidence-based psychotherapy.
- You will have opportunities to learn specialized psychotherapy methods, including couples and family therapy, child and adolescent therapy, cognitive behavioral therapy, and contextual behavioral science treatments.
- You will complete a variety of supervised clinical field experiences to develop strong skills in diagnosis, assessment, and therapeutic intervention based on evidence.
- You can select elective courses in psychology or related fields to gain specialized knowledge that interests you.
Although writing a thesis is not required, you may choose to participate in or conduct mentored research with faculty in the department. If you plan to pursue a doctoral degree later, completing a thesis research project with faculty supervision is highly encouraged.
To earn the Master of Science degree in Clinical Psychology, you must:
- Complete 60 credit hours of specified coursework.
- Pass Competency Examinations.
- Complete at least 600 hours of supervised fieldwork through practicum and internship placements.
- Pass an Oral Comprehensive Examination.
At the end of your first year of clinical coursework and before beginning practicum work, you will take Competency Examinations. These exams test your knowledge in areas such as psychopathology and psychodiagnosis, ethical and legal issues, multicultural concerns, psychometrics, psychotherapy, and assessment of personality, psychopathology, and intellectual and academic functioning. Each exam lasts one hour and typically includes essay or short-answer questions.
During your practicum and internship, your performance will be evaluated by doctoral-level supervisors and other qualified mental health professionals at your placement sites.
After completing your internship, you must pass a Comprehensive Oral Examination. This exam is conducted by a committee of three faculty members: two from clinical psychology and one from experimental or academic psychology, whom you select. The exam focuses on your presentation and discussion of a case from your internship experience.
To be admitted to the program, you need to have completed at least 18 semester hours of psychology courses. These must include courses in psychological research methods, psychological statistics, and at least one course related to clinical psychology, such as Introduction to Clinical Psychology, Abnormal Psychology or Psychopathology, or Applied Behavior Analysis. If you have questions about course requirements, you should contact the program directly.
The program prefers applicants with an undergraduate GPA of 3.5 or higher, but requires a minimum GPA of 3.0. Preferred GRE scores are 151 in verbal reasoning and 148 in quantitative reasoning.
You will also need to demonstrate good interpersonal skills and personal maturity through a personal interview with the clinical psychology faculty. If you live outside the immediate area, this interview may be conducted by phone.
You must submit three strong letters of recommendation, including two from faculty members in your major department. Additionally, you must provide a clear statement of purpose explaining your reasons for seeking graduate training in clinical or counseling psychology.
If you lack prerequisite coursework, you are generally not admitted. However, in rare cases, conditional admission may be granted, requiring you to complete the missing courses. Note that you will not receive credit for undergraduate-level courses taken to meet these prerequisites.
If your GPA or GRE scores do not meet requirements, you may still be admitted conditionally if you can show strong academic potential. This could include related work or research experience, strong recommendation letters, or other evidence that suggests you will succeed in graduate study in psychology.
Brescia University
Master of Science in Clinical Psychology
If you want to support people dealing with emotional, mental, or addiction challenges, you should consider the Master of Science in Clinical Psychology program at Brescia University. This program prepares you to offer both direct care and support to individuals, families, and groups.
You will have the option to study in a way that fits your schedule. You may choose to complete all your courses online or attend classes on campus. Additionally, you can decide whether to study full-time or part-time. If you plan to continue to a doctorate in the future, writing a thesis as part of your degree is highly recommended.
The program requires you to complete 45 credit hours. You will also participate in two practicums and one internship, each lasting 300 hours. This gives you a total of 600 hours of practical experience in the field.
When you finish the program, you will meet the academic and practical requirements needed to become a licensed psychological associate in Kentucky. If you already hold a license and want to advance your qualifications, Brescia University offers additional courses to help you reach the next level of licensure.
Throughout the program, you will take several core courses, such as:
- Advanced Adult Development: You will study psychological growth from young adulthood through old age.
- Advanced Child Development: You will examine psychological development from infancy to adolescence.
- Substance Abuse and Addictions: You will review current practices in addiction treatment and assessment.
- Theories and Systems of Psychotherapy: This course introduces you to various counseling and psychotherapy methods and ideas.
- Biological Bases of Behavior: You will learn how biological processes influence behavior.
- Individual Differences: You will explore how factors like culture, gender, age, and location shape the understanding and practice of clinical psychology.
- Social Bases of Behavior: You will analyze how the presence of others affects thoughts, feelings, and actions.
To be eligible for this program, you must hold an undergraduate degree from an accredited institution. You also need at least 12 credit hours in psychology courses, with grades of C or higher.
You can meet prerequisites through courses in psychology, social work, or counseling. Additionally, you must have three credits each in Statistics and Research Methods.
If you have not completed courses in Statistics or Research Methods, you may still be admitted under specific conditions. In that case, you must commit to finishing these courses during your first semester in the graduate program.
Eastern Kentucky University
Doctor of Psychology (Psy.D.)
If you choose to pursue the Doctor of Psychology (Psy.D.) degree at Eastern Kentucky University, you will be prepared to offer psychological services to a wide range of clients across many settings. This program also helps you become a knowledgeable user of research. You will learn to provide clinical services that are ethical and based on evidence, serving diverse clients and making a positive impact in your community and beyond.
Eastern Kentucky University focuses on training high-quality clinical psychologists for Kentucky and other areas. The curriculum combines academic and practical training through courses such as statistics and research design, advanced developmental psychology, biological bases of behavior, and rural mental health.
You will be required to complete 27 credit hours of practicum work. Your initial practicum experiences will take place in the university’s own training facility, the Eastern Kentucky University Psychology Clinic. Later, usually during your third and fourth years, you will engage in external field placements, where you will typically spend two days per week at the site.
During your final year, you must complete a full-time, year-long doctoral internship in professional psychology at an approved location.
To earn your degree, you must complete at least 120 graduate credit hours. This includes 12 credit hours for the year-long internship, 27 credit hours for clinical practica, 72 credit hours of required coursework, 6 credit hours for your doctoral research project, and 3 credit hours of electives approved by your graduate advisor.
Your core courses will include:
- Forensic Psychology: You will study the roles clinical psychologists play in legal settings, including forensic mental health assessments, civil and criminal evaluations, expert testimony, and report writing.
- History & Systems of Psychology: This course surveys the history of psychology and its main schools of thought related to behavior and mental processes.
- Multicultural Psychology: You will develop awareness of your own cultural values and biases, and learn how factors like race, culture, gender, sexual orientation, and social class affect professional relationships.
- Psychology of Addictions: This course covers assessment, diagnosis, theories, and treatment approaches for substance-related and addictive disorders.
- Intellectual Assessment: You will learn techniques for administering, scoring, interpreting, and reporting intelligence tests for children and adults.
- Personality Assessment: You will study methods for evaluating personality through interviews, objective and projective tests, with a focus on integrating results.
- Psychopathology: This course covers causes and descriptions of various psychological disorders and problematic behaviors.
- Biological Bases of Behavior: You will examine psychophysiological principles and research, including topics such as emotion, arousal, biofeedback, psychosomatic illnesses, and links between physiology and psychopathology.
- Child & Family Interventions: You will review and practice interventions for childhood psychological disorders, emphasizing both individual and group work.
- Group and Family Therapy: This course covers theories and techniques used in group and family therapy, with practical training in intervention skills.
- Psychology of Trauma: You will learn about the psychological effects of different types of trauma, including assessment, diagnosis, theories, and treatments.
- Statistics & Research Design: You will study scientific observation, control, and analysis methods, focusing on multivariate research in psychology and evaluating research designs.
- Professional Concerns: This course addresses ethical and related challenges faced by psychologists.
- Practicum in Clinical Psychology: You will gain supervised experience in applied settings, with responsibilities adjusted according to your coursework and skill level.
- Doctoral Internship in Clinical Psychology: This is an intensive, supervised experience at an approved external clinical site.
To apply to this program, you must have completed at least five undergraduate psychology courses, including general psychology, statistics, and experimental psychology. You will also need two additional courses approved by the admissions committee. Y
You must submit transcripts for all undergraduate and graduate work, as well as GRE scores. If psychology was not your undergraduate major, you are encouraged to take the GRE Psychology Subject Test. GRE scores and GPA are used to select applicants. Competitive candidates typically have a GPA of 3.0 or higher and GRE scores at or above the 50th percentile. Because admission is limited, meeting minimum requirements does not guarantee acceptance.
Your application must include a cover letter explaining your interest in the program (1-2 typewritten, double-spaced pages), three letters of recommendation (at least one from psychology faculty), and a curriculum vitae.
Applications are submitted online and must be received by December 1. Strong candidates will be invited for interviews. Admission decisions are usually communicated in February or March.
You may transfer up to 33 graduate credit hours from accredited institutions. Transfer credits are reviewed individually and must be graduate-level courses from regionally accredited schools that match the Psy.D. program’s content and credit requirements. Only non-clinical courses such as statistics, social psychology, cognitive psychology, or developmental psychology are eligible for transfer credit. Clinical courses like ethics, psychopathology, assessment, and therapy skills cannot be transferred.
University of Kentucky
Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology
You can earn your Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology at the University of Kentucky through a program approved by both the American Psychological Association (APA) and the Psychological Clinical Science Accreditation System.
This program is structured to help you grow as a researcher, a careful reviewer of scientific material, and a clinician who uses scientific methods to guide decision-making. You are expected to carry out original research during your studies, and many graduates continue contributing to research long after finishing the program.
Your coursework will include both foundational topics and specialized electives, especially after your first year. You will receive broad training across major subjects in clinical psychology. You and your faculty committee will plan a study path based on your interests, which may include clinical child psychology, research methods, individual therapy, health psychology, mental health management, neuropsychology, or related areas.
Core requirements include Interviewing (PSY 629), two semesters in Personality and Intellectual Assessment (PSY 630, 631), Psychopathology (PSY 603), Systems of Psychotherapy (PSY 636), and supervised Practicum in Psychotherapy and Behavior Change (PSY 637).
You will also complete two courses in statistics (PSY 610, 611), ethics and multicultural issues (PSY 710), and take at least two advanced clinical seminars that match your training goals. To build your research skills, you will complete a Research Design seminar (PSY 616), a master’s thesis, and a doctoral dissertation. You will also have opportunities to take part in faculty-led research.
You must show you are prepared in four major subject areas required by licensing boards and the APA: biological, cognitive-affective, social, and individual differences. You will meet these requirements through required and elective coursework. Alongside knowledge, you will also develop the professional abilities needed to earn a doctoral degree in this field.
You will complete your final clinical training through a yearlong internship at a site approved by the APA. This step usually takes place in your fifth or sixth year, after finishing all required classes and your dissertation proposal. Before that, you will gain practicum experience in various settings such as clinics, hospitals, or community agencies.
You need to live in or near Lexington, Kentucky, for at least three years to complete your required in-person practicum training during fall and spring semesters. If you are involved in clinical work at any point, you must be physically located in Kentucky—even after the three-year minimum.
Although there is no fixed number of clinical contact hours required, you should plan to complete at least 500 direct contact hours before you are ready to begin your internship. Many students exceed this number by joining more advanced training opportunities.
You will usually begin practicum in your second or third year, and change placements each year afterward. Practicum sites include medical centers, private practices, VA clinics, and mental health agencies. Your responsibilities may include therapy, assessments, education, and consulting. Most placements involve 10 to 20 hours per week of supervised clinical service for one year.
Between your second and fourth years, you need to complete at least 200 direct contact hours. Out of those, at least 100 must be in-person, and at least 100 must come from one-on-one therapy sessions with a minimum of four clients, each seen at least four times. You also must complete four full psychological assessments.
During your second year, you must gain at least 30 contact hours at the Harris Center. You will receive individual supervision weekly in the fall, and group supervision weekly in the spring. In your third and fourth years, you must earn 85 contact hours per year at the same center, with about three hours of weekly group supervision. One assessment must be completed in both the second and third years, and two in the fourth year if not finished earlier. These are supervised individually.
To apply for your internship, you must complete all clinical practicum training requirements.
Most students entering this program already have strong research goals. If you are unsure of your path, the program supports training for careers in research, teaching, and clinical service. You will be trained in both research and clinical work and will be expected to use scientific practices in all parts of your career. You may also get to teach or supervise others during your time in the program.
After graduation, many students secure academic positions or faculty roles in medical centers. Some work in Veterans Affairs hospitals or private practices. Common roles include research, service coordination, clinical work, and program development. You will work closely with faculty and mentors to plan your training to match your career goals.
To apply, you must provide:
- Curriculum Vitae (CV)
- Personal Statement
- Three recommendation letters
- Self-reported GPA
- Unofficial undergraduate transcript
- Unofficial graduate transcript (if applicable)
- Optional writing sample
You must also meet the Graduate School’s admission standards. You need a bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution and an undergraduate GPA of at least 2.75 (3.0 for graduate coursework). If English is not your first language, you must score at least 550 on the TOEFL exam.
Can You Become a Psychologist With a Master’s in Kentucky?
No, in Kentucky, you cannot become a licensed psychologist with only a master’s degree. To practice as a licensed psychologist in Kentucky, you must have a doctoral degree and meet specific professional requirements set by the Kentucky Board of Examiners of Psychology.
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