Missouri offers a range of psychology graduate programs suitable for various career paths in clinical practice, counseling, research, and organizational consulting. At the University of Missouri, you can pursue a Ph.D. with specializations in Clinical Psychology, Cognition and Neuroscience, Developmental Psychology, Quantitative Psychology, and Social/Personality Psychology, providing comprehensive training for both academic and applied careers.
Additionally, institutions like the University of Missouri–St. Louis and Southeast Missouri State University provide specialized programs in clinical psychology and industrial-organizational psychology. With options ranging from research-intensive Ph.D. tracks to applied master’s degrees, Missouri’s graduate programs equip students with the skills and credentials needed to advance in the field of psychology.
This guide highlights some of the popular psychology graduate programs in Missouri. Explore each option to make an informed decision about your educational path.
Best Psychology Graduate Programs in Missouri
Listed below are some of the popular schools offering psychology graduate programs in Missouri:
- University of Missouri-Kansas City
- Southeast Missouri State University
- Northwest Missouri State University
- University of Missouri-Columbia
- University of Missouri-St. Louis
- Washington University in St. Louis
- Purdue Global
- Walden University
To find out how we select colleges and universities, please click here.
University of Missouri-Kansas City
Master of Arts in Counseling
Through the Master’s in Counseling program at the University of Missouri-Kansas City (UMKC), you will learn from expert faculty and gain hands-on experience in a diverse, urban environment. The program is accredited by the Masters in Psychology and Counseling Accreditation Council (MPCAC).
Most classes are held once a week during fall and spring semesters, with sessions from 4:30 to 7:15 pm or 7:30 to 10:15 pm. The summer semester lasts eight weeks, so classes meet twice a week during those same timeframes, except for some summer practicum courses. Most classes are conducted in person.
The program’s mission is to prepare you to meet the psychological, social, emotional, and educational needs of individuals, couples, and families from various backgrounds. Following national and state standards, the program trains you to be a thoughtful and effective practitioner who uses research and scholarship to succeed as a professional school counselor or licensed professional counselor in diverse settings. This mission guides the curriculum, graduation requirements, and program goals.
You will complete 45 credit hours of core courses and 15 to 18 credit hours in your chosen emphasis area. While most courses are in person, some are available online. The program prepares you to become a competent counselor eligible for licensure or certification in Missouri and Kansas.
If you seek licensure in other states, you should review those states’ requirements. You will complete two consecutive semesters of practicum at 10 hours per week and two consecutive semesters of internship at 17 hours per week, mostly during regular business hours. Full-time students typically finish the program in two and a half to three years.
You can choose from the following emphasis areas:
Mental Health: You will learn to understand the mental health needs of diverse clients, study major counseling theories and interventions, and develop skills to counsel a wide variety of clients.
School Counseling: You will learn how to define, manage, deliver, and evaluate a comprehensive school counseling program. You will gain the knowledge and skills to support K-12 students’ academic, social-emotional, and career success. During practicum and internship, you will work with K-12 students in diverse school settings across the Kansas City area. You will use school counseling tools to address students’ mental health needs. Completing this emphasis will make you eligible to apply for school counseling certification and mental health licensure.
Couples and Family: You will study family dynamics and relationship systems, major theories and interventions in couple and family counseling, and prepare to work therapeutically with diverse couples and families through various family life stages.
If you select the mental health or couples/family emphasis, you will complete practicum at the university’s Community Counseling and Assessment Services clinic. Internships take place in community settings. School counseling students will complete practicum and internship in school settings.
In practicum, expect to spend about 10 hours weekly on client or student sessions, supervision meetings, documentation, and related activities. Internship will require 17 to 20 hours per week, including direct client contact and indirect activities such as staff meetings and case conferences.
Graduates of the program will demonstrate skills and knowledge in these areas:
- Counseling Theories: Knowledge and application of major counseling theories
- The Counseling Relationship: Skills in building and managing effective counseling relationships, including counselor attitudes and behaviors
- Social and Cultural Foundations: Understanding of cultural and social contexts influencing people and relationships
- Career Development: Knowledge and skills related to career counseling
- Assessment: Competence in psychological assessment
- Research Methods: Ability to use research methods to support evidence-based practice
- Professional Identity: Understanding and identification with the counseling profession
- Group Theory and Skills: Knowledge of group counseling theory and practice
- Ethical Standards: Understanding and practice of ethical counseling standards
- Diagnostic Systems: Knowledge of psychological diagnosis using the current DSM edition
- Prevention and Consultation: Skills in preventive interventions and consultation
- Human Development and Behavior: Understanding theories of human development, biological influences, and sociocultural effects on behavior
- Supervision: Knowledge of the role of supervision and ability to engage appropriately with clinical supervisors during training
The goals of the School Counseling emphasis include:
- Student Development: Preparing you to use your knowledge of student behavior and development to promote mental health and academic, personal, and career growth for all students
- Program Implementation: Training you to collaborate with school and community members to design, implement, evaluate, and improve comprehensive counseling programs
- Professional Relationships: Helping you develop collaborative relationships within schools and communities to support counseling programs and school missions
- Leadership and Advocacy: Encouraging you to act as a change agent, demonstrating leadership, vision, collaboration, and advocacy for yourself, students, counseling programs, and schools
- Cultural Competence: Preparing you to understand how culture and diversity influence learning and development within a global society and diverse learner populations
To apply, you must meet these minimum criteria:
- Have an overall undergraduate GPA of 2.75 or higher.
- Alternative criteria may be considered if you provide explanations for not meeting the GPA standard within the application.
- No test scores are required.
- If you are an international applicant and English is not your native language, you must demonstrate English proficiency, preferably by taking the internet-based TOEFL.
You must submit the following materials:
- Official transcripts from an accredited institution showing your undergraduate degree
- A statement of purpose no longer than 500 words outlining your professional goals, interests, and relevant experiences
- A resume or curriculum vitae
- Names and contact information for three professional references. These references must be professional and not friends or family. They should address your suitability for graduate studies in counseling and be familiar with your interpersonal skills, research, counseling abilities, and written and oral communication.
Southeast Missouri State University
Master of Arts in Industrial-Organizational Psychology
When you choose the Master of Arts in Industrial-Organizational Psychology at Southeast Missouri State University, you will complete 42 credit hours over five semesters. This program is designed to help you build the skills needed to improve how organizations function.
During your studies, you will focus on several key areas. You will study subjects such as performance appraisal, organizational development, and employee motivation. You will also learn research principles such as reliability, validity, and generalizability. In addition, you will work with descriptive and inferential statistics to help explain data that are critical to understanding organizational behavior.
These skills will prepare you for a variety of roles. You may seek employment in a human resources department, or you might apply your skills in research and development. Many graduates also work for private businesses, government agencies, or consulting firms.
The program is divided into three main parts: required coursework, a thesis or internship, and a final assessment through either a comprehensive written exam or an oral exam. Most of your credit hours will come from the core classes.
In your required courses, you will study common topics found in graduate-level industrial-organizational psychology programs. You will take Personnel Psychology, Organizational Psychology, and Job Analysis and Compensation. These courses help form the foundation of your training.
You will also take unique courses that focus on specific areas within the field. For instance, you will complete a course in Motivation and Incentive, where you will study how to increase employee motivation. You will learn how strategies such as offering bonuses or additional time off can improve productivity and support a positive workplace.
Another required course is Theories of Leadership. In this class, you will learn about the behaviors and strategies that effective leaders use. You will also examine how leadership approaches can be shaped by the specific conditions and challenges present in different work environments.
Additional core courses include:
- Psychometrics
- Advanced Social Psychology
- Introductory Behavioral Statistics
- Psychology of Stereotyping and Prejudice
- Legal and Ethical Considerations in Industrial-Organizational Psychology
You will then choose between completing a thesis or participating in an internship. If you select the thesis route, you will conduct original research and apply your knowledge to a formal research project. This option is usually preferred by students planning to apply to a doctoral program.
If you choose the internship, you will apply your academic knowledge in a supervised, real-world work environment. This option is often selected by students who want to enter the workforce immediately after graduation.
To complete the program, you must pass either a written comprehensive exam or an oral exam. Both formats are designed to assess your ability to apply what you have learned to real business problems. You will need to demonstrate to the faculty that you can use research-based methods to find practical solutions in organizational settings.
To apply for admission, you must meet the following requirements:
- Hold a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university.
- Have an overall undergraduate GPA of 3.0 or higher.
- Submit three letters of recommendation from individuals who can evaluate your academic and professional abilities.
- Provide a letter of intent explaining your preparation for graduate studies, your ability to succeed in this program, and your future goals.
If you do not meet all of these requirements, you may still be considered for admission. The university reviews such applications individually to determine your potential for success in the program.
Northwest Missouri State University
Online Master of Science in Education with School Psychological Examiner Certification
When you pursue the online Master of Science in Education with School Psychological Examiner Certification at Northwest Missouri State University, you will develop the skills needed to better support students with conditions such as ADHD and Autism Spectrum Disorder. This program will teach you how to identify and assess student needs and determine eligibility for special education services.
Through this certification, you will learn how to carry out formal evaluations to monitor student growth and how to use the results to create effective action plans. You will also work with school personnel and families to build multi-level strategies that support student achievement.
The curriculum is based on input from educators and school leaders to make sure it reflects current practices in educational diagnostics. You will study topics including literacy-based evaluations, learning theories, cognitive development, and academic support strategies.
Every course in the program includes hands-on fieldwork, giving you the chance to apply your knowledge from the beginning. You will also be matched with a mentor early in the program to support your development.
Some of the main courses you will take include:
- School Data Literacy and Evaluation: You will learn how to collect, assess, and apply data to support learning and inform educational decisions.
- Behavior Analysis and Intervention Techniques: In this course, you will study applied behavior analysis and learn how to use practical strategies to manage behavior in schools and other learning settings.
- Teaching Fundamentals: Designed for candidates seeking Alternative Certification, this course focuses on teaching strategies and the psychological development of children and teenagers.
- Culturally Diverse Education for Equity and Inclusion: You will gain the knowledge and tools to support each student’s success by using fair practices and creating a school culture where students and families feel valued and respected.
- Assessments for Intervention – Academic Skills: You will examine how to use research-based evaluations to implement effective support strategies for students with academic challenges.
By completing this online degree program, you will be able to:
- Apply research methods that are appropriate for special education needs.
- Use formal assessments to determine student eligibility and design educational plans.
- Provide effective learning experiences for students with special needs by using assessment results and involving teachers, families, and other professionals in the planning process.
- Meet Missouri’s certification requirements for the School Psychological Examiner role (without needing to take a test).
University of Missouri-Columbia
Ph.D. in Psychology
If you are seeking doctoral-level training in psychology, you may apply to the PhD program in the Department of Psychological Sciences at the University of Missouri–Columbia (MU). This program offers you the opportunity to focus on one of the following training areas:
- Clinical Psychology
- Cognition and Neuroscience
- Developmental Psychology
- Quantitative Psychology
- Social/Personality Psychology
As a student in this program, you will concentrate heavily on research. You will be assigned to a research lab and matched with a faculty mentor. Much of your coursework will focus on theoretical, statistical, and empirical research topics. You are expected to carry out original research during your studies, and many students have published their work in respected academic journals or received independent research funding.
You will earn a Master of Arts (MA) in Psychology while working toward your doctorate. However, you cannot apply to this program for the purpose of earning only the MA degree. You will complete the MA during your first three years, and once you finish the master’s requirements, you may proceed toward the PhD.
If you begin the program with a thesis-based master’s degree from another university, you must receive approval of your thesis and coursework from a three-member committee. This committee will include your advisor, a department faculty member from outside your training area, and a faculty member from another department at the rank of assistant, associate, or full professor.
In the Clinical Psychology track, your training will focus on promoting adaptive behavior and addressing problems in behavior, emotion, thinking, and health. The Clinical Psychology PhD provides you with:
- Training in key topics and research methods in psychology
- Intensive study in clinical psychology and methods based on scientific evidence
- Skills in conducting both theoretical and applied research in clinical contexts
- A clinical science perspective that supports scientific development in the field
If you choose the Cognition and Neuroscience area, you will typically earn your master’s degree by your second or third year, followed by your PhD about two years later. Along with department-wide coursework, you will take specialized seminars such as Perception, Mind Drugs and Behavior, Working Memory, Neuroimaging Methods, and Cognitive Aging.
The Developmental Psychology track began in 1999 and includes faculty with expertise in cognitive and social development. You will study topics related to development from infancy through emerging adulthood. From your first semester, you will begin research with your primary advisor and take supporting courses.
Your training will include strong preparation in statistics, research methods, and developmental theory. If you are admitted, you will receive financial support (tuition waiver and monthly stipend) through teaching or research assistantships or fellowships for at least five years—and often longer if needed.
If you choose the Quantitative Psychology track, you will learn how to create, assess, and apply advanced research methods in psychology. You will benefit from diverse faculty interests and course offerings. Topics include modeling techniques such as categorical methods, structural equation modeling, time series, state-space models, and data management. You will study how to apply these tools to clinical, social, cognitive, health, and developmental areas.
In the Social/Personality Psychology track, your training will focus on building your research skills so that you become an independent contributor to psychological science. You will work closely with a primary faculty mentor to learn their theoretical and research approaches. You are also encouraged to work with other faculty in this area and in other training areas within the department.
As part of your training, you will participate in the Teaching of Psychology Practicum after earning your MA. You will be able to teach an undergraduate course under supervision. You will meet regularly with a teaching mentor and other graduate student instructors to discuss teaching-related topics. This practical experience will help prepare you to teach effectively.
Before completing your PhD, you must complete at least one year of supervised practical experience. For clinical psychology students, this requirement is typically fulfilled through the internship.
To meet the university’s residency requirement, you must complete either two semesters of at least nine credit hours each or three semesters of at least six credit hours each within an 18-month period. All courses used to fulfill this requirement must be approved by your Doctoral Program Committee. Courses taken off-campus or through correspondence will not count toward residency.
You must pass a comprehensive examination to become an official doctoral candidate. This is a major requirement and must be completed before you begin your dissertation. You may not take this exam until you have completed two years in residence (including up to one year of accepted transfer credit).
The exam must be passed at least seven months before your final dissertation defense. Your advisor will lead the examination committee, which typically includes members of your Doctoral Program Committee. The comprehensive exam includes both a written portion and an oral portion. The process for this exam is determined by your training area.
You cannot begin work on your dissertation until you have passed the comprehensive exam.
To apply to the PhD program, you must submit all application materials through the University of Missouri’s Graduate School online system. You must:
- Upload unofficial transcripts from all post-secondary institutions you have attended. If admitted, you will be required to provide official copies.
- Submit GRE scores (optional). You are not required to submit scores, but you may include them if you choose.
- Provide a personal statement of no more than 500 words. Your statement should describe your career goals, your interest in psychology, and past research experience. You should explain which faculty members you wish to work with and describe any research achievements or skills you have.
- Upload a sample of your academic or research writing. This may include a manuscript, conference presentation, grant proposal, or a paper from a course that shows your ability to explain psychological concepts, analyze data, or interpret findings.
- In your application, list at least one and no more than three faculty members you wish to work with. List your top choice first.
- Request recommendation letters from three references through the online system.
Faculty in your selected training area will review your application. Some parts of your application, such as your personal statement, letters of recommendation, resume or CV, and writing sample, may also be reviewed by graduate students in that training area. However, your GPA and GRE scores will only be available to faculty reviewers.
University of Missouri-St. Louis
Ph.D. Clinical Psychology
When you apply to the Ph.D. program in Clinical Psychology at the University of Missouri–St. Louis, you will follow a training model that prepares you as both a researcher and a clinician. This program is based on the understanding that psychologists trained at the doctoral level are unlikely to work only as therapists and will likely hold roles that involve both scientific and practical responsibilities.
You will follow a curriculum that provides rigorous academic preparation so that you are able to meet the complex demands of professional practice. You are expected to develop strong research abilities, build solid clinical skills, and form a professional identity that connects both science and applied practice.
Your academic training will begin with a set of required courses in research methods and the key areas of psychology. In your first year, you will complete a two-semester sequence in quantitative methods.
During your first three years, you will take courses in multicultural topics, applied research methods, social psychology, personality, developmental psychology, cognitive and behavioral processes, biological bases of behavior, and psychopathology. You will also complete elective courses.
You will complete clinical training through practica at the university’s Community Psychological Service and a one-year paid clinical clerkship in a community or university setting. You must complete at least three years of training at the Community Psychological Service. By the time you begin your internship, you will have completed at least 1,500 hours of supervised clinical work. This preparation makes you a strong candidate for competitive internship placements.
As part of your training, you will study multicultural issues through required coursework and through applied clinical work in both campus and community settings. Faculty and students involved in the program have received training related to sexual orientation, and many are part of the university’s Safe Zone initiative.
Although the program is designed to be finished in five years of full-time study, you may take six years or more to graduate if you pursue additional research or clinical experiences. You must complete all degree requirements within seven years.
To earn your Ph.D., you must meet the following requirements:
- Coursework: You must complete at least 80 semester credit hours of graduate-level coursework.
- Qualifying Examination: After earning 24 credit hours or completing two years of study, you will take a written comprehensive examination. This may be in the form of a clinical specialty paper or an oral examination.
- Clinical Training: You will complete three years of practice in the department’s community clinic. In addition, you must complete a one-year clerkship at 20 hours per week during your third or fourth year. During your fifth year, you will complete a one-year, full-time internship in an American Psychological Association-accredited program.
- Dissertation: You must defend your dissertation proposal in an oral examination and later submit and defend your final dissertation.
Graduates of this program have successfully secured positions in a variety of clinical psychology roles. Many have accepted post-doctoral fellowships at university research centers and hospitals. Others work at universities, Veteran’s Administration Medical Centers, public or private hospitals, or other healthcare facilities.
To apply, you must submit the following:
- Online application.
- UMSL Clinical Psychology Cover Sheet.
- Official transcripts showing that you have earned at least a bachelor’s degree and performed well in psychology coursework.
- English proficiency scores (for international applicants), from a recognized standardized test.
- Minimum undergraduate GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale, including a 3.0 in psychology courses.
- Personal statement describing your career goals and interests in clinical psychology.
- Curriculum vitae (CV).
- Writing sample.
- Three letters of recommendation.
If you are admitted, you will usually receive a graduate assistantship for your first two years. This assistantship may involve teaching, research, advising, or administrative responsibilities, assigned based on your background and interests.
Can You Become a Psychologist With a Master’s in Missouri?
No, in Missouri, you cannot become a licensed psychologist with only a master’s degree. To practice as a licensed psychologist in Missouri, you must have a doctoral degree and meet specific professional requirements set by the Missouri Division of Professional Registration.
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