Choosing a PsyD (Doctor of Psychology) program in Mississippi requires careful review of academic quality, clinical training, accreditation, and state licensure requirements. These doctoral programs are designed for students who want to apply psychological science in assessment, therapy, consultation, and supervised clinical practice. Some students may also compare nearby, hybrid, or online programs if in-state choices are limited.
A strong program should provide structured practicum experiences, internship preparation, faculty guidance, and clear support for licensing goals. Below you will find information about some of the well-known PsyD programs in Mississippi. Review each program, compare their features, and decide which one best matches your future plans.
PsyD Programs in Mississippi
Mississippi State University
Psy.D in Combined Health Service Psychology
Mississippi State University’s PsyD degree in Combined Health Service Psychology is an applied clinical doctoral program designed for individuals who want to become practicing psychologists.
After successfully finishing the program, students will gain the skills needed to deliver psychological health services to varied populations in many applied environments, including in-patient and out-patient medical facilities, non-profit organizations, government agencies, private companies, and educational settings.
Students complete coursework in foundational and specialty areas of psychology, problem-solving methods for addressing psychological needs among varied client groups, and research methods involving study design, data gathering, and data analysis, ending with a capstone project.
Students in the program choose a concentration in Clinical, Counseling, or School Psychology. Additional emphasis areas are available within the Clinical and Counseling concentrations. In certain cases, selecting these emphasis areas may require extra credit hours beyond those required for the PsyD degree.
Students may also earn a Master of Science (M.S.) in Health Services Psychology or a School Counseling or Educational Specialist (Ed.S.) degree in School Psychology while completing the Psy.D. program, if desired. Students who choose dual enrollment must satisfy all requirements for both programs.
Completing a PsyD degree in Combined Health Service Psychology with concentrations in Clinical, Counseling, and/or School Psychology can open many career paths within psychology. The program is structured to prepare graduates for licensure as clinical psychologists and to deliver effective care to individuals, families, and communities.
Students receive training in clinical assessment, intervention, psychotherapy, and other important areas. The curriculum highlights the value of applying psychological knowledge to practical problems, and graduates leave with the skills and knowledge needed to provide effective treatment and improve mental health results. Earning a PsyD degree may lead to rewarding careers in private practice, community mental health centers, hospitals, and other healthcare settings.
Clinical Psychology Concentration
Students selecting the clinical psychology concentration study the science of psychology to address complex human concerns and mental disorders. Along with foundational courses, students complete additional coursework that develops knowledge and skills for addressing behavioral and mental health concerns experienced across all life stages, including adjustment difficulties, traumatic stress responses, emotional and psychological concerns, serious mental illness, crisis intervention, interpersonal and social difficulties, substance abuse and dependence, and intellectual, cognitive, and neurological conditions.
Counseling Psychology Concentration
Students selecting the counseling psychology concentration focus on supporting personal and interpersonal functioning throughout life. In addition to foundational coursework, students complete further study that develops knowledge and skills related to common developmental and mental health concerns experienced across the lifespan, as well as larger system issues such as prejudice and discrimination within groups, workplaces, organizations, institutions, and communities.
Students apply strength-based viewpoints and methods to prevent and reduce emotional, relationship, physical health, social, cultural, career-related, educational, and identity-related concerns.
School Psychology Concentrations
Students selecting the School Psychology concentration focus on work within schools and related support systems to improve the behavioral, mental health, and educational success of children and youth. Along with foundational coursework, students learn to use their knowledge and skills to provide services for learners, families, agencies, and support systems.
This includes individuals from birth through young adulthood who experience learning or behavior concerns, mental disorders seen during infancy, childhood, or adolescence, and individuals with specific disabilities or chronic and acute childhood conditions. Students also work with families, teachers, organizations, agencies, and other adults to support healthy relationships and environments that encourage learning and development.
Accreditation and Licensure
The curriculum includes academic study and practical training to maintain alignment with the requirements of the American Psychological Association (APA), the APA’s Commission on Accreditation (CoA), and the National Association of School Psychologists (NASP) Program Approval Board for the School Psychology concentration.
The program is intended to support licensure or credentials in the selected concentration. Students in the Combined Health Service Psychology Psy.D. program should expect to build critical thinking and practical application skills that prepare them for a 2000-hour internship required within the curriculum. This internship, completed under the supervision of licensed professionals, allows students to strengthen their knowledge and skills in health service psychology while addressing the needs of many individuals.
Admission Requirements
- A completed graduate application.
- A statement of purpose describing professional goals and explaining how those goals match the program.
- Names and email addresses for three references, including two professional contacts and one instructor or professor who can discuss the applicant’s academic ability.
- A minimum GPA of 3.0 for admission to the M.S. program based on a bachelor’s degree, and a recommended minimum GPA of 3.3 for admission to the Ed.S. and PsyD programs based on a master’s degree.
- Participation in a campus visit and interview.
- A current medical immunization record.
- Submission of all required documents and official transcripts to the graduate school for the M.S., Ed.S., and PsyD programs.
The priority application deadline for the PsyD program is February 15. For additional information, please contact the Graduate Coordinator.
The Chicago School
Online PsyD in Applied Clinical Psychology
The post-master’s PsyD in Applied Clinical Psychology at The Chicago School is designed to prepare you to become a knowledgeable and careful practitioner. The program helps you join strong scientific learning and theory-based knowledge with different clinical situations.
Faculty members use a practitioner-scholar model and are closely involved in teaching. They include many clinical examples in class activities and use core abilities from the National Council of Schools and Programs of Professional Psychology (NCSPP). You will prepare for your career through demanding coursework, practicum training, a complete internship experience, and a dissertation project that brings your academic learning together.
After finishing this 3-year PsyD program, you should be able to:
- Deliver useful and ethical psychotherapy services.
- Carry out culturally aware interviews, treatment plans, goal setting, and care for clients from many backgrounds.
- Follow ethical, legal, and professional standards in psychotherapy work.
- Examine clinical psychology research carefully and use it in practice and professional communication.
The online PsyD in Applied Clinical Psychology offers students a flexible study format. Students must attend 4 required in-person residencies. These residencies help students form a learning community and build professional connections in the field.
Students may request face-to-face help, or they may be asked to attend added faculty meetings while completing dissertation work and preparing for licensure. The online PsyD program follows the same coursework standards, work quality rules, and academic expectations as the in-person Applied Clinical Psychology program.
Practicum Experience
The Applied Clinical Psychology practicum is an important part of clinical training. It gives students closely supervised clinical practice. During practicum work, students apply classroom learning to understand clients and develop skills in assessment, psychotherapy, and other related professional areas.
The practicum connects theory with direct practice in the training of professional psychologists. It also helps students learn how professional teamwork and consultation are used in clinical settings.
All students in the program, including online PsyD students, must complete an 800-hour practicum.
Internship
Students in both the in-person and online PsyD programs must complete a 1,500-hour internship after finishing all coursework, practicum, and dissertation requirements.
During the internship, Applied Clinical Psychology students bring together academic knowledge and clinical skills. They also show that they can use these skills effectively and ethically in clinical practice. Through close supervised training, students gain direct experience using their knowledge with a clinical population.
Major Program Examination
The Applied Clinical Psychology major program examination centers on the 8 areas of professional psychology practice listed by the Association of State and Provincial Psychology Boards, (ASPPB):
- Biological Bases of Behavior
- Cognitive-Affective Bases of Behavior
- Social and Cultural Bases of Behavior
- Growth and Lifespan Development
- Assessment and Diagnosis
- Treatment, Intervention, Prevention, and Supervision
- Research Methods and Statistics
- Ethical, Legal, and Professional Issues
This examination checks each student’s knowledge in these areas. It also reviews whether the student is ready to practice at the internship level in an ethical and culturally aware way. In the final review, the examination helps the department judge the student’s readiness to become a clinical psychologist.
Dissertation
The Applied Clinical Psychology dissertation is a major part of the student’s academic training. The dissertation reviews the student’s ability to add to the field by using theory and research in clinical psychology. It also measures the student’s ability to think carefully and creatively about professional psychology, work with self-direction, and show strong professional and scholarly writing.
Admissions Requirements
Applications for The Chicago School’s online PsyD in Applied Clinical Psychology are open to applicants who have earned a master’s degree in a mental health field from an accredited school and who meet the other entry rules. Applicants must show an undergraduate GPA of 3.0 or higher to be reviewed.
Students applying to the PsyD in Applied Clinical Psychology program must submit these materials:
- Completed application.
- Resume or curriculum vitae.
- 2 essays.
- Letters of recommendation.
- Official college or university transcripts.
Walden University
PsyD in Behavioral Health Leadership
The 56-credit PsyD in Behavioral Health Leadership at Walden University is a professionally focused program designed to help you develop the knowledge and abilities needed to make a meaningful impact in behavioral health leadership.
Modern health care systems require behavioral health leaders who can guide the delivery of high-quality behavioral health and mental health services within care settings that are becoming increasingly connected. This professional doctoral leadership program has been developed to prepare students for these responsibilities. Since the program does not result in licensure, students can gain learning from multiple subject areas, management and business instruction, and practical experiences that may assist them in working within the evolving connected health care environment.
Walden’s online PsyD program includes doctoral capstone work throughout the entire curriculum instead of delaying them until the final portion of the program. This planned structure is included within every course, allowing you to advance each term while receiving ongoing guidance and support.
The PsyD in Behavioral Health Leadership may help you build the professional abilities and academic preparation needed to seek leadership or management roles in public or private organizations. It may also assist you if you plan to establish your own organization. This PsyD program does not lead to licensure and is not intended to prepare students for work as licensed psychology professionals.
All graduates will be prepared to:
- Assess behavioral health care and leadership across various social and organizational environments.
- Analyze effective leadership and management approaches that can strengthen behavioral health programs serving varied populations.
- Apply critical thinking skills to solve practical issues in behavioral health environments.
- Apply leadership and consulting concepts in the administration of mental health and connected health service systems.
- Analyze major issues connected to social determinants of health within behavioral health care settings.
- Explain how legal requirements and regulatory policies in behavioral health care influence different groups involved.
- Combine theory and research findings to support goal-focused decision-making in the management of mental health service systems.
- Analyze important principles of health economics when examining the long-term financial condition of health care organizations.
The minimum degree requirements are as follows:
- Doctoral Writing Assessment
- Professional Development Plan and Program of Study
- One 1-credit foundation course
- Thirty-five credits of core coursework
- Ten credits of research coursework
- Ten credits of doctoral capstone coursework
- Two residency experiences
Applicants must satisfy the following admission requirements:
- Submit an official transcript showing completion of a master’s degree or higher from a U.S. institution accredited by a regional, professional, specialized, or national accrediting body recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation or the U.S. Department of Education. Applicants may also submit a degree earned from an appropriately accredited institution outside the United States.
- Hold a minimum GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale in post-baccalaureate coursework.
- Submit a completed application form.
- Provide the names and contact details of two professional or academic references if requested by the Office of Admissions. These individuals should be able to provide informed comments regarding the applicant’s abilities and qualifications.
- Submit official transcript(s) for the highest degree completed or coursework finished to date.
- Have access to a computer and internet service.
How Long is the PsyD Program?
Earning a PsyD typically takes 4 to 6 years of full-time study. This timeline includes 3 to 4 years of coursework and clinical practicums, followed by a mandatory 1-year full-time pre-doctoral internship.
What are the Steps to Become a Licensed Psychologist in Mississippi?
To become a licensed psychologist in Mississippi, you must earn a doctoral degree in psychology, complete 4,000 hours of supervised experience, and pass the EPPP and state oral exams. The process is overseen by the Mississippi Board of Psychology. Follow these steps to complete the licensure process:
- Earn a Doctoral Degree: You must complete a doctoral degree (Ph.D. or Psy.D.) in psychology from an APA/CPA-accredited program or a Board-approved equivalent. Official transcripts must be sent directly from your university to the Board.
- Complete Supervised Experience: You must accumulate a total of 4,000 hours of supervised professional experience, divided evenly into two years:
- Predoctoral Internship: 2,000 hours completed within two years (usually integrated into your doctoral program).
- Postdoctoral Fellowship/Experience: 2,000 hours of post-doctoral supervision.
- Pass the Required Examinations: You must achieve a passing score on two main testing requirements:
- EPPP: The Examination for Professional Practice in Psychology (EPPP) requires a passing score of at least 500.
- Oral and Jurisprudence Exam: After completing the EPPP and your application, you will be required to pass a state-specific oral and law examination.
- Submit Your Application: Use the Association of State and Provincial Psychology Boards (ASPPB) Psychology Licensure Universal System (PLUS) application portal. You will also need to submit:
- Completed Board forms and fees.
- A criminal background check and fingerprints.
- Three professional references from psychologists who have known you within the past 5 years
Can I Get a PsyD Without a Masters?
While many PsyD programs require a master in psychology or a related field, others offer direct-entry options for applicants with a strong bachelor’s-level background and the right combination of coursework, experience, and academic readiness.
What is the Average Salary of a Psychologist in Mississippi?
As of June 2026, the average annual pay for a psychologist in Mississippi is $145,902 a year. Top earning psychologists in Mississippi earn well over $250,000 per year.
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