Admission Requirements

How to Apply: 
The following guidelines should help you in submitting your application to the Ph.D. program in School Psychology. 
 
Steps in the Application Process 
1. Complete an online application form at https://future.utsa.edu/programs/doctoral/school-psychology/

2. Submit the following application materials within the Graduate Application Portal (please do not send any application materials to the Department of Educational Psychology):

• Applicants must provide official transcripts indicating a Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Psychology, Special Education, Curriculum & Instruction, Sociology, or a closely related field from a regionally accredited college or university in the United States, or show proof of equivalent training at a foreign institution. 
• Applicants must also provide official transcripts from every institution of higher education ever attended, foreign and domestic, including community colleges and colleges and universities where degrees were not granted. 
• Acceptance to the Ph.D. program is contingent on having a grade point average (GPA) of at least 3.0 (on a 4.0 scale) in the last 60 semester credit hours of coursework for the baccalaureate degree, or a GPA of at least 3.0 (on a 4.0 scale) for master’s degree coursework (if applicable). 
• Applicants must submit an official score on the Graduate Record Examination (GRE; including the Verbal Reasoning, Quantitative Reasoning, and Analytical Writing tests). GRE scores cannot be more than five years old. Applicants must obtain a minimum score of 3.5 on the Analytical Writing test. There is not a cutoff score for the Verbal Reasoning or Quantitative Reasoning tests; rather, scores on these tests will be balanced with GPA and other criteria. 
• Applicants whose native language is not English must submit an official score on either the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or the International English Language Testing System (IELTS). Minimum scores include a score of at least 600 on the TOEFL paper version, at least 100 on the TOEFL Internet version, or at least 7 on the IELTS. 
• Applicants must provide two letters of recommendation from professional references. Appropriate sources of letters include professors, supervisors, employers, and similar individuals with whom the applicant has a professional relationship. These letters should specifically address the applicant’s academic and/or professional skills, and potential to succeed in a rigorous graduate program. Letters should not be submitted from personal references such as friends or family members. 
• Applicants must prepare a Statement of Purpose (approximately 500 words) that outlines the applicant’s (a) reasons for pursuing the Ph.D. degree in School Psychology, (b) experiences relevant to the field of psychology or education, and (c) career plans. 

Application materials that need to be submitted through mail should be sent to: 

The University of Texas at San Antonio 

Attn: The Graduate School 

One UTSA Circle 

San Antonio, Texas 78249 

For more details on requirements, including an admission requirements checklist, please visit the Graduate School website at https://future.utsa.edu/programs/doctoral/school-psychology/

 
The deadline for submitting all application materials is December 1.

Preference will be given to those with a bachelor’s degree or master's degree in a closely related field. Degrees in other fields may be accepted, subject to the approval of the Ph.D. in School Psychology program faculty. Preference will also be given to applicants demonstrating proficiency in writing, as indicated by scores on the GRE Analytical Writing test and the statement of purpose. Preference will also be given to applicants who are able to clearly articulate their reasons for pursuing the Ph.D. in School Psychology and career plans that depend on this training and experience. 

 
All application materials will be evaluated by faculty in the Ph.D. in School Psychology program. Selected applicants will complete an interview with the program faculty. Following the interviews and review of all application materials, faculty will determine which students to admit for the academic year. All applicants are notified of admission or denial through The Graduate School. It is the intention of the Doctoral Program Committee to make admissions and stipend offers by April 15. 
 
Fellowships and assistantships are available. The amount and type of support will depend on the university budget, faculty research grants, and the need for teaching and graduate assistants.

Financial Assistance

The Ph.D. in School Psychology program offers stipends and assistantships. The purpose of these awards is to enable students to devote their attention to studies for the degree. All students who apply and are accepted into the Ph.D. program will be considered for these awards using the same application that was filed for admission. Students who receive an award may be required to work as either a TA (teaching assistant) or RA (research assistant) at UTSA. Doctoral students who receive support must be registered for 9 semester credit hours during fall and spring and 3 semester credit hours during the summer.