PhD Psychology at University of South Carolina

Programme overview

Prepare for a career in research, teaching or applied health care in our doctoral program with concentrations in cognitive and neural sciences, clinical-community psychology, school psychology and quantitative psychology. Work with faculty members who are top researchers in their fields within state-of-the art labs like the McCausland Center for Brain Imaging or the Center for Child Well-Being. You'll have opportunities to impact the local Columbia community and other South Carolina communities while making contributions to the field.

Faculty: McCausland College of Arts and Sciences | Department: Psychology | Study mode: full-time | Location: Columbia, SC, United States

What you will study

Course requirements vary by concentration. Conduct research in areas including cognitive neuroscience of attention, language, memory, multicultural psychology, psychological development, etiology, prevention and treatment in labs, communities, family and school contexts, and more. Applied concentrations complete your clinical training.

Career pathways

Potential careers include Psychologist, Educator, Researcher.

Official programme page

Application information

Entry requirements

Admissions (University of South Carolina Academic Bulletin): Admission to our program is based on academic achievement, prior research experience, other relevant experience, and research interests. Prior research experience and fit with a faculty member are especially important. The personal statement should reflect the applicant’s research interests and fit with potential mentors. Letters of recommendation should reflect the applicant’s promise as a scholar, academic achievement, and personal qualities that will help them be successful for graduate studies. Application files are reviewed in a holistic manner. Admission to our doctoral program is very competitive. We typically have over 500 applications and will enroll about 20 students a year.

Tuition is charged per credit, so the total depends on the modules you register for each year. Current fees are listed in the official fee schedule.

Graduate applications are accepted for Fall, Spring and Summer terms; Fall applications open the prior September, Spring applications open in January and Summer applications open in May.

The graduate application fee is $50 per primary application, reinstated effective August 1, 2026. Deadlines are programme-specific and listed per programme on the Degree Programs and Application Requirements pages.

Apply through the official page: https://www.sc.edu/admissions-at-sc/applications/index.php

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