Commitment to Diversity

The Doctor of Psychology (PsyD) Program at Missouri State University aims to promote an environment of diversity, equity, and inclusion and a culture of social justice and advocacy.

We welcome and intentionally recruit people of all backgrounds, with respect and appreciation for race, ethnicity, national origin, religion, sex, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, marital status, parental status, body size and physical appearance, visible or invisible disabilities, genetic information, socioeconomic status, status as a veteran, and intersectional experiences of all persons.

Embracing diversity is central to the pragmatic philosophy of our program that seeks to expand upon current views and approaches in psychology and to dismantle systems of oppression that contribute to psychological suffering and encumber pursuit of well-being, freedom, and dignity.

We also recognize that no individual is free from interpersonal bias and prejudice, and we strive to actively pursue self-examination and commit to overcoming such biases.

Toward that end, diversity and social justice topics are embedded throughout the curriculum and multiple courses are embedded into the core learning experiences of all students, including areas of specialization.

The program will prepare students to advocate for and support diversity initiatives within local communities. This curriculum was developed with respect for recruiting, selecting, and retaining diverse faculty, students, and staff.

We have also adopted a holistic approach to reviewing student applications to the program to minimize common systemic barriers to acceptance into doctoral programs and intentional consideration of contextual variables when evaluating program applicants.

This value is consistent with the American Psychological Association's Ethical Principles and broader Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion initiatives at Missouri State University.

The university’s statewide mission to public affairs was established in 1995 and operates on pillars of ethical leadership, cultural competence, and community engagement.

All programming and curricular decisions are made with consideration of these three pillars to foster cultural humility and support of diverse experiences in shared environments.