Psychology Graduate Program
Take me to the Psychology Graduate Program website.
This graduate program trains doctoral candidates to become high level researchers and teachers in the areas of neuroscience, cognitive psychology, developmental psychology, social psychology, the psychology of peace and the prevention of violence (the only such PhD concentration in the country), and clinical psychology. Students in the clinical program also acquire excellent skills in intake, diagnosis, and therapy. Graduate students are supported by training grants, fellowships from various private foundations and public agencies as well as the university, research assistantships and teaching assistants, and clinical internships.
All students are required to take, directly or by examination, three courses outside their primary area of study in order to gain breadth of knowledge in psychology. Requirements also include two statistics courses. These “core” courses are complemented by specialized offerings, including field experience where applicable. A strong emphasis is placed on research, first with faculty, and then on individual student research which culminates in the doctoral dissertation. In addition, because a large percentage of our PhDs pursue their careers in an academic setting, all students are required to obtain teaching experience.
Students are admitted to work toward the PhD degree. However, the MS degree is ordinarily earned after completion of 30 credits of study including a thesis. The MS should be attained in two years, and the PhD in four, except for the PhD in clinical psychology for which an additional year’s internship is required. Students may complete these requirements in less time. Students are not admitted for a master’s degree only, nor are they admitted for part-time status.
For admission, applicants should have 18 credits or semester hours of psychology courses beyond an introductory course. Included in these courses should be one in statistics and one in experimental psychology. The latter may be a laboratory course in either physiological, sensory, emotion and motivation, cognition, or learning. Applicants who have done outstanding work in other areas of study but do not have the required undergraduate credits in psychology may also apply for admission.
Ordinarily, applications are accepted only for fall semester admission. Deadlines for receipt of applications are December 1 for the clinical area and February 1 for all other programs. In the clinical program, applicants are required to rank order three faculty with whom they would be most interested in working.
For more information, see Psychology.
