Ph.D. Program

Curriculum

The doctoral program in the Experimental Psychology Division requires 67 credit hours. This includes 40 credit hours of coursework, 15+ credit hours of pre-dissertation research, and 12+ credit hours of dissertation research. 

A formal thesis is optional, but a research project of equivalent scope must be completed. When these requirements are fulfilled, students should request by email that the program director send a statement to the Graduate School indicating that the comprehensive examination (second-year project) has been passed. 

Department of Psychological Sciences Core Requirements

Students take one course in each of the following core areas: 

• Social bases of behavior
• Cognitive bases of behavior
• Application/Human Factors

Department of Psychological Sciences Statistics Requirements

Students take three courses, including: 

• PSY 5480 Experimental Design
• PSY 5447 Advanced Correlational Methods and Factor Analysis
• Any advanced statistics course taught in the Department of Psychological Sciences.

Social Psychology Specialization Course Requirements

Students take four additional courses in social psychology. Some options include, but are not limited to:

• Seminar in Social Psychology
• Research Methods in Social Psychology
• Attitudes and Attitude Change
• Close Relationships
• Group Processes

Experimental Psychology Elective Requirements 

Students take 2 additional courses by Experimental Psychology faculty, which may include further work in the specialization.

Colloquium in the Teaching of Psychology 

Students must take PSY 5101 Colloquium in the Teaching of Psychology before their second year in the program, unless they can demonstrate prior completion of an equivalent course on teaching. 

Research Coursework and Requirements

Pre-Dissertation Research:

Students must complete 15+ credits of PSY 6000 OR PSY 7000

Please see the Experimental Handbook for possible exceptions.

 

Dissertation Research:

Students must complete 12+ credits of PSY 8000