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Programs

Department of Psychology

The Department of Psychology offers programs of study leading to the PhD degree in three areas of psychology: clinical psychology, social-personality psychology, and developmental psychology. PhD students can receive a master’s degree as a component of their progress through the program, and there has recently been the addition of a MS program in Psychological Science that has direct entry. Although each area program is flexible, all doctoral programs are designed to prepare students to conduct research. The MS program prepares students wanting to strengthen their research skills for PhD programs or wanting to build skills for research careers. Faculty expertise covers many topics of research, with significant emphasis on four cross-area signature areas: developmental psychopathology, interpersonal relationships, motivation, and adolescence. Each of these signature areas is represented by faculty from multiples areas (clinical, social-personality, and developmental) and embraces a range of perspectives. For example, the motivation area incorporates two theoretical approaches: self-determination theory and an approach-avoidance model of achievement motivation. The department is associated with Mt. Hope Family Center, which integrates research, training, and treatment in developmental psychopathology with a goal of helping children and families affected by psychosocial adversity (such as maltreatment) and at risk for psychopathology. The department supports students through fellowships, traineeships, and teaching and research assistantships.

Information about faculty and research can be found on the Department of Psychology website.

AdmissionsLink to section

ApplyingLink to section

The department accepts applications for full-time study toward the MS and PhD degrees Faculty within individual programs review applications holistically based on a combination of factors, including research and personal experience, academic record, writing samples, letters of recommendation, and degree of fit between student and faculty interests. The GRE exam is optional and is de-emphasized in admissions. Applicants must identify a prospective mentor at the time of application. We especially encourage applications from groups who have been historically underrepresented in the discipline of psychology.

AcademicsLink to section

Master's Degrees and RequirementsLink to section

There is a terminal MS program in psychological science, which students can apply to and be admitted to, apart from the department’s PhD programs. PhD programs are also designed to confer master’s degrees midway through the program. At least 36 semester hours of study are required for the en passant MS degree in Psychological Science. Requirements for the en passant master’s degree differ by program but typically involve completing a thesis representing independent work and passing a comprehensive examination. The terminal MS degree also requires the completion of 36 credit hours. 

Doctoral Degrees and RequirementsLink to section

The Department of Psychology offers three doctoral degrees: clinical psychology, social psychology, and developmental psychology. A total of 90 hours of study—60 hours beyond the master’s degree—is required. Upon entering the department, students are appointed a faculty member to advise them on course selection and to introduce them to research opportunities. Satisfactory progress through the program depends on completion of both coursework and research requirements. Coursework seeks to provide the broad base of knowledge needed for research, including courses outside the students’ areas of specialization. Although the department places strong emphasis on research training, we believe that students should also have teaching experience. All students assist in the teaching of at least one undergraduate course (for example, leading a discussion section, conducting individual tutorials, or assisting in laboratory classes). At the end of their third year, students take the PhD qualifying examination. Passing this exam establishes confirms they have a comprehensive grasp of fundamental knowledge in their major areas and are prepared to undertake dissertation research.

Clinical Psychology

Graduate students in the clinical psychology program receive training in both general and clinical psychology. A sequence of courses provides training in psychometrics, individual differences, psychopathology, cognitive bases of behavior, social bases of behavior, biological bases of behavior, scientific and professional ethics, cultural and ethnic diversity, history and systems of psychology, research design, methodology, and statistics. In addition, graduate students in the clinical psychology program must complete an internship consisting of a minimum of 1,750 hours.

Social-Personality Psychology

The social-personality psychology program provides training for both laboratory and field research. Current research topics include achievement motivation, social cognition, social interaction, interpersonal processes in close relationships, social psychology of health, and emotion. Innovative research and quantitative methods are emphasized. During their first year, students take courses in general social-personality psychology, research methods, and quantitative methods. Students then take more advanced seminars in social-personality psychology and other areas of psychology while receiving training in advanced methodological and quantitative skills. In the third year, students take a comprehensive exam in social-personality psychology before starting their dissertation research.

Developmental Psychology

The developmental psychology program prepares students for careers in research and teaching. Students gain the theoretical perspectives and methodological skills needed for advanced scholarly work. Current research topics include emotion recognition, interparental processes and their effects on children, child and family steps to enhance school preparedness and success, moral development, adolescent-parent relationships, neurocognitive processes in developmental disabilities, development of romantic relationships, and the development and maintenance of resilient outcomes among high-risk children. Opportunities for research are also available at Mt. Hope Family Center and the Children’s Institute.

Graduate Course TitlesLink to section

  • PSYC 465: Achievement Motivation in Developing Countries 
  • PSYC 501: Ethical Issues in Clinical Psychology 
  • PSYC 502: Cognitive Foundations of Behavior 
  • PSYC 504: Data Analysis I 
  • PSYC 510: Research Methods in Social-Personality Psychology 
  • PSYC 513: Meta-Analysis 
  • PSYC 515: Hierarchical Linear Modeling 
  • PSYC 516: Structural Equation Modeling I 
  • PSYC 517: Structural Equation Modeling II 
  • PSYC 518: Statistical Computing with R 
  • PSYC 519: Data Analysis II-General Linear Approaches 
  • PSYC 520: Psychology of Religion 
  • PSYC 530: Subjective Well-Being 
  • PSYC 541: Professional Development in Psychological Science 
  • PSYC 551: Social Cognition 
  • PSYC 553: Seminar in Social Psychology 
  • PSYC 555: Close Relationships 
  • PSYC 557: Affective Bases of Behavior 
  • PSYC 560: Family Processes in Childhood 
  • PSYC 562: Developmental Research Methods 
  • PSYC 563: Adolescent Development 
  • PSYC 565: Early Child Development 
  • PSYC 566: Neurobiological Foundations 
  • PSYC 567: History and Systems of Psychology 
  • PSYC 569: Developmental Theory and Research 
  • PSYC 570: Clinical Assessment I 
  • PSYC 571: Clinical Assessment II 
  • PSYC 572: Introduction to Clinical Research Methods 
  • PSYC 573: Culture and Diversity 
  • PSYC 574: Theoretical and Empirical Foundations of Psychotherapy 
  • PSYC 575: Psychopathology I 
  • PSYC 576: Psychopathology II 
  • PSYC 579: Seminar in Developmental Science 
  • PSYC 582: Practicum in Developmental Psychopathology 
  • PSYC 583: Moral Development 
  • PSYC 584: Psychotherapy Practicum I 
  • PSYC 585: Psychotherapy Practicum II 
  • PSYC 586: Evidence-Based Child Psychotherapy 
  • PSYC 587: Social Psychophysiology 
  • PSYC 591: PhD Readings 
  • PSYC 595: PhD Research 
  • PSYC 595A: PhD Research in Absentia 
  • PSYC 985: Leave of Absence 
  • PSYC 986V: Full-Time Visiting Student 
  • PSYC 987V: Part-Time Visiting Student 
  • PSYC 990: Summer in Residence 
  • PSYC 991: Clinical Internship 
  • PSYC 995: Continuation of Doctoral Enrollment 
  • PSYC 997: Doctoral Dissertation 
  • PSYC 997A: Doctoral Dissertation in Absentia 
  • PSYC 999: Doctoral Dissertation 
  • PSYC 999A: Doctoral Dissertation in Absentia 
  • PSYC 999B: PhD in Absentia Abroad