Overview
The Department of Psychology Graduate Program combines the Master of Science [M.S.] and Ph.D. degrees. The program is organized into four divisions: Adult, Child, Health, and Cognitive and Behavioral Neuroscience. Within the divisions, there are options for Clinical and Psychological Sciences programs. The Clinical Program trains its graduates to be scientists and practitioners, with a strong emphasis on clinical science while the Psychological Sciences Program puts emphasis on the scientific aspect. Students are accepted into a program within one of the divisions and requirements for each area of study varies according to the student's program.
There are many steps on the path to the Ph.D. These include (1) successfully completing the Department's core statistics and foundation courses, (2) demonstrating continued research activity, (3) completing a Master's thesis, (4) completing advanced coursework required within the student's program area, (5) successfully completing qualifying procedures, including satisfactorily completing a qualifying research paper, (6) completing and defending a Ph.D. dissertation, and (7) meeting all program area Competency requirements.
The minimum number of credits required for the Ph.D. in Psychology varies according to the student's program area but in no case falls below 72 for Clinical and 60 for Psychological Sciences, which include 6 thesis credits and 12 dissertation credits. Clinical tracks require additional practicum credits and a yearlong internship.
Admission Requirements
1)Completion of an official application (online) and must include:
-Personal statement
-Prospective Mentor
-Research interests
-Desired Track
2)Baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited institution.
3)Graduate Record Examination (GRE within 5 years).
4)3 Letters of recommendation.
5)International applicants whose native language is not English must take the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL).
6)An interview will be required for admission.
To receive full consideration for entry into the Ph.D. Program for the Fall of the next school year, ALL application materials [application, transcripts from all universities/colleges attended, GRE scores, and letters of recommendation] must be received no later than December 1. The Department of Psychology uses an online application for admission to our graduate program.
Curriculum Requirements
- The principal goal of the graduate program in Psychology is to prepare the student for a career contributing to the growth of scientific knowledge in psychology.
- Applicants for admission to graduate status in psychology shall have
- a minimum average of B.
- at least 18 credit hours of psychology that must include courses in Introductory Psychology, Statistics, and Experimental Psychology or Research Methods.
- Students lacking the necessary preparation must ordinarily make up deficiencies prior to admission to the Graduate School.
- All applicants must present the Graduate Record Examination (Aptitude Tests; Advanced Test in Psychology preferred). In all cases admission to graduate degree programs in Psychology is competitive, since available resources do not permit admission of all qualified applicants.
- The Ph.D. program in Psychology has four clinical areas of study [Adult Clinical, Child Clinical, Health Clinical, and Pediatric Health] and four Psychological Sciences areas [Behavioral Medicine, Cognitive-Behavioral Neuroscience, Developmental, and Evolution and Behavior]. All clinical Ph.D. programs in Psychology require a minimum of 72 credit hours, including 6 thesis credits (PSY 810) and 12 dissertation credits (PSY 830). Psychological Sciences programs require a minimum of 60 credit hours including 6 thesis credits (PSY 810) and 12 dissertation credits (PSY 830).
- PSY 680 and PSY 681 will not be counted toward the 72 credit hour minimum.
- A Master of Science in Psychology based upon 24 credit hours of course work and 6 credit hours of Master’s thesis research is a component of all programs.
- In cases in which a student has a prior graduate degree, the number of credit hours required for the Ph.D. may be reduced at the discretion of the Department.
- All programs in Clinical Psychology require an internship.
- Course requirements vary according to the specific track. Below is a listing of available courses. See Graduate Student Handbook for specific track requirements.
Course List Code Title Credit Hours Required Courses PSY 601 Issues in Professional Development and Research. 1 PSY 603 Neuroanatomy 3 PSY 604 Cognition and Emotion 3 PSY 605 Cognitive Neuroscience 3 PSY 606 Biobehavioral Processes and Disease in Health Psychology 3 PSY 610 Foundations in Health Psychology and Behavioral Medicine 3 PSY 614 Diversity issues in psychology 3 PSY 616 Biobehavioral Processes and Clinical Research Applications in Health Psychology 3 PSY 620 Advanced Developmental Psychology 3 PSY 621 Theories of Development 3 PSY 622 Cognitive Development 3 PSY 623 Language Development 3 PSY 624 Social Development 3 PSY 625 Social Psychology 3 PSY 631 Psychological Statistics, Research Methods, and Design 3 PSY 632 Multiple Regression 3 PSY 633 Structural Equation Modeling 3 PSY 636 Research Methods with Children and Adolescents 3 PSY 640 Adult Psychopathology 3 PSY 641 Psychopathology Across the Lifespan 3 PSY 645 Introduction to Psychological Evaluation 3 PSY 646 Psychological Evaluation of Adults 3 PSY 647 Psychological Evaluation Across the Lifespan 3 PSY 648 Psychological Evaluation in Physical Disorders 3 PSY 656 Introduction to Evidence-Based Psychological Treatments 3 PSY 657 Introduction to Psychotherapy, Ethics, and Professional Issues 3 PSY 660 Evidence-Based Psychological Intervention with Children and Families 3 PSY 661 Interventions in Pediatric Psychology 3 PSY 662 Health Psychology Interventions 3 PSY 685 Seminar in Clinical Psychology 3 PSY 696 Cognitive and Behavioral Neuroscience Journal Club 1 Electives PSY 602 Scientific writing and grantsmanship 3 PSY 609 Psychopharmacology 3 PSY 615 Foundations of neuropsychology 3 PSY 638 Psychology of Infant Development 3 PSY 639 Autism and Developmental Disabilities 3 PSY 642 Advanced Adult Psychopathology 3 PSY 655 Evolution and Sex 3 PSY 683 Special Topics 3 PSY 684 Readings in Psychology 3 PSY 687 Seminar in Clinical Psychology 3 PSY 690 Seminar in Developmental Psychology 3 BIL 612 Graduate Core I 3 BIL 613 Graduate Core II (Practicum) 3 PHS 741 Principles of Membrane Physiology and Biophysics I 2 Quantitative Concentration (Optional) PSY 634 Multilevel Modeling 3 PSY 698 Seminar in Quantitative Psychology 3 EPS 705 Measurement and Psychometric Theory 3 EPS 706 Categorical Data Analysis 3 EPS 707 Item Response Theory 3 EPS 710 Meta-Analytic Methods for Research Synthesis 3 BST 630 Longitudinal and Multilevel Data 3 BST 670 Bayes Data Analysis: Theory and Computing 3 EPH 751 Survival Analysis in Clinical Trials 3 Practicum PSY 670 Practicum in Clinical Psychology 1-3 PSY 677 Application of the Assessment and Treatment of Language and Learning 3 PSY 806 Summer Research Practicum 1 Additional Requirements PSY 804 APA Accredited Internship in Clinical Psychology 1 PSY 810 Master's Thesis 1-6 PSY 830 Doctoral Dissertation 1-12 PSY 840 Post-Candidacy Doctoral Dissertation 1-12 PSY 850 Research in Residence 1 CSC 650 Computational Neuroscience 3 CSC 746 Neural Networks and Deep Learning 3
Sample Plan of Study
| Year One | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall | Credit Hours | |
| PSY 601 | Issues in Professional Development and Research. | 1 |
| PSY 631 | Psychological Statistics, Research Methods, and Design | 3 |
| PSY 645 | Introduction to Psychological Evaluation | 3 |
| PSY 640 | Adult Psychopathology | 3 |
| PSY 650 | Laboratory in Clinical Psychology | 0 |
| Credit Hours | 10 | |
| Spring | ||
| PSY 632 | Multiple Regression | 3 |
| PSY 646 | Psychological Evaluation of Adults | 3 |
| PSY 656 | Introduction to Evidence-Based Psychological Treatments | 3 |
| PSY 657 | Introduction to Psychotherapy, Ethics, and Professional Issues | 3 |
| Credit Hours | 12 | |
| Year Two | ||
| Fall | ||
| PSY 605 | Cognitive Neuroscience | 3 |
| PSY 633 | Structural Equation Modeling | 3 |
| PSY 670 | Practicum in Clinical Psychology | 1 |
| PSY 810 | Master's Thesis | 3 |
| Credit Hours | 10 | |
| Spring | ||
| PSY 604 | Cognition and Emotion | 3 |
| PSY 614 | Diversity issues in psychology | 3 |
| PSY 810 | Master's Thesis | 3 |
| PSY 670 | Practicum in Clinical Psychology | 1 |
| Credit Hours | 10 | |
| Year Three | ||
| Fall | ||
| PSY 625 | Social Psychology | 3 |
| PSY 642 | Advanced Adult Psychopathology | 3 |
| PSY 670 | Practicum in Clinical Psychology | 1 |
| PSY 830 | Doctoral Dissertation | 3 |
| Credit Hours | 10 | |
| Spring | ||
| PSY 602 | Scientific writing and grantsmanship | 3 |
| PSY 662 | Health Psychology Interventions | 3 |
| PSY 670 | Practicum in Clinical Psychology | 1 |
| PSY 830 | Doctoral Dissertation | 3 |
| Credit Hours | 10 | |
| Year Four | ||
| Fall | ||
| PSY 660 | Evidence-Based Psychological Intervention with Children and Families | 3 |
| PSY 670 | Practicum in Clinical Psychology | 1 |
| PSY 685 | Seminar in Clinical Psychology | 3 |
| PSY 830 | Doctoral Dissertation | 3 |
| Credit Hours | 10 | |
| Spring | ||
| PSY 648 | Psychological Evaluation in Physical Disorders | 3 |
| PSY 670 | Practicum in Clinical Psychology | 1 |
| PSY 830 | Doctoral Dissertation | 3 |
| Credit Hours | 7 | |
| Total Credit Hours | 79 | |
Mission
The mission of the graduate program in the Department of Psychology is to train students to acquire, advance, and disseminate knowledge within the Psychological and Biobehavioral Sciences.
Goals
In order to achieve these goals the graduate program: 1. Develops advanced understanding of behavioral, psychological, and biological processes; 2. provides rigorous training in research design and analysis, develops advanced research skills; 3. provides detailed scientific knowledge about psychology as well as clinical psychology training and practical experience for those students seeking applied training in a career as a clinician scientist, in accordance with the American Psychological Association guidelines for accreditation in Clinical Psychology; and 4. fosters independent learning, enabling the graduate to contribute to the scientific field of Psychology, including Clinical Psychology.
Student Learning Outcomes
- Students will demonstrate an understanding of behavioral, psychological, and biological processes and knowledge of the core curriculum, clinical curriculum, and specialty area.
- Students will demonstrate knowledge and skills in research methods and analysis.
- Students will demonstrate appropriate professional conduct, excellent clinical assessment and/or clinical intervention skills.
