Doctor of Philosophy in Psychology

Degree Program

The Ph.D. in Psychology requires 75 semester credit hours minimum beyond the baccalaureate degree.

Objectives

The School of Behavioral and Brain Sciences offers doctoral programs in Cognition and Neuroscience, Speech, Language and Hearing Sciences, and Psychology. Each provides preparation in basic and applied aspects of behavioural and brain sciences. The faculty consists of specialists in developmental psychology, social/personality psychology, cognitive science, neuroscience, cognitive neuroscience, and communication sciences and disorders. Students may specialize in these areas or pursue study across areas as the study of child language, ageing, perception, and behavioural and neural plasticity. Core and specialized courses provide the foundation for advanced seminars and a wide spectrum of doctoral research in laboratories, schools, and clinics. Frequent colloquia and informal brown-bag seminars contribute to a stimulating environment for scholarly development.

Psychology

The doctoral program in Psychology provides opportunities for graduate study and research in experimental psychology. The program offers strong interdisciplinary linkages to other areas within the School of Behavioral and Brain Sciences, including cognitive neuroscience, behavioural neuroscience, and communication sciences and disorders. The primary goal of the program is to prepare productive scientists for scholarly work in academic or applied settings. Students work closely with one or more faculty members in a collegial mentoring relationship. Although all students complete a core curriculum comprised of coursework in Developmental, Cognitive, and Social/Personality Psychology, the program allows students to individually tailor their studies in creative ways.

Course Requirements

75 semester credit hours minimum beyond the baccalaureate degree

Professional Development: 3 semester credit hours

• HCS 6302 Issues in Behavioral and Brain Sciences - Part I

Research Methods: 9 semester credit hours minimum

• HCS 6312 Research Methods in Behavioral and Brain Sciences - Part I
• HCS 6313 Research Methods in Behavioral and Brain Sciences - Part II
• HCS 6317 Research Methods in Psychology

Students who have completed courses equivalent to HCS 6312 and/or HCS 6313 or whose prior graduate studies had a strong quantitative focus may, with the approval of the advisor and Area Head, waive HCS 6312 and/or HCS 6313.

Psychological Science Core Courses: 12 semester credit hours minimum

Students will declare a concentration in Developmental Psychology, Cognitive Psychology, or Social/Personality Psychology. Students must take four core courses from those listed below or approved substitutes. Two of these courses must be selected from the concentration, and the four courses must be selected from at least two of the four areas listed.

Developmental Psychology

• HCS 6331 Cognitive Development
• HCS 6350 Social Development
• HCS 6368 Language Development

Cognitive Psychology

• HCS 6330 Cognitive Science
• HCS 6333 Memory
• HCS 6395 Cognitive Psychology

Social/Personality Psychology

• HCS 6327 Personality
• HCS 6376 Social Psychology

Neuroscience

• HCS 6338 Functional Neuroanatomy
• HCS 6346 Systems Neuroscience

Advanced Electives: 9 semester credit hours minimum

In addition to completing the 12 semester credit hours of core requirements, students will take an additional 9 semester credit hours of advanced electives. Any core course (see above) may count as an advanced elective, though it cannot count both as a core course and as an elective. One of these 3 semester credit hour elective courses must be an advanced research methods course.

Students may enrol in other advanced electives from the other doctoral course offerings available in the school, including courses in language and communication. Additional advanced electives are available each semester.

Additional Requirements

All students must complete the Qualifying Project/Qualifying Paper requirements of the Ph.D. degree sought. The successful defence of a written dissertation completes the r

Graduates of the program seek positions as researchers in hospitals, school systems, research institutes, not-for-profit organizations, and private sector; and professors in private or public colleges and universities.