Psychology, Ph.D.

Group A

• PSYC 4031 Sensory and Perceptual Processes (3)
• PSYC 4035 Drugs, the Brain and Behavior (3)
• PSYC 4037 Neuropharmacology (3)
• PSYC 4039 Madness and Medicine (3)
• PSYC 7938 Seminar in Experimental Psychology (3) or
• PSYC 7939 Seminar in Experimental Psychology (3)

•  

Group B

• BIOL 4158 Endocrinology (3)
• BIOL 4160 Vertebrate Physiology (3)
• BIOL 4177 Neurobiology (3)
• BIOL 4800 Selected Topics in Biological Sciences (2-4)
• BIOL 7290 Complex Carbohydrates (3)
• CBS 7614 Central Nervous System (3)

Group C

• KIN 4605 Habituating and Addictive Drugs in Our Culture (3)
• KIN 4512 Lifespan Motor Development (3)
• KIN 4520 Psychosocial Aspects of Physical Activity (3)

Group D

• KIN 7503 Dimensions of Aging (3)
• KIN 7508 Analysis of Human Movement (3)
• KIN 7510 Motor Learning (3)
• KIN 7512 Motor Control (3)
• KIN 7530 Exercise Physiology (3)
• KIN 7535 Neuromuscular Aspects of Exercise (3)
• KIN 7601 Changing Health Behavior (3)

Group E

• COMD 4250 Anatomy and Physiology of Speech and Hearing (3)
• COMD 7385 Neuropathologies of Speech (3)

Group F

• NFS 4111 Nutrition and Disease I (4)
• NFS 4114 Nutrition and Disease II (4)
• NFS 7004 Molecular and Clinical Nutrition I (2)
• NFS 7005 Molecular and Clinical Nutrition II (2)

Other required coursework

• PSYC 8000 Thesis Research (1-12 per sem.) (6 credits maximum) *
• PSYC 9000 Dissertation Research (1-12 per sem.) (12 credits maximum) *
• PSYC 4999 Independent Reading and Research in Psychology (1-6) (6 credits maximum) *
• PSYC 8939 Independent Research: Experimental Psychology (1-6) (15 credits maximum) *

Note:

*Additional hours may be taken, but the number listed is the maximum allowed to apply toward degree.

In the Biological Psychology area, the general examination consists of a written and oral examination. The written portion consists of an essay exam based on questions supplied by the student’s advisory committee. The oral exam focuses primarily on the written portion of the exam and is undertaken only after passing the written component.

Clinical Core Courses

• PSYC 4111 Intermediate Statistics (3) +
• PSYC 7111 Advanced Statistics (3) +
• PSYC 7117 Methodology and Research Design (3)
• PSYC 7125 Psychological Assessment I (3)
• PSYC 7171 Developmental Disorders and Psychopathology of Children (3)
• PSYC 7625 Psychological Assessment I Practicum (3)
• PSYC 7925 Psychological Assessment II (3)
• PSYC 7929 Cultural Diversity Issues in Counseling and Therapy (3)
• PSYC 7960 Supervision and Consultation in Psychology (3)
• PSYC 7982 Advanced Psychopathology (3)
• PSYC 7999 Professional Considerations in Psychology (3)

Must take one of the following

• PSYC 7972 Child Behavior Therapy (3) or
• PSYC 7185 Behavior Therapy (3)

Must take one of the following

• PSYC 7949 Lifespan Development: Behavioral Perspectives (3) or
• PSYC 7979 Current Problems in Developmental Psychology (3)

Other required coursework

• PSYC 7688 Practicum in Clinical Psychology (1-3) (12 semester hours required) *
• PSYC 7689 Practicum in Clinical Psychology (1-3) (12 semester hours required) *
• PSYC 8000 Thesis Research (1-12 per sem.) (6 credits maximum) *
• PSYC 9000 Dissertation Research (1-12 per sem.) (12 credits maximum) *
• PSYC 7997 Clinical Psychology Internship (3) (15 credits required)

Optional courses

• PSYC 7990 Teaching of Psychology (3)
• PSYC 7690 Teaching of Psychology Practicum (1-3) (4 credits maximum) *

Note:

*Additional hours may be taken, but the number listed is the maximum allowed to apply toward degree.

+All clinical students must take and pass PSYC 4111  and PSYC 7111 . The student must take PSYC 4111  unless granted permission by the instructor of PSYC 4111  to take PSYC 7111 . This decision will be based on a determination that a course equivalent to PSYC 4111  has been taken previously.

The general exam will consist of two components: a written literature review and an oral defense.

Written Examination

The written portion of the general examination is an integrative literature review that makes an important theoretical contribution to psychological research and/or provides clear directions for future empirical studies that will make an important contribution to research. The written document must be approved by the student’s major professor before it is disseminated to the general examination committee. The final version of the written review paper should be submitted to the examining committee at least two weeks prior to the oral examination.

Oral Examination

The oral examination will involve the general examination committee (including the Dean’s Representative) who will have a vote. The student must demonstrate independent mastery of the research included in the written document during the oral examination. 

Cognitive and Brain Sciences Required Courses

• PSYC 7117 Methodology and Research Design (3) †
• PSYC 4111 Intermediate Statistics (3) †

Seminar and Research Hours (must take 21 hours of the following)

• PSYC 7938 Seminar in Experimental Psychology (3)
• PSYC 7939 Seminar in Experimental Psychology (3)
• PSYC 7990 Teaching of Psychology (3) +
• PSYC 7690 Teaching of Psychology Practicum (1-3) (4 credits maximum) + *
• PSYC 8939 Independent Research: Experimental Psychology (1-6) (15 credits maximum) *

Other required courses

• PSYC 4111 Intermediate Statistics (3) †
• PSYC 7117 Methodology and Research Design (3) †
• PSYC 8000 Thesis Research (1-12 per sem.) (6 credits maximum) *
• PSYC 9000 Dissertation Research (1-12 per sem.) (12 credits maximum) *

Optional courses

• PSYC 4999 Independent Reading and Research in Psychology (1-6) (6 credits maximum) *
• PSYC 7020 Measurement of Behavior (3)
• PSYC 7111 Advanced Statistics (3)

Note:

*Additional hours may be taken, but the number listed is the maximum allowed to apply toward degree.

+PSYC 7990  and PSYC 7690  may be taken to substitute for one required seminar.

†PSYC 4111  and PSYC 7117  double as statistical/methodology core courses and cognitive and brain sciences core courses.

Students have two options for completion of the general exam: a literature review paper or a written/typed exam. Both options involve an approximately 2-hour oral defense after the student has turned in the paper or exam. The goal of the assignment (both options) is to ensure that students have the ability to: 1) integrate and synthesize ideas and concepts from multiple sources, 2) argue persuasively and clearly communicate their understanding of important issues orally and in writing, and 3) think critically. The choice of the option is to be made in consultation with the graduate  advisor. 

1. A Literature Review Paper - This paper is of the type that would be typically submitted to journals such as Psychological Bulletin. The paper will be on a topic in the student’s area of research specialization. However, this paper should not simply be the introduction for a student’s dissertation. Rather, it should typically be broader in scope. However, the topic can be related to the dissertation topic or on a completely different topic. The breadth of literature covered will be decided in consultation with the student’s advisor and committee. Students should keep in mind that a literature review does not involve simply rehashing prior research, but encompasses a research synthesis (e.g., Cooper, 2003, Psychological Bulletin) that leads to new insights.
2. A Written/Typed Examination - Together with each Psychology committee member, the student will create a reading list. When the student is ready to begin the exam, s/he will receive two questions from each psychology committee member, with the content based on the general theme of the agreed-upon reading list. The exam will be “open book,” spanning two weeks from receipt of the questions to the time when the student turns in typed, written answers. Students should answer 4 out of the 6 questions, with the understanding that s/he must answer at least one question per committee member and at least one question covering research methodology. There is no length requirement for each answer, and students are not restricted to use only the sources outlined in the reading list. The student should satisfactorily address each component of the selected questions in separate APA style research papers, complete with references cited in the document.

Qualifying Core Courses

Any new student failing more than one core course on the first take will be dismissed from the program.

You have two attempts to complete these qualifying core courses.  Failure to do so within your first four years will result in dismissal from the program.  If you wait until year four to take the course, you will only get one opportunity to pass the course.

• PSYC 7030 Neurocognitive Basis of Behavior (3)
• PSYC 7034 Biological Basis of Behavior (3)
• PSYC 7040 Sociocultural Basis of Behavior (3)
• PSYC 4008 History of Modern Psychology (3)

• and two of four courses:

• PSYC 4111 Intermediate Statistics (3)
• PSYC 7020 Measurement of Behavior (3)
• PSYC 7111 Advanced Statistics (3)
• PSYC 7117 Methodology and Research Design (3)

Industrial/Organizational Core Courses

• PSYC 7951 Competencies and Perspectives in Industrial and Organizational Psychology (3)
• PSYC 7958 Current Problems in Industrial Psychology (3)
• PSYC 7959 Current Problems in Industrial Psychology (3)
• PSYC 8959 Independent Research: Industrial Psychology (1-6)

School Core Courses (must be completed before internship)

• PSYC 7117 Methodology and Research Design (3) †
• PSYC 4111 Intermediate Statistics (3) †
• PSYC 7111 Advanced Statistics (3) †
• PSYC 7125 Psychological Assessment I (3)
• PSYC 7165 Psychoeducational Assessment (3)
• PSYC 7929 Cultural Diversity Issues in Counseling and Therapy (3)
• PSYC 7660 School Psychological Consultation (3)
• PSYC 7973 School-Based Psychological Interventions (3)
• PSYC 7171 Developmental Disorders and Psychopathology of Children (3)
• PSYC 7968 Current Problems in School Psychology (3)
• PSYC 7972 Child Behavior Therapy (3)
• PSYC 7946 Theories and Concepts of Behavior Analysis (3)
• PSYC 7948 Research Methodology and Application in Behavior Analysis (3)
• PSYC 7949 Lifespan Development: Behavioral Perspectives (3)
• PSYC 7688 Practicum in Clinical Psychology (1-3) (3 credits required)
• PSYC 7668 Practicum in School Psychology (1-6) (6 credits maximum) *
• PSYC 7669 Practicum in School Psychology (1-6) (6 credits maximum) *
• PSYC 8000 Thesis Research (1-12 per sem.) (6 credits maximum) *

•  

• PSYC 7060 Ethical, Legal and Professional Issues in School Psychology (3) or
• PSYC 7999 Professional Considerations in Psychology (3)

Other required courses

• PSYC 7969 Internship in School Psychology (1-6) (12 credits maximum) *
• PSYC 9000 Dissertation Research (1-12 per sem.) (12 credits maximum) *

Note:

*Additional hours may be taken, but the number listed is the maximum allowed to apply toward degree.

†PSYC 4111 , PSYC 7020 , PSYC 7111 , and PSYC 7117  double as qualifying core courses and school psychology core courses.

The general examination for School Psychology students comprises a series of written examinations and an oral defense. The written exams are designed to assess students’ competency in six areas of school psychology. These areas include: (1) Law and Ethics, (2) School-Based Interventions, (3) School Psychological Consultation, (4) Applied Behavior Analysis, (5) Assessment, and (6) Research Methodology. The written exams are conducted over a period of two days. An oral exam is also administered following completion of the written exams. In the oral defense students are questioned regarding their answers on the written exam or on questions related to the fields of School Psychology.