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Psychology

Graduate Program

Psychology PhD

The Psychology doctoral program offers a rigorous educational experience. The first four semesters provide broad coverage of the discipline of psychology and scientific research skills, and introduce students to the particular areas of emphasis offered in the program. During the last two years of the program, students pursue specialized coursework and training in one of three emphasis areas: Applied Social Psychology, Behavioral Neurobiology, or Theoretical/ Philosophical Psychology.

During the first semester students select a faculty advisor and a dissertation committee. By the end of the second year in the program, all students complete a masters degree, including a thesis. Following the completion of these requirements, under the direction of the dissertation committee, students concentrate on coursework and research in their emphasis area.

Admission

While many APA programs currently prefer students to apply at the baccalaureate degree level, we welcome students with either a bachelors or masters degree.
Application Deadline - 3 January
Entrance - Fall Semester only
 

Prerequisites 

Bachelors degree (Psychology degree preferred but not required)
GPA of at least 3.0 for the last sixty semester hours
General area GRE
The following courses, or their equivalents, should have been completed:
General Psychology (111), Elementary Psychological Statistics (301), Experimental Psychology (302), and three 300-level psychology courses.

Qualifications

Average entrance GPA: 3.6
Approximate admissions per year: 2-5
GRE scores, both Verbal and Quantitative, should be in at least the 500s.

All applications are taken electronically. To apply for any graduate program at BYU, fill out the online application . If you find it impossible to apply online, please contact the Office of Graduate Studies in 105 FPH or by phone at 801-422-4091.

Degree Requirements

The doctoral program requires the completion of a masters degree as part of the program. Students are expected to complete a masters thesis by the end of their second year. Refer to the Graduate Catalog for further information.

Barring unexpected circumstances such as prolonged severe illness, the Psychology PhD program should be completed within four years from the date of entry into the program. Even if a rare time allowance is made for an extreme circumstance, credits will become outdated after eight years.

Students must register for a minimum of 6 semester hours per academic year (September-August) to stay in the program. Full-time graduate student status requires registration for 4.5 credits per term or 8.5 credits per semester (9 credits for international students).

Required Coursework

Psychology PhD students must complete approximately 70 credit hours of academic work: 31 hours of required coursework, plus up to 15 hours in a specialty elective area and 24 thesis/dissertation hours. Students also must be registered for 2 credit hours during the semester of their Final Oral Exam. If you have questions regarding the courses, please check out the Graduate Catalog or contact the graduate secretary Karen Christensen.

COURSE OUTLINE CREDIT SEMESTER OFFERED
Required Courses

501 – Data Analysis in Psychological Research 1 4 Fall
502 – Data Analysis in Psychological Research 2 4 Winter
504 – Research Design 3 Fall
510 – History and Systems of Psychology 3 Spring
540 – Personality Theory 3 Winter
550 – Theory and Research in Social Psychology 3 Fall
560 – Learning Theory 3 Fall
575 – Cognitive Processes 3 Fall
583 – Biological and Health Psychology 3 Winter
605 – Professional Seminar in Psychology 1 Fall
606 – Professional and Ethical issues in Psychology 1 Fall / Winter
Total 31
Specialty Electives 15
 To see the current Psychology Class schedule click here
    
Total 15
Dissertation

699R – MS Thesis 6
799R – PhD Dissertation 18
Total 24
TOTAL (*Apply to Masters credit also) 70 (including MS hours)