Program Overview

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Psychology, PhD

The Psychology department at the University of WisconsinMadison offers a PhD program with six areas of concentration: biological, clinical, cognitive and cognitive neuroscience, developmental, perception, and social and personality. Although there is a good deal of collaboration and interaction across groups, each area of concentration has its own requirements for graduate study, and students are typically admitted into one of these areas.

Areas of Concentration

• Biological psychology encompasses the subdisciplines of behavioral neuroscience and animal behavior, training students in theory and methods required for understanding the biological bases of behavior.
• Clinical psychology follows a scientistpractitioner model, focusing on producing graduates who can create and disseminate new knowledge about psychopathology and have the requisite knowledge and skills for professional clinical practice.
• Cognitive and Cognitive Neuroscience (CCN) provides an interdisciplinary approach to cognition and perception, with faculty combining expertise in cognition and perception with various methods, including experimental, developmental, computational, and biological approaches.
• Developmental psychology focuses on the interrelationships of biological, environmental, and behavioral processes throughout the life span, emphasizing interdisciplinary studies and allowing flexibility in designing a program of study.
• Social and Personality psychology trains students for research on the cutting edge of the field, with a curriculum consisting of a series of courses and seminars providing a thorough introduction to social and personality psychology.

Facilities and Resources

The department has an extraordinary array of research facilities, including the Brogden Building and the Harlow Primate Laboratory, with special facilities for housing animals and for behavioral, pharmacological, anatomical, immunological, and physiological studies. The Psychology Department Research and Training Clinic is also housed in the Brogden Building.

Admissions

Graduate admissions is a two-step process between academic programs and the Graduate School. Applicants must meet the minimum requirements of the Graduate School as well as the program's requirements. The program does not admit students in the spring or summer. The deadline for fall admission is December 1. GRE scores are not required, but English proficiency tests are required for international students.

Admission Requirements

• Fall Deadline: December 1
• Spring Deadline: Not applicable
• Summer Deadline: Not applicable
• GRE: Not required
• English Proficiency Test: Required for international students
• Letters of Recommendation: 3 required
• Other Tests: Not applicable

Funding

Many students receive financial support through assistantships, fellowships, traineeships, and financial aid. The department also hosts training grants from NIH that support several predoctoral students. Small grants are available to fund student research and travel to present work at national conferences.

Curriculum

The program requires a minimum of 60 credits, with at least 54 credits in residence and 30 credits of graduate-level coursework. Students must earn a grade of B or better in PSYCH 610 and PSYCH 710. The curriculum includes two semesters of statistics/methods, six additional courses (with two outside the student's area of research expertise), and a required First-Year Project.

Required Courses

• PSYCH 610: Design and Analysis of Psychological Experiments I
• PSYCH 710: Design and Analysis of Psychological Experiments II
• PSYCH 621: Mentored Research and Seminar ("Meet the Faculty")
• Proseminar: Register and attend area group weekly meeting
• Additional courses chosen with faculty advisor, including two courses outside of area of research expertise

Assessment and Examinations

Doctoral students are required to take a comprehensive preliminary/oral examination after clearing their record of all Incomplete and Progress grades. Deposit of the doctoral dissertation in the Graduate School is required.

Language Requirements

Contact the program for information on any language requirements.

Graduate School Breadth Requirement

All doctoral students are required to complete a doctoral minor or graduate/professional certificate.

Professional Development

The Graduate School offers professional development resources to build skills, thrive academically, and launch careers.

Learning Outcomes

1. Develop a broad understanding of the field of Psychology.
2. Develop a deep understanding of the theory and literature combined with critical thinking skills.
3. Develop a proficiency in experimental design and statistical analyses relevant to psychological research.
4. Acquire expertise in the oral and written communication of experimental findings.
5. Clinical students will receive broad training in the theory and practice of clinical psychology.

Accreditation

The program is accredited by the American Psychological Association (APA) and the Psychological Clinical Science Accreditation System (PCSAS).

Certification/Licensure

Students pursuing the Clinical Psychological Science pathway complete specified coursework and clinical training to achieve licensure. The program meets the requirements for licensure in the state of Wisconsin.