Program Overview

Doctor of Philosophy in Social and Personality Psychology

Program Overview

The Doctor of Philosophy in Social and Personality Psychology program at the University at Albany prepares students for research careers in academia, data analytics, consulting, public health, and criminal justice. The program focuses on the intricacies of human cognition and behavior in social environments, covering topics such as group dynamics, moral judgment, imagination, self-control, and the link between music and emotion.

Program of Study

The program consists of the following components:

• Social and Personality Core Courses
  • Social Psychology I
  • Attitudes and Social Cognition
  • Four specialization courses, such as:
    • Multivariate Analysis
    • Meta-Analysis
    • Group Dynamics
    • Theories of Personality
    • Research Methods in Psychology
    • Psychometric Theory and Research
    • Special Topics in Social Psychology
• Out of Area Courses
  • Two courses from two different areas of specialization within Psychology PhD programs
• Statistics/Method Courses
  • Statistical and Experimental Methods I
  • Statistical and Experimental Methods II
• Initial Research Project
  • Demonstrate basic research competency in the subfield of psychology
• Research Tool Requirement
  • Demonstrated proficiency in one of the following:
    • Pass a foreign language test
    • Course in computer programming, mathematics, electronics, biochemistry, histological techniques, foreign language, pharmacology, or advanced statistics
    • Master a technique, statistical or otherwise, in the process of conducting the Initial Research Project or another research project
• Qualifying Examinations
  • Two-day general exam based on a reading list provided by the area
  • Write a comprehensive literature review
• Dissertation

Research and Applied Learning

Students engage in research-intensive study throughout their graduate training, beginning with the Initial Research Project and culminating in their doctoral dissertation. They work closely with faculty to foster learning and interest across labs, conducting research in the lab, online, and in real-world settings. Funding is available for conference travel and independent research, and students have the opportunity to present and discuss research findings with peers from other universities and publish research articles.

Career Outcomes

Recent graduates of the program have obtained positions at Yale University, the University of North Carolina, and Union College, as well as research positions in the government, military, and private sector. Potential careers include:

• Professor
• Researcher
• Data Scientist
• Educational Program Designer
• Human Resource Manager
• Marketing Researcher

Admissions Requirements

• Deadlines
  • Fall: December 1
• Required Application Materials
  • Transcripts from all schools attended
  • Three letters of recommendation
  • Statement of goals
• Special Notes
  • The GRE general test is not required but may be considered.
  • This program offers an internship, field experience, study abroad component, or clinical experience in the course listing as an option to fulfill course requirements.
  • Students who have previously been convicted of a felony are advised that their prior criminal history may impede their ability to complete the requirements of certain academic programs and/or to meet licensure requirements for certain professions.

Student Learning Objectives

• PhD
  1. Demonstrate the ability to conduct original research, including:
  • Perform comprehensive literature reviews
  • Generate novel and testable research hypotheses
  • Implement appropriate laboratory or field-based research methodology
  • Perform quantitative and/or qualitative analyses of data
  • Incorporate findings into the existing literature and identify implications of the findings
  2. Demonstrate effective presentation skills
  3. Demonstrate:
  • A comprehensive understanding of one or more major areas of investigation within the broad field of social/personality psychology
  • An ability to use critical thinking skills and inductive reasoning to develop new theoretical models and/or research hypotheses
  • An ability to draw principled connections between disparate research findings
  4. Demonstrate the acquisition of essential laboratory and/or field research skills

Supplemental Degree Programs

Graduate students can typically request a supplemental degree in one or more subordinate degrees without needing to go through the full admissions process again. Supplemental programs available with this degree include:

• Africana Studies CGS
• Autism CGS
• Community College Leadership CGS
• Demography CGS
• International Education Management CGS
• Psychology MA