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Program Overview
Doctor of Philosophy in Psychology
The Doctor of Philosophy in Psychology program at the University of Kansas offers a single doctoral degree with concentrations in brain, behavior, and quantitative science, clinical psychology, or social psychology. Students admitted to the Psychology Graduate Program are expected to continue graduate study through the Ph.D. as the department does not admit terminal master's students.
Psychology Doctoral Degree Program
The program boasts distinguished and award-winning faculty, notable research publications, and a deep foundation in the historical progress of psychological advances.
Admission to Graduate Studies
All applicants must meet the requirements outlined in the Admission to Graduate Study policy.
- Bachelor’s degree: A copy of official transcripts showing proof of a bachelor's degree (and any post-bachelor’s coursework or degrees) from a regionally accredited institution, or a foreign university with equivalent bachelor's degree requirements is required.
- English proficiency: Proof of English proficiency for non-native or non-native-like English speakers is required.
- A current C.V. (curriculum vitae) or resume
- A Statement of Purpose
- Name and Email addresses of 3 references
- List of psychology courses taken and grades received (at least 15 credit hours in psychology or a closely related field is required, including a first course in statistics and a course in experimental psychology or psychological research methods.)
Ph.D. Degree Requirements
The Department of Psychology offers one Ph.D. degree in Psychology, through three unique concentrations. Students develop unique plans of study with their faculty committee.
- Research: 12 hours
- Choose one of the following:
- PSYC 980: Special Problems in Psychology
- PSYC 999: Dissertation
- Elective Courses: 6 hours
- Concentration course work: 9-14 hours
- Total Hours: 27-32
Brain, Behavior, and Quantitative Science Concentration
The Brain, Behavior, and Quantitative Science concentration provides instruction and research training for students pursuing careers in the academic, public, and private sectors.
- Professional Seminar: 6 hours
- PSYC 881: Proseminar in Quantitative Behavioral and Social Sciences
- Research Skills and Responsible Scholarship: 8 hours
- PSYC 780: Research Lab
- PSYC 899: Thesis
- PSYC 980: Special Problems in Psychology
- Total Hours: 14
Research Skills and Responsible Scholarship
The University requires that every doctoral student receive training in responsible scholarship pertinent to the field of research and obtain research skills pertinent to the doctoral level of research in their field(s).
- 1 Statistical Methods course
- 1 Research Methods course
- Total of 8 credits of PSYC 780, PSYC 899, or PSYC 980
- Online CITI Training
The Oral Comprehensive Exam
The oral comprehensive exam is meant to mark the transition point of successfully completing doctoral coursework and moving into full-time research on the dissertation milestone.
- Defense of a major area paper
- Defense of two research proposals
- Defense of five propositions
- Defense of written exam
The Doctoral Dissertation
The doctoral dissertation is meant to be the culmination of a student’s research training and demonstrate both independent scholarship and doctoral-level research competency.
- Dissertation Proposal: Students complete a dissertation proposal with their dissertation committee before they are approved to begin work towards their Doctoral Dissertation.
- Dissertation Defense: All students must complete and defend a dissertation.
Clinical Science Concentration
The clinical psychology concentration educates students to master knowledge in the field of scientific psychology so that they can generate new scientific knowledge and theory related to the field of clinical psychology.
- Internship: 3 hours
- Repeated for 1 credit for 3 consecutive semesters
- PSYC 974: Clinical Psychology Internship
- Research Skills and Responsible Scholarship:
- PSYC 968: Research Methods in Clinical Psychology: 3 hours
- PSYC 810: History and Ethics in Psychology: 3 hours
- Total Hours: 9
Research Skills and Responsible Scholarship
The research skills requirement is met by completion of 2 graduate courses in statistics and 1 research design course.
- PSYC 968: Research Methods in Clinical Psychology
- PSYC 810: History and Ethics in Psychology
- Online IRB tutorial and Online HIPAA data tutorial
The Task & Oral Comprehensive Exam
Students must propose and demonstrate competence in one task or project.
- A complete description of the task is available in the KU Psychological Clinic office.
The Doctoral Dissertation
Students must complete and defend an empirical doctoral dissertation.
- The defense of the Doctoral Dissertation includes an oral presentation of the student's selected format and questions from a faculty committee.
Internship
Students must complete a 12-month predoctoral internship at a setting approved by the clinical psychology faculty.
Social Psychology Concentration
The Social Psychology concentration is an intensive research training experience seeking students who are committed to empirical, scholarly work.
- Professional Seminar: 6 hours
- PSYC 903: Proseminar in Social Psychology
- Research Skills and Responsible Scholarship:
- Elective course(s) chosen in consultation with the students contract committee: 3-6 hours
- Total Hours: 9-12
Research Skills and Responsible Scholarship
The University requires that every doctoral student receive training in responsible scholarship pertinent to the field of research and obtain research skills pertinent to the doctoral level of research in their field(s).
- Elective course(s) chosen in consultation with the students contract committee
- HSC-L ethics tutorial
- Responsible Conduct of Research (RCR) tutorial
- Attendance of ethics discussions included in the Professional Seminar series
The Oral Comprehensive Exam
Students are required to complete an oral comprehensive exam once all coursework outlined in the contract is complete.
- Defense of a major area paper
- Defense of two research proposals
- Defense of five propositions
- Defense of written exam
The Doctoral Dissertation
The doctoral dissertation is meant to be the culmination of a student’s research training and demonstrate both independent scholarship and doctoral-level research competency.
- Dissertation Proposal: Students complete a dissertation proposal with their dissertation committee before they are approved to begin work towards their Doctoral Dissertation.
- Dissertation Defense: All students must complete and defend a dissertation.
At the completion of this program, students will be able to:
- Conduct original, publishable research in the field.
- Demonstrate a broad knowledge of theory and research across several sub-areas in the field.
- Demonstrate in-depth knowledge of one area of expertise.
- Conceptualize research questions, and apply appropriate quantitative, qualitative, and/or computational modeling methods for data analysis and interpretation.
- Follow ethical guidelines for research and practice in the field.
- Write and speak effectively to professional and lay audiences.
- Recognize the importance of diversity, equity, and inclusion for research, coursework, teaching, service, and collaborations with colleagues; apply DEI principles in local work settings and the broader discipline.