Program Overview

Program Overview

The Psychology PhD program offers five concentrated areas of study: clinical, social-cognitive, developmental, law-psychology, and neuroscience and behavior. Faculty provide high-quality research, teaching, and practice training experiences in these areas. The department includes a nationally-reputed joint program in law and psychology, and one of the first APA-accredited clinical psychology programs in the country.

Program Structure

• The department only accepts students who are interested in obtaining a PhD; therefore, all students earn a master's degree en route to a doctoral degree.
• The department provides funding support through various mechanisms to all students who are admitted.
• Excellent computer facilities, laboratory space, and research support are available through the psychology department.

Admission Requirements

Standard Requirements

• Application for Admission with $50 non-refundable application fee.
• Transcripts (unofficial): Uploaded as part of application form.
• If International: Uploads must include all college- or university-level transcripts or mark sheets (records of courses and marks earned), with certificates, diplomas, and degrees plus certified English translations.
• After admission: Official documents are required from all students who are admitted and enroll.
• Photocopies of certified records are not acceptable.
• International students enrolled in other U.S. institutions may have certified copies of all foreign records sent directly to the Office of Graduate Studies by their current school's registrar office.
• If applicant's native language is not English, verification of English proficiency is required.

Additional Requirements

• CV/Resume
• Personal Statement: Answer the following:
  • What are your interests in Psychology (or Psych and Law)?
  • What are your long-range career goals?
  • What kind of work do you hope to be doing in 10-15 years?
  • What are your research interests?
  • What research experiences have you had?
  • Are there internships, jobs, practicum, or other experiences relevant to your application?
• Essay (approx. 1 double-spaced page): The Department of Psychology affirms a strong commitment to diversity, which is a core value of the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. We strive to be a department where all feel safe and welcome. In this spirit, please provide a statement that describes your potential to contribute to a community of inclusion, belonging, and respect in which scholars with diverse backgrounds, perspectives, abilities, and experiences can learn and collaborate productively and positively together.
• Other upload (Clinical only): Provide a list of your science, research methods, statistics, and math classes (with grades).
• Faculty: Identify at least one (max 3) faculty members in this department with whom you would like to work.
• Three recommendation letters.

Application Deadlines

• December 1 for Fall.

Faculty

• Aron Keith Barbey (bio): Cognitive Neuroscience of Human Intelligence
• Jenna Finch (bio): Learning and Development Research Group
• Nicholas Hubbard (bio): NeuroCognitive Translation Laboratory
• Anna Jaffe: Interpersonal Violence
• Tierney Lorenz (bio): Women's reproductive and sexual health, Salivary bioscience, Endocrine and immune interactions with mental health
• Tim Nelson (bio): Pediatric Psychology, Psychosocial Factors and Pediatric Health
• Maital Neta (bio): Affective Neuroscience, Individual Differences in Emotion
• Mario Scalora (bio): Violence risk assessment, threat assessment, sexual offending, workplace violence
• Anne Schutte (bio): Cognitive Development, spatial cognition and executive function, influence of natural environments on cognition
• William Spaulding (bio): Schizophrenia: Psychopathology, Treatment & Rehabilitation, Social Policy and Service Systems
• Jeffrey Stevens (bio): Cognitive and Evolutionary Perspectives on Decision Making in Humans and other Animals
• Scott Stoltenberg (bio): Behavior Genetics, Health-Risk Behaviors, Acute Stress Response, Biology of Social Interactions
• Ashley Votruba (bio): Culture's Influence on Cognition, Judgment and Decision Making in Law and Policy, Social Psychology applied to Law, Politics, and Policy
• Ken Wakabayashi (bio): Preclinical models of addiction, psychostimulant and alcohol abuse, nutrient-sensing circuits and reward
• Richard Wiener (bio): Legal Decision Making, Social Psychology and Policy, Law and Behavioral Science, Psychology and Criminology
• Cynthia Willis Esqueda (bio): Latina/Latino Legal System Disparities and Implications for Health Related Outcomes, Conceptualizations of Ethnicity and Race