The requirements for the Ph.D. degree are summarized below. Modifications of the course requirements are possible with the approval of the Student Advisory Committee and the Program Director. Course requirements may be considered for waivers, if the student has received a satisfactory grade in a similar course elsewhere. Any exceptions to program requirements must be approved in writing by the Program Director and a copy placed on file with the Graduate Programs Coordinator.

A cumulative minimum grade point average (GPA) of 3.0 must be maintained to be in good standing. Incomplete grades must be cleared before the end of the semester after the course in which the incomplete was given. Failure to clear incomplete grades, or the frequent accumulation of incomplete grades, will be considered in the annual evaluation of student progress. The range of credit hours per semester that can be taken is stated in the Graduate Catalog and other University publications. The newsletter for graduate students, published by The Graduate School, should be read carefully as issued for the latest policy and clarifications, as well as general suggestions for doing well in graduate school.

1. Two semester hours of Professional Issues in Psychology (PSYC 515). During the first year all students should enroll in PSYC 515 both Fall and Spring semesters. The goal of this course is to provide students with useful information about their graduate training and facilitate informal discussions between faculty and new students. The sessions will focus on IRB/IACUC, library, various aspects of ethics in science, how to be productive, and other aspects of academic and professional career in psychology.
2. Nine semester hours of Research Practicum (PSYC 509), to be taken during the first three semesters (3 hours per semester) spent gaining experience in research laboratories. The course is evaluated on a Satisfactory/No Credit (S/NC) basis.
3. Seminar on College Teaching in Psychology (PSYC 528), which is a one-unit course. This course is not required but recommended for students wanting to gain teaching experience. Students should complete this course during their first year.
4. Nine semester hours of quantitative graduate courswork:
   • Six semester hours of statistics. During the first year, all students are required to take a six semester hour of a statistics sequence. The typical sequence is PSYC 521 in the fall (Analysis of Variance) and PSYC 522 in the spring (Multiple Regression); this course sequence provides the necessary foundation for upper-level statistics courses and will be accepted should students wish to pursue a minor in statistics. Students may also satisfy the statistics sequence with STAT 537-538, or STAT 531-532, or equivalent. 
   • Three semester hours of Research Design (PSYC 580) or equivalent. It is recommended that methods be completed in the 1^st or 2^nd year.
5. Core Coursework: Nine semester hours in general psychology.
   • Six graduate credit hours from at least 2 out of the 3 experimental core areas offerings below:
     • Neuroscience and Behavior Area

527: Advances in Behavioral Neuroscience

546: Evolutionary Psychology

547: Conceptual Foundations of Evolution and Behavior

• Cognitive and Developmental Science Area

474: Research and Theory in Child Development

524: Brain and Behavioral Development

• Social Area

530: Psychology of Attitudes

550: Social Psychology

• Three additional graduate credit hours from any courses taught by an experimental faculty member

6. *** Multicultural Psychology: Theory and Research (PSYC 577). Students are encouraged to take this course in their first year.
7. Six additional credit hours from any 500- or 600-level courses chosen in consultation with the major professor and/or doctoral guidance committee.
8. Two 600-level graduate seminars inside or outside of the Psychology Department chosen in consultation with the major professor and/or doctoral guidance committee.
9. Three credit hours of graduate–level (i.e., 500- or 600-level) courses outside the Psychology Department. 
10. Twenty-four credit hours of Doctoral Research or Dissertation (PSYC 600)