Psychology & Neuroscience

Ph.D. Program – Timeline

Year 1

  • Begin Pre-dissertation research
  • Coursework (typically 2-3 organized courses per semester)
    • Two semesters of Professional Issues in Psychology (PSYC 515)
    • Two semesters of Research Practicum (PSYC 509)
    • College Teaching in Psychology (PSYC 528)
    • Multicultural Psychology (PSYC 577) required to take in Year 1
    • Research Methods (PSYC 580) required to take in Year 1 or 2
    • Begin core coursework
    • Two semesters of a statistics sequence (e.g., ANOVA [PSYC 521] & Regression [PSYC 522]
  • Form and meet with SAC no later than March 1
  • Submit completed SAC forms

Year 2

  • Complete Pre-dissertation research by end of second year.
    • Students who do not wish to earn the Master’s should continue to enroll in PSYC 509. 
    • Students who wish to earn the Master’s should enroll in PSYC 500 after completing 9 hours of PSYC 509. As mentioned above, students are required to enroll in a total of six or more units of PSYC 500, at least three of which during the semester in which they earn the Master’s.
  • Continue core coursework (typically 1-2 organized courses per semester)
  • Continue SAC meetings
  • Submit completed Predissertation Approval Form.

Year 3

  • Complete core coursework (typically 1-2 organized courses per semester)
  • Petition faculty for approval to form Doctoral Committee (after Predissertation completed and approved).
  • Form Doctoral Committee and submit Doctoral Committee Form.
  • Begin planning Comprehensive Exam.

Year 4

  • Complete remaining coursework (typically no more than 1 organized course per semester)
  • Complete Comprehensive Exam and submit Comprehensive Examination Completion Form.
  • Begin dissertation research proposal and submit completed Recommendation for Approval of Dissertation Proposal form.
  • Complete and submit Admission to Candidacy form. THIS FORM MUST BE SUBMITTED ONE FULL SEMESTER PRIOR TO PREFERRED COMMENCEMENT.
  • Complete approved dissertation research.
  • Complete Recommended Arrangements for Final Exam and submit completed Final Exam form. THIS OTHER FORM MUST BE SUBMITTED AT LEAST ONE WEEK PRIOR TO DISSERTATION DEFENSE DATE.