Course Requirements
Minimum of 76 quarter hours beyond the bachelor’s degree, including the following:
Core Courses
Statistics and Methodology Courses
Other Courses
Electives
Areas of Specialization
The Experimental faculty consists of members from each of the following major experimental areas: cognition, cognitive neuroscience, child and adult development, emotion and social psychology. Students may specialize in an area in which a faculty member has expertise.
Research experience is considered an integral part of the training and will begin in the first year. Students are expected to begin directed research during their first year under the supervision of an advisor. During their second year, students are expected to conduct research and complete their master’s thesis. Research experience during the third year might involve a continuation of the line of research initiated in the thesis project. Alternatively, students may begin to develop a new line of research in preparation for their dissertation, which is usually conducted during the fourth year. The program incorporates research skills within a major content area in psychology, and thereby prepares students for future employment in a wide variety of scientific, academic, and applied settings.
Other Program Requirements
Doctoral Candidacy Examination or Alternative Project
Also known as the Comprehensive Exam or Alternative Project, this requirement is completed after the student has defended the thesis and before defense of the dissertation proposal.
Admission to Doctoral Candidacy
Formally given to the student who has successfully completed required coursework, passed the Doctoral Candidacy Examination or Alternative Project, and completed the Master’s thesis. The student has no more than 5 years from that date to complete requirements for the doctorate.
Candidacy Continuation
Registration in course(s) or for resident or nonresident candidacy continuation required each quarter between admission to candidacy and graduation.
Dissertation
Departmental committee approval and acceptance of topic and outline of dissertation given only after admission to candidacy. Research for the dissertation should normally be completed during the student’s fourth year in the program.
Oral Examination
Student to defend his or her dissertation and to show competence in the general field of psychology and in the area of specialization.
Time Limitations
- Between admission to the MA/PhD program and admission to doctoral candidacy: not more than four years
- Between admission to candidacy and the final examination: not less than eight months and not more than five years.
PSY 404
LEARNING AND COGNITIVE PROCESSES
Survey of classical and instrumental conditioning, biological constraints, attention, memory,cognition, and practical applications. Major theoretical approaches include stimulus-response, early cognitive theories and information processing theory.
PSY 557
SEMINAR IN LEARNING AND COGNITIVE PROCESSES
Seminar in current issues in cognitive psychology.
PSY 406
PHYSIOLOGICAL PROCESSES
The functional role of neural systems important for the processes of motivation, emotion, sleep, memory, and cognition.
PSY 552
SEMINAR IN NEUROPSYCHOLOGY
None
PSY 430
ADVANCED SOCIAL PSYCHOLOGY
Advanced study of social psychological methodology, ethics and deception, attitudes, altruism, aggression, and interpersonal processes and attraction.
PSY 556
SEMINAR IN SOCIAL PSYCHOLOGY
None
PSY 439
ADVANCED DEVELOPMENTAL PSYCHOLOGY
Current research and theories in child development relating to the preschool child, elementary school child, and adolescent. Emphasis on cognitive, language, and social/emotional development.
PSY 588
TOPICS IN EXPERIMENTAL PSYCHOLOGY I
Consideration of topics of current interest to the faculty and advanced graduate students. Introduction to research methods and data analysis.
PSY 589
TOPICS IN EXPERIMENTAL PSYCHOLOGY II
Topics in experimental psychology.
PSY 597
MASTER'S THESIS RESEARCH
Original investigation of a specific research problem. Four hours required.
PSY 593
PRE-DOCTORAL RESEARCH
Graduate students in specific doctoral programs are required to register for this course for at least three quarters prior to registering for Psy 598 (Dissertation Seminar) or Psy 599 (Dissertation Research). This course requires full-time (at least 8-12 hours per week) work on research under the supervision of a faculty mentor. Zero-credit hours.
PSY 599
DISSERTATION RESEARCH
Four hours total required. One to four hours per quarter.
PSY 410
ADVANCED STATISTICS I
Graphical methods for data display, analysis of variance, multiple comparisons, multifactor analysis of variance, randomized block, repeated measures, and related designs. Cross-listed as SOC 450.
PSY 411
ADVANCED STATISTICS II
Multiple linear regression, analysis of covariance, and logistic regression.
Prerequisites:
PSY 410 is a prerequisite for this class.PSY 418
MULTIVARIATE STATISTICAL ANALYSIS
Multivariate regression, principal component, cluster analysis and multidemensional scaling. Canonical correlation, multivariate analysis of variance, linear discriminant function analysis.
Prerequisites:
PSY 411 is a prerequisite for this class.PSY 419
FACTOR ANALYSIS AND PATH MODELING
Theoretical foundations, methods of analysis, and comparison of various factor analytic models. Structural equation and measurement models using the Mplus/ LISREL program.
PSY 420
ADVANCED RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
Design and analysis of basic and applied psychological research with an emphasis on statistical software.
Prerequisites:
PSY 411 is a prerequisite for this class.PSY 422
COMPUTING FOR THE BEHAVIORAL SCIENTIST
An introduction to computer programming, web development, and other computer-intensive techniques as applied to behavioral science research.
PSY 435
PSYCHOLOGY OF INTERPERSONAL RELATIONSHIPS
Theory and research on selected aspects of close relationships. Cross-level with PSY 317.
PSY 473
THE PSYCHOLOGY OF JUDGMENT AND DECISION- MAKING
An introduction to research in judgment and choice behaviors. Judgment refers to how people evaluate information and make predictions. Choice concerns how people select a course of action among alternatives. Cross-level with PSY 373.
PSY 378
COMPARATIVE PSYCHOLOGY (CROSS-LISTED WITH PSY 554)
Patterns of behavior shown by various animal species. Cross-listed with PSY 554.
Prerequisites:
(PSY 105 or PSY 106) and PSY 242 are a prerequisite for this class.PSY 554
SEMINAR IN DEVELOPMENTAL PSYCHOLOGY
This course focuses on special topics in developmental psychology and may cover social, emotional, language, and/or cognitive development during selected portions of the lifespan. Relevant theories and empirical research will be analyzed. Cross-level with PSY 378.
PSY 555
SOCIAL AND EMOTIONAL DEVELOPMENT
Focus on development of emotions, social relationships, and social interaction. Both theoretical perspectives and research findings are presented and analyzed. Topics covered may include: primary emotions and their development, nonverbal communication of emotions, socialization within the family, friendship and peer relations, aggression, moral development, sex role development, and attachment. Cross-level with PSY 370.
PSY 560
SOCIAL COGNITION
Theory and research dealing with the major aspects of social cognition and mental control, including social perception, stereotyping, memory and affect. Cross-level with PSY 348.
PSY 561
ADVANCED PSYCHOLOGY OF WOMEN AND GENDER (CROSS-LISTED WITH MLS 478/WGS 470)
A review of research and theory on women, including sexist biases in traditional research, feminist methodology, pedagogy and therapy, violence against women, gender differences in development, relationships, sexuality, and the interplay of gender, race and sexual orientation. Cross-listed with MLS 478 and WGS 470.
PSY 413
ANALYSIS OF LONGITUDINAL DATA
Analysis of changes and time - dependent data.
PSY 414
CATEGORICAL DATA ANALYSIS
Analysis of contingency tables and count data logit, probit and loglinear models.
PSY 426
ADVANCED LANGUAGE SEMINAR: PSYCHOLOGY OF BILINGUALISM
This course presents an introduction to how bilinguals produce and understand language by examining theoretical constructs and research in psycholinguistics. It also explores developmental and methodological issues in bilingualism research.
PSY 437
ADVANCED PERSONALITY
Critical analysis of research in personality with emphasis on the development and testability of major constructs in contemporary research.
PSY 450
PSYCHOLOGICAL MEASUREMENT
Logical and mathematical principles underlying test construction with emphasis on evaluating the reliability and validity of scores.
PSY 520
PRINCIPLES OF HUMAN DIVERSITY
Considerations related to minority status and issues specific to diagnostics and interventions with minority populations.
PSY 558
SEMINAR IN ADVANCED STATISTICS
Prerequisites:
PSY 411 and PSY 420 are a prerequisite for this class.PSY 592
DIRECTED RESEARCH
A-Experimental. B-Learning. C-Social. D-Physiological. E-Personality. F-Psychopathology. G-Community Mental Health. H-Perception. I-Psychotherapy. J-Developmental. K-Industrial/Organizational. The course involves individual projects (non-thesis research) under the supervision of a faculty member. (Arranged by consultation with the chair). One to four quarter hours
PSY 594
PSYCHOLOGICAL RESEARCH
A course involving intensive readings in contemporary psychological literature. (Arranged by prior consultation with the chair) . One to four quarter hours
CSC 480
ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE I
An in-depth survey of important concepts, problems, and techniques in artificial intelligence, including search, knowledge representation, logical reasoning, and reasoning with uncertainty. A particular focus and a unifying theme of the course will be the concept of intelligent agents. No prior knowledge of AI is required. The course is particularly suitable for graduate and advanced undergraduate students who want to gain the technical background necessary to build intelligent systems, or who want to prepare for more advanced work in AI. The concepts and techniques learned in this course will be directly applicable to many other areas of computer science including software design, distributed systems, databases, and information management and retrieval. PREREQUISITE(S): CSC 301 or CSC 383 or CSC 393.
Prerequisites:
CDM graduate students in the Preqrequisite Phase are restricted from registering for this class.CSC 587
COGNITIVE SCIENCE
A study of the relationships between our knowledge of human and computer intelligence. Levels of analysis of intelligent system, examples of cognitive models, and exposure to current publications, with an emphasis on those related to human computer interaction. Students will participate in the design and testing of models of human intelligence, bother experimentally and using computer models. PREREQUISITE(S): CSC 301 or CSC 383 or HCI 460.
Prerequisites:
CDM graduate students in the Preqrequisite Phase are restricted from registering for this class.HCI 440
INTRODUCTION TO USER-CENTERED DESIGN
The user-interface development process. Introduction to methods for practicing user-centered design including user and task analysis, user interface design principles and testing using low-fidelity prototypes. PREREQUISITE(S): IT 130 or Graduate Standing.
Prerequisites:
CDM graduate students in the Preqrequisite Phase are restricted from registering for this class.ITS 427
LEARNING AND TECHNOLOGY
This course will focus on computer systems which are meant to help people learn something, so the primary concern is how well they support learning. We will start by looking at the state of the art in the scientific understanding of how people learn. Then we will apply these principles to evaluating designs of learning systems and to creating effective designs. Projects will involve evaluation of existing learning systems, and the creation of a simple learning system which follows design principles for effective learning. PREREQUISITE(S): NONE.
Prerequisites:
CDM graduate students in the Preqrequisite Phase are restricted from registering for this class.ITS 584
ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE IN LEARNING ENVIRONMENTS
AI techniques play a natural role in learning environments by allowing technological artifacts to interact with learners in an intelligent manner, and by helping us better understand the processes that are involved in learning. This course will look at Artificial Intelligence in Learning Environments (AILE) from three viewpoints. The first is the research in human learning that relates to AI techniques. Methods like scaffolding, self-explanation, constructivism, and learning-by-doing have been used by AI systems to increase learning in a wide range of settings. The second viewpoint comes from the AI techniques that have played an important role in AILE systems. Some of these come directly from "mainstream" AI, like cognitive modeling, natural language processing, machine language, and bayesian networks. Others have been developed primarily for use in AILE systems, for example, student modeling, model tracing, knowledge tracing, and methods for evaluating learning. We will ground all of these topics by looking at particular AILE systems that have been influential by pushing the state of art and/or demonstrating substantial benefits in learning environments. PREREQUISITE(S): CS 457 OR CS 480 OR INSTRUCTOR PERMISSION.
Prerequisites:
CDM graduate students in the Preqrequisite Phase are restricted from registering for this class.MKT 545
CONSUMER BEHAVIOR
Required for Marketing concentration. A review of the various theories, models, and techniques that attempt to explain consumer behavior. The course consists of lecture-discussions of behavioral theories, the empirical findings of contemporary research, and case studies designed to illustrate the salient issues involved in developing consumer-oriented marketing strategies.
Prerequisites:
MKT 555 is a prerequisite for this class.WRD 520
COMPUTERS AND WRITING
Explores the cultural, institutional, professional, and pedagogical implications of digital writing technology, drawing upon theories of technology as well discussions from the field of computers and composition.
WRD 521
TECHNICAL WRITING
An introduction to various aspects of technical writing, including readability, document design, editing and usability. Formerly ENG 495.