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Psychology, Ph.D.

  • Overview
  • Behavior Analysis
  • Behavioral Neuroscience
  • Clinical
  • Life-Span Development
  • Learning Outcomes

Doctor of Philosophy Programs

  • Psychology: Behavior Analysis
  • Psychology: Behavioral Neuroscience
  • Psychology: Clinical
  • Psychology: Life-Span Developmental

Psychology: Behavior Analysis

Degree Requirements

  • Credit Hours: Students are required to complete a minimum number of 42 graduate-level credit hours in Psychology or other related disciplines approved by the student's advising committee.
  • Grade Point Average: After admission to a doctoral program major, students must earn a minimum cumulative and major GPA of 2.75.

Curriculum Requirements

Course List
Code Title Hours
PRINCIPLES OF BEHAVIOR3
PSYC 531
Experimental Analysis of Behavior
RESEARCH METHODS9
PSYC 511
Research Design and Data Analysis 1 (fulfills dept methods requirement)
PSYC 512
Research Design and Data Analysis 2 (fulfills dept methods requirement)
PSYC 611
Single-Subject Research Methods
CONCEPTUAL ANALYSIS6
PSYC 732
Behavior Theory and Philosophy
PSYC 721
History and Systems
or PSYC 739
Verbal Behavior
BASIC BEHAVIOR ANALYSIS6
Select two from the following:
PSYC 532
Human Behavior
PSYC 733
Stimulus Control and Memory
PSYC 734
Reinforcement and Punishment
PSYC 736
Advanced Experimental Analysis of Behavior
APPLIED BEHAVIOR ANALYSIS6
Select two from the following:
PSYC 630
Behavior Analysis Practicum
PSYC 729
Performance Management
PSYC 730
Advanced Behavior Analysis Practicum
PSYC 735
Assessment and Intervention for Severe Behavior
PSYC 737
Advanced Applied Behavior Analysis
PSYC 738
Behavior Analysis in Education
ETHICS3
PSYC 609
Ethics in Behavior Analysis
SPECIALIZED ELECTIVE *3
PSYC 615
Software Design in Psychology
PSYC 722
Biological Aspects of Behavior
PSYC 754
Clinical Psychopharmacology
RESEARCH **6
PSYC 797
Research
Total Hours42
*

Or another course approved by the Behavior Analysis Training Committee.

**

Students are expected to be involved in research throughout their graduate career, and enrollment in PSYC 797, should reflect this activity.  Students must complete at least six hours, however most students complete more than 60 credit hours of research.

Psychology: Behavioral Neuroscience

Degree Requirements

  • Credit Hours: Students are required to complete a minimum number of 38 graduate-level credit hours in Psychology or other-related disciplines approved by the student's advising committee.
  • Grade Point Average: After admission to a doctoral program major, students must earn a minimum cumulative and major GPA of 2.75.
  • Comprehensive Examination: Students must successfully complete a preliminary examination prior to advancement to doctoral candidacy.
  • Dissertation: Students must complete an empirical research project in an area of psychology approved by the student's dissertation committee.
  • Benchmarks: Dissertation proposal approved not later than May 15, Year 4.  For students who entered with an approved master's thesis, May 15, Year 3.

Curriculum Requirements

Course List
Code Title Hours
CORE COURSES:14
PSYC 608
Professional Issues - Behavioral Neuroscience
PSYC 650
Behavioral Neuroscience Methods
PSYC 696
Graduate Seminar *
PSYC 722
Biological Aspects of Behavior
PSYC 724
Advanced Neuroscience
METHODOLOGY:9
PSYC 511
Research Design and Data Analysis 1
PSYC 512
Research Design and Data Analysis 2
Select one advanced methodology course:
BIOL 576
Computational Neuroscience
PSYC 611
Single-Subject Research Methods
PSYC 612
Multivariate Analysis
PSYC 614
Program Evaluation and Intervention
PSYC 711
Seminar in Methodology
RESEARCH: **6
PSYC 797
Research
ELECTIVES: ***9
Any PSYC course at the 500-level or above.
Total Hours38
*

Must be taken every semester the course is offered.

**

Students are expected to be involved in research throughout their graduate career, and enrollment in PSYC 797, should reflect this activity.  Students must complete at least six hours, however most students complete more than 60 credit hours of research.

***

Excluding PSYC 606, PSYC 608, PSYC 698,PSYC 701, PSYC 790, and PSYC 797.

Psychology: Clinical

Degree Requirements

  • Credit Hours: Students are required to complete a minimum number of 79 graduate-level credit hours in Psychology or other related disciplines approved by the student's advising committee.
  • Grade Point Average: After admission to a doctoral program major, students must earn a minimum cumulative and major GPA of 2.75.
  • Comprehensive Examination: Students must successfully complete a preliminary examination prior to advancement to doctoral candidacy.
  • Dissertation: Students must complete an empirical research project in an area of psychology approved by the student's dissertation committee.
  • Additional requirements: At least two academic years of practica must be through a Quin Curtis Center Clinical Team, and you must have at least two different supervisor/team experiences, each lasting one academic year or twelve month period.
  • Benchmarks: Dissertation proposal approved not later than May 15, Year 4.  For students who entered with an approved master's thesis, May 15, Year 3.

Curriculum Requirements

Course List
Code Title Hours
METHODOLOGY:9
PSYC 511
Research Design and Data Analysis 1
PSYC 512
Research Design and Data Analysis 2
PSYC 655
Research Methods in Clinical Psychology
CORE COURSES:32
PSYC 603
Professional Issues in Clinical Psychology
PSYC 607
Ethical and Legal Issues in Psychology
PSYC 651
Behavior Pathology
PSYC 652
Clinical Interviewing
PSYC 653
Behavioral and Psychological Assessment 1
PSYC 654
Behavioral and Psychological Assessment 2
PSYC 661
Behavior Therapy
PSYC 671
Child Behavior Therapy
PSYC 722
Biological Aspects of Behavior
PSYC 725
Social Psychology
PSYC 745
Seminar in Life-Span Development
ADVANCED INTEGRATIVE SEMINAR:3
Select one of the following:
PSYC 726
Social Cognition
PSYC 780
Advanced Integrative Seminar
CLINICAL SUPERVISION:2
PSYC 755
Seminar in Clinical Supervision
PRACTICA AND INTERNSHIP: *21
PSYC 660
Clinical Psychology Practicum
PSYC 670
Clinical Child Psychology Practicum
PSYC 750
Clinical Internship
RESEARCH: **6
PSYC 797
Research
ELECTIVES: ***6
Any approved PSYC course at the 500 level or above
Total Hours79
*

Students must complete at least 18 hours of practica, PSYC 660  or PSYC 670, and three hours of internship, PSYC 750.

**

Students are expected to be involved in research throughout their graduate career, and enrollment in PSYC 797, should reflect this activity.  Students must complete at least six hours, however most students complete more than 60 credit hours of research.

***

Excluding PSYC 603, PSYC 606, PSYC 660, PSYC 670, PSYC 698, PSYC 701, PSYC 750, PSYC 790, and PSYC 797

Psychology: Life-Span Development

Degree Requirements

  • Credit Hours: Students are required to complete a minimum number of 46 graduate-level credit hours in Psychology or other related disciplines approved by the student's advising committee.
  • Grade Point Average: After admission to a doctoral program major, students must earn a minimum cumulative and major GPA of 2.75.
  • Comprehensive Examination: Students must successfully complete a preliminary examination prior to advancement to doctoral candidacy.
  • Dissertation: Students must complete an empirical research project in an area of psychology approved by the student's dissertation committee.
  • Benchmarks: Dissertation proposal approved not later than May 15, Year 4.  For students entering with an approved master's thesis, May 15, Year 3. 

Curriculum Requirements

Course List
Code Title Hours
CORE COURSES:28
PSYC 511
Research Design and Data Analysis 1
PSYC 512
Research Design and Data Analysis 2
PSYC 541
Infant Development
PSYC 542
Child Development
PSYC 543
Adolescent and Young Adult Development
PSYC 544
Adult Development and Aging
PSYC 545
Conceptual Issues in Developmental Psychology
PSYC 546
Methodological Issues in Developmental Psychology
PSYC 602
Professional Issues in Developmental Psychology
PSYC 745
Seminar in Life-Span Development
METHODOLOGY:6
PSYC 612
Multivariate Analysis
PSYC 712
Advanced Longitudinal Methods and Statistics
RESEARCH *6
PSYC 797
Research
ELECTIVES: **6
Any PSYC course approved by the Life-Span Developmental Training Committee
Total Hours46
*

Students are expected to be involved in research throughout their graduate career, and enrollment in PSYC 797, should reflect this activity.  Students must complete at least six hours, however most students complete more than 60 credit hours of research.

**

Excluding PSYC 602, PSYC 606, PSYC 701, PSYC 790, and PSYC 797.
 

Major Learning Outcomes

Psychology

Students graduating with a doctorate in psychology will acquire the following research and communication skills:

  • Students will design and execute empirical research to investigate psychological topics.
  • Students will conduct and interpret statistical analyses.
  • Students will clearly communicate results of empirical research, both orally and in writing.
  • Students will create and deliver professional oral presentations.  
  • Students will demonstrate expert knowledge of their area of emphasis.
  • Students will be conversant with historical, philosophical, and theoretical issues in psychology.
  • Students will abide by the ethical principles of the discipline of psychology. 
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P.O. Box 6878
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Email: registrar@mail.wvu.edu
Phone: 304-293-5355

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