Emma Eccles Jones College of Education and Human Services
Department of Psychology
Admissions requirements vary somewhat across Psychology graduate programs. Therefore, applicants should review program web pages for more details. However, applications submitted to the School of Graduate Studies must include the following:
- Transcripts from all previous universities attended.
- Three letters of recommendation
- A statement of professional goals and intent
- A curriculum vitae/resume
Applicants to the Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) programs are advised that they should possess a broad base of knowledge at the undergraduate level in a substantive subgroup of the following: general psychology, human development, learning theory, cognition, personality theory research, psychometrics, elementary statistics, history and systems, physiological, sensation and perception, and social psychology.
Degree Completion Requirements:
A bachelor’s degree from an accredited U.S. college or university or a similarly recognized international university is required for admission to and completion of a graduate program.
- Overall Graduate GPA at least 3.0 and no grades of C+ or lower;
Graduate students are required to maintain at least a 3.0 GPA for degree-program courses. Grades of C+ or lower will not be accepted for a graduate degree.
- Course Number Acceptability
The Program of Study for a master’s degree or a doctoral degree, if the student has a master’s degree, must include at least 15 semester credits at the level of 6000 or above.
For a doctoral degree, if the student does not have a master’s degree, the Program of Study must include at least 30 credits at the level of 6000 or above.
Credits in the following areas are not acceptable in a degree program: foreign languages (unless included in an approved Program of Study), continuing graduate advisement, individual home study, military science, and courses numbered below 3000.
- Matriculation Start Semester
A master’s degree must be completed within six years of entering the degree program. Additional time may be requested by the student’s committee and submitted to the Vice Provost of Graduate Studies for review.
A doctorate must be completed within eight years of entering the degree program. Additional time may be requested by the student’s committee and submitted to the Vice Provost of Graduate Studies for review.
Coursework over eight years old at the time of degree completion may not be used for a graduate degree unless it is revalidated.
- USU Residency Requirement
At least 33 semester credits for a doctoral (Ph.D.) degree must be taken from Utah State University and be part of an approved Program of Study. At least three semesters, two of which must be consecutive, of full-time registration in residence at Utah State University is required.
At least 24-semester credits for a master’s degree must be from a committee-approved and a School of Graduate Studies-approved Program of Study from Utah State University.
- Thesis/Dissertation Research Credits 6970/7970
A minimum of 12 dissertation credits (7970) is required if the student has a master’s degree, and a minimum of 18 is required if the student has a bachelor’s degree.
The Plan A option for a master’s degree requires the preparation and defense of a thesis. Students are required to complete a minimum of 6 semester credits of thesis research (6970) with a maximum of 15 thesis credits applied toward a Program of Study.
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- Required for all defense degrees:
Successful defense and submission of the thesis or dissertation to the library.
- Master’s forms:
- Approval of academic forms required for master’s students by the School of Graduate Studies
- Doctoral forms:
- Approval of academic forms required for doctoral students by the School of Graduate Studies.
All Psychology Ph.D. candidates must meet the following general core requirements, regardless of specialty emphasis:
- submission of a manuscript for publication in a recognized journal, usually first-authored;
- presentation of research findings at a regional or national convention or professional meeting, usually first-authored;
- completion of comprehensive examination;
- completion of the doctoral dissertation
- completion of all the required coursework.
Students in the Combined PhD program must also complete a clinical comprehensive exam and compete nationally for admission to an APA approved, 2,000-hour predoctoral internship. The Behavior and Analysis and Brain and Cognition programs have an additional requirement of a grant proposal.
Behavior Analysis
The graduate program in Psychology offers students the opportunity to obtain specialty training in behavior analysis. The Behavior Analysis specialization in the Psychology Ph.D. program provides training for students interested in experimental behavior analysis and translational research. Students receive extensive classroom and hands-on training in laboratory, applied research, and translating contemporary behavioral theories into innovative behavior-analytic practice. For more specific information, see the department’s website at https://cehs.usu.edu/psychology/doctoral/behavior-analysis.
Brain and Cognition
The Brain and Cognition area of specialization in the Psychology Ph.D. program offers students the opportunity to obtain specialty training in areas related to cognition and neuroscience. The Brain and Cognition specialization provides extensive training for behavioral, cognitive, molecular, systems, or computational neuroscience students. Training opportunities for students include investigating basic behavioral, cognitive, and neurological processes; understanding the contribution of basic neurological processes to psychological disorders; neural correlates of behavioral phenomena; and related issues. Students interested in neuroscience may also want to consider the Neuroscience Ph.D. program. For more specific information, see the department’s website at https://cehs.usu.edu/psychology/doctoral/brain-and-cognition.
Data Science and Research Methodology
The Data Science and Research Methodology (DSRM) specialization in the Psychology Ph. D. program offers students the opportunity to obtain specialty training in all aspects of quantitative research methodology. This includes matching research hypotheses to study design, as well as data collection, management, and cutting-edge analytical/statistical approaches. Training on program evaluation and psychometrics is also available. Students receive extensive classroom and hands-on training in applied research settings. For more specific information, see the department’s website at https://cehs.usu.edu/psychology/doctoral/data-science-and-research-methodology .
Combined Clinical/Counseling Psychology (APA-accredited)
This program integrates the theory and practice of psychology common to the disciplines traditionally denoted as clinical and counseling psychology. It subscribes to the scientist-practitioner model, and students completing the program will enter professional practice in various settings, including VA hospitals, mental health centers, hospitals, clinics, and academic settings. The program provides an excellent balance of research and practitioner skill training. A research thesis and dissertation are required of all students. The Combined Clinical/Counseling program provides generalized training, with opportunities to engage in experiences according to student interests via elective coursework and practica. These experiences are intended to help students develop a specialty area aligned with their future career goals. The program is also affiliated with the American Indian Support Project, one of the nation’s most successful programs for training and mentoring American Indian psychologists.
Complete information on accreditation and standards for accreditation are available through the Commission on Accreditation (CoA) at Education Directorate, American Psychological Association, 750 First Street NE, Washington DC 20002-4242, (202) 336-5979, or on the web at https://accreditation.apa.org/.
Undergraduate prerequisites: Applicants admitted to the Ph.D. program in Combined Clinical/Counseling who did not major in psychology or a related field may need to take some undergraduate psychology courses, e.g., elementary statistics, as prerequisites for program requirements. Any prerequisite requirements will be made in consultation with the student and program faculty.
For more specific information about the program, see the department’s website at https://cehs.usu.edu/psychology/doctoral/combined-clinical-counseling.
Disclosure of Educational Requirements for Licensure by State
This program adheres to APA accreditation standards and prepares students for entry into the profession of health service psychology. Given the varied and changing requirements across jurisdictions, the department has not determined and cannot assure that graduates will meet all requirements for licensure in all states or territories. Students are encouraged to become familiar with relevant state licensing laws and discuss their curricular plan with their DCT.
This program meets the requirements in Utah.
USU has not determined if the program meets requirements in: AK, AL, AR, AS, AZ, CA, CO, CT, DC, DE, FL, GA, GU, HI, IA, ID, IL, IN, KS, KY, LA, MA, MD, ME, MI, MN, MO, MP, MS, MT, NC, ND, NE, NH, NJ, NM, NV, NY, OH, OK, OR, PA, PR, RI, SC, SD, TN, TX, UM, VA, VI, VT, WA, WI, WV, WY.
School Psychology
The School Psychology Ph.D. program trains psychologists with expertise in promoting the academic, social, emotional, behavioral, and mental health of youth in schools and related settings. Training is grounded in the scientist-practitioner model and involves assessment and intervention across multiple levels, including direct services with youth, consultation-based services with parents and teachers, and systems-level services with educational administrators and multidisciplinary teams. The program emphasizes research that advances science-based practice and requires the completion of original thesis and dissertation projects. Program graduates are prepared to work in various professional settings, including academia, educational/psychological research firms, school systems, and traditional clinical settings. For more information, see the program’s website at https://cehs.usu.edu/psychology/doctoral/school-psychology.
Disclosure of Educational Requirements for Licensure by State
The Ph.D. program adheres to APA accreditation standards and prepares students for entry into the profession of health service psychology with an emphasis in school psychology. Given the varied and changing requirements across jurisdictions, the department has not determined and cannot assure that graduates will meet all requirements for licensure in all states or territories. Students are encouraged to become familiar with relevant state licensing laws and discuss their curricular plan with their major professor and program director.
This program meets the requirements in Utah.
USU has not determined if the program meets requirements in: AK, AL, AR, AS, AZ, CA, CO, CT, DC, DE, FL, GA, GU, HI, IA, ID, IL, IN, KS, KY, LA, MA, MD, ME, MI, MN, MO, MP, MS, MT, NC, ND, NE, NH, NJ, NM, NV, NY, OH, OK, OR, PA, PR, RI, SC, SD, TN, TX, UM, VA, VI, VT, WA, WI, WV, WY.
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