DePaul’s Psychological Science MA/PhD program is a highly competitive program that trains students in the theories and methodologies that define the core scientific pillars of psychology: social, developmental, cognitive and neuroscience. With an emphasis on critical and integrative thinking, our students will understand the psychological foundations of human thought, emotions, motivation and behavior while conducting innovative research on diverse topics within psychology. Students will have the opportunity to develop research and statistical skills both inside the laboratory and out in the world developing scientific solutions to real-world problems. Training prepares students for careers in a wide variety of scientific, academic, business and applied settings. Research experience is an integral part of the training and begins in the first year under the guidance of a faculty advisor. During their first two years, students plan and conduct research toward their master's thesis and develop a comprehensive research project their third year that prepares them for the dissertation. Research for the dissertation usually begins during the fourth year. Students are supported with competitive stipends and other funding opportunities.
| Program Requirements | Quarter Hours |
|---|---|
| MA Degree Requirements | 48 |
| Total hours required | 48 |
| Program Requirements | Quarter Hours |
|---|---|
| PhD Degree Requirements | 28 |
| Total hours required | 28 |
MA Learning Outcomes
Students will be able to:
- Identify major theoretical concepts in psychology, trace their historical development, and integrate theory, research, and domain-specific knowledge to explain and interpret how Psychological Science currently advances knowledge.
- Critique and synthesize theoretical and empirical articles from peer-reviewed scholarly Psychological Science journals in terms of theory, methods, data analyses, and conclusions.
- Develop testable research questions, identify strengths and limitations of research designs and data analysis techniques, conduct appropriate research and analytic strategies, and interpret the findings to situate them within the extant research literature in Psychological Science.
- Describe and discuss the ethical issues associated with human subjects/participant protection and the sequence of procedures needed for IRB approval of research projects, and apply these ethical practices in research.
PhD Learning Outcomes
Students will be able to:
- Identify major theoretical concepts in psychology, trace their historical development, and integrate theory, research, and domain-specific knowledge to explain and interpret how Psychological Science currently advances knowledge.
- Critique and synthesize theoretical and empirical articles from peer-reviewed scholarly Psychological Science journals in terms of theory, methods, data analyses, and conclusions in order to compose novel perspectives and ideas.
- Independently develop testable research questions, identify strengths and limitations of research designs and data analysis techniques, conduct appropriate research and analytic strategies, and interpret the findings to situate them within the extant research literature in Psychological Science.
- Independently describe and discuss the ethical issues associated with human subjects/participant protection and the sequence of procedures needed for IRB approval of research projects and apply these ethical practices in research.
- Exhibit effective communication skills for presenting at professional conferences and publishing in professional journals in Psychological Science. Demonstrate competence in Psychological Science applications.
MA/PhD Degree Requirements
The Psychological Science MA/PhD is a combined degree. The MA is non-terminal and, therefore, only students intending to confer the PhD are admitted.
MA Course Requirements
The MA portion of the combined degree program requires a minimum of 48 quarter hours beyond the completion of a bachelor’s degree.
Core Courses
| Course | Title | Quarter Hours |
|---|---|---|
| PSY 406 | PHYSIOLOGICAL PROCESSES | 4 |
| PSY 410 | ADVANCED STATISTICS I | 4 |
| PSY 411 | ADVANCED STATISTICS II | 4 |
| PSY 420 | QUANTITATIVE RESEARCH DESIGN | 4 |
| Select two of the following: | 8 | |
| MULTIVARIATE STATISTICAL ANALYSIS | ||
| FACTOR ANALYSIS AND STRUCTURAL EQUATION MODELING | ||
| PSYCHOLOGICAL MEASUREMENT | ||
Cognitive Seminar Courses
| Course | Title | Quarter Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Select one of the following: | 4 | |
| PERCEPTION AND COGNITION | ||
| LANGUAGE AND COGNITION | ||
| THE PSYCHOLOGY OF JUDGMENT AND DECISION-MAKING | ||
Developmental Seminar Courses
| Course | Title | Quarter Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Select one of the following: | 4 | |
| COGNITIVE DEVELOPMENT | ||
| EMOTIONAL DEVELOPMENT | ||
| SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT | ||
Social Seminar Courses
| Course | Title | Quarter Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Select one of the following: | 4 | |
| SOCIAL PSYCHOLOGY OF THE SELF | ||
| SPECIAL SEMINAR IN PSYCHOLOGICAL SCIENCE | ||
| PREJUDICE AND INTERGROUP RELATIONS | ||
| SOCIAL COGNITION | ||
Elective Course1
One elective course is required and can be taken during any quarter. The elective can be any graduate-level psychology course, or any graduate-level non-psychology course, with permission from the faculty advisor. In addition, students may substitute one seminar requirement with an elective in each area with permission from the faculty advisor.
| Course | Title | Quarter Hours |
|---|---|---|
| PSY 413 | ANALYSIS OF LONGITUDINAL DATA | 4 |
| PSY 414 | CATEGORICAL DATA ANALYSIS | 4 |
| PSY 416 | METHODS IN QUALITATIVE RESEARCH | 4 |
| PSY 418 | MULTIVARIATE STATISTICAL ANALYSIS | 4 |
| PSY 419 | FACTOR ANALYSIS AND STRUCTURAL EQUATION MODELING | 4 |
| PSY 430 | SOCIAL PSYCHOLOGY OF THE SELF | 4 |
| PSY 435 | SPECIAL SEMINAR IN PSYCHOLOGICAL SCIENCE | 4 |
| PSY 450 | PSYCHOLOGICAL MEASUREMENT | 4 |
| PSY 556 | PREJUDICE AND INTERGROUP RELATIONS | 4 |
| PSY 560 | SOCIAL COGNITION | 4 |
| PSY 592 | DIRECTED RESEARCH (Independent Study) | 1-4 |
| PSY 594 | DIRECTED READINGS IN PSYCHOLOGY (Independent Study) | 1-4 |
- 1
Cannot count towards core requirements listed above if taken as an elective.
Professional Development
| Course | Title | Quarter Hours |
|---|---|---|
| PSY 588 | TOPICS IN PSYCHOLOGICAL SCIENCE (taken twice, for a total of 4 credit hours) | 4 |
| PSY 550 | SEMINAR IN TEACHING PSYCHOLOGY | 0 |
Research Course
| Course | Title | Quarter Hours |
|---|---|---|
| PSY 597 | MASTER'S THESIS RESEARCH | 4 |
Master’s Research Thesis
Students must complete a thesis on a topic approved by the program. Research experience is considered an integral part of the training. 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.
Master’s Thesis Examination
An oral defense of the completed research must be passed and the written document must be approved.
PhD Course Requirements
The PhD portion of the combined degree program requires a minimum of 28 quarter hours beyond the completion of the master’s degree, including four quarter hours of dissertation research. The following requirements must be completed to confer the PhD.
Cognitive Seminar Courses
| Course | Title | Quarter Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Select two of the following (not taken towards MA) | 8 | |
| PERCEPTION AND COGNITION | ||
| LANGUAGE AND COGNITION | ||
| THE PSYCHOLOGY OF JUDGMENT AND DECISION-MAKING | ||
Developmental Seminar Courses
| Course | Title | Quarter Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Select two of the following (not taken towards the MA): | 8 | |
| COGNITIVE DEVELOPMENT | ||
| EMOTIONAL DEVELOPMENT | ||
| SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT | ||
Social Seminar Courses
| Course | Title | Quarter Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Select two of the following (not taken towards the MA): | 8 | |
| SOCIAL PSYCHOLOGY OF THE SELF | ||
| SPECIAL SEMINAR IN PSYCHOLOGICAL SCIENCE | ||
| PREJUDICE AND INTERGROUP RELATIONS | ||
| SOCIAL COGNITION | ||
Professional Development
| Course | Title | Quarter Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Optional: | ||
| PSY 550 | SEMINAR IN TEACHING PSYCHOLOGY (3 quarters, 0 credit hours; beginning winter quarter after successful defense of master's thesis) | 0 |
Research Course
| Course | Title | Quarter Hours |
|---|---|---|
| PSY 599 | DOCTORAL DISSERTATION RESEARCH | 1-4 |
Doctoral Candidacy Project
This requirement is completed after the student has defended the master's thesis and before progression to the dissertation research. To fulfill the requirement for admission to doctoral candidacy, the student will write and defend a dissertation proposal.
Admission to Doctoral Candidacy
Formally given to the student with satisfactory coursework performance who has successfully completed the master’s thesis and passed the Doctoral Candidacy Project. The candidate has no more than five years from the date of admission to doctoral candidacy to complete the PhD requirements or dismissal from the program will ensue.
Students denied candidacy will be required to withdraw from the program or withdraw after completion of the MA.
Doctoral Teaching
Students are required to demonstrate competency in the teaching of psychology through teaching one undergraduate course during the doctoral portion of their degree.
Dissertation
Departmental committee approval and acceptance of topic and outline of dissertation is given only after admission to doctoral candidacy. Research for the dissertation should normally be completed during the student’s fourth year in the program.
Oral Examination
For both the proposal and the completed project, an oral defense of the research must be passed and the written document must be approved. Students are expected to defend their dissertation and demonstrate competence in psychological science and their area of specialization.
Time Limitations
- No more than four years between admission to the MA/PhD program and admission to doctoral candidacy.
- No less than eight months and no more than five years between admission to doctoral candidacy and the final doctoral oral examination; or dismissal from the program will ensue.
Program Graduate Academic Student Handbook
Minimum Grades
- The minimum grade considered acceptable for a graduate course is a B-. This applies to courses taken both within and outside of the department for psychology graduate students. Grades below that (i.e., C+ and below) indicate that the student has not mastered the relevant content of the course.
- If a graduate student earns a grade lower than B- in a particular course, the student, instructor, and advisor will discuss the situation and circumstances and a remediation plan will be required. The student, his or her advisor, and the instructor, will work together to create a plan through which the student can gain competence in the course material, and demonstrate that competence. The remediation plan might include, for example, requiring the student to complete additional assignments, retaking the class, taking a substitute class, completing an independent study, or pursuing other options. The remediation plan must be approved by the instructor, advisor and the program director.
- A second occurrence of a grade lower than a B- (for the same or different course) will put the student on academic probation. Once placed on academic probation, the student’s record and any mitigating circumstances will be evaluated by a Psychology Department review board comprising the student’s advisor, the program director, and the department associate chair (the department chair might be included in special circumstances). Additional remediation and intervention might be suggested by the review board.
- If there is a third occurrence of a grade below B- (for the same or different course), the student will be dismissed from the program. The student may choose to appeal this decision, in which case the Chair of the Psychology Department will appoint a committee of three tenured Psychology Department faculty outside the student's program to hear the appeal. Depending on the student’s academic record and any mitigating circumstances, he/she may be allowed to complete his/her Master’s degree but will not be permitted to continue onto the PhD (not applicable to terminal Department of Psychology MS degrees) without a successful appeal.
Academic Probation
Students are expected to maintain a minimum grade point average (GPA) of 3.2. If a student’s GPA goes below this minimum, the student will be put on probation and will have one quarter to bring their GPA up to the minimum or face dismissal from the program. If the student’s GPA goes below the minimum a second time, they will be dismissed from the program.
Academic Dismissal
In addition to violations of satisfactory progress, including but not limited to, earning minimum grades, failing the comprehensive exam (including any possible retakes) or project, or maintaining a minimum cumulative GPA, students may be dismissed for breaches of academic honesty, or breaches of the code of student responsibility articulated in the DePaul University Student Handbook.
Time Limitations
Students must complete their MA degree requirements prior to completing their requirements for admission to doctoral candidacy. Further, no more than four years may pass between admission to the doctoral program and successful completion of the doctoral candidacy examination/project, and no less than eight months and no more than five years may pass between admission to candidacy and the final examination (i.e., the oral dissertation defense).
Students are required to meet the timelines specified by the program even if the timeline is more stringent than the College timeline. Failure to do so could result in dismissal.
Extensions on these timelines must be requested in writing to both the department (Program Director) and the college (to the Dean) and must be approved at both levels. Students must complete all requirements for the degree (which may include additional coursework, examinations, or other conditions) by the deadline outlined in the extension. Failure to meet specified time limitations or deadlines can result in dismissal from the program.
Graduation Requirements
Students need a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.20 in courses required by the program. In addition to meeting the minimum cumulative GPA requirement, failing the doctoral candidacy exam (or one retake) or project, lack of progress towards degree completion, and/or unsatisfactory evaluation could result in academic dismissal. See individual program policies for more details.
Graduation with Distinction for MA
The criteria for graduation With Distinction is based on a GPA of 3.75 or higher at the time of degree conferral. This distinction is only given for the Master’s degree, and is not awarded at the PhD level.
For topics not listed above, please consult the Graduate Student Handbook of the Department of Psychology, your program manual, or the Psychology Graduate Program Assistant.