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Program Requirements

Psychological Science Concentration

Students intending to pursue a PhD in Psychological Science must first complete the requirements for the MS in the Psychological Science Concentration.

Students then complete the doctoral-level course requirements and research experiences appropriate to their specialty area. Graduates of the program are not eligible for licensure.

PhD

PhD Psychological Science: Program Requirements

  • The program requires at least 66 post-baccalaureate credit hours of graduate study.
  • Each student will complete an MS degree in Psychological Science in their first 2-3 years including at least 34 credit hours, and an empirical thesis. Students must successfully present and defend their thesis to their faculty committee.
  • Each student must pass a doctoral qualifying examination.
  • Each student will complete at least 32 credit hours in doctoral-level coursework.
  • Each student must complete and defend a dissertation based on a research program approved by the student’s committee that results in an original, high quality, significant, and substantial body of research. Students must successfully present and defend their dissertation to their committee.
  • All requirements for the degree must be completed within the timeframe set forth by the Graduate School.
  • At least 2 of the academic training years must be completed at UNCW.
  • At least 1 year of the program must be completed in full-time residence.

Master of Arts

Requirements for the Master of Science, Psychological Science Concentration (34 credit hours)

I. Research and Quantitative Methods (13 credit hours)

  • PSY 555 – Quantitative Methods in Psychology I (Credit Hours: 4)
  • PSY 557 – Quantitative Methods in Psychology II (Credit Hours: 4)
  • PSY 579 – Advanced Research Practicum (Credit Hours: 1)
  • PSY 580 – Advanced Research Practicum (Credit Hours: 1)
  • PSY 589 – Advanced Research Methods (Credit Hours: 3)

II. Discipline-Specific Knowledge (12 credit hours; select 4 of the following courses)

  • PSY 510 – Cognitive Psychology (Credit Hours: 3)
  • PSY 517 – Learning and Behavior Analysis (Credit Hours: 3)
  • PSY 520 – Developmental Psychology (Credit Hours: 3)
  • PSY 556 – Advanced Physiological Psychology (Credit Hours: 3)
  • PSY 565 – Personality and Social Psychology (Credit Hours: 3)

III. Elective (3 credit hours)

  • One elective approved by the Graduate Coordinator (Credit Hours: 3)

IV. Thesis (6 credit hours)

  • PSY 599 – Thesis in Psychology (Credit Hours: 1-6; 6 credits to be taken over at least two semesters)

Doctor of Philosophy

Requirements for the Doctor of Philosophy, Psychological Science Concentration (32 credit hours)

Must have completed the Master's degree requirements (see above).

I. Advanced Quantitative Methods (3 credit hours)

  • PSY 655 – Advanced Modeling & Simulations (Credit Hours: 3)

II. Electives (9 credit hours; select from the following courses; a minimum of 2 Topical Seminars are required; no more than 1 course at the 500 level may be used to fulfill this requirement)

  • PSY 595 – Topical Seminar (Credit Hours: 3)
  • PSY 695 – Topical Seminar (Credit Hours: 3)
  • Elective: Approved by the research mentor and Graduate Coordinator (Credit Hours: 3)

III. Psychological Science Weekly Colloquium (4 credit hours)

  • PSY 601 - Current Topics in Psychological Science (Credit Hours: 1; 4 total)

IV. Teaching (1 credit hour)

  • PSY 530 – Teaching Psychology I (Credit Hours: 1)
  • PSY 531 – Teaching Psychology II (Credit Hours: 1; optional)

V. Research (6 credit hours)

  • PSY 698 – Research (Credit Hours: 1-3; 6 total)

VI. Dissertation (9 credit hours)

  • PSY 699 – Dissertation Proposal (Credit Hours: 1-3; 3 credits required)
  • PSY 799 – Dissertation Research (Credit Hours: 1-6; 6 credits to be taken over at least two semesters)
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