Using science to understand the human experience

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. You 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. Our program will equip you with the skills and knowledge necessary for a career as a researcher, educator, and/or consultant in a variety of fields.

Get a closer look at what it’s like to be in the program. See our Program Highlights, Frequently Asked Questions, Program Faculty and Grad Student Bios.

For international students: this is a STEM-designated program, which can qualify you to extend your post-graduation stay in the United States.

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Gain extensive research experience

Research is an integral part of your training and begins during your first year of the program. Prepare for work in a wide variety of scientific, academic and applied settings by gaining practical experience in centers and labs directed by Psychological Science faculty and by teaching your own course.

Application Deadlines

The deadline for fall admission is December 15.

Admission Requirements

Submit an online applications, GRE scores, transcripts, course history form, letters of recommendation and personal statement.

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Required Courses

For the MA portion, you’ll take 12 courses and complete a thesis. For the PhD portion, you’ll take seven courses and complete a dissertation.

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98%

of Psychological Science graduates were employed, continuing their education or pursuing other goals within six months of graduation.

 

$61k

The reported median salary for Psychological Science alumni was $61,000.

Make contributions to the field with faculty mentors

Associate Professor Yan Li directs DePaul’s Social Development Lab, which addresses research questions about social development from middle childhood to adolescence. The goal of her team’s research is to understand the developmental processes and contribute to the promotion of well adjustment in children and adolescents.

“The Psychological Science program at DePaul gave me the independence and guidance I needed to successfully start my research career.”

Mark (MA ’10, PhD ’12)

Associate Professor, Department of Social Psychology, Tilburg University, Netherlands

Alumni Network

You’ll join a network of psychology alumni working in corporate and nonprofit organizations as well as faculty and administrators at colleges across the country. You’ll also be part of a community of more than 201,000 DePaul alumni, the majority of whom live in the Chicago area.

Scholarships

Admitted Psychological Science MA/PhD students are funded with tuition waivers and research/teaching positions. Learn more about the financial aid and scholarship opportunities available to you.

Psychological Science Admission Requirements

?????Admission to the Psychological Science program is competitive and is based on a combination of grades, GRE scores, letters of recommendation and fit between student and faculty research interests. Admitted students are funded with tuition waivers and research/teaching positions. Applications are due by Dec. 15.

Please read through the general instructions before filling out the online application. When filling out the online application select the Psychology Graduate Programs application, not the College of Science and Health application.?

Psychological Science faculty review all application materials carefully and evaluates applications with emphasis on the following criteria:

1. Completeness of Credentials: Faculty will only review complete applications submitted before the deadline. The review process begins shortly after this date. Applicants will be notified if they qualify for an interview. In-person interviews are strongly preferred; however, phone/Skype interviews can be arranged if necessary.

2. Graduate Record Examination (GRE) Scores and Grade Point Average (GPA): The general GRE is optional for Fall 2023 admission. T??he Psychology Subject Test is required for non-Psychology majors, and recommended for Psychology majors applying to the Psychological Science program. A GPA of 3.5 or higher is advised. If an applicant is particularly strong in one area, but not another, these criteria are not followed rigidly.?

3. Undergraduate Preparation: Students are expected to have had courses in statistics, experimental psychology, research methods, and other areas of psychology to permit advanced study in this field. The minimum requirement for admission is 32 quarter hours (24 semester hours) in psychology. Science, computer, and math courses are seen as positive indices. Emphasis is placed on the applicant's personal statement regarding commitment, motivation and experience in the area of experimental psychology. Download and fill out the Course History List form.

4. Three letters of Recommendation: Faculty carefully review letters of recommendation. Selected recommenders are encouraged to address the applicant’s academic abilities, potential for conducting research, and ability to work with others. 

5. Personal Statement Prompt: ??What do you want to study here? What in your background or personal experience has prepared you for graduate study and how has it done so? ? A guideline of two to three pages is advised.

6. Minority Status: Psychological Science faculty encourage applications from students of minority background.

7. Students with Disabilities: Psychological Science faculty encourage applications from students with disabilities.

Degree Requirements

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.

Fundamental 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
PSY 418	MULTIVARIATE STATISTICAL ANALYSIS
PSY 419	FACTOR ANALYSIS AND STRUCTURAL EQUATION MODELING
PSY 450	PSYCHOLOGICAL MEASUREMENT

Cognitive Seminar Courses

Course	Title	Quarter Hours
Select one of the following:		4
PSY 404	PERCEPTION AND COGNITION
PSY 426	LANGUAGE AND COGNITION
PSY 473	THE PSYCHOLOGY OF JUDGMENT AND DECISION- MAKING

Developmental Seminar Courses

Course	Title	Quarter Hours
Select one of the following:		4
PSY 439	COGNITIVE DEVELOPMENT
PSY 554	EMOTIONAL DEVELOPMENT
PSY 555	SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT

Social Seminar Courses

Course	Title	Quarter Hours
Select one of the following:		4
PSY 430	SOCIAL PSYCHOLOGY OF THE SELF
PSY 435	SPECIAL SEMINAR IN PSYCHOLOGICAL SCIENCE
PSY 556	PREJUDICE AND INTERGROUP RELATIONS
PSY 560	SOCIAL COGNITION

Elective Course1

One elective course required 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, 3rd year students may substitute one seminar requirement with an elective in each area with permission from the faculty advisor. 

Recommended:

Course	Title	Quarter Hours
PSY 418	MULTIVARIATE STATISTICAL ANALYSIS
or PSY 419	FACTOR ANALYSIS AND STRUCTURAL EQUATION MODELING
or PSY 450	PSYCHOLOGICAL MEASUREMENT
PSY 430	SOCIAL PSYCHOLOGY OF THE SELF
or PSY 435	SPECIAL SEMINAR IN PSYCHOLOGICAL SCIENCE
or PSY 556	PREJUDICE AND INTERGROUP RELATIONS
or PSY 560	SOCIAL COGNITION
PSY 413	ANALYSIS OF LONGITUDINAL DATA
or PSY 414	CATEGORICAL DATA ANALYSIS
or PSY 416	METHODS IN QUALITATIVE RESEARCH
PSY 592	DIRECTED RESEARCH (Independent Study)
PSY 594	DIRECTED READINGS IN PSYCHOLOGY (Independent Study)

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

Research Course

Course	Title	Quarter Hours
PSY 597	MASTER'S THESIS RESEARCH	1-4

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. Research experience during the third year might involve a continuation of the line of research initiated in the thesis project or other projects that students develop.

Master’s Thesis 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.

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 the MA):		8
PSY 404	PERCEPTION AND COGNITION
PSY 426	LANGUAGE AND COGNITION
PSY 473	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
PSY 439	COGNITIVE DEVELOPMENT
PSY 554	EMOTIONAL DEVELOPMENT
PSY 555	SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT

Social Seminar Courses

Course	Title	Quarter Hours
Select two of the following (not taken towards the MA):		8
PSY 430	SOCIAL PSYCHOLOGY OF THE SELF
PSY 435	SPECIAL SEMINAR IN PSYCHOLOGICAL SCIENCE
PSY 556	PREJUDICE AND INTERGROUP RELATIONS
PSY 560	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

Areas of Specialization

The psychological science faculty consists of members from each of the following major experimental areas: cognition, cognitive neuroscience, developmental psychology (child, adolescent, and lifespan), social cognition, and social psychology. Students may specialize in an area in which a faculty member has expertise.

Doctoral Candidacy Project

This requirement is completed after the student has defended the master's thesis and before defense of the dissertation proposal. PhD students in PS have two options for fulfilling the requirement for admission to doctoral candidacy: Writing a grant proposal or writing a journal-appropriate review article. 

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.

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.

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