Psychological Science (PhD)

Doctor of Philosophy in Psychological Science
Unit: College of Arts and Sciences (GA)
Department: Psychological and Brain Sciences
Program Website 
Academic Plan Code(s): EPSYPHD

Program Information

Psychological scientists conduct research to better understand human and animal behavior. Their scientific findings provide insights that improve teaching and learning methods, promote healthy child development, and improve visual and hearing aids, to list a few examples.

The Psychological Science doctoral program at the University of Louisville is designed to prepare students for careers in academic and applied research settings as well as industry positions involving psychological science, data analysis, and management. Our students are trained in core areas of psychology, research design and methods, data analysis, teaching, and oral and written communication, all of which makes our students highly employable.

Research Training

Students in our program get extensive training in research.

We use a scientist-apprenticeship model, in which a student chooses a graduate mentor and receives specialized training in a specialized area of interest throughout the program. Faculty mentors for the Psychological Science program are listed on our website. Areas of specialized training include Cognitive Psychology, Developmental Psychology, and Neuroscience, as well as the intersections of these areas (Cognitive Development, Cognitive Neuroscience, Developmental Cognitive Neuroscience).

Our research extends beyond the confines of the laboratory. We apply our research to study real-world problems, work with community members such as children, and/or collaborate with other disciplines outside of psychology such as engineering, neuroscience, education, and government.

Curriculum

Our curriculum is research-focused and flexible.

Requirements are kept light so students can focus on research. The curriculum can be adapted to meet the needs of each student.

Students take classes in two of four core areas of psychology (selected by student and mentor), two statistics courses (required of all students in our program), and five electives or specialized seminars on special topics (selected by student and mentor). Students also develop their own presentation skills in a weekly Research and Professional Development (RAPDS) seminar held in both the fall and spring semesters.

First-year students attend a pro-seminar course called First Year Introduction, in which Psychological Science faculty introduce students to their research and labs.

Finally, students complete a Master's Research Portfolio (typically right after the second year), a Preliminary Exam (typically in their third year), and a Dissertation.

Professional Development

Professional development is an important part of our program.

Our students are highly encouraged to publish, present their research, attend research conferences, and gain teaching experience either as a graduate teaching assistant or instructor of record.

They are also encouraged to take advantage of the Graduate Schools' PLAN workshops, academies, and resources, which are designed to help graduate students develop their professional skills. Programs are geared toward students who want to develop their teaching, grant writing, publishing, community engagement, and entrepreneurial skills, just to name a few. 

Admission Requirements

We take a holistic approach to reviewing prospective student applications. Applicants who are admitted to our program typically possess the following qualifications, but they are not required: 

• Complete graduate admissions application
• Undergraduate GPAs of 3.0 or higher
• Strong letters of recommendation that speak to the applicant’s scholarly ability and potential to succeed in a doctoral program
• A psychology or neuroscience major

Selection Criteria

Successful applicants are able to demonstrate many (not necessarily all) of the following skills, experiences, and characteristics in their application materials:

• A match between the applicant's and faculty mentor's research interests
• Research experience (typically at least 2 semesters in psychological research)
• Quantitative/data analysis skills (or capacity to learn)
• Written communication skills and capacity for scholarly writing
• Unique perspective
• Resilience and ability to overcome adversity
• Demonstrated motivation for research
• Leadership
• Collaborative/works well with others
• Critical thinking and scientific inquiry
• Creative thinking

All applicants will be considered without discrimination on the basis of differences in age, ethnic or racial background, gender, physical abilities, sexual orientation or preference, or social background. Our program values, and has accepted, applicants that vary on the above characteristics. 

Application Instructions

Please carefully follow the application procedures listed below and those outlined by the Graduate School. You are responsible for ensuring that your application is complete and all materials are submitted through the Graduate School online application by the deadline (December 1st).

Applicants should first review the Graduate School application instructions and then complete the online application form. Below are requirements for the application.

1. Graduate School Online Application Form
2. Application Fee: $65 - Some students may be eligible for an application fee waiver.
3. Apply for the Fall term: The program accepts new students in the Fall Semester only. Be sure to select the correct Fall Start date in the item “Please select the term you wish to apply”.
4. Transcript(s): Official transcripts from ALL institutions you have attended must be sent directly from the colleges to the Office of Graduate Admissions. Sending transcripts is usually done through your university’s Registrar’s Office or the National Student Clearinghouse.
5. Three Recommendation Letters: Three letters of recommendation from academic sources are required. Applicants will enter information for each of their letter writers in the online application form, and the system will send each letter writer a link to submit your recommendation.
6. Mentor Rankings: Our program is research-based, and students are admitted based on a scientist-apprenticeship model. The online application form will prompt you to indicate your preferences for up to 3 possible research mentors (ranked 1^st, 2^nd, and 3^rd). You should only list mentors whose research interests align with your own.
7. Current Curriculum Vitae (CV): A current CV is a required part of the application. Your CV should be uploaded under “Upload Materials”, “Resume or Curriculum Vitae (CV).”
8. Personal Statement: A Personal Statement should be uploaded with your application materials under “Upload Materials”, “Personal Statement”. This document is a Statement of Purpose and is expected to be 2-3 pages. The statement should describe your professional background, research experience and interests, and career goals. Within your Statement, please describe how your professional and research experiences led you to pursue a Ph.D. in psychological science and how our program and the specific faculty member(s) to whose lab(s) you are applying fit with your interests, experiences, and goals. (Tip: The Application Statement Feedback Program provides free constructive feedback on the research/personal statements of Ph.D. applicants in psychology, with an emphasis on those who may not have access to this information.)
9. Graduate Record Exam (GRE): The GRE is NOT required.
10. TOEFL/English Proficiency: Official TOEFL scores must be submitted by those for whom English is not their native language. For more information about the English Proficiency/TOEFL requirements, click here.
11. Education & Life Experiences Essays: The Graduate School requires responses to two of seven provided prompts in the areas of leadership, community engagement, resilience and adaptability, accountability and responsibility, self-motivation, capacity for self-improvement, and inclusive excellence.
12. Supplemental Materials: You may choose to upload supplemental materials such as a description of relevant courses/trainings, capstone or Honors projects, research presentations, publications, or writing samples with your application materials. These materials will be submitted via the checklist after you submit your application. Your supplemental materials should be uploaded under “Upload Materials” > “Writing Sample” for any writing (e.g., writing samples) and “Other” for any other documents. If necessary, combine documents into a single PDF for the file upload. These supplemental materials are encouraged but not required.

Offers of Admission

Typically, students will receive offers of admission before April 1. Assistantships and fellowships are also normally offered before April 1. Applicants are under no obligation to respond to offers of admission or financial support prior to the decision date of April 15. Additional admissions and financial offers may be made after the April 15th decision date if one or more slots become available.

Questions

Should you have any further program-specific application questions, please contact:

Maggie Leahy
Department of Psychological & Brain Sciences
University of Louisville
maggie.leahy@louisville.edu

PhD Program Requirements

¹

Students who take more than two of the Program Core courses listed above may count the additional core courses as electives.

²

In this weekly 50-minute proseminar, faculty will rotate meetings to introduce students to the research used in their labs.

³

The weekly 50-minute Research and Professional Development (RAPDS) series provides a forum for students and faculty to present completed or ongoing research, invite guest speakers, and discuss professional development topics.

⁴

Students are required to register for PSYC 605 Independent Study (Research) with the student's graduate research mentor every semester until the Preliminary Examination is successfully completed.

⁵

Upon passing the preliminary examination, students must maintain continuous enrollment at the University of Louisville until receiving their degree in one of two ways:

1. Enrolling in classes and/or PSYC 701 (Dissertation Research), OR
2. Enrolling in DOCT 600 Doctoral Candidacy.

Preliminary Examination

The Preliminary Examination consists of an original written review and critique of a research area. The Preliminary Examination will be evaluated based on the breadth of knowledge, integration of literature, critical thinking, and quality of scientific writing. Students will plan the preliminary examination in collaboration with their mentors and Preliminary Examination Committees. The Preliminary Examination is typically completed by the end of the third year of training.

Dissertation

An original research project conducted and described in a report (the doctoral dissertation) by the student.  The dissertation is conducted in consultation with a faculty committee and must be approved by the committee.