The mission of the Psychological Sciences program is to prepare doctoral students for leadership roles in research, teaching, and applications of psychology, and to conduct exemplary research in developmental processes, cognition, and social-personality psychology. Through disciplinary and interdisciplinary research and teaching, we seek to create improved understanding of mechanisms influencing social and cognitive behavior and development.
Highlights of the doctoral program in Psychological Sciences include the high quality of faculty research, teaching, and mentoring, as well as a rich array of interdisciplinary opportunities within the School of Behavioral and Brain Sciences. Students work collaboratively with the faculty to become productive scholars. They are actively engaged in research laboratories with a faculty research mentor from the start of their training. Classes and seminars are small and informal. Professional development is facilitated through School colloquia, regular brown bag series, presentations at professional meetings, and guidance in the development of teaching skills. Financial support of doctoral students is awarded through teaching or research assistantship stipends and tuition scholarships. There are support opportunities for graduate student research and travel for conference presentations.
DEGREE PROGRAM
Students in the program average about 5 years for completion of all requirements. Students complete coursework and research requirements, including a Qualifying Thesis research project and the Dissertation research project. For more information, please see Requirements for Current Students.
ABOUT OUR SCHOOL
The Psychological Sciences program is a part of the School of Behavioral and Brain Sciences. The School’s mission is “to understand the intersection of mind, brain and behavior; to enhance the health, education, and quality of life of children and families; and to create and implement technologies and therapies that repair and strengthen human abilities.” In addition to the program in Psychological Sciences, the School also has excellent doctoral programs in Cognition and Neuroscience, Communication Sciences and Disorders, and Audiology. Many of the faculty and students work collaboratively across programs. For example, Psychological Science Doctoral students may choose to complete an interdisciplinary specialization in child language development and disorders.
The School of Behavioral and Brain Sciences has exceptional research facilities, including an on-site laboratory preschool, infant research labs, and video observation laboratories. Research facilities are located in Green Hall (located on UTD Richardson campus) and two campuses of the Callier Center for Communication Disorders (one located on the UTD Richardson campus and one located in Dallas). The doctoral programs are complemented by three internationally-recognized research centers: The Center for Brain Health, the Callier Center, and the Center for Advanced Hearing Research. The Center for Children and Families is a recent initiative.
