Experimental Psychology, Ph.D.

Saint Louis University’s multifaceted, full-time Ph.D. program in experimental psychology prepares students for academic teaching and research careers in cognitive neuroscience, developmental psychology, and social psychology.

Curriculum Overview

Thirty credits of coursework are required for the master’s degree, which counts toward the 56 credits required for the Ph.D. Students entering the SLU program with a master's degree may present course syllabi or other documentation from previous courses to the experimental psychology graduate program director to request substitutions for specific requirements.

The experimental psychology program includes three concentration areas: cognitive neuroscience, developmental psychology and social psychology. All areas integrate theory and research in courses, research and professional experiences.

Cognitive Neuroscience Concentration

This concentration focuses on the integration of cognitive psychology and neuroscience. It is designed to prepare students for research careers in basic and applied settings and teaching at the college level.

Coursework in the cognitive neuroscience concentration deals with fundamental issues in cognition and neuroscience, while specialty seminars address specific interests. In the laboratory, emphasis is placed on acquiring technical and practical skills in the instrumentation and research methodology associated with a specialization. Writing and presentation skills necessary for the communication of research are emphasized through course assignments, grant writing, presentations at regional and national meetings, and publications.

Students in the cognitive neuroscience concentration participate in the Brain and Cognition Lab, Cognitive Neuroscience of Stress Lab, Cognitive and Affective Neuroscience of Aging Lab and the Luking Lab.

Developmental Psychology Concentration

This concentration investigates developmental processes in childhood and adolescence, emphasizing the social aspects of development, such as parent-child interaction, gender cognitions and socio-moral reasoning. It prepares students to teach and conduct research in academic and research settings. Students complete survey courses exploring social and cognitive development issues and topical seminars more specific to faculty research interests.

Research training for this concentration follows an apprenticeship model. Students begin by immersing themselves in their mentor's research area, conducting collaborative and increasingly independent work throughout their tenure in the program. Many students begin teaching — from assistant duties or guest lectures to full responsibility for a course — to prepare for future academic appointments.

The Gender Cognitions and Development Lab, Child and Adolescent Social Development Lab and Child and Family Research Lab are associated with the developmental psychology concentration.

Social Psychology Concentration

This concentration examines the behavior of groups and individuals in a social context. Areas explored include self-concept structure, self-regulation, close relationships, stereotyping and prejudice, social justice, the social psychology of health, social exclusion, racial and social identification and attitudes.

The social psychology specialty offers academic and research training and an applied component that involves both coursework and professional experience. Students are trained in theoretical and programmatic research as those fields relate to both basic and applied issues. Graduates of the specialty will be prepared for research careers in academic and applied settings and teaching at the college level.

The Applied Social Psychology Lab, Social Justice Lab and Collective Identity Lab are associated with the social psychology concentration.

Fieldwork and Research Opportunities

During each term, students will actively participate in a research vertical team, including individual lab groups, concentration groups and/or full program groups. Through discussions, presentations and other activities, this team will help students stay involved in research and other professional development activities during the program.

Careers

This program prepares students for academic teaching and research careers in cognitive neuroscience, developmental psychology and social psychology.

Admission Requirements

All applicants apply to the Ph.D. program. Applicants who have earned a Master of Arts or Master of Science degree in psychology (or a closely associated field) may apply for advanced standing upon matriculation into the program. Students who have not yet earned a Master of Arts or Master of Science degree in psychology (or a closely associated field) with a completed research thesis will complete a Master of Science in Experimental Psychology within the program before advancing to doctoral candidacy. 

Admitted students typically have prior coursework and research experience relevant to psychology and/or neuroscience. Twelve or more credits in psychology or closely related fields are preferred, including coursework in research methods, statistics, and the area of our program in which you want to specialize (e.g., coursework related to cognitive psychology, neuroscience, developmental psychology, or social psychology).

While the criteria listed above are most typical of successful applicants, we invite applications that may fall below any of the criteria, as strengths in some areas may compensate for weaknesses in other areas.

Application Requirements

• Application form (no fee required)
• Academic transcript(s)
• Professional Goal Statement (should describe why you want to enroll in the Experimental Psychology Ph.D. program in your chosen concentration; your relevant prior research, academic, and/or professional experience; your research interests; career goals; and the faculty member(s) with whom you are most interested in conducting research)
• Résumé or Curriculum Vitae (CV)
• Three letters of recommendation
• GRE scores are not required or expected 

Requirements for International Students

All admission policies and requirements for domestic students apply to international students. International students must also meet the following additional requirements:

• Demonstrate English Language Proficiency
• Academic records, in English translation, of students who have undertaken postsecondary studies outside the United States must include:
  • Courses taken and/or lectures attended
  • Practical laboratory work
  • The maximum and minimum grades attainable
  • The grades earned or the results of all end-of-term examinations
  • Any honors or degrees received.
• WES and ECE transcripts are accepted.
• In order to be issued an I-20 for your F-1 visa application, students must submit financial documents. Proof of financial support that must include:
  • A letter of financial support from the person(s) or sponsoring agency funding the student's time at Saint Louis University
  • A letter from the sponsor's bank verifying that the funds are available and will be so for the duration of the student's study at the University

Assistantship Application Deadline

Students who want to be considered for an assistantship must submit their application by Dec. 31.

Review Process

Applications are reviewed by a committee of experimental psychology department faculty members representing the concentration to which a student has applied.

Because the program operates on an apprenticeship model, the applicant's research interests must match the expertise of one or more program faculty members, as reflected in their professional goal statement.

Three to four students are accepted into the program each year with each concentration accepting one new student a year, on average. GPA, GRE scores (if submitted), TOEFL scores (if applicable), letters of recommendation, experience and the fit between the applicant's research interests/career goals and program offerings are all considered.

Tuition

Additional charges may apply. Other resources are listed below:

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Information on Tuition and Fees

Miscellaneous Fees

Information on Summer Tuition

Scholarships, Assistantships and Financial Aid

For priority consideration for a graduate assistantship, apply by the program admission deadlines listed. Fellowships and assistantships provide a stipend and may include health insurance and a tuition scholarship for the duration of the award. 

Explore Scholarships and Financial Aid Options

1. Graduates will be able to demonstrate competency in the conceptualization, design, conducting, analysis and reporting of psychological research.
2. Graduates will be able to demonstrate broad professional knowledge in the field of experimental psychology and more specialized knowledge in their area of concentration (i.e., cognitive neuroscience, developmental psychology, social psychology) and in their topic of research expertise.
3. Graduates will be able to demonstrate an understanding of diversity and ethics issues as they apply to psychological research, teaching and professional development as experimental psychologists.
4. Graduates will be able to demonstrate professional development by acquiring skills in the areas of written and oral communication, teaching and general professionalism.

Continuation Standards

Students must maintain a cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 3.00 in all graduate/professional courses.

Non-Course Requirements

Successful completion of the written preliminary and the oral qualifying exams.

Cognitive Neuroscience Concentration

Developmental Psychology Concentration

Social Psychology Concentration

Optional Secondary Concentration Requirements (six additional hours)

*

For all three secondary concentrations, only one of the extra classes taken to fulfill the secondary concentration course requirements may replace an existing (program or concentration) elective taken as part of the overall degree/primary concentration. As a result, in order to earn a secondary concentration, students will need to take at least one extra course beyond the minimum required for earning only a primary concentration in the program (i.e., for a total of 59 credit hours rather than 56). In addition to these course requirements, at least one faculty member representing the secondary concentration area must serve on the student’s doctoral oral examination committee in order to fulfill all secondary concentration requirements.

¹

Whichever course was not taken to fulfill the program core.

Roadmaps are recommended semester-by-semester plans of study for programs and assume full-time enrollment unless otherwise noted.  

Courses and milestones designated as critical (marked with !) must be completed in the semester listed to ensure a timely graduation. Transfer credit may change the roadmap.

This roadmap should not be used in the place of regular academic advising appointments. All students are encouraged to meet with their advisor/mentor each semester. Requirements, course availability and sequencing are subject to change.

¹

Offered in alternate fall semesters; taken in semester one by students in the cognitive neuroscience concentration

²

Offered in alternate fall semesters; taken in semester one by students in the developmental psychology concentration 

³

Taken in semester one by students in the social psychology concentration 

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Students in the cognitive neuroscience concentration only

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Students in the developmental neuroscience concentration only 

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Students in the social concentration only 

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Students in the developmental concentration must take PSY 5250 Cognitive Development (3 cr) or PSY 5260 Social Development (3 cr) in semester three (offered in alternate fall semesters) 

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The program is designed such that all coursework, including thesis (PSY 5990 Thesis Research (0-6 cr)) and dissertation (PSY 6990 Dissertation Research (0-12 cr)) credits, may be completed in three years; however, semesters seven and eight may be used to finish any coursework or credits that were missed in previous semesters; students should continue enrolling in PSY 6990 Dissertation Research (0-12 cr) (once the 12 required credits are completed) and in PSY 5840 Experimental Psychology Research Vertical Team (0-6 cr) for 0 credits every semester, including summers, until the degree is completed.

Program Notes

Students may replace PSY 5990 Thesis Research (0-6 cr) or PSY 6990 Dissertation Research (0-12 cr) in any of the summers with three methods/statistics, program elective, or concentration elective credits if offered. However, because such courses are only rarely offered in the summer, students are advised not to complete thesis or dissertation credits during fall or spring semesters (particularly in semesters 1-3) unless they have verified that alternative courses that meet degree requirements will be offered in the upcoming summer, especially if they have tuition scholarship credits available in the summer.

Program or concentration electives may be selected from the following:

The above roadmap applies to students entering the program without a master’s degree, and is designed to culminate in the Ph.D. degree, as we do not offer a terminal master’s degree.  Students who are admitted with a pre-existing master’s degree in psychology from another university (i.e., who are admitted directly to the Ph.D. program) must meet the same course requirements (with the exception of the six credits of PSY 5990 Thesis Research (0-6 cr), which are not required).  However, because several of the course requirements may be met by courses taken as part of the previous master’s program, the roadmap may be accelerated relative to the one shown above, and will be individualized depending on the equivalent courses that a given student has already completed prior to entering the Ph.D. program.

For additional information about our program, please contact:

Jill Waring
Associate professor
Coordinator of graduate admissions, experimental psychology
jill.waring@health.slu.edu