The Department of Psychology and Neuroscience at the University of Colorado Boulder offers a PhD degree with five subplans:
- Behavioral, Psychiatric and Statistical Genetics
- Behavioral Neuroscience
- Clinical Psychology
- Cognitive Psychology/Cognitive Neuroscience
- Social Psychology
For detailed information about each field of study, visit the department's Graduate Program Subplans webpage.
Note: The department does not offer a terminal master's degree program.
Requirements
Students are admitted into one of five doctoral subplans in psychology and neuroscience. Throughout the course of study, students must demonstrate that they are proficient in a broad subject of learning and that they can critically evaluate work in their chosen field. Students must also show the ability to work independently in their research domain and must make an original contribution of significance to the advancement of knowledge.
In the first year of graduate study, there is a first-year research requirement that starts the student on an active program of research. First-year graduate students typically enroll in a two-semester graduate statistical sequence and introductory coursework. The student also must enroll in a sequence of courses designed to give exposure to a breadth of research topics and methods. In later years, a variety of advanced research seminars are taught to provide students with a depth of knowledge within their areas of interest.
Students may choose to complete a master's degree (MA) as they work toward the PhD based on research and coursework completed within their first 2-3 years. Before admission to candidacy for the PhD degree, the student must pass a comprehensive examination in the field of concentration and related fields. This examination tests the student’s mastery of a broad field of knowledge, not merely the formal coursework completed. Upon completing the comprehensives, students engage in the dissertation research, culminating in a public oral defense.