Psychology Ph.D.

We are a collaborative department with highly-ranked programs in both basic and applied areas of psychology and a strong commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion. The doctoral program offers tracks in clinical science and psychopathology research; cognitive and brain sciences; counseling psychology; industrial-organizational psychology; personality, individual differences, and behavior genetics; quantitative/psychometric methods; and social psychology. Students apply directly to one of these seven areas of specialization depending on their individual interests and goals.

The requirements vary across areas but all include coursework, mentored research, training in developing and conducting research, analyzing and interpreting data, and interpreting existing theory and research in psychology (i.e., scholarship). Our goal is to produce accomplished scholars and researchers for a variety of occupational roles. During their graduate training, students also are expected to attain competency in classroom teaching and to have experience mentoring undergraduates in research. Finally, as preparation for their future career responsibilities, students are encouraged to participate in service at the departmental, university, and national levels.

Our Counseling Psychology and Clinical Science and Psychopathology Research (CSPR) programs are accredited by the American Psychological Association (APA). Our Clinical Science and Psychopathology Research (CSPR) program is also accredited by the Psychological Clinical Science Accreditation System. See https://cla.umn.edu/psychology/graduate/accreditation for more information.