Doctor of Philosophy in Experimental Psychology
Program Facts
College: College of Education
Major: Experimental Psychology
Offered Minors: N/A
Degree Level: Doctoral
- On-Campus
Credit Hours: The proposed Ph.D. in Experimental Psychology requires the completion of a total of 66 semester credit hours beyond the bachelor’s degree. This includes an embedded M.S. in Experimental Psychology. Students entering with a bachelor’s degree will complete 30 hours of master’s level coursework, followed by 36 hours of doctoral work. Students who already have a master’s degree or have previously earned graduate credit in experimental psychology may be able to apply up to 30 previously completed credit hours to the program.
Duration: 4 Years
How To Apply
Application Deadline
December 1st
Tuition & Fees
Estimated costs available via the calculator.
Overview
The Doctor of Philosophy in Experimental Psychology at Tarleton State University is a rigorous research program offering comprehensive training in psychology and behavioral science at the highest level. This program is a total of 66 credit hours (30 at the 5000 level and 36 at the 6000 level) and provides students with a robust experience in experimental and quantitative research to develop knowledge and skills related to the science of human behavior in a multidisciplinary context, including critical and analytical thinking, theory development, research design and methods, statistical analysis, data interpretation, scientific writing and communication, and research ethics and social responsibility....
The Doctor of Philosophy in Experimental Psychology at Tarleton State University is a rigorous research program offering comprehensive training in psychology and behavioral science at the highest level. This program is a total of 66 credit hours (30 at the 5000 level and 36 at the 6000 level) and provides students with a robust experience in experimental and quantitative research to develop knowledge and skills related to the science of human behavior in a multidisciplinary context, including critical and analytical thinking, theory development, research design and methods, statistical analysis, data interpretation, scientific writing and communication, and research ethics and social responsibility. The program includes an additional focus on applied experimental psychology research and practices, which is implemented through coursework, professional development, and opportunities for engagement in research conducted in applied settings. Through this program, faculty will provide students with unique research opportunities, extensive mentorship, and supervised training in their areas of expertise. Coursework focuses on advanced training in experimental methods and statistics within the major areas and fields in psychological science. Additionally, this program offers extensive coursework in supervised research (pre-doctoral and doctoral research courses) and a variety of survey classes in major research areas in psychology (e.g., Developmental Psychology, Quantitative Psychology, Social Psychology, Industrial/Organizational Psychology, and Cognitive Psychology). In this program, students will also complete four major milestones, including the first-year project, thesis, preliminary examination, and dissertation. These milestones provide students with the ability to develop and demonstrate their skills and expertise. These milestones also offer students opportunities to create research products that can serve as manuscripts, grant proposals, conference presentations, etc. After completing this program, students will be able to identify psychological phenomena, develop relevant and important research questions, design a research agenda to address the research questions, and use the results to generate new research questions to continue the process of scientific discovery through experimentation.
Program Benefits
A research-intensive doctoral program in experimental psychology offers several distinct benefits, especially for students striving toward careers in academia, industry research, or behavioral science. Below are some of the primary benefits:
- Research-focused curriculum
- Intense research training to become an academic or independent researcher
- Opportunities to publish in scholarly journals and present research at national conferences
- One-on-one faculty mentorship
- Extensive guidance from experienced researchers in your area of interest
- Personal development tailored to students’ goals
- Development of methodological and statistical expertise
- Rigorous training in experimental design, hypothesis testing, and quantitative methods
- Use of advanced statistical software and data analysis techniques
- Hands-on lab work across multiple areas of psychology to build technical skill and scientific thinking
- Professional development and collaboration
- Team-based projects and program-wide events
- Career preparation
- Professional development opportunities
- Building transferable skills, such as scientific mindsets and applied problem-solving
- Developing grant writing skills and familiarity with funding opportunities
Courses
Learning Outcomes
1. Students will effectively demonstrate fundamental discipline knowledge (e.g., theory and methods) in the field of experimental psychology.
2. Students will demonstrate proficient use of statistical analyses appropriate for the context of experimental psychology.
3. Students will demonstrate proficiency in technical writing, showing evidence of clear and concise written communication.
4. Students will demonstrate proficiency in oral presentation, showing evidence of the ability to communicate scientific information.
5. Students will effectively demonstrate ethical behavior in the field of experimental psychology.
Career Outcomes
- Academic faculty
- Academic researcher
- Behavioral data scientist
- Biostatistician
- Human factors engineer
- UX (user experience) designer or researcher
- Market research analyst
Admissions Requirements
The following materials are required for admission, as specified by the Office of Graduate Studies:
- Completed online application or admission form
- Official transcript from each college and university attended
- Applicants must have earned a bachelor’s or master’s degree in psychology or a closely related field
- Applicants must have earned a Cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher.
Graduate Record Examination (GRE) Aptitude Test Scores (Verbal, Quantitative, and Analytical subtests). This test is currently optional.
In addition, the Experimental Psychology Ph.D. program requires the following to be submitted with the application:
1. Three letters of recommendation indicating the candidate’s skills and capacity to be successful in the doctoral program. We recommend that these letters address experiences beyond the classroom, including research experience, work ethic, and other experiences that may be deemed appropriate.
2. Detailed curriculum vitae (CV)
3. Statement of purpose outlining the candidate’s goals related to obtaining a Ph.D. in Experimental Psychology. This 2-4 page statement (single-spaced) should explain why the applicant is a good fit for the program, as well as possible research interests and professional goals.
4. Proof of English proficiency can be no more than two years old and can be satisfied by one of the following:
- A minimum TOEFL score of 80
- A minimum IELTS score of 6
- A minimum PTE score of 53
- A minimum TOEFL ITP Plus for China of 543
- A minimum iTEP score range of 3.5–3.9
Frequently Asked Questions
What is experimental psychology?
Experimental psychology is the scientific study of human behavior and mental processes through the use of experimental methods in both controlled lab settings and applied settings.What makes this program “research-intensive”?
Students engage in original research from the start of the program, work closely with faculty mentors, and are expected to publish and present regularly. Coursework supports research development through the required credit hours in pre-doctoral and doctoral research. Also, the program requires four major milestones (i.e., first-year project, thesis, preliminary examination, and dissertation) all of which revolve around empirical research in experimental psychology.What qualifications are required to apply?
A bachelor’s or master’s degree in psychology or a related field and an overall GPA of 3.0 or higher.Is a master’s degree required to apply?
No, students may apply with a bachelor’s degree.Do I need to identify a faculty advisor before applying?
Yes, in your statement of purpose letter, applicants need to specify faculty whose research aligns with their interests, as fit is crucial for mentorship.What kinds of research will I be able to do?
Research opportunities depend on faculty expertise. It is best to visit the website to view descriptions of faculty research or to reach out and ask the faculty what their current research areas are.Can I work on interdisciplinary or collaborative projects?
Yes. This program will provide opportunities for cross-discipline and collaborative research projects.What can I do with a Ph.D. in experimental psychology?
Graduates pursue careers in academia, government research, think tanks, healthcare systems, private industry (e.g., UX research, biostatistics, marketing), or nonprofit sectors.Does the program support academic job market preparation?
Yes. This program will provide students with skills and experiences in publishing, presenting research, teaching, CV building, job talks, collaborative planning, teamwork, and grant writing.Is the program fully funded?
The program offers assistantships for students.Are there opportunities for travel or research funding?
Yes. There are opportunities for students to apply for and receive support for travel through several research funding mechanisms.How long does it take to complete the program?
From a bachelor’s degree, it should take four years, if a full master’s degree is transferred in, it could take as little as two years.Are there teaching opportunities?
Yes. Most students serve as TAs and may have the chance to independently teach their own course. Training and teaching resources are available for students to develop their skills.What is the application process?
Students will complete an application through Graduate Studies (https://www.tarleton.edu/graduate/). After Graduate Studies reviews the application, they will forward it to the Department of Psychological Sciences who will reach out to the applicant with a request for additional materials, which include a departmental application, three letters of recommendation, a CV, a statement of purpose, and proof of English proficiency (if required).