Resources for Prospective PhD Students

Psychology Graduate Programs

• Affective/Social/Cognitive (ASC)

  Our program in affective, social and cognitive psychology prepares you for a career conducting research into how people feel, think and behave in response to others. We champion a collaborative, integrative and cross-disciplinary approach centered around innovative research.

  Degree Requirements

  • Students earn a master’s degree on their way toward obtaining the PhD; however, students are not required to obtain an official master’s degree.
  • For the MA, you will complete at least 28 credits of the 45 minimum number of credits in content coursework, which excludes Independent Study and Independent Research credits.
  • For the PhD, you will complete a total of 120 credit hours, as well as non-coursework requirements including a master's research paper or thesis and oral defense, teaching, comprehensive exams or Conceptual Analysis of Dissertation Area (CADA) paper, dissertation prospectus and dissertation oral defense.

  See the DU Graduate Bulletin for full course requirements.

• Clinical Psychology (Child Emphasis)

  Our clinical psychology PhD program has an emphasis in child psychology and subscribes to a clinical science model. We value an approach that fosters curiosity, innovation, collaboration and inclusiveness, with research that serves the public good.

  Degree Requirements

  • Students earn a master’s degree on their way toward obtaining the PhD.
  • For the MA, you will complete at least 28 credits of the 45 minimum number of credits in content coursework, which excludes Independent Study and Independent Research credits.
  • For the PhD, you will complete a total of 120 credit hours, as well as non-coursework requirements including a master's research paper or thesis and oral defense, dissertation prospectus and dissertation oral defense, professional competencies and clinical training.

  See the DU Graduate Bulletin for full course requirements.

• Developmental Psychology

  Our PhD in developmental psychology focuses on human developmental processes—including biological, cultural, social and psychophysiological factors. Our program values a collaborative, integrative approach to psychological science that fosters intellectual curiosity and innovation, invests in people in a supportive, inclusive environment, and serves the public good.

  Degree Requirements

  • Students earn a master’s degree on their way toward obtaining the PhD; however, students are not required to obtain an official master’s degree.
  • For the MA, you will complete at least 28 credits of the 45 minimum number of credits in content coursework, which excludes Independent Study and Independent Research credits.
  • For the PhD, you will complete a total of 120 credit hours, as well as non-coursework requirements including a first-year project, a master's research paper or thesis and oral defense, comprehensive exams, regular research presentations, dissertation prospectus and dissertation oral defense.

  See the DU Graduate Bulletin for full course requirements.