Graduate Bulletin

Psychology, Ph.D.

COLLEGE OF LIBERAL ARTS

Admission Requirements and Deadlines

Application Deadline:

Fall: December 15

Applications are evaluated together after the deadline has passed.

A supplemental application is required. It can be obtained by visiting www.temple.edu/psychology/Applications/Links/DataSheet.htm?bhcp=1.

Letters of Reference:

Number Required: 3

From Whom: Letters of recommendation should come from College/University faculty members familiar with academic competence.

Coursework Required for Admission Consideration:

Applicants to the doctoral program must hold a B.A. or B.S. degree and have completed at least four 3-credit courses in psychology, including one laboratory course. In addition, a natural sciences laboratory course and a statistics course are required.

Master's Degree in Discipline/Related Discipline:

No.

Bachelor's Degree in Discipline/Related Discipline:

Yes. Psychology. Depending on the area of interest, biology or psychology-related disciplines may be appropriate.

Statement of Goals:

The Statement of Goals should be approximately 500-1,000 words and include the following elements: your interest in Temple's program; your research goals; your future career goals; and your academic and research achievements.

Standardized Test Scores:

The GRE is required. Minimum: 500 verbal GRE; 500 quantitative GRE; 1100 total GRE.

The GRE Subject Exam in Psychology is strongly recommended.

Minimum TOEFL score or range of scores needed to be accepted: 620 on the paper-based test or 260 on the computer-based test.

Interview:

Some applicants will be invited to interview with the Admissions Committee. Each Area of Specialization will schedule individual interviews.

Resume:

Not required.

Writing Sample:

Not required.

Advanced Standing:

A student enrolled in the Ph.D. program in psychology may, after satisfactory completion of the intitial semester, and with the approval of the Director of Graduate Studies in Psychology, transfer as many as nine credit hours of credit for courses taken elsewhere. To be so approved, those courses must be deemed appropriate to stand as part of the student's training in the Ph.D. program, and the student must have received a grade of "B" or higher in the course(s).  The maximum number of advanced standing credits awarded is 9.

Program Requirements

Campus Location:

Main Campus

Full-Time/Part-Time Status:

Students are required to complete the degree program through classes offered before 4:30 p.m.

General Program Requirements:

Number of Didactic Credits Required Beyond the Master's: 36

Required Courses:

Psych 522 and 524 in the first year; a minimum of four core courses from among 805, 808, 809, 811, 822, 837, 847, 851, and 855. This differs for each Area of Specialization.

Internship: Yes, an internship is required. This is described for the Clinical Area of Specialization.

Language Examination: No language examination is required.

Culminating Events:

Preliminary Examination:

The purpose of the preliminary examination is to demonstrate critical and interpretive knowledge in specialized areas of Psychology. The preliminary examination should be modeled after published literature reviews in the field and should be evaluated by the criteria applied to reviews that are submitted for publication to scholarly journals. The examination evaluates the student's ability to apply specific research foci to anticipated problems in Psychology. The examination will be defended orally following an evaluation of the written document.

Subject Areas/Major Components of the Preliminary Examination: The subject areas will be determined, in advance, by the student and the Dissertation Advisory Committee.

Timeline for Preliminary Examination: The preliminary examination is generally completed by the end of the third year of study.

Evaluating the Preliminary Examination: The Dissertation Advisory Committee will evaluate the examination. Each member votes to pass or fail the student. In order to pass, a majority of the committee members must agree that the exam has been satisfactorily completed.

Criterion for Passing the Preliminary Examination: The student must demonstrate a high level of oral and written competency in reviewing, synthesizing, and evaluating an important topic in the field of Psychology.

Administering, Scheduling, and Proctoring the Preliminary Examination: Students who are preparing to write their preliminary examinations should confirm a time and date with their Dissertation Advisory Committee Chairperson and notify all members of their training program.

Dissertation:

Dissertation Advising Committee Information: The Doctoral Advisory Committee must include at least three graduate faculty members from Temple University. Two of these three, including the chair, must be from the student's Area of Specialization. One of these three may not be from the student's Area. (In cases where a faculty member holds membership in more than one Area, the Director of Graduate Studies will determine whether this faculty member shall be considered inside or outside the student's Area.) The Doctoral Advisory Committee may be expanded to include other Temple Presidential faculty (from inside or outside the department) and/or doctorally prepared experts from outside the University, provided that a majority of the members of the committee are members of Temple's Graduate Faculty. The Dissertation Advising Committee must be approved by the Chairman of the Department.

Dissertation Examining Committee Information: The Dissertation Examining Committee evaluates the student's dissertation and oral defense. The Dissertation Examination Committee consists of the Dissertation Advisory Committee plus at least three additional doctorally prepared individuals. At least one member of the committee must be from outside the student's Area of Specialization and one must be from outside the student's cluster. The majority of the individuals on the committee must be members of the Temple University Graduate Faculty.

Advisor/Committee Information: If a student needs to change a member of a Committee, the new member must be approved by the department's chairman and registered with the Graduate Secretary and the Graduate School.

Dissertation/Monograph Philosophy: The Doctoral Dissertation is an original empirical study that makes a significant contribution to the field of Psychology. It should expand the existing knowledge and demonstrate the student's knowledge of both research methods and a mastery of his or her primary area of interest. Dissertations should be rigorously investigated, uphold the ethics and standard of the field, demonstrate an understanding of the relationship between the primary area of interest and the broader field of Psychology, and be prepared for publication in a professional journal.

Philosophy of the Proposal: The dissertation proposal demonstrates the student's knowledge of and ability to conduct the proposed research. The proposal should consist of the following: (a) the context and background surrounding a particular research problem; (b) an exhaustive survey and review of literature related to the problem; and (c) a detailed methodological plan for investigating the problem. The Dissertation Advisory Committee will evaluate and approve the proposal or send it back to the student for appropriate modifications.

Criterion for Passing the Dissertation and the Defense: The Committee will evaluate the student's ability to express verbally his or her research question, methodological approach, primary findings, and implications. The Committee will vote to pass or fail the dissertation and the defense at the conclusion of the public presentation.

Dissertation Defense Scheduling: Students who are preparing to defend their dissertation should confirm a time and date with their Dissertation Advisory Committee and register with the Graduate Secretary at least 15 days before the defense is to be scheduled. The Graduate Secretary will arrange the time, date, and room within two working days, and forward to the student the appropriate forms.

Announcing the Dissertation Defense: After the Graduate Secretary has arranged the time, date, and room, for the defense, the student must send to the Graduate School (501 Carnell Hall) a completed "Announcement of Oral Defense" form at least 10 working days before the defense. The Department will post fliers announcing the defense.

Contacts

Program Contact Information:

www.temple.edu/psychology

Department Information:

Dept. of Psychology
Temple University
1701 North 13th Street
Philadelphia, PA 19122-6085
pjamison@temple.edu
215-204-7321

Department Contacts:

Admissions:

See www.temple.edu/psychology for Area representatives.

Program Coordinator:

Dr. Margo Storm
margo.storm@temple.edu
215-204-3409

Graduate Chairperson:

Dr. Laurence Steinberg
laurence.steinberg@temple.edu
215-204-7485

Chairperson:

Dr. Willis F. Overton
willis.overton@temple.edu
215-204-7321

About the Program

The Psychology program offers advanced study leading to a Ph.D. Training is directed toward excellence in scholarship, research, teaching, and practical applications. The Psychology program's focus varies depending upon the Area of Specialization that the student enters. Graduates go on to positions as research scientists, teachers, and applied specialists.

Time Limit for Degree Completion: 7 years

Campus Location:

Main Campus

Students are required to complete the degree program through classes offered before 4:30 p.m.

Department Information:

Dept. of Psychology

Temple University

1701 North 13th Street

Philadelphia, PA 19122-6085

pjamison@temple.edu

215-204-7321

Ranking:

Over the years, the program has been consistently ranked as among the very best by all evaluating agencies.

Accreditation:

The American Psychological Association has accredited the Clinical Psychology Area of Specialization. Other Area emphases are not accredited.

Areas of Specialization:

Clinical Psychology, Cognition and Perception, Cognitive and Behavioral Neuroscience, Developmental Psychology, Developmental Psychopathology, Human Behavior Analysis, Social Psychology

Job Placement:

The program is dedicated to producing well-trained psychologists with the Ph.D. who will work in academic and applied settings.

Affiliation(s):

Not applicable.

Interdisciplinary Study:

The program encourages interdisciplinary coursework.

Study Abroad:

No.

Licensure:

The field of Clinical Psychology requires licensure for its practice.

Non-Degree Student Policy:

Non-matriculated students may take Ph.D. courses only with the permission of the instructor. Further, 800-level courses are not open to non-matriculated students.

Financing Opportunities

Teaching Assistant (TA): The principal duties of a TA include assisting faculty members in classroom (field, observatory) instruction, conducting tutorials and discussion sections, and grading quizzes.

Research Assistant (RA): Research Assistants are expected to devote 20 hours per week on average to research obligations. RA's are assigned to a faculty member or principal investigator who is working on a specific research project. The appropriate subjects are determined by consultation between the student and the student's research and academic advisors.

Both Teaching and Research Assistantships carry a stipend and full-tuition remission (up to 12 credits per semester depending on year and specialization).

Other Financial Opportunities