Upon completing the program, all graduates are expected to be well informed about general psychology, well qualified to conduct independent research, and prepared to teach in their area of interest. Within certain specialized areas they will also be prepared for professional practice. The program culminates in the PhD degree. The length of time required to obtain a PhD varies from area to area, but students are expected to proceed as rapidly as is commensurate with an adequate breadth and depth of training. Only students who wish to earn a doctorate are admitted.
Most students enter the program with a bachelor's degree.
Some students enter the program with a master's degree from another institution. The time required to complete the program is, perhaps, one semester less for students who enter with a master's degree from another institution. To be admitted to doctoral candidacy a student must have completed the core courses and statistics requirements, taken courses in his or her area of psychology, and taken a minimum of three supporting work courses. The supporting work courses can be additional statistics courses, courses in an area of psychology that is related to the student's major area, or courses from a different department. Competency in a foreign language or competency in mathematics or computer programming is not required for the doctoral degree.