Graduate Progarms

Doctoral Program 

Florida Atlantic University offers a Ph.D. degree in Experimental Psychology. Graduate students in the program specialize in one of our four research areas. 

Students undergo vigorous training and have opportunities to develop interdisciplinary skills. Ph.D. graduate students are accepted on a full-time basis and are expected to finish degree work in 4-5 years. 

The student must meet all of the University and Graduate College

requirements

• The Ph.D. graduate program requires 81 semester hours of coursework, in addition to a comprehensive examination, and a completed dissertation research project.

• The 81 semester hours of coursework include the MA degree requirements described below, such that up to 36 credits that were used to satisfy the MA degree requirements are typically counted toward the Ph.D. degree requirements.

• No more than 6 M.A. thesis credits may be transferred to satisfy the doctoral degree requirements. In addition, a total of four quantitative courses (10 credits) is required.

• All doctoral students must take the 3-credit Experimental Design I course (PSY6206) or the 3-credit Experimental design 2 course (PSY6207), but they do not need to take both. 

• The 1-credit Experimental design Lab course (PSY6206L) is required, but this requirement may be waived with the written consent of the advisor. 

All quantitative courses outside of the Experimental Design sequence must be approved by the Department of Psychology graduate committee chair.  For students who take both Experimental Design 1 and 2, the third 3-credit quantitative course must be a course offered by the Department of Psychology (or another unit in the College of Science).

Students must take five courses (15 credits) in their major area.

• An additional three courses (9 credits) are required, consisting of one regularly offered Department of Psychology seminar in each of the following areas of study (excluding the student’s major area): behavioral neuroscience, cognition, developmental, and social/personality. Any single course will satisfy the requirement of only one area (eg. Seminar in Personality and Social Development can fulfill the developmental or social/personality area requirement, but not both.)

• A minimum of 9 Ph.D. dissertation credits (PSY7980) is required. Students must register for dissertation credits starting the semester after they are admitted to candidacy and during each subsequent regular academic (fall and spring) semester.

• An additional 32 credits are required, which may be filled with electives, dissertation credits, Advanced Research in Psychology (PSY7978), and Directed Independent Study ((EXP6908).

• Taken together, doctoral students must complete a minimum of 10 graduate courses (30 credits) in the Department of Psychology (excluding thesis and dissertation credits, advanced research in psychology, and directed independent study).

• Students are required to maintain a grade point average of “B” (3.0) or better. Courses with grades of “C+” or lower will not satisfy program requirements.

The FAU course catalog can be found at the Registrar’s Website. 

Master's Program

The student must meet all of the University and Graduate College requirements

• The student must complete a minimum of 30 credits of coursework and 6 M.A. thesis credits to complete the MA program.

• Three quantitative courses (7 credits)are required, including the 3-credit Experimental Design 1 course (PSY6206), the 1-credit Experimental Design 1 Lab course (PSY6206L) and the additional 3-credit quantitative course approved by the Department of Psychology graduate committee chair. Only courses offered by the Department of Psychology (or other units in the College of Science) can be used to satisfy this additional 3-credit quantitative course requirement.

• An additional seven courses (21 credits) are required. Of this total, at least 6 courses must consist of approved Department of Psychology graduate seminars, including a minimum of one regularly offered seminar in each of the following areas: behavioral neuroscience, cognition, developmental and social/personality. Any single course will satisfy the requirement of only one area (eg. Seminar in Personality and Social Development can fulfill the developmental or social/personality area requirement, but not both.)

• A total of 6 M.A. thesis credits (PSY6971) is required. Students must register for M.A. thesis credits the semester after the M.A. thesis proposal is approved by the supervisory committee and during each subsequent regular academic (fall and spring) semester.

• An additional 2 credits are required, which may be filled with electives and/or Directed Independent Study (EXP6908). Students are encouraged (but not required) to take at least 1 credit of Directed Independent Study.

• Students are required to maintain a grade point average “B” (3.0) or better. Course with grades of “C+” or lower will not satisfy program requirements.

The FAU course catalog can be found at the Registrar’s Website.