Psychology, PhD

Department of Psychology, College of Arts & Sciences

The PhD program in psychology prepares students for applied, research, or teaching positions in the areas of developmental psychology, industrial/organizational psychology and neuroscience and behavior.

Program Contact Information

Joseph Brown, PhD, Graduate Program Chair (GPC)
347J Arts & Sciences Hall (ASH) 
402.554.2313
josephbrown@unomaha.edu

Program Website

Admissions

General Application Requirements and Admission Criteria

Program-Specific Requirements

Application Deadlines (Fall 2024)

  • Fall: January 10

Other Requirements

  • Entrance Exam: Graduate Record Examination (GRE)  
    • GRE scores are OPTIONAL for those applying to the PhD  Program. All applications will be reviewed whether or not GRE scores are included.
  • English Language Proficiency: Applicants are required to have a command of oral and written English. Those who do not hold a baccalaureate or other advanced degree from the United States, OR a baccalaureate or other advanced degree from a predetermined country on the waiver list, must meet the minimum language proficiency score requirement in order to be considered for admission.
    • Internet-based TOEFL: 80, IELTS: 6.5, PTE: 53, Duolingo: 110

  • Statement of Purpose
  • Writing Sample (preferred APA style)
  • Resume
  • Letters of Recommendation: Three letters of recommendation are required from professors and individuals who can speak to the applicant’s potential for success in a graduate program.

Degree Requirements

Concentrations

Student must select an area of concentration.

Students have ten (10) years to complete the PhD in Psychology from the time of filing a program of study.

Total Credit Hours: 90

Concentrations

Industrial/Organizational Psychology Concentration

Noted courses are required as part of our MA concentration in industrial/organizational psychology. These courses or their equivalent will be required for students who have earned their MA from another institution.

General Psychology Courses
Included in MA concentration in industrial/organization psychology
(Required)
PSYC 9440PROSEMINAR: SOCIAL PSYCHOLOGY3
Select one of the following:3
PROSEMINAR LEARNING
PROSEMINAR: COGNITIVE PSYCHOLOGY
PROSEMINAR: BEHAVIORAL NEUROSCIENCE
PROSEMINAR: EVOLUTIONARY PSYCHOLOGY
Included in MA concentration in industrial/organization psychology
Breadth Requirement
From list provided by area
Included in MA concentration in industrial/organization psychology
PSYC 8000THE PROFESSION OF PSYCHOLOGY 10
Statistics and Methods Courses
PSYC 9120MULTIVARIATE STATISTICAL ANALYSIS3
PSYC 9910TOPICAL SEMINAR IN PSYCHOLOGY (With Approval)3
Included in MA concentration in industrial/organization psychology
(Required)
PSYC 9010PROSEMINAR: STATISTICAL METHODS I3
PSYC 9020PROSEMINAR: STATISTICAL METHODS II3
PSYC 9090PSYCHOMETRIC THEORY3
PSYC 9650RESEARCH METHODS IN PSYCHOLOGY3
Required industrial/organizational courses
Included in MA concentration in industrial/organization psychology
PSYC 8636ORGANIZATIONAL PSYCHOLOGY3
PSYC 8646PERSONNEL PSYCHOLOGY3
Core industrial/organizational courses 2
PSYC 9610MOTIVATION & MORALE3
PSYC 9620TRAINING AND DEVELOPMENT3
PSYC 9630LEADERSHIP THEORIES AND RESEARCH3
PSYC 9660CRITERION DEVELOPMENT AND PERFORMANCE APPRAISAL3
PSYC 9670PERSONNEL SELECTION3
PSYC 9680GROUPS AND TEAMS3
Topical Seminar
PSYC 9030SEMINAR: TOPICS IN INDUSTRIAL ORGANIZATIONAL PSYCHOLOGY 33-9
Practicum
PSYC 9950PRACTICUM FOR DOCTORAL STUDENTS 41-6
Research Other than Thesis
PSYC 9960RESEARCH OTHER THAN THESIS 51-12
Thesis
PSYC 8990THESIS 56
Dissertation
PSYC 9990PSYCHOLOGY DISSERTATION12-24
Electives
Any course that is not required can serve as an elective as approved by the chair of the PhD committee. It is recommended that one course be taken outside the psychology department.
1

PSYC 8000: (required) 

2

Require all 4; 1 course taken as part of the MA

3

PSYC 9030: (topics will change); 2 required

4

PSYC 9950: (6 hours required for PhD); cannot be taken until AFTER completion of MA thesis 

5

6 hours required.

Developmental Psychology Concentration

Required Courses
PSYC 8900PROBLEMS IN PSYCHOLOGY 11-6
PSYC 9500SOCIOEMOTIONAL DEVELOPMENT3
PSYC 9530COGNITIVE DEVELOPMENT3
PSYC 9550PSYCHOSOCIAL DEVELOPMENT3
PSYC 9560PROSEMINAR: DEVELOPMENTAL PSYCHOLOGY3
Additional Psychology Coursework
Select at least 12 hours from the following (must include at least one additional proseminar course):12
ABNORMAL PSYCHOLOGY
PSYCHOLOGY OF LANGUAGE
PROSEMINAR LEARNING 2
PROSEMINAR: COGNITIVE PSYCHOLOGY
PROSEMINAR: BEHAVIORAL NEUROSCIENCE
PROSEMINAR: PERSONALITY
PROSEMINAR: SOCIAL PSYCHOLOGY
SEMINAR IN AGING AND HUMAN BEHAVIOR
Methods, Design and Evaluation Coursework
Select at least 12 hour from the following:
Required:
PSYCHOLOGICAL AND EDUCATIONAL TESTING
FOUNDATIONS OF ASSESSMENT
RESEARCH METHODS IN DEVELOPMENTAL PSYCHOLOGY
RESEARCH METHODS IN PSYCHOLOGY
Eligible courses:
PSYCHOMETRIC THEORY
SEMINAR IN PROGRAM EVALUATION
QUALITATIVE METHODS
Statistical Analysis Coursework
Select at least 12 hours from the following:
Required:
PROSEMINAR: STATISTICAL METHODS I
PROSEMINAR: STATISTICAL METHODS II
Eligible courses:
MULTIVARIATE STATISTICAL ANALYSIS
TOPICAL SEMINAR IN PSYCHOLOGY
ISSUES IN AGING 3
Human Diversity Coursework
PSYC 8590PSYCHOLOGY OF EXCEPTIONAL CHILDREN3
Course in Cross-Cultural Development3
Elective Coursework
Select at least 12 hours of elective coursework. Students will also find eligible courses in (among other disciplines):
Child, Youth, and Family Studies
Sociology/Anthropology
Gerontology
Latino/Latin American Studies
Empirical Research Coursework
PSYC 9960RESEARCH OTHER THAN THESIS 31-12
Included in MA concentration
PSYC 8990THESIS 46
PSYC 9990PSYCHOLOGY DISSERTATION 512-24
1

PSYC 8900: Readings, Presentation, Review Paper

2

PSYC 9040: (in conjunction with MMI)

3

PSYC 9960: (at least 3 hours) 

4

PSYC 8990: (6 hours; required for Master’s degree)

5

PSYC 9990: (12-24 hours)

Every student must complete a two-party qualifying examination consisting of:

  • Psychology readings including a written and oral examination across domains
  • Grant proposal OR course development (child development, adolescent development or lifespan development)

Additionally, each student is expected to demonstrate proficiency with at least one research tool.

Neuroscience and Behavior Concentration

Required Course
12 hours in graduate-level courses in biological and behavioral sciences12
Electives
To be determined by the student’s supervisory committee15
Exit Requirement
PSYC 9990PSYCHOLOGY DISSERTATION (12-30 Hours Required)
1

PSYC 9990: (12-30 hours)

Exit Requirements

  • Comprehensive Examination
  • Dissertation 

Special Performance Quality Rule

If at any time a grade of "C", (2.0 on a 4.0 scale) in graduate courses become a matter of record, a graduate student in the Department of Psychology will be placed on probation. An unexcused grade of "W" in a proseminar course will be considered equivalent to a grade of "C" for purposes of this policy. An excused "W" must be approved by the chair of the department of psychology. Students placed on this probation will forfeit any departmental graduate assistantship they may have and any approved programs of study will be subject to re-evaluation and change. Before registering for additional courses, a student placed on probation must, with the assistance and approval of his/her advisor, submit a plan for remediation of his/her academic problems, and have that plan approved by the Graduate Program Committee. The Graduate Program Committee will review and, if appropriate, modify the plan. Further, any enrollment in graduate courses must be approved by the Graduate Program Committee. The student will remain on probation until the Graduate Program Committee approves termination of probation status.  If a student earns a second "C", the student will be dismissed from the program and the GPC will work to come up with a plan, and evaluate if it is possible for the student to return to the program at some point.