Psychology, PhD
Vision Statement
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
unopsycgrad@unomaha.edu
402.554.2581
Program Website
Admissions
General Application Requirements and Admission Criteria
Program-Specific Requirements
Application Deadlines (Fall 2025)
- 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.
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Internet-based TOEFL: 80, IELTS: 6.5, PTE: 53, Duolingo: 110
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- 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.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| General Psychology Courses | ||
| Included in MA concentration in industrial/organization psychology | ||
| (Required) | ||
| PSYC 9440 | PROSEMINAR: SOCIAL PSYCHOLOGY | 3 |
| 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 8000 | THE PROFESSION OF PSYCHOLOGY 1 | 0 |
| Statistics and Methods Courses | ||
| PSYC 9120 | MULTIVARIATE STATISTICAL ANALYSIS | 3 |
| PSYC 9910 | TOPICAL SEMINAR IN PSYCHOLOGY (With Approval) | 3 |
| Included in MA concentration in industrial/organization psychology | ||
| (Required) | ||
| PSYC 9010 | PROSEMINAR: STATISTICAL METHODS I | 3 |
| PSYC 9020 | PROSEMINAR: STATISTICAL METHODS II | 3 |
| PSYC 9090 | PSYCHOMETRIC THEORY | 3 |
| PSYC 9650 | RESEARCH METHODS IN PSYCHOLOGY | 3 |
| Required industrial/organizational courses | ||
| Included in MA concentration in industrial/organization psychology | ||
| PSYC 8636 | ORGANIZATIONAL PSYCHOLOGY | 3 |
| PSYC 8646 | PERSONNEL PSYCHOLOGY | 3 |
| Core industrial/organizational courses 2 | ||
| PSYC 9610 | MOTIVATION & MORALE | 3 |
| PSYC 9620 | TRAINING AND DEVELOPMENT | 3 |
| PSYC 9630 | LEADERSHIP THEORIES AND RESEARCH | 3 |
| PSYC 9660 | CRITERION DEVELOPMENT AND PERFORMANCE APPRAISAL | 3 |
| PSYC 9670 | PERSONNEL SELECTION | 3 |
| PSYC 9680 | GROUPS AND TEAMS | 3 |
| Topical Seminar | ||
| PSYC 9030 | SEMINAR: TOPICS IN INDUSTRIAL ORGANIZATIONAL PSYCHOLOGY 3 | 3-9 |
| Practicum | ||
| PSYC 9950 | PRACTICUM FOR DOCTORAL STUDENTS 4 | 1-6 |
| Research Other than Thesis | ||
| PSYC 9960 | RESEARCH OTHER THAN THESIS 5 | 1-12 |
| Thesis | ||
| PSYC 8990 | THESIS 5 | 6 |
| Dissertation | ||
| PSYC 9990 | PSYCHOLOGY DISSERTATION | 12-24 |
| 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
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Required Courses | ||
| PSYC 8900 | PROBLEMS IN PSYCHOLOGY 1 | 1-6 |
| PSYC 9500 | SOCIOEMOTIONAL DEVELOPMENT | 3 |
| PSYC 9530 | COGNITIVE DEVELOPMENT | 3 |
| PSYC 9550 | PSYCHOSOCIAL DEVELOPMENT | 3 |
| PSYC 9560 | PROSEMINAR: DEVELOPMENTAL PSYCHOLOGY | 3 |
| 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 8590 | PSYCHOLOGY OF EXCEPTIONAL CHILDREN | 3 |
| Course in Cross-Cultural Development | 3 | |
| 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 9960 | RESEARCH OTHER THAN THESIS 3 | 1-12 |
| Included in MA concentration | ||
| PSYC 8990 | THESIS 4 | 6 |
| PSYC 9990 | PSYCHOLOGY DISSERTATION 5 | 12-24 |
- 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
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Required Course | ||
| 12 hours in graduate-level courses in biological and behavioral sciences | 12 | |
| Electives | ||
| To be determined by the student’s supervisory committee | 15 | |
| Exit Requirement | ||
| PSYC 9990 | PSYCHOLOGY 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.