Ph.D. in Experimental Psychology


Curriculum

Research

The Department emphasizes individual research. Students are encouraged to pursue their research interests, starting with the first quarter of enrollment. The student works closely with a research advisor, selecting projects, designing appropriate methods of study, and carrying out the research. A major feature of the first-year curriculum is the research project, and the entire faculty and graduate student body gather together at the end of the year to listen to the reports of these research projects.

Teaching

In order to acquire teaching experience, all students are required to participate in the teaching activities of the Department for at least four years (one quarter for the first year and two quarters the second through the fourth year). Those students who have fellowships or research assistantships will TA once per year for four years.

Program of Study

All students must fulfill all course requirements while registered as graduate students in psychology at UCSD. Basic courses are divided into six areas: behavior analysis (including basic and applied), neuroscience and behavior (including neuropsychology and neurophysiology), cognitive (including attention, language, perception), developmental (including language acquisition), sensation and perception (including vision and audition), and social (including health).

The student's first year will include the following:

  • A quantitative methods requirement, satisfied by taking two courses or by examination, depending on the student's level of proficiency,
  • Completion of four basic proseminar courses,
  • A first-year research project, including a paper and an oral presentation to the Department, and Completion of teaching requirement (see above).

In all, each student will complete at least eight courses/seminars representing at least three of the five major program areas of study. The student is expected to have completed all course requirements by the end of the third year of study.

Qualifying Examination

The examination, intended to certify the readiness of the student to conduct thesis research, consists of two parts, including the writing and oral defense of a qualifying paper and a dissertation thesis proposal and occurs over the course of your second through fourth year.

For a more in depth view of our program requirements please click here.