Experimental Psychology
Doctorate in Experimental Psychology
Curriculum
Eighty credit hours beyond bachelor's degree, including:
- Quantitative methods, research design and teaching practicum
- Courses organized by experimental track (cognitive, comparative-neurobiology, developmental or social-personality)
- Thesis (six credit hours)
- Dissertation (15 credit hours)
- Students have the option of an additional concentration in quantitative methods
- Comprehensive exams, taken after defense of thesis and prior to dissertation proposal
OCEAN Oklahoma Center for Evolutionary Analysis
Our program is home to this unique inter-disciplinary training center for the study of evolutionary social sciences.
Research
Graduates of OSU's Experimental Psychology program are successful in attaining tenure-track positions and competitive postdoctoral positions. Our program houses a shared facility for research in psychoneuroendocrinology, psychoimmunology and related psychobiological assessment. The program is home to the Oklahoma Center for Evolutionary ANalysis (OCEAN), a unique interdisciplinary training center for the study of evolutionary social sciences.
Admissions Requirements
- Bachelor's or master's degree (psychology degree not required)
- Completion of psychology courses strongly suggested, including introductory psychology, experimental psychology, quantitative methods in psychology and abnormal psychology
- For exceptional students without these courses, contact the program director to determine whether alternative courses are sufficient.
- Minimum GPA of 3.3 preferred
- Three letters of reference
- Statement of purpose
- Writing sample from a psychology course (experimental psychology preferred), convention or presentation that is representative of your writing abilities
Click here for more information about our Experimental Psychology admissions process.
Test Scores:
- GRE scores will not be required for those applying for 2026 fall admission (GRE Codes: Institution code—6546; Department code—2016)
Application Deadline:
- Dec. 1 (fall admission)
Cost & Assistance
Since our graduate training programs aim at high-level professional training, we believe that every student should be provided with adequate financial support to complete the program. The department’s goal is to provide financial support for all graduate students through teaching assistantships, research assistantships, fellowships, and traineeships. The department also helps students locate other sources to financially support their graduate training.