Experimental Psychology

Doctorate in Experimental Psychology

The Experimental Psychology program provides cutting-edge training in a variety of sub-disciplines within psychology. Our Ph.D. program consists of four subspecialty tracks: cognitive psychology, comparative-neurobiological psychology, developmental psychology and social-personality psychology. The program adopts the perspective that psychology is a broad discipline with a central focus on understanding, predicting and enhancing the broad range of human behavior and experiences using a variety of perspectives. To accommodate this broad spectrum, we examine the biological, comparative, cognitive, developmental, social and personality factors that affect behavior.

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Option Details

Option: Experimental Psychology

Program: Psychology

Department: Department of Psychology

College: Arts and Sciences

Available At: OSU Stillwater Campus

Degree

Doctor of Philosophy in Psychology with an Option in Experimental Psychology

Contact

Dr. Jennifer Byrd-Craven Director of Experimental Psychology405-744-7591Jennifer.byrd.craven@okstate.edu

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

OCEANOklahoma 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 2025 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 does not encourage graduate students to enroll in the program while supporting themselves with a job not associated with their academic pursuits. 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.

Cost

Assistantships and Scholarships