Ph.D. in Experimental Psychology
Real world impact from the highest academic levels
Our Ph.D. program prepares you to teach, perform research or work directly with children, at the highest academic level.
Most of our applicants have a B.A. or B.S. degree in psychology or a related field. You can also apply if you’ve completed a thesis-based master’s degree at an accredited institution.
Students are admitted to the program to start in the fall semester only.
The Ph.D. requires:
- By end of year 2
- Coursework for an M.S. degree (unless transferring with an existing M.S.) plus 36 hours Ph.D. coursework
- Defense of a master’s thesis (or, for transferring M.S. students, a research project conducted at TCU and submitted for publication)
- By end of year 3
- Passing the preliminary evaluation vote by the full faculty
- By end of year 4
- Passing a qualifying examination that has both written and oral components to advance to doctoral candidacy
- Within 6 years later
- Defending a Ph.D. dissertation
Research
After you’re accepted into the program, we’ll place you in a research lab specific to your chosen focus. Our research team is actively growing and evolving our understanding of developmental trauma. Learn more.
TCU McNair Scholars
Our faculty also mentors undergraduate students in this scholars program, designed to support academically talented students from traditionally underserved backgrounds in their journey toward their doctorate. Learn more.