Obtain a PhD in Psychology from Michigan State University by focusing your scholarship within one of these six on-campus research areas:
The Behavioral Neuroscience program focuses on the neuronal, hormonal, and genetic control of behavior. This research provides insights into human behavior and disease. Students will benefit from our highly collaborative research environment as our program prepares them for careers in academia, higher education, and biomedical research.
Our goal is to educate and train the next generation to become culturally responsive clinical scientists deeply involved in the generation and dissemination of knowledge that will further the understanding of mental health and inform prevention and treatment.
The Cognition & Cognitive Neuroscience graduate program provides training in the scientific study of cognition and its underlying neural mechanisms. Key areas of research include perception, attention, memory, executive processes, and skill acquisition. We are a research-focused program that promotes cutting-edge research with sophisticated and rigorous methodology.
The Ecological-Community Psychology program welcomes applications for graduate study from all individuals interested in pursuing a research-based PhD in Community Psychology. We are committed to cultivating a diverse and inclusive environment for community-based research and action, and particularly encourage applications from members of historically under-represented and marginalized groups. Our past graduates have gone on to diverse careers as academic faculty, consultants, practitioners, and evaluators.
The aim of the graduate program in Organizational Psychology at Michigan State University is to provide Ph.D. level training to students who intend to obtain faculty positions in universities or research-oriented positions in major corporations, government, or other organizations. The program provides a strong background in psychology and quantitative methods, as well as the content of Organizational psychology.
The graduate program in social/personality psychology provides students with doctoral level training with the goal of preparing students to assume positions as faculty members in universities or as research associates in the private or public sector. The program is research intensive and provides students with expertise in theoretical and methodological aspects of both social and personality psychology.
To meet individual needs, every student has a guidance committee with the student's advisor as chairperson. The committee develops a program of studies in consultation with the student. Students who are accepted into the doctoral program will fulfill the following program requirements for the degree:
Additional information about the requirements may be found in the Academic Programs Catalog on the Office of the Registrar website.
Students may obtain a PhD in Psychology from Michigan State University by focusing their scholarship within one of the six on campus graduate programs. Admission decisions are made by each of our six areas separately, although the application process is same across our department.
Visit the Psychology website to learn more about some of our policies and procedures to assist you as you prepare an application for admission.