Learning Outcomes

• Ph.D. students will be able to demonstrate fundamental knowledge in the areas of behavioral neuroscience, cognitive neuroscience, cognitive psychology, and developmental psychology as well as expert specialization within one of these domains.
• Students will demonstrate advanced knowledge in behavioral neuroscience, cognitive psychology, cognitive neuroscience or developmental psychology at a good or better level. 
• Students will conduct and describe ethical psychological research that advances the state of knowledge in the field of inquiry in their dissertation at a good or better level. 
• Graduating students and alumni from the Experimental Psychology Ph.D. program will achieve placement in the type of teaching, research or industry position that is compatible with their individual goals. 

Degree Requirements (60 Post-Baccalaureate Hours)

Course List

Course	Title	Credits
Required Courses: 1
PSYC 709	Basic Quantitative Methods in the Analysis of Behavioral Data I	3
PSYC 710	Basic Quantitative Methods in the Analysis of Behavioral Data II	3
Select one advanced quantitative methods course 2		3
PSYC 702E	Experimental Design
PSYC 821	Theory of Psychological Measurement
PSYC 823	Multivariate Analysis of Behavioral Data
PSYC 824	Special Topics in Quantitative Psychology
PSYC 825	Introduction to Statistical Mediation Analysis
Select one advanced area methods course:		3
Course to be selected in conjunction with the students advising committee and with the approval of the program director. 3
Select one ethics and professional development course:		3
PSYC 792A	Responsible Conduct of Research in Psychology and Neuroscience
PSYC 792B	Issues and Ethics in Research in Psychology and the Teaching of Psychology II
1 additional hr, to be approved by student’s advising committee.
Select 6 hours of breadth courses 4		6
Select 6 hours of core area courses 5		6
Select 21 hours of electives 6		21
Dissertation Research Credits		12
PSYC 899	Doctoral Research and Dissertation Preparation ((The Graduate School requires a minimum of 12 credit hours of Dissertation Preparation))
Total Credit Hours		60

1	Basic Quantitative Methods 1 & 2 can also be satisfied by any of the following alternative sequences: BIOS 757, BIOS 758; STAT 700, STAT 701; STAT 702, STAT 703​;EDRM 710, EDRM 711; NURS 810, NURS 811.
2	One Advanced Quantitative Methods Course may be satisfied by any three 3-credit hour quantitative or statistical graduate courses from another program (e.g., Public Health, School of Medicine, Statistics, College of Education).
3	Can include additional advanced quantitative courses as well as more specialized courses in research methods offered as PSYC 888 .
4	Breadth courses are electives whose focus is outside the student’s primary area of study, but can be complementary to their research focus. Courses should be selected in conjunction with the student’s advising committee and approved by the program director.
5	Specialized seminar courses necessary for the student’s curriculum and research goals.  Typically, these are core courses within the Department of Psychology, however with approval of the advising committee and graduate program director survey courses from other departments can be substituted (e.g., PHPH, Public Health, School of Medicine, Statistics)
6	Additional training tailored to each student to enhance specialized training in the field. Elective courses can include seminars and laboratory work done as individual research credit hours (PSYC 889; maximum 9 hrs). At least six of these credit hours must be done under the direction of a graduate faculty member other than the major professor. Elective courses may be taught by any graduate program or professional school at the University of South Carolina, although typically a student will take at least some of his or her elective courses within the program. Your Advising Committee must approve all elective courses. You must submit an Approval of Elective Courses to your committee. The standard time to do so is during your yearly Advising Committee Evaluation meeting. Electives are tailored to each student to enhance specialized training in the field.

Thesis and Comprehensive Examination

The Ph.D. degree in experimental psychology also requires successful completion of a qualifying examination, a written comprehensive examination, and a doctoral oral comprehensive examination. Also required is an approved Ph.D. dissertation. Students have the option of declaring a concentration in Quantitative Methods in Psychology. Concentration requirements are: a. Must be accepted to a University of South Carolina Psychology Department Doctoral Program (Clinical-Community, School, or Experimental) b. Make a B or better in four courses (12 hours) that have 710 as a pre-requisite (i.e., advanced quantitative courses.) 709/710 do not court, nor do assessment or methods classes. Courses must be at the 700 level or higher. c. Two of the four courses (6 hours) are required to be taught in the department d. The third and fourth courses can optionally be taught in another department contingent upon approval from the Concentration Program Director.

The sequence of events and more details concerning specific aspects are in the current Graduate Program in Experimental Psychology Student Handbook, which is posted on the Web.