Experimental Psychology

Master's and Doctoral Degree Programs

 The curriculum for this program is changing. New information will be provided soon.

Opportunities for graduate students

The experimental psychology program at the University of North Texas immerses you in scientific inquiry to prepare you for a prominent role as a researcher at a university or as a research consultant in a counseling center, hospital, mental health center, medical school or rehabilitation services agency.We offer course work leading to a Master of Science degree or a Doctor of Philosophy degree in Experimental Psychology.

You gain competence in research through course work, vertical research teams led by a faculty member and informal research experiences. Our program provides specialized training in human research while staying flexible to allow development in individual interests. For example, you may focus on cognitive neuroscience or developmental psychology, conduct research into memory and cognition, investigate stress and its physiological consequences, or study the link between brain activity and behaviors.

You can concentrate on varied topics such as:

• the determinants of intellectual functioning in later life
• the impact of stress on memory
• the study of cardiovascular functioning across diverse groups
• ways of enhancing cognitive functioning in older adults

Research opportunities and facilities

Our faculty members actively research human development and aging, the social aspects of women’s lives, and personality and minority issues. The program offers many teaching opportunities and support for professional development, and it maximizes training for research.

The psychology department houses neuropsychology, psychophysiology and computer-based behavior laboratories. You may participate in investigation from the beginning of your training in UNT’s laboratories and interdisciplinary research centers.

The UNT Psychology Clinic provides professional services and referrals to clients and provides professional and competent training to graduate students. It includes psychotherapy rooms, rooms for research, and rooms with one-way mirrors for live observation of individual and group sessions. Extensive videotaping capabilities are available for use in supervision and training.

The Center for Psychosocial Health Research performs research on maintaining a wellness focus while battling a chronic illness. This builds a foundation for the future development of psychosocial and behavioral interventions that encourage health-related behavioral change.

The Center for Sport Psychology and Performance Excellence provides sport psychology services and consultants to six UNT sport teams and more than 125 athletes as well as coaches and sports medicine staff.

Admission requirements

You need to meet the minimum requirements of the Toulouse Graduate School and the department’s specific requirements. For graduate school requirements and possible exceptions, access graduateschool.unt.edu.

You are required to submit GRE scores and college transcripts. Undergraduates who plan to apply for graduate training should arrange to take the GRE during their senior year. Specific admissions criteria are listed at www.psyc.unt.edu.

Admission to this program is not determined by any single criterion or quantitative measure of achievement but on committee decision. Meeting minimum criteria does not guarantee admission.

Degree requirements

Master of Science

You can pursue one of two tracks with this degree program. Track 1 requires 32 credit hours but does not make you eligible for psychological associate status in Texas. Track 2 requires 44 credit hours and makes you eligible to take the psychological associate examination in Texas. Students in both tracks do, however, take classes in learning and cognition, quantitative methods and psychometric theory.

Track 1

• 20 credit hours of required psychology courses (includes 6 credit hours of a master’s thesis)
• 6 credit hours of psychology electives (chosen in consultation with the major professor)
• 6 credit hours in a minor field

Track 2

• 26 credit hours of required psychology courses (includes 6 credit hours of a master’s thesis)
• 12 credit hours of psychology electives
• 6 credit hours in a minor field

Doctor of Philosophy

This degree program requires a minimum of 90 semester hours beyond the bachelor's degree that includes:

• 23 credit hours in general core psychology courses
• 15 credit hours in experimental psychology core classes
• 22 credit hours of courses in a specialization
• 12 credit hours for a minor from another academic department
• 6 credit hours of integrated electives in psychology
• 12 credit hours for a dissertation

Financial assistance

UNT and the Department of Psychology provide financial support for doctoral students through teaching and research assistantships, teaching fellowships and scholarships.

Doctoral students who are U.S. citizens or permanent residents may apply for a university fellowship, which may award up to $16,000 each year for three years and qualifies students to receive additional financial aid from teaching or research assistantships in their departments.

Competitive scholarships are available from the Toulouse Graduate School and other sources. For more information, visit graduateschool.unt.edu or www.unt.edu/finaid.