Social/Personality Psychology (PhD)
Program Description
Applicants to doctor of philosophy in social psychology program should have graduated from college with an outstanding undergraduate record. An undergraduate major in psychology is not required. The social program places a particular emphasis on research experience. Matriculants are admitted only in the fall term and only on a full-time basis.
Admissions
All applicants to the Graduate School of Arts and Science (GSAS) are required to submit the general application requirements, which include:
- Academic Transcripts
- Test Scores (if required)
- Applicant Statements
- Résumé or Curriculum Vitae
- Letters of Recommendation, and
- A non-refundable application fee.
See Psychology for admission requirements and instructions specific to this program.
Program Requirements
Formal requirements for the doctorate in social psychology include the satisfactory completion of 72 credits (at least 32 credits in residence at New York University). All students must complete the following minimum program requirements with a grade of ‘B’ or better.
This program offers a concentration in Quantitative Psychology. See concentration requirements below.
| Course | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Major Requirements | ||
| Quantitative Methods Sequence | ||
| PSYCH-GA 2217 | Research Methods in S/P | 3 |
| PSYCH-GA 2228 | Interm Stat Methods | 3 |
| PSYCH-GA 2229 | Regression 1 | 3 |
| or PSYCH-GA 2239 | Anova | |
| Content Courses | ||
| PSYCH-GA 2216 | Theories of Social Psych | 3 |
| Courses chosen to balance breadth and specialization in consultation with adviser and mentoring committee | 12 | |
| Research Courses | ||
| PSYCH-GA 3100 | Doctoral Psychology Project I | 3 |
| PSYCH-GA 3200 | Doctoral Psychology Project II | 3 |
| PSYCH-GA 3000 | Doctoral Research Laboratory (taken seven times, for a total of 21 credits) | 21 |
| PSYCH-GA 3304 | Predoctoral Research in Psychology (taken three times, for a total of 9 credits) | 9 |
| PSYCH-GA 3301 | Dissertation Research (taken two times, for a total of 12 credits) | 12 |
| Total Credits | 72 | |
- 1
Or another advanced statistical course approved by the Program Coordinator.
Quantitative Psychology Concentration
Students must take and pass 6 quantitative courses with a grade of ‘B+’ or better. Two of these are statistics courses that are taken to satisfy the Quantitative Methods requirement. These courses may be chosen from those offered by the Department of Psychology or other departments, as approved by the Quantitative Concentration Mentor. The additional coursework required by the Concentration in Quantitative Psychology entails changes to the default distributions of credits. Specifically, the additional 4 quantitative courses (12 credits) take the place of two instances of Predoctoral Research in Psychology, PSYCH-GA 3304 (9 credits) and one instance of Doctoral Research Laboratory, PSYCH-GA 3000 (3 credits).
| Course | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Major Requirements | ||
| Quantitative Methods Sequence | ||
| PSYCH-GA 2217 | Research Methods in S/P | 3 |
| PSYCH-GA 2228 | Interm Stat Methods | 3 |
| PSYCH-GA 2229 | Regression 1 | 3 |
| or PSYCH-GA 2239 | Anova | |
| Content Courses | ||
| PSYCH-GA 2216 | Theories of Social Psych | 3 |
| Courses chosen to balance breadth and specialization in consultation with advisor and mentoring committee | 12 | |
| Research Courses | ||
| PSYCH-GA 3100 | Doctoral Psychology Project I | 3 |
| Doctoral Psychology Second Project | 3 | |
| PSYCH-GA 3000 | Doctoral Research Laboratory (taken six times, for a total of 18 credits) | 18 |
| PSYCH-GA 3301 | Dissertation Research (taken two times, for a total of 12 credits) | 12 |
| Quantitative Courses | 12 | |
| Total Credits | 72 | |
- 1
Or another advanced statistical course approved by the Program Coordinator.
Additional Program Requirements
Personal Committee
Students in Year 1 must assemble a three-member Personal Committee consisting of their advisor and two other faculty members. The purpose of this committee is to provide comprehensive advising and assist with any issues that arise between students and their advisors. One committee member must be drawn from outside the student’s and the advisor’s research area. For students who have two co-advisors, the Personal Committee must include two additional faculty (four members in total). The Committee meets with the student each year and submits a constructive evaluation of the student to the Coordinator.
First-Year Paper/Project
At the end of the summer of their first year, students are required to submit a formal research proposal or paper that outlines their proposed primary line of research for the second year and beyond. This affords students a chance to articulate their research plan and prepares them to submit a fellowship proposal to a funding agency. The project may be done in collaboration with one or more faculty members but is supervised by the primary advisor.
Second-Year Paper/Project
At the end of the summer after Year 2, students submit a formal write-up of their primary research from their first 2 years in the program. The Second-Year Paper/Project is meant to foster students’ skills in writing for peer-reviewed journals. The work is evaluated by the primary advisor in consultation with an additional faculty reader. Enrollment in the corresponding Doctoral Psychology First Project, PSYCH-GA 3100 is required during the Spring semester of Year 2.
Third-Year Paper/Project
At the end of the summer after Year 3, students submit a theoretically-integrative literature review that synthesizes multiple research themes within the field of social psychology. This project is intended to hone students’ skills in integrating multiple research perspectives and in scientific writing. The paper is evaluated by a committee consisting of the student’s primary advisor and 2 additional faculty in the Department of Psychology. Enrollment in the corresponding Doctoral Psychology Second Project, PSYCH-GA 3200 is required during the Spring semester of Year 3.
Laboratory Participation
Successful progression through the doctoral program requires regular laboratory participation, consistent contact with the Faculty Advisor, and attendance at weekly meetings. Students are therefore required to enroll in Doctoral Research Laboratory, PSYCH-GA 3000, each semester (Spring/Fall) in Years 1–4 of the program, with the exception of the first semester of the first year, for a total of 21 points.
Independent Research
Students are expected to pursue multiple lines of research, not all of which will become part of their dissertation. To support the intensive work necessary to assemble a broad research portfolio, students take a total of 9 points of Predoctoral Research in Psychology, PSYCH-GA 3304 during Year 3.
Dissertation Proposal
During Year 4 of the program, students are expected to form a “core” dissertation committee consisting of their Faculty Advisor and two additional NYU faculty. By the end of the Spring semester of Year 4, students must formulate and defend their dissertation proposal to their core dissertation committee and receive signed approval of their proposal before continuing research toward their final dissertation.
Dissertation and Oral Defense
By the end of the Spring semester of Year 5, students should complete the oral defense of their dissertation before their core dissertation committee along with two additional Readers, as chosen by the student in consultation with their core committee members. Prior to the defense, students must gain signed approval to defend from the core dissertation committee members and the Program Coordinator. All students should plan to complete a final dissertation in five years. The composition of the five-person dissertation committee (the Faculty Advisor, core members, and two Readers) must include a minimum of three full-time Department of Psychology faculty members and one member from outside of the Social Psychology Program faculty (i.e., from another Program in the Department of Psychology, from another department within NYU, or from outside of NYU).
Sample Plan of Study
| 1st Semester/Term | Credits | |
|---|---|---|
| PSYCH-GA 2217 | Research Methods in S/P | 3 |
| PSYCH-GA 2228 | Interm Stat Methods | 3 |
| Psychology Elective | 3 | |
| Credits | 9 | |
| 2nd Semester/Term | ||
| PSYCH-GA 2229 |
Regression or Anova |
3 |
| PSYCH-GA 3000 | Doctoral Research Laboratory | 3 |
| Psychology Elective | 3 | |
| Credits | 9 | |
| 3rd Semester/Term | ||
| PSYCH-GA 3000 | Doctoral Research Laboratory | 3 |
| Psychology Elective (Content Course) | 3 | |
| Psychology Elective | 3 | |
| Credits | 9 | |
| 4th Semester/Term | ||
| PSYCH-GA 3100 | Doctoral Psychology Project I | 3 |
| Psychology Elective (Content Course) | 3 | |
| Psychology Elective | 3 | |
| Credits | 9 | |
| 5th Semester/Term | ||
| PSYCH-GA 3000 | Doctoral Research Laboratory | 3 |
| Psychology Elective (Content Course) | 3 | |
| Psychology Elective | 3 | |
| Credits | 9 | |
| 6th Semester/Term | ||
| Psychology Elective | 3 | |
| PSYCH-GA 3200 | Doctoral Psychology Project II | 3 |
| PSYCH-GA 3000 | Doctoral Research Laboratory | 3 |
| Credits | 9 | |
| 7th Semester/Term | ||
| PSYCH-GA 3301 | 6 | |
| PSYCH-GA 3000 | Doctoral Research Laboratory | 3 |
| Credits | 9 | |
| 8th Semester/Term | ||
| PSYCH-GA 3302 | 6 | |
| PSYCH-GA 3000 | Doctoral Research Laboratory | 3 |
| Credits | 9 | |
| Total Credits | 72 | |
Following completion of the required coursework for the PhD, students are expected to maintain active status at New York University by enrolling in a research/writing course or a Maintain Matriculation (MAINT-GA 4747) course. All non-course requirements must be fulfilled prior to degree conferral, although the specific timing of completion may vary from student-to-student.
Learning Outcomes
The psychology program at New York University provides training in the theories, principles, and research methods of psychology. Students receive research training that enables them to become independent contributors to the field. By the time students complete the doctoral program in the Psychology Department they will be able to:
- Discuss the central theories and literature of the discipline.
- Critique current research literature, including the recognition of strengths and weaknesses of theoretical arguments and empirical evidence.
- Develop ideas, formulate hypothesis and design research studies to test the hypotheses.
- Select appropriate statistical methods and mathematical modeling approaches to evaluate data and theories, and to implement these methods and modeling approaches to research problems.
- Communicate clearly both orally and in writing.
- Produce research papers that are published or deemed to be publishable by faculty.
Our curriculum enables attainment of these goals through a combination of coursework, research experiences and mentorship, written requirements and verbal presentations. The culmination of this training is the dissertation and oral defense.
Policies
NYU Policies
University-wide policies can be found on the New York University Policy pages.
Graduate School of Arts and Science Policies
Academic Policies for the Graduate School of Arts and Science can be found on the Academic Policies page.