PhD Program Overview

The largest doctoral program in the College of Liberal Arts, the Psychology Department offers concentrations in Clinical Psychology, Developmental Psychology, Cognition and Neuroscience, and Social Psychology. Doctoral students in Psychology also have the opportunity to complete an interdisciplinary Neuroscience specialization via the Neuroscience Program in the College of Liberal Arts. Students interested in the Specialization in Neuroscience should visit the Neuroscience Graduate page.

• Learn more about our PhD Program and Concentrations

For questions related to the graduate program offerings in general, please contact the Director of Graduate Studies, Dr. Lisa Briand ([click-for-email]).

Psychology 5-Year Master’s Program (+1)

Although the department does not offer a traditional 2 year master's level degree, the +1 Master in Psychological Research offers outstanding Temple University psychology majors the opportunity to earn both the Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and the Master of Science in Psychological Research in just 5 years. Students apply to the program during the spring semester of their junior year.

This accelerated master’s program provides a research-intensive experience that lays the groundwork for doctoral studies in any psychology discipline. Students immerse themselves in current research across disciplines by attending department colloquiums and lecture series. Advanced coursework provides a combination of new and traditional approaches to data analysis, methodology and theory. 

• Learn More about the Psychology 5-Year Master’s Program (+1) or if you are ready, apply today!

Careers

Individuals earning PhD degrees in Psychology have moved on to a variety of interesting and fulfilling positions. We have been consistently successful in placing our graduates in the types of positions they were hoping to obtain. Currently, it is typical for most individuals with newly earned Psychology PhD degrees to go on to postdoctoral research positions, and this holds for our students. Many of our graduates secure prestigious postdoctoral positions where they bring their skills and knowledge to the highest levels. Many of those students then obtain faculty positions at well-known institutions, where they carry out cutting-edge research in diverse areas from behavioral neuroscience to clinical science. Other students obtain research positions in various industries.

Diversity

The Psychology and Neuroscience Department values diversity and understands the importance of diverse perspectives for excellent scholarship and for creating a stimulating and creative learning environment. The Psychology and Neuroscience Department’s Diversity Committee is committed to promoting the diversity and inclusion of students and faculty in our program.

Psychology Graduate Students for Inclusivity (PGSI)

PGSI is a graduate student group aimed at promoting diversity and inclusivity in the Temple University Psychology and Neuroscience Department, in our research and in our clinical work. PGSI’s mission is to promote outreach and connect to Temple undergraduates of diverse, underrepresented and marginalized backgrounds; improve the recruitment and retention of graduate students from diverse, underrepresented and marginalized backgrounds and experiences; facilitate networking and connection with other campuses, and local and national groups that share our goal; and create a space for current psychology graduate students to discuss and reflect upon issues of diversity, multiculturalism, and inclusivity.