COURSE CURRICULUM

The Psychological Science MA/PhD at DePaul University combines rigorous coursework, advanced research training, and professional development to prepare students for careers as researchers, educators, or consultants in scientific, academic, business, and applied settings. The curriculum begins with the MA portion, which requires a minimum of 48 quarter hours and includes foundational core courses such as physiological processes, advanced statistics, quantitative research design, and options in multivariate analysis or psychological measurement. Students also take seminars across cognitive, developmental, and social areas of psychology, along with an elective graduate‑level course and professional development seminars. Central to the MA is the master’s thesis research project, which students begin under faculty supervision in their first year and complete with an oral defense. Following the MA, the PhD portion requires at least 28 quarter hours beyond the master’s degree and includes additional seminars in cognitive, developmental, and social psychological science that build on the MA coursework, as well as doctoral dissertation research. Students must complete a doctoral candidacy project involving a written and defended dissertation proposal before advancing to full dissertation work, and they are also required to demonstrate teaching competency. Research is integral throughout the program, with students engaging in research labs early in their studies and progressing toward comprehensive, original research by the third and fourth years. Elective and independent study options allow students to tailor their academic experience to specific interests, and professional development activities support communication skills for presenting and publishing findings. The curriculum is designed to provide a strong methodological, theoretical, and empirical foundation in psychological science while offering the flexibility and mentorship needed to pursue advanced scholarly work.