The Department of Psychology offers Doctor of Philosophy degrees in Psychology. Areas of specialization in graduate training include cognitive psychology, applied social and developmental psychology, industrial-organizational psychology, and quantitative psychology. The Department of Psychology participates in a multidisciplinary program in Cellular and Behavioral Neurobiology and offers a Doctor of Philosophy in Cellular and Behavioral Neurobiology (Psychology).
The programs of graduate training in the department are designed to produce experimental psychologists who are capable of assuming positions in academia, as well as industry and government. In a rigorous but cooperative and congenial atmosphere, high-quality research psychologists are trained to contribute to the body of knowledge of scientific psychology, as well as to disseminate and apply psychological knowledge.
Moreover, the Department has an exceptionally high placement record. OU graduates have been consistently placed in academic, private sector, and government positions.
We do not offer a doctoral or masters degree in clinical psychology or counseling.
The Cognitive Psychology program trains graduate students in cognitive engineering and human factors, developmental cognitive neuroscience, cognitive and decision psychology, and cognitive neuroscience, using modern experimental and neuroscience methods. Faculty research spans cognitive biases and risk literacy, skill acquisition, user-friendly technology design, the neurobiology of misophonia, biomarkers for fragile X and autism, the cognitive effects of iron deficiency and diabetes, and the ethics of choice architecture and animal welfare. Graduates go on to careers in both academia and industry.
Industrial-Organizational Psychology program follows a scientist-practitioner model, training students to conduct research and practice in industrial psychology and organizational behavior. Students gain experience across lab and field settings using quantitative, qualitative, and modeling techniques, and contribute to grant-funded, interdisciplinary projects supported by NSF, NIH, NASA, the FAA, and others. A collaborative research culture means co-authored publications and conference presentations are the norm, and graduates regularly publish in top journals like the Journal of Applied Psychology and The Leadership Quarterly. SIOP ranks OU's program 6th overall and 2nd per faculty in research productivity among 53 I-O doctoral programs.
Our Applied Social and Developmental Psychology program focuses on the affective, cognitive, cultural, and biological processes underlying complex social phenomena and how these processes develop across the lifespan. Faculty research explores topics like the effects of stereotypes and discrimination, cultures of honor, peer relationships and youth social status, support systems for LGBTQ+ youth and first-generation college students, and the influence of nature and cultural change on human psychology. Students conduct research in well-equipped labs and through community partnerships, longitudinal studies, daily diary methods, and analysis of natural language and archival data. Graduates are prepared for careers in academic research and teaching as well as applied positions in government and industry.
Our Quantitative Psychology program trains students in applied statistics, psychometrics, and mathematical modeling. Coursework spans experimental design, multivariate statistics, structural equation modeling, factor analysis, test theory, longitudinal methods, and behavioral decision theory, among other topics. The program serves as a hub for quantitative training across OU, drawing students from departments like Business, Math, Nursing and Public Health, Education, Engineering, and Communication. Graduates leave with a strong foundation for careers in academic research, industry, and applied methods.
Tulsa Campus: We offer the Master of Arts in Organizational Dynamics program on the Tulsa campus. This is a terminal, application-oriented master’s degree program geared toward full-time working professionals. More information about this program is available by visiting the Organizational Dynamics website, calling (918) 660-3318, or emailing odyn@ou.edu.
In general, the Department of Psychology seeks graduate student applicants who aspire to doctoral-level training. Many of these applicants apply directly after completing their undergraduate degrees from universities across the nation. These graduate students are awarded master's degrees after making appropriate progress in our graduate academic training program (i.e., after successful completion of required coursework and their master's thesis) on their way to completing their doctoral degree. Some students who have completed master's degree programs elsewhere also are admitted. In such cases, the student's transcripts are reviewed, and transfer credit is authorized for courses deemed comparable to ours in content and quality. The amount of coursework that is transferable is evaluated on a course-by-course basis.
More information about our graduate programs, graduate assistantships, and/or admission procedures may be obtained by contacting the Psychology main office: psychology@ou.edu, 405-325-4511.
To complete the Ph.D. in Psychology a student must complete 90 hours of coursework beyond the bachelor’s degree. The individual student, in consultation with a faculty advisory committee, will design a unique course of study that reflects the student’s interests and career goals. Successful completion of all coursework, the Ph.D. general exams, and the dissertation is required for the Ph.D. A Master of Science degree is typically completed en route to the Ph.D. and requires 30 hours of coursework and successful completion of a master’s thesis.
Students interested in our Quantitative program also take two courses from the mathematics department: Calculus-based mathematical statistics and linear algebra. The pre-requisite calculus courses for these may be taken at OU if the student does not have them at the time of admission.
To apply to Department of Psychology, visit .gograd.ou.edu/apply.
Besides the Graduate College requirements, the application should include:
We do not require the GRE nor do we use the GRE scores for making admissions decisions.
The deadline to apply is December 1st.
