Psychology - PhD, EdS

About This Degree

The Emma Eccles Jones College of Education and Human Services, which houses the Psychology Department, ranks in the top 2% of all graduate colleges of education.

The college was also ranked third in the nation in total research dollars received, according to "America's Best Graduate Schools" U.S. News & World Report.

Psychology Department faculty actively collaborate with students on a variety of research projects, including parenting interventions for Latino families, interventions for individuals with anxiety disorders, cognition in young children, animal modeling of drug abuse, impulsivity, etc. Students are active in presenting at national conferences, authoring journal articles and book chapters, and submitting for grant funding.

Specialization:

Students must choose an emphasis in one of the following areas

Behavior Analysis (PhD):

The Behavior Analysis program at Utah State University provides students the opportunity to earn a PhD in Psychology with a focus on investigating variables that influence human and nonhuman behavior. The doctoral program in Behavior Analysis provides students a solid understanding of conceptual, translational, basic and applied domains of behavior analysis. The program promotes an interdisciplinary and translational approach to behavior analysis. The Ph.D. track prepares students to conduct laboratory and translational research, preparing them to pursue academic and research careers, whereas the PhD + BCBA-D track prepares students to become scientist-practitioners who can work in research institutions and practice in a variety of clinical settings (e.g., hospitals, private practice).

Brain and Cognition (PhD):

The brain and cognition specialization provides extensive training for students interested in behavioral, cognitive, molecular, systems, or computational neuroscience. Training opportunities for students include the investigation of basic behavioral, cognitive, and neurological processes; understanding the contribution of basic neurological processes to psychological disorders; neural correlates of behavioral phenomena, and related issues.

Combined Clinical/Counseling Psychology (PhD):

Our APA-accredited program provides a combined approach to doctoral-level training across the two practice areas of clinical and counseling psychology. Students receive training across a broad spectrum of problem areas, populations, settings, and approaches for a wide range of future potential careers. Our faculty include leading scholars in areas including cultural adaptation of therapy, identity development, sexual orientation and gender, treatment of children/adolescents, neuropsychology, ethics, acceptance and commitment therapy, parent management training, telehealth, military psychology, sexual health, trauma, dementia, anxiety disorders, and obsessive compulsive and related disorders.

School Psychology (PhD, EdS):

The Utah State University Psychology Department offers both educational specialist (EdS) and doctoral (PhD) degrees in School Psychology. The EdS Program prepares school psychologists who function primarily as practitioners in educational settings, whereas the PhD Program prepares professionals who can work in research institutions and practice in a variety of settings (e.g., schools, clinics, hospitals, private practice). Training focuses on developing scientific problem-solving skills as well as broad competencies in assessment, intervention, and consultation. Emphasis is placed on culturally-competent, ethically-informed, and legally-compliant practice in collaborative, interdisciplinary settings.