The Department of Psychology offers work leading to the degrees of Master of Arts and Master of Science. The department also offers a Ph.D. in Applied Psychology.
Graduate training in psychology at Portland State University provides a sound basis in traditional areas of psychology, while emphasizing applications of psychological theory and research to problems of contemporary society.
The program focus is on applied psychology with an emphasis on five areas: Applied Developmental, Industrial/ Organizational, Applied Social, Community, and Applied Quantitative Psychology. The aim is to prepare graduates for research and service roles in a variety of settings such as government agencies, businesses, educational systems, and hospitals. It should be noted that the graduate program in psychology does not offer graduate degrees in clinical or counseling psychology.
Applied Psychology Ph.D.
Candidates for the Ph.D. in applied psychology must earn a minimum of 108 credits in approved graduate courses. Candidates will undertake a program of study determined in consultation with an advisory committee. The doctoral program is equivalent to the two-year master’s program described above plus additional required courses in research design, methodology, and ethics.
The required coursework for the Ph.D. program, including the equivalent to the two-year master's program, is as follows:
Methodology Core
The following are required:
| Psy 621 | Univariate Quantitative Methods | 5 |
| Psy 622 | Multiple Regression and Multivariate Quantitative Methods | 5 |
| Psy 624 | Research Design in Applied Psychology | 4 |
Required Methodology Elective
This can include:
Applied Psychology Core
You must take
| Psy 618 | Ethics and Professional Issues in Applied Research and Practice | 4 |
and three of the following:
| Psy 611 | Advanced Community Psychology | 4 |
| Psy 614 | Advanced Applied Social Psychology | 4 |
| Psy 615 | Advanced Applied Developmental Psychology | 4 |
| Psy 616 | Advanced Organizational Psychology | 4 |
Elective and Thesis/Dissertation Courses
| 6XX | Electives in Community Psychology | 12 |
| | or | |
| 6XX | Electives in Applied Social Psychology | 12 |
| | or | |
| 6XX | Electives in Developmental Psychology | 12 |
| | or | |
| 6XX | Electives in Industrial/Organizational Psychology | 12 |
| | or | |
| 6XX | Electives in Applied Quantitative Psychology | 12 |
| | | |
| 6XX | Additional Electives | 27 |
| Psy 503 | Thesis | 8 |
| Psy 603 | Dissertation | 27 |
Total Credit Hours: 108
To be eligible to be transferred into the Ph.D. program, previous courses must have been completed within the last 7 years (counting from the first quarter the student starts the doctoral program).
Comprehensive examination: The comprehensive exam is comprised of exams in the major area and the minor area.
Dissertation: The student must submit and defend the dissertation at an oral examination.
The details of all requirements are outlined in the Graduate Student Handbook which can be found on the graduate page of the department website at www.pdx.edu/psy.