In consultation and collaboration with their faculty mentor, all students are expected to actively conduct research throughout their graduate training, starting as soon as they arrive at UCR. In addition to research activities, students must complete a series of courses to earn their Ph.D.

1st Year Coursework

Statistical Core

211 – Statistical Inference
212 – Multiple Regression/Correlation Analysis
213 – Experimental Design and Analysis of Variance OR
214 – Latent Variable Analysis
Note: Behavioral neuroscience students may not be required to take the statistical core.

Specialization Cores

Cognitive
203A – Overview of Cognitive Science and Perception
203B – Attention and Memory
203C – Higher-Level Language and Cognitive Processes
233 – Research Methods in Cognitive Science

Developmental
207A – Theories in Developmental Psychology
207B – Social Development
207C – Processes of Cognitive Development
208 – Research Methods in Development

Behavioral Neuroscience
200A – Fundamentals of Neuroscience
200B – Fundamentals of Neuroscience
200C – Fundamentals of Neuroscience

Social/Personality
225 – Theories and Concepts of Social Psychology
226 – Theories and Concepts of Personality Psychology
227 – Research Methods in Social and Personality Psychology

2nd Year Coursework

During the second year of graduate study, students complete any remaining core courses and satisfy the department’s 5-course “further study” requirement before completing the qualifying examination and advancing to PhD candidacy. These courses or seminars are selected in consultation between student and advisor to provide further study beyond the area core course requirements. Courses must be 3- or 4-unit courses or seminars, and at least one must be a departmental core course (listed in 2, above) outside the student’s area of specialization. The five courses may be used to obtain breadth and/or depth in the student’s program of study.

The student’s advisor and the department graduate advisor must approve the list of courses used to satisfy the further study requirement.

Note: Students who have completed graduate-level coursework prior to entering the UCR PhD program may request that specific courses be accepted toward the satisfaction of the further study requirement.

Sample Courses of Study

BEHAVIORAL NEUROSCIENCE:

Year 1
Stats Core: PSYC 211, 212, 213 or 214
Area Core: PSYC 200A, 200B, 200C
Research Hours: PSYC 296

Year 2
Teaching: PSYC 301
3 Further Studies Courses
Research Hours: PSYC 296

Year 3
2 Further Studies Courses

COGNITIVE:

Year 1
Brown Bag: PSYC 283
Stats Core: PSYC 211, 212, 213 or 214
Area Core: PSYC 203A, 203B, 203C
Research Hours: PSYC 296

Year 2
Brown Bag: PSYC 283
Area Core: PSYC 233
Teaching: PSYC 301
3 Further Studies Courses
Research Hours: PSYC 296

Year 3
Brown Bag: PSYC 283
2 Further Studies Courses

DEVELOPMENTAL:

Year 1
Brown Bag: PSYC 284
Stats Core: PSYC 211, 212, 213 or 214
Area Core: PSYC 207A, 207B, 207C
Research Hours: PSYC 296

Year 2
Brown Bag: PSYC 284
Teaching: PSYC 301
Area Core: PSYC 208
3 Further Studies Courses
Research Hours: PSYC 296

Year 3
Brown Bag: PSYC 284
2 Further Studies Courses

SOCIAL/PERSONALITY:

Year 1
Brown Bag: PSYC 285
Stats Core: PSYC 211, 212, 213 or 214
Area Core: PSYC 225, 226, 227
Research Hours: PSYC 296

Year 2
Brown Bag: PSYC 285
Teaching: PSYC 301
3 Further Studies Courses
Research Hours: PSYC 296

Year 3
Brown Bag: PSYC 285
2 Further Studies Courses

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