Psychology

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102 Gilmer Hall
University of Virginia
P.O. Box 400400
Charlottesville, VA 22904-4400
(434) 982-4750 Fax: (434) 982-4766
www.virginia.edu/psychology

Degree Requirements

Master of Arts

Students are expected to complete a minimum of 30 credits of graded coursework and topical research, including eight credits quantitative methods courses.

Students are expected to complete a final master’s examination. With the permission of the faculty, students may complete instead a research project that makes a novel contribution to the scientific literature.

Concentration in Research Methods

The Research Methods concentration is available only to University of Virginia undergraduate students in the accelerated +1 M.A. in Psychology degree program and will be delivered On-Grounds in a face to face format. The total credits for the MA degree with this accelerated pathway are 30, including 15 required credits in a research methods concentration completed from five of the following courses:

PSYC 5710 - Machine Learning and Data Mining Credits: 3
OR
PSYC 7710 - Quantitative Methods I: Probability and Statistical Inference Credits: 4
PSYC 5720 - Fundamentals of Item Response Theory Credits: 3
PSYC 5705 - Introduction to Bayesian Methods Credits: 3
PSYC 5559 - New Course in Psychology Credits: 3
Approved Topic: Introduction to Machine Learning for Psychologists
PSYC 7670 - Longitudinal Data Analysis Credits: 3
PSYC 7720 - Quantitative Methods II: Experimental Design Credits: 4
PSYC 8730 - Dynamical Systems Analysis Credits: 3
PSYC 8735 - Introduction to Structural Equation Modeling Credits: 3
PSYC 8559 - New Course in Psychology Credits: 1 to 4
Approved Topic: Advanced Applied Regression Analysis

Doctor of Philosophy

Of the 72 credits required for the degree, students are expected to complete a minimum of 42 credits of graded coursework and topical research, including including PSYC 7710 (Quantitative Methods I: Probability and Statistical Inference), PSYC 7720 (Quantitative Methods II: Experimental Design), PSYC 8040 (Forum on Scientific and Professional Ethics), PSYC 9560 (Teaching Psychology: Review Sessions), PSYC 9561 (Teaching Psychology; Sections),
PSYC 9562 (Teaching Psychology: Courses) and PSYC 9605 (Oral Presentations of Research).

Psychology are also expected to complete PSYC 7420 (Psychological Intervention I), PSYC 7430
(Psychological Assessment I), PSYC 7440 (Psychological Assessment II), PSYC 7450 (Psychological
Intervention II) and PSYC 7470 (Experimental Psychopathology).

Within the required 42 credits of graded coursework, students in the field of Cognitive Psychology
are also expected to complete PSYC 7120 (Advanced Cognitive Psychology), PSYC 7300 (Advanced
Cognition) and PSYC 7250 (Cognitive Research Methods).

Within the required 42 credits of graded coursework, students in the field of Community Psychology
are also expected to complete PSYC 7480 (Community Psychology and Prevention Science: Research and
Consultation), PSYC 7481 (Practica in Community Psychology and Prevention Science) and PSYC 7485
(Structural Determinants of Inequality).

Within the required 42 credits of graded coursework, students in the field of Developmental
Psychology are also expected to complete PSYC 7330 (Social Brain in Infancy), PSYC 8650 (Social
Development) and PSYC 8670 (Cognitive Development).

Within the required 42 credits of graded coursework, students in the field of Quantitative
Psychology are also expected to complete PSYC 7700 (Approaches to Quantitative Methods in
Psychology), PSYC 8730 (Dynamical Systems Analysis) and PSYC 8735 (Introduction to Structural
Equation Modeling).

Within the required 42 credits of graded coursework, students in the field of Social Psychology are
also expected to complete PSYC 7600 (Social Psychology), PSYC 7610 (Advanced Research Methods in
Social Psychology) and PSYC 7160 (Emotion and Cognition Seminar).

Within the required 42 credits of graded coursework, students in the field of System & Behavioral 
Neuroscience are also expected to complete PSYC 7200 (Advanced Neural Mechanisms of Behavior), PSYC
7240 (From Molecules to Mind: Molecular Genetics for Neuroscientists) and PSYC 7230 (Genetic and
Epigenetic Research in Behavior).

Students are expected to complete a pre-dissertation research project by the conclusion of their fourth semester that makes a novel contribution to the scientific literature.

Students are expected to pass a major qualifying exercise by the start of their seventh semester.

Students are expected to complete all requirements stated above by the start of their seventh semester.

Students in the Clinical Psyhcology track are expected to complete an internship, four semesters of internal practica and four semesters of external practica.

Students are expected to write and defend a dissertation.

Concentration in Quantitative Psychology

Within the 42 credits of graded coursework required for the degree, students are expected to complete 18 credits that include PSYC 7720 (Quantitative Methods I & II); three electives from among PSYC 7760 (Multivariate Analysis), PSYC 8730 (Dynamical Systems Analysis), PSYC 8735 (Intro to Structural Equation Modeling), PSYC 5550 (Intro to Bayesian Methods), PSYC 5720 (Fundamentals of Item Response Theory), PSYC 7559 (Longitudinal Data Analysis) and PSYC 8810 (Exploratory and Graphical Analysis of Data); and one additional elective from the preceding list or a course in Statistics or Applied Mathematics approved by the faculty.

Student are expected to complete two semesters of PSYC 7505 (Continuing Issues in Quantitavie Psychology).

Students are expected to complete two semester-long appointments as graduate teaching assistant for PSYC 3005 and/or PSYC 3006 (Introduction to Quantitative Methods for Psychologists).

Courses

Please follow this link to a listing of graduate course offerings for this program: Graduate Courses Arts & Sciences . Some programs limit the number of credits offered outside the department or school that a student may allocate toward degree requirements. All course enrollment is subject to approval each term by the Director of Graduate Studies.

Public Professional Licensure Disclosure

As a member of the State Authorizations Reciprocity Agreement, the University of Virginia (UVA) is authorized to provide curriculum in a distance learning environment to students located in all states in the United States except for California. (34 CFR 668.43(a)(6)& 34 CFR 668.72(n)).

Upon completion of the Doctor of Philosophy in Psychology at the UVA Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, graduates may be eligible for initial professional licensure in another U.S. state by applying to the licensing board or agency in that state.

Please visit the University’s state authorization web pages to make an informed decision regarding which states’ educational requirements for initial licensure are met by this program. (668.43(a)(5) (v)(A) - (C))

Enrolled students who change their current (or mailing) address to a state other than Virginia should update this information immediately in the Student Information System as it may impact their ability to complete internship, practicum, or clinical hours, use Title IV funds, or meet licensure or certification requirements in the new state. (34 CFR 668.402).