Psychology, Ph.D.

Admissions:

Students will be admitted for the fall semester only. Applicants with a Bachelor’s degree will be considered; however, a graduate degree is strongly preferred. Those with degrees outside of psychology are encouraged to apply. Additional courses in the Psychology Program at the University of West Georgia may be required due to disciplinary background or level of educational attainment (see below).

Guidelines for Admittance:

• All graduate applicants must complete the online Graduate Application. A one-time application fee of $40 is required. Please visit https://westga.elluciancrmrecruit.com/Apply/Account/Login?ReturnUrl=%2fApply
• Applicants should also review the Graduate Studies Website for individual program specific requirements and tasks that must be completed prior to admission. See Graduate Studies Application Process at https://www.westga.edu/academics/gradstudies/apply-now.php
• International applicants are subject to additional requirements and application deadlines. See International Students Admissions & Programs at https://www.westga.edu/isap
• Official transcripts from a regionally or nationally accredited institution are required and should be sent directly to the UWG Graduate Admissions Office.


Program of Study Specific Admittance Guidelines:

• Three letters of recommendation. Academic letters are preferred although other professional letters will be accepted.
• Official GRE Scores. There is no minimum but GRE scores will be considered in the applicant’s profile and must be submitted. The program of study will not accept scores more than 5 years old.  GRE scores may be waived for students with earned Masters or equivalent and GPA of 3.5 or higher. For more information about the GRE, please visit the web site at www.gre.org/gentest/. GRE scores should be sent directly to the Graduate Admissions Office using school code: 5900.
• A current curriculum vitae listing contact information (including email address), educational background, employment history, awards and recognitions, presentations, etc.
• A reflective essay describing why you are drawn to this particular program of study and how you understand the relation of consciousness and society. The essay should include a statement of how you imagine the program of study will contribute to your future plans.
• A description of a potential research project following a template, please visit https://www.westga.edu/psychology/phd-prospective-students.php
• A writing sample: an academic paper is highly preferred but other formats are acceptable. The word limit is 8,000 words, all inclusive (including references, etc.).

For additional information please visit also the program of study website at: https://www.westga.edu/psydoc/ or visit the Program Academic page at https://www.westga.edu/academics/program_page.php?program_id=102.

Preparation for the doctoral program of study:

Those with degrees in non-related fields or without a Master’s degree may be required to complete twenty hours of coursework, which may include PSYC 6000 - Foundations of Humanistic Psychology and PSYC 6021 - Psychology as Human Science . Other courses can be determined in consultation with faculty. Courses taken at the 7000 level can be taken for Masters level credit or doctoral credit but not both. Those admitted under the condition of having to take additional courses typically finish the preparatory sequence before entering 8000 level courses.

Matriculation:

Students admitted directly to the doctoral program of study should expect at least one year of full time attendance. After one year, students may be allowed to change to part time status. The program must be finished within eight years.

Financial Aid and Stipends:

The Program can offer a limited number of stipends for graduate research/teaching assistantships. The Graduate School offers a limited number of out-of-state tuition waivers for students without an assistantship. See application form for requirements for consideration for such waivers and stipends. Further financial aid may be available through the financial aid office.

During their first year, students who receive a stipend and tuition waiver will serve as graduate research assistants and enroll in PSYC 9087 (Teaching Practicum). During the second year, students who have passed Teaching Practicum will be eligible for a teaching assistantship and enroll in PSYC 8887 (Advanced Teaching Practicum). Graduate Teaching Assistants (GTA’s) starting with teaching in their second year are strongly encouraged to attend the Faculty Orientation Day in August, which is delivered by the Institute of Faculty Excellence at UWG.

GTA students are expected to teach one face to face course each semester during the second and third years. Financial assistance is contingent on fulfillment of this expectation. Exceptions are limited to those with a documented physical or mental health or family emergency or government obligation (e.g., jury duty, military service), or grant obligation that would impede teaching for a complete semester.

Students are expected to fulfill their obligation to teach a course assigned to them. A course may not be cancelled by the PhD instructor 8 weeks prior to the start of enrollment for that semester.

Total Credit Hours for Course Work and Dissertation

The total number of Credit Hours required for graduation is 64. Of these, coursework must total 60 credit hours. This includes PSYC 9002 - Doctoral Qualifying Seminar. The remaining 4 Credits Hours are obtained through enrollment in PSYC 9999 - Dissertation.

Credits Breakdown

1. Earn 60 credits in approved doctoral level courses.
These requirements are in accordance with prevailing standards for psychology doctoral programs.
2. At least 48 credits must be attained from the Psychology Program.
3. The remaining 12 credits to be applied towards the degree requirements may, upon approval from the Head of Graduate Studies of the PhD program of study, be comprised of coursework from other universities or from other departments at the University of West Georgia. These classes have to be related to the PhD Program Consciousness and Society and to the dissertation work as determined by the Head of Graduate Studies for the program of study. The head’s approval must to be sought for before the class is taken.
4. Of these 12 credits taken outside of the Program of Psychology, only 9 may be from another university under the provision that they have not been used toward another degree
5. At least 32 credits must consist of courses numbered 8000 or above. The remainder may include courses numbered 7000 or above.
6. Transfer credits are addressed in the specified section of the catalog under General Academic Policies.
7. All required course credits are 4 hours with the exception of PSYC 9002 (which is 2 hours) and the two courses for Teaching Assistants (which are 3 hours respectively).
8. Students may accumulate up to 9 hours of credit for Independent Study (PSYC 8581), available in areas for which there is no existing coursework and following the Graduate School guidelines for Independent Study. Up to 9 of the Independent Study credits count towards the 32 credits needed at the 8000 level. Anything in excess of 9 does not count towards the 60 hours required.
9. Earn credit for the following required courses named below. Other 8000 level courses require permission of instructor if required doctoral courses have not been completed.
10. Required 60 hours do not include dissertation hours.

Required Courses