Requirements
The Department of Psychology admits only those students who plan to complete the PhD. All doctoral students complete at least three courses (9 credits) in statistics and/or research design, as well as a one-credit orientation course, a two-credit ethics sequence, and some distributional courses. NC State requires a minimum of 36 hours for the MS and another 36 hours for the PhD (54 hours for the doctorate, if entering with a previous masters degree).
Specific course requirements are currently under review due to the discontinuation of the separate track for Experimental Psychology (in December 2007). Other requirements will probably include:
- PSY 500 - Visual Perception
- PSY 508 - Cognitive Processes
- PSY 591 - History and Systems
- PSY 752 - Action Research
- PSY 540 - Human Factors in Systems Design
- PSY 743 - Ergonomic Performance Assessment
- PSY 744 - Human Information Processing
- PSY 502 - Physiological Psychology
- PSY 704 - Learning and Motivation
All PSG students are also expected to take a minimum of one additional course or seminar in two of the following content areas: perception, physiological psychology, cognitive processes (or human information processing), developmental psychology, lifespan development or ergonomics. Other courses (to meet university requirements or to satisfy individual educational needs) are a matter of agreement between the student and his/her Graduate Advisory Committee. Students are also expected to develop applied research skills by work in industry, government, or other institutional settings either prior to or during their stay in the department. (This may involve parttime placement during the academic year or summer, or be satisfied by previous work experience.)
