The following requirements are for students admitted to one of the PhD programs. The requirements for students admitted to the MA-only program are somewhat different, and further information is available on our website at www.bu.edu/psych.

Course Requirements Each candidate must pass the course GRS MA 614 Statistical Methods II or GRS PS 711 Statistics in Psychology I and additional courses to a minimum total of 8 semester courses (32 credits), of which at least 6 must be in psychology.

Comprehensive Requirement The candidate must, by the pattern of courses taken, demonstrate knowledge of two fundamental areas of psychology. Each student must satisfy a research requirement. During the first year, this is initiated through the director of the program and the student’s advisor.

Course Requirements For all PhD programs, each candidate must satisfy all requirements for the MA degree and also pass the courses GRS MA 684 Multivariate Analysis or GRS PS 712 Statistics in Psychology II. A minimum total of 16 semester courses (64 credits) of graduate work is required for the Brain Behavior and Cognition and Developmental Science programs. A minimum total of 20 courses of graduate work is required for the Clinical program. For specific course requirements for each program, please visit our website atwww.bu.edu/psych. Courses are selected in consultation with the major advisor, who may determine that additional work is required. Doctoral education includes appropriate research and practicum experience and is rarely completed in fewer than four academic years.

Comprehensive Examination In addition to satisfying the MA comprehensive requirement, the PhD candidate must demonstrate knowledge in a third area.

Qualifying Examinations In addition to the comprehensive examination in the fundamentals of psychology, the candidate must also pass an intensive examination in the area of specialization. This examination is ordinarily taken upon completion of two years of graduate work. These examinations may be supplemented by an oral examination and, at the discretion of the department, a student may be required to retake this exam. In addition, some programs may require preparation of a “specials” paper, which consists of a detailed analytic review of an appropriate body of research literature or clinical qualifying exam, which consists of a case analysis.

Residency Requirement See General Requirements for the PhD in this bulletin.

Prospectus and Dissertation See General Requirements for the PhD in this bulletin. Upon completion of all departmental language and qualifying examinations, the candidate must submit a formal dissertation prospectus.

Final Oral Examination Upon completion of all requirements, the candidate must pass a final oral examination in defense of the dissertation and demonstrate a mastery of the field of specialization as it is related to the dissertation.

Courses

• CAS PS 504 Trends in Contemporary Psychology
• CAS PS 506 Themes in the Near History of Psychology
• CAS PS 520 Research Methods in Perception and Cognition
• CAS PS 522 Psychology of Picture Perception
• CAS PS 525 Cognitive Science
• CAS PS 528 Human Brain Mapping
• CAS PS 529 Neuroplasticity
• CAS PS 530 Neural Models of Memory Function
• CAS PS 542 Child Development and Public Policy
• CAS PS 544 Developmental Neuropsychology
• CAS PS 545 Language Development
• CAS PS 546 Cognitive Development
• CAS PS 547 Postchildhood Development
• CAS PS 548 Perceptual Development
• CAS PS 549 Developmental Psychopathology
• CAS PS 552 Topics in Family Research
• CAS PS 560 Cross-Cultural Psychology
• CAS PS 563 Seminar: Groups in Organizations
• CAS PS 564 Environmental Psychology
• CAS PS 565 Social and Environmental Psychology of Urban Life
• CAS PS 572 Psychology of Women
• CAS PS 573 Abstract Thought
• GRS PS 699 Teaching of Psychology I
• GRS PS 704 Contemporary Trends in Psychology
• GRS PS 711 Statistics in Psychology I
• GRS PS 712 Statistics in Psychology II
• GRS PS 715 Models and Methods of Psychological Measurement
• GRS PS 716 Psychological Research Methods
• GRS PS 721 General Experimental I
• GRS PS 732 Behavioral Medicine
• GRS PS 734 Psychopharmacology for the Behavioral Scientist
• GRS PS 735 Concepts of Motivation
• GRS PS 737 Memory Systems of the Brain
• GRS PS 738 Techniques in Systems and Behavioral Neuroscience
• GRS PS 747 Infant Development
• GRS PS 750 Mind and Language
• GRS PS 751 Personality Theory
• GRS PS 754 Forensic Psychology
• GRS PS 755 Psychoanalytic Theory
• GRS PS 757 Women and Psychotherapy
• GRS PS 761 Major Issues in Social Psychology
• GRS PS 770 Ethics in Psychology
• GRS PS 772 Clinical Psychological Assessment of Adults
• GRS PS 773 Clinical Psychological Assessment of Children and Families
• GRS PS 774 Clinical Psychological Assessment of Adults Practicum
• GRS PS 779 Problems in Clinical Research I
• GRS PS 780 Problems in Clinical Research II
• GRS PS 790 Family Theory and Research
• GRS PS 791 Psychology of Social Oppression
• GRS PS 793 Family Seminar
• GRS PS 821 Learning
• GRS PS 822 Visual Perception
• GRS PS 823 Verbal Processes
• GRS PS 824 Cognitive Psychology
• GRS PS 828 Adult Language
• GRS PS 829 Principles in Neuropsychology
• GRS PS 831 Seminar in Neuropsychology
• GRS PS 832 Physiological Psychology
• GRS PS 833 Advanced Physiological Psychology
• GRS PS 835 Attention
• GRS PS 836 Molecules and Behavior
• GRS PS 840 Developmental Behavioral Genetics
• GRS PS 841, 842 Seminar: Contemporary Issues in Developmental Psychology
• GRS PS 844 Theories of Development
• GRS PS 845 Topics in Perceptual Development
• GRS PS 846 Psychology of Aging
• GRS PS 847 Atypical Development
• GRS PS 848 Developmental Psycholinguistics
• GRS PS 855 Clinical Seminar in Developmental Psychopathology
• GRS PS 857 Clinical Case Conference
• GRS PS 860 Child Therapy
• GRS PS 873 Seminar: Psychodiagnosis
• GRS PS 874 Seminar: Psychotherapy
• GRS PS 875 Advanced Psychopathology
• GRS PS 876 Advanced Psychopathology
• GRS PS 877 Group Dynamics and Group Therapy
• GRS PS 879 The Scientist Practitioner
• GRS PS 880 Empirically Supported Treatments of Psychological Disorders
• GRS PS 881 Psychological Perceptives on Addictive Behavior
• GRS PS 882 Empirically Supported Child and Family Treatments
• GRS PS 885 Community Psychology
• GRS PS 886 Community Research Methods
• GRS PS 887 Community Mental Health Planning
• GRS PS 889 Community Mental Health Intervention
• GRS PS 890 Behavior Modification I
• GRS PS 892 Behavior Modification II
• GRS PS 893 Contemporary Issues in the Psychology of the Family

Directed Study or Research

Time arranged on all directed study courses and practicums. Variable cr.

• GRS PS 901, 902 Directed Study in Psychology
• GRS PS 941, 942 Developmental Psychology Practicum
• GRS PS 951 Special Topics in Clinical Psychology
• GRS PS 965, 966 Social Psychology Practicum
• GRS PS 973, 974 Clinical Practicum
• GRS PS 978 Laboratory and Research Practicum
• GRS PS 979/980 Clinical Internship
• GRS PS 991, 992 Directed Study in Dissertation Writing
• GRS PS 993 Clinical Supervison of Psychotherapy
• GRS PS 994 Clinical Supervision of Psychotherapy—Practicum

Related Courses in Cognitive & Neural Systems

Descriptions for the courses listed below can be found in the course offerings for the Department of Cognitive & Neural Systems.

• CAS CN 510 Principles and Methods of Cognitive and Neural Modeling I
• CAS CN 520 Principles and Methods of Cognitive and Neural Modeling II