Graduate Programs
The psychology graduate programs provide the student with a basic knowledge of the discipline of psychology and intensive training in theory and research in one of three areas:
All three programs are considered full-time in-residence programs. There is a strong emphasis on direct research experiences. The programs allow flexibility for individual students and encourage inter-area and interdisciplinary endeavors.
Students may also receive formal training and experience in the teaching of psychology and exposure to didactics regarding ethical issues involved in research and education. Each student's faculty mentor, along with the student's master's thesis, qualifying examination and doctoral dissertation committees are critical in helping the individual student to develop a personalized program of study. It is important for students to work closely with their mentors and area heads to ensure progress toward their career goals.
Admission
Admission to the graduate program is highly competitive. The credentials of most applicants include a bachelor's degree (or its equivalent) in psychology or a related discipline. Students are admitted directly into the PhD program. There is no master's program per se, although a master's degree is earned en route to the PhD. Additional information, including a more extensive description of the regulations and requirements of each program area, may be obtained online. After reading these web pages, additional information can be obtained by contacting the coordinator of the specific program in which the applicant is interested.
Applicants are required to submit a complete set of official transcripts, at least two letters of recommendation and a brief personal statement concerning their research experience, interests and goals. Scores from the Graduate Record Examination aptitude tests may be required for the specific program in which the applicant is interested.The application form used to seek admission also serves as an assistantship application; ordinarily, stipends and tuition scholarships are provided for all doctoral students in good standing. Applicants seeking fall admission should have all credentials submitted by Dec. 1 for the clinical psychology program and the behavioral neuroscience program and Dec. 10 for the cognitive program. Applications received after these dates will be reviewed on a space-available basis. Typically, students are informed of interviews and admission status in the spring.
Students who are not citizens or permanent residents of the United States must also submit proof of English proficiency (such as TOEFL, IELTS or PTE Academic scores). International students who have received a college or university degree from an institution in the United States, United Kingdom (England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales), Ireland, Australia, New Zealand or some Canadian provinces are not required to submit TOEFL, IELTS or PTE Academic scores. Additionally, all international students must provide immigration forms guaranteeing financial support.
Transfer Students
Transfer students, including those who enter with a master's degree, are required to qualitatively satisfy all core-course requirements. This may be done by taking specified Binghamton courses or transferring credit for equivalent courses taken elsewhere and completed with a grade of B or better (this may account for now more than two thirds of students’ required course work). Master's theses accepted by other institutions are reviewed by the departmental faculty in order to ensure equivalence of work to that required at Binghamton.
Review of transfer students' qualifications should be completed either prior to arrival or early during the first semester in residence.
Master of Science
Requirements
- 32 credits approved by the departmental graduate committee and an overall GPA of 3.0 or better.
- In addition to area-specific coursework, all students receiving the MS en route to
the PhD in psychology must fulfill the core requirements regardless of area specialization.
Currently, departmental requirements are satisfied by obtaining a B or better in each
of the following two courses:
- PSYC 503 Statistics and Design I (four credits)
- PSYC 550 or 551 Professional Ethics and Research (two credits)
Alternatively, students may satisfy requirements by taking equivalency examinations. Equivalency examinations cover the same content in the same depth as ºÚÁÏÊÓƵ courses and must be passed with a grade of B or better. In some cases, equivalency may be demonstrated by proof of satisfactory completion of an equivalent course and consent of the director of graduate studies, area head and/or the student's advisory committee. Students do not receive course credit for the passing of equivalency examinations but do allow for formal transfer of courses if they match a Binghamton course.
Additional Requirements
- While the student is in residence, a minimum of one credit hour per semester of research is required during every semester to document the student's continuing involvement in ongoing research.
- Active participation in psychology colloquia is expected.
- Satisfactory completion of a master's thesis (PSYC 599) is expected.
- For the clinical psychology program, students are required to make satisfactory progress in clinical work, as evidenced by supervisors' evaluations from practica in the Psychological Clinic and/or community placements.
- Additionally, each semester a student is in residence until the student achieves Course Complete (CC) status, registration is required in PSYC 592 (Weekly Research Lunch in Cognitive Psychology), PSYC 594 (Weekly Research Lunch in Behavioral Neuroscience), or PSYC 595 (Weekly Case Conference in Clinical Psychology).
Doctor of Philosophy
Requirements
- At least a B- in all courses, as well as an overall GPA of at least 3.0.
- Adequate progress in research.
- Successful completion of the MS thesis requirements.
- Completion of Statistics and Design I (PSYC 503) and Statistics and Design II (PSYC 504) (4 credits each). These courses are ordinarily taken during the first and second semester, respectively, of the first year. Details of other course requirements are area dependent and determined by the student's advisory committee.
- Completion of PSYC 590 Teaching of Psychology (two credits). It is recommended that this course be taken very early in a student's training because it is required for summer and winter teaching opportunities. Students in the behavioral neuroscience and cognitive psychology programs must also teach a lecture course. Although completion of PSYC 590 Teaching of Psychology is no longer required of clinical psychology students, it is required for those who wish to teach as instructor of record while at Binghamton University and strongly recommended for those who wish to teach in their career.
- While in residence, students must register for a minimum of one credit hour per semester of research to document the student's continuing involvement in ongoing research.
- Satisfactory completion of the PhD qualifying examination in the student's specialty field of concentration. Each area requires completion of qualifying exams. Area-specific requirements are outlined on their websites.
- Satisfactory completion of the PhD dissertation (PSYC 699) and its defense.
Clinical students are also required to complete an APA-accredited internship for 12 months (full-time) or 24 months (half-time) prior to graduating.
Distributional Requirements
Students in the behavioral neuroscience program must take two courses outside of the program curriculum; at least one must be from the following list (courses to fulfill this requirement must be approved by the student's advisory committee):
- PSYC 508 Sensation and Perception (two credits)
- PSYC 509 Conditioning and Learning (two credits)
- PSYC 510 Psycholinguistics (two credits)
- PSYC 511 Memory (two credits)
- PSYC 512 Cognitive Development (two credits)
- PSYC 513 Attention and Performance (two credits)
- PSYC 514 Cognitive Neuroscience I: Cortical Organization (two credits)
- PSYC 515 Cognitive Neuroscience II: Noninvasive Methods (two credits)
- PSYC 537 Social Psychology (four credits)
- PSYC 540 Psychopathology (four credits)
- PSYC 577 Human Neuropsychology (four credits)
- PSYC 615 Human Development (three credits)
- PSYC 616 Cognitive and Affective Bases of Behavior (three credits)
Students in the cognitive program must take two courses outside of the program curriculum; at least one must be from the following list (courses to fulfill this requirement must be approved by the student's advisory committee, and replacement courses may be petitioned to substitute):
- PSYC 537 Social Psychology (four credits)
- PSYC 540 Psychopathology (four credits)
- PSYC 571 Neuroanatomy (three credits)
- PSYC 572 Neurophysiology (three credits)
- PSYC 573 Neurochemistry (three credits)
- PSYC 574 Psychopharmacology (three credits)
- PSYC 575 Basic Neuroscience I (two credits)
- PSYC 576 Developmental Neuroplasticity (two credits)
- PSYC 577 Human Neuropsychology (four credits)
- PSYC 615 Human Development (three credits)
- PSYC 618 Biological Bases of Behavior (three credits)
Students in the clinical program attain their distributional courses by the required courses (see below).
Other Required Courses
- Students in the behavioral neuroscience program must take PSYC 571, 572, 573, 574, 575, 576, 594 (each semester) and six credits of PSYC 609.
- Students in the clinical psychology program must take PSYC 537, 540, 541, 542, 543, 550, 555, 595, 598 (or equivalent, 6 semesters), 612, 613, 614, 615, 616, 617, 618 as well as one additional graduate-level seminar (in addition to 613).
- Students in the cognitive psychology program must take six 2-credit CORE courses (e.g., PSYC 508, 509, 510, 511, 512, 513, 514 and 515) and five 2-credit advanced graduate seminars (e.g., PSYC 603 and 607), as well as enroll for at least one research credit.
- In some cases, equivalency can be demonstrated by proof of satisfactory completion of an equivalent course and consent of the director of graduate studies, program coordinator and/or faculty committee.