Psychology PhD curriculum

The psychology PhD program emphasizes skills training in research, teaching and practical experience via links with community partners in an effort to prepare students for research, teaching and applied careers in psychology. The flexibility of the psychology PhD program allows for individualization of the program to best meet student needs, interests and career trajectories. (Note the psychology program was known as the experimental psychology program prior to Fall 2024.)

There are five primary streams of research conducted by the faculty:

• Cognitive science
• Developmental
• Forensic
• Health
• Social (e.g., personality, human sexuality, relationships)

Fredericton and Saint John campuses coordinate course offerings to provide a wide range of options to students and the chance to collaborate with experts in other research areas. Additionally, a strong basis in research methods and statistics through course work and individual mentoring is provided so that students can develop and strengthen research relevant skills.

Teaching abilities are another primary focus of the program and are honed through the completion of a teaching apprenticeship following a mentorship model. Students are strongly encouraged to complete the Diploma in University Teaching, which is available through UNB.

Typical course of study

The following is the typical sequence that students can expect to follow for the psychology program. The actual course sequence may vary due to variations in the graduate teaching schedule from year to year. Students in the psychology program will need to complete 52.5 credit hours to satisfy the requirements of this program. See the graduate calendar for course descriptions.

First year (22.5 ch)

• PSYC 6005: Principles of Psychological Science (3 ch)
• PSYC 6001: Statistics and Design I (3 ch)
• PSYC 6002: Statistics and Design II (3 ch)
• PSYC 6101: Ethical Standards for Psychologists (1.5 ch)
• PSYC 6541: Research Apprenticeship (6ch)
• Two seminars (3 ch each)

Second year (12 ch)

• PSYC 6003: Multivariate Statistics (3 ch) or PSYC 6004: Qualitative Research Methods (3 ch)
• PSYC 6542: Research Apprenticeship II (6 ch)
• One seminar (3 ch)
• PSYC 6998: PhD Thesis (0 ch)

Third year (12 ch)

• PSYC 6823: Comprehensive Project (3 ch)
• PSYC 6353: Teaching Apprenticeship I (3 ch) and PSYC 6354: Teaching Apprenticeship II (3 ch)

or

• PSYC 6355: Co-Teaching Apprenticeship (3 ch) and Approved graduate-level seminar (3 ch)
• One seminar (3 ch)
• PSYC 6998 PhD Thesis (0 ch)

Fourth year (6 ch)

• PSYC 6814: Dissertation Proposal (3 ch)
• PSYC 6833: Oral Presentation of the Dissertation Proposal (3 ch)
• PSYC 6998: PhD Thesis (0 ch)

Fifth year (0 ch)

• PSYC 6998: PhD Thesis (0 ch)

At least two seminars should be relevant to the student’s area of research and 2 seminars should be outside of the student’s major area. One seminar outside of the student’s research area can be replaced by a research project in a minor area with a member of the graduate academic unit other than his or her supervisor. Seminars outside the student’s major area are expected to be relevant to the general objectives of the program.

Research Apprenticeship I will receive a letter grade; Research Apprenticeship II will be graded on a credit/no-credit basis.

The comprehensive project will normally be in a minor area that is distinct from the PhD thesis research topic. Students are given a choice of format for the project: publishable paper, grant proposal, or research project in a minor area with a faculty member other than the supervisor. Students are strongly encouraged (but not required) to submit their comprehensive project to an appropriate journal or grant agency.

If students elect to complete Teaching Apprenticeship I and Teaching Apprenticeship II, then, ideally, both parts of the Teaching Apprenticeship are completed in the same year.