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Graduate Program Requirements

Both the clinical and experimental graduate programs at Kent State University have strong research components. Research training is important for all psychologists regardless of their specific occupational goals and should begin as early as is feasible. Students will complete a specially tailored set of courses and experiences crafted with the guidance of their advisor. In addition, the graduate program requires all students to complete a common set of core requirements.

During the first year, all graduate students must take two statistics courses (Quantitative Methods I and Quantitative Methods II), and at least four courses. During the first two years, before completion of the M.A., clinical students must take at least one course from Group A, B, and C and either Developmental Psychology or Theories of Personality from Group D; experimental students must take one course from at least three of the following four groups:

Group A:	-- Physiological Psychology
	-- Learning and Conditioning
Group B:	-- Cognitive Neuropsychology
	-- Introduction to Cognitive Psychology
	-- Sensation and Perception
Group C:	-- Social Psychology
	-- Community Psychology
Group D:	-- Developmental Psychology
	-- Theories of Personality
	-- Introduction to Psychopathology: Adult

All incoming graduate students are considered to be potential Ph.D. candidates. Before students complete the M.A. requirements, the faculty members evaluate their performance and advise them whether they are still being considered for the Ph.D. program. Formal admission into the Ph.D. program is not made until students complete their M.A. thesis defense. The decision is based upon performance in all aspects of the M.A. program. Students admitted to the Ph.D. program with an M.A. may be required to complete appropriate courses from among those listed above if they have not had equivalent courses. The courses to be taken may be made a condition for admission to the doctoral program.

All students must pass a Ph.D. candidacy examination, complete a doctoral dissertation and pass an oral examination. There is no foreign language requirement in the psychology Ph.D. program.

A general description of the graduate program and the listing of current graduate courses are given in the Graduate School Catalog. Under optimal conditions, the Ph.D. program, for those entering with a B.A./B.S., requires four years for experimental students and five to six years, including an APA approved internship, for clinical students; some students take longer.