Psychology (Experimental) - Doctorate

Cohort sizes are small, allowing for high quality mentorship. Faculty members invest significant time to ensure doctoral graduates are well-trained experts in psychological science. This includes coursework taught by experts in the subject area and research mentorship provided through a research team model, which includes graduate and undergraduate students who participate in publications and presentations. All faculty have active research agendas, and many provide weekly lab meetings, workshops, and tutorials in their area of expertise.

Students are admitted directly to research labs supervised by a faculty member. Research teams meet regularly to collaborate on research initiatives, and to allow for supervision of thesis and dissertation projects, as well as individualized mentoring.

Graduate students engage in all aspects of the research process including presentations at national conventions and publications in top-ranked journals in the field. Applied research opportunities are available in social and cognitive psychology, research methodology and data science.

For a full listing of all Experimental Research labs, please click HERE. 

Graduate Assistantships are generally available for all students throughout their four-year training program. Graduate assistantships support students by providing both a full tuition scholarship, and a 9-12 month stipend. Graduate assistantships include teaching and research assistantships. Opportunities also exist for undergraduate teaching.

In addition to the standard graduate application, your personal statement should focus on these three questions (1 page each):

1. Describe your academic goals and how this program will help you accomplish these goals.
2. Describe your research interests and discuss how this program will allow you to pursue research in this area (tip: connect your response to a specific faculty member).
3. Describe your professional strengths and areas for growth.

Statements which address professional goals and fit with the field of experimental psychology and the Experimental Psychology program at USM are positively received.

For the 2024 Fall application cycle, the GRE is not required.

Priority Deadline 12/31, applications will continue to be accepted until 3/1. 

The Experimental Psychology Psychology Student Government (BBPSG) serves as the graduate student group for students enrolled in the Experimental Psychology courses. BBPSG serves to create a supportive environment for graduate students in the Experimental Psychology graduate program, and facilitate professional development outside of required coursework and experiences. BBPSG engages in several activities each year such as fundraising, hosting social activities, inviting speakers to campus, serving as a liaison between students and faculty, and providing peer mentors for newly admitted students.

Our Program has a strong commitment to promoting the personal and academic growth for our students in an atmosphere conducive for skills emphasizing the significance of diversity. As part of the program’s value of diversity, we work to enhance the diversity among our students, faculty, and staff. The faculty members in the program believe that diversity spans all aspects of experimental psychology. Our faculty take every opportunity to infuse issues relating to diversity in course work, research, mentorship, and student personal development. Further, our faculty make concerted efforts to become involved in research and professional endeavors that embrace diversity.