PhD in Psychology

Class Profile

Class Size

25

Average Age

22

Average Work Experience

2 Years

Career Outcomes

Median Earnings After Graduation

$92,000 / year

Graduation Rate

92.3%

Job Placement

94%

Top recruiters

Boston Consulting Group

Accenture

KPMG

EY

PwC

Google

Amazon

Microsoft

Fees and Funding

Tuition Fees

$34,952 / year

Overall Cost

$49,952 / year

FAQs

• What is the dissertation process?
  
  Students must complete and defend a doctoral dissertation based on original research. The dissertation committee includes at least four members, one of whom must be from outside the department
• How long does it take to complete the PhD?
  
  The program is designed to be completed in about five years. For students in the Clinical Science area, three full-time academic years in residence plus a full year of internship are required
• What is the evaluation and qualifying process?
  
  Students are evaluated after completing 24 units and again at the end of the second year based on coursework and research competence. Each student assembles a five-person qualifying exam committee to direct studies and evaluate research competence. The qualifying exam includes a written review paper or exam and a dissertation proposal, and should be completed by the fifth semester.
• What are the coursework and research requirements?
  
  Students must complete at least 36 substantive units in psychology at USC during the first three years, including core courses in brain and cognitive sciences, clinical, developmental, and social areas, and at least one statistics or research methods course. During the first and second years, students complete a master’s thesis or a research report of comparable scope and quality. All students must engage in research activities throughout their graduate training, culminating in a doctoral dissertation based on original investigation.
• What are the main areas of emphasis in the PhD program?
  
  The department is organized into five groups: Brain and Cognitive Science Clinical Science Developmental Psychology Quantitative Methods Social Psychology Each group focuses on a specific branch of psychology, and students work closely with faculty in their chosen area.
• What graduate psychology degrees are offered at USC?
  
  USC offers a PhD in Psychology. There is no terminal master’s or PsyD program in the department; students are admitted directly to the PhD track