University of Chicago

Psychology University of Chicago

Psychology is the study of the mental states and processes that give rise to behavior. It seeks to understand the basic mechanisms and functions of perception, cognition, emotion, and attitudes in guiding behavior. Although it focuses on the level of the individual, individual behavior depends on the social relationships and structures in which people are embedded and the biological systems of which we are comprised. Thus, psychological study encompasses a broad set of topics that overlap with a number of disciplines across the social and biological sciences. The requirements of the major are designed to acquaint students with the research methods psychologists use and to provide a foundation of core knowledge covering the major areas of psychology. This broad foundation allows students to pursue a advanced understanding of subfields related to their own particular interests and goals for the major. The program may serve as preparation for graduate work in psychology or related fields (e.g., neuroscience, education), as well as for students interested in careers in social work, public policy, business, or medicine. Students are encouraged to become actively engaged in research in the department and should consult with the director of research their interests as early as possible.

Inform the Psychology by completing an enrollment form available from the department student affairs administrator in Beecher 109 and inform their College adviser.

The listhost is the primary means of communication between the program and its majors or students interested in being majors. We use it to notify students of events relevant to psychology majors, such as research opportunities, job postings, fellowship announcements, and any changes in the course schedule, or curriculum updates.

NOTE: When planning your course schedule, please consult Class Search at registrar.uchicago.edu classes and the Courses section of the Psychology Department Program website for any changes in the course offerings.

Psychology majors are required to complete PSYC 20100 Psychological Statistics and PSYC 20200 Psychological Research Methods by the end of their third year. However, it is strongly recommended that these courses be taken as early as possible as they provide foundational concepts that facilitate understanding of subject area courses. These two courses cover the conceptual and methodological issues (Psy Rech Meth) and the statistical methods (Psych Stats) used in psychological science and are typically taught in Autumn and Winter Quarters. These two courses may be taken in any order.

Psychology

The Department of Psychology does not have a terminal Masters degree program. However, the Division of the Social Sciences offers two Masters degrees that may be of interest to prospective psychology students. In lieu of an MA in Psychology offered by the Department, the Master of Arts Program in the Social Sciences (MAPSS) allows for a concentration in psychology. New in 2016, the MA in Computational Social Science provides the ability to tailor your coursework to your academic or professional interest. Students interested in psychology, for example, may take 3 courses in mathematical and statistical methods for neuroscience. MASTER OF ARTS PROGRAM IN THE SOCIAL SCIENCES (MAPSS) MAPSS is an intense, intellectually transformative one-year program offering extraordinary access to the faculty and resources of a world-class research University. Students concentrate in anthropology, economics, history, political science, psychology, sociology, or in interdisciplinary research. They take nine graduate courses, selected from all UChicago departments and professional schools. They work directly with UChicago faculty on the MA thesis. Students are assisted in their course selections, and offered weekly mentorship for their research, by doctoral student “preceptors" and by the MAPSS senior staff. MAPSS is highly selective for admission and offers substantial merit aid, from partial to full tuition grants. They place more students for funded PhD study than any MA program in the world. MAPSS helps students focused on careers outside of academia to develop professional-grade research and writing skills. They have a structured, flexible curriculum that helps students decide which path is right for them, with a dedicated Director of Career Services providing weekly workshops and support. DOCTORAL PROGRAM For over a century, the Department of Psychology at the University of Chicago has been a leading center of scholarship, research and teaching in psychology and related fields. True to the Division’s interdisciplinary nature, its faculty members reflect the contemporary state of the field by serving on more than one of the department’s programs in cognition, developmental psychology, integrative neuroscience, and social psychology. Additionally, the department maintains close connections with other areas of the university: faculty and students participate in courses, colloquia, workshops and joint research ventures with scholars in related departments including anthropology, biology, computer science, education, linguistics, and philosophy, and in the University’s professional schools of business, public policy, law, medicine, and social service administration. Doctoral study in the University of Chicago's Department of Psychology typically spans five years and includes a common curriculum of eight courses with other requirements set by the student's area of specialization. In addition, each student will complete a trial research project under the guidance of a faculty adviser or advisers, and complete a dissertation. Students are evaluated yearly to determine progress. Advisers are a critical component of students' experience in the doctoral program, providing guidance and collaboration in conducting research and academic advising. Please visit the links to the left for more detail about the curriculum, research requirements, admissions information, and for examples of recent dissertations.