Experimental Psychology Graduate Programs

Experimental Psychology Graduate Programs and Curriculum

Ideally, applicants to experimental psychology graduate schools possess the following qualities:

• Committed to research
• Solid grounding in psychology and statistics
• Comfortable with scientific writing
• Able to work compassionately with both human and animal subjects

Experimental Psychology Graduate Programs and Curriculum

Experimental psychology graduate students are generally required to select an area of focus within experimental psychology for their studies. These could include:

• Behavioral neuroscience
• Cognitive neuroscience
• Developmental neuroscience
• Health
• Industrial
• Applied quantitative
• Social

Students are required to take certain core courses in combination with electives. Core courses might include:

• Basic quantitative methods
• Psychological measurement
• Multivariate analysis
• Neuroscience
• Cognitive psychology
• Learning and motivation
• Developmental psychology
• Ethics in psychological research

Both master’s degrees and Ph.D.’s in experimental psychology exist. The master’s program generally takes two to three years to complete and is undertaken either as a professional degree leading to research, or as a prerequisite to entering a Ph.D. program. The Ph.D. takes five to seven years to complete. Most master’s programs require a thesis and most Ph.D. programs require a dissertation.

Prerequisites vary for different schools. Some experimental psychology graduate schools require their applicants to have had courses in statistics, experimental methods, and psychology.. In addition, most experimental psychology graduate programs require GRE scores, letters of recommendation, and a personal statement describing career goals. TOEFL scores are also required, if applicable. Be sure to check with the admissions department at the school of your choice for specifics

The American Psychological Association sets standards and ethics, and promotes and disseminates research. The APA’s Commission on Accreditation accredits psychology graduate programs. If you plan to seek licensure, which is required in most states in order to practice, you will need to attend an accredited school.

While experienced experimental psychologists have specialized and intensive training in their field, most students who graduate from an APA-accredited doctor of psychology program will have the training needed to conduct experiments and run tests.

Experimental Psychology Career Paths

Experimental psychologists work in government, private industry, nonprofit, and university settings. They use both human and animal subjects to study a wide range of psychological processes, and may be qualified to teach at the university level. Some experimental psychologists work in business settings helping employees identify ways to make their work safer or more productive.

Experimental Psychology Future Job Outlook

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, in 2010 psychologists earned a median pay of $68,640 per year. The lowest 10% earned less than $39,200, and the top 10% earned over $111,810. Data specific to experimental psychologists was not available.

Also according to the BLS, this occupation is expected to grow by 22% between 2010 and 2020, which is faster than average. Demand for psychologists is anticipated to increase because people are increasingly turning to mental health professionals for help solving their problems. Moreover, in healthcare settings, professionals are more frequently working on comprehensive teams which meet both the patient’s emotional and physical needs. However, job competition will be stiff due to the number of qualified candidates graduating. Job prospects are expected to be best for those holding advanced degrees.

Data according to

Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2012-13 Ed.