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Department of Psychology

  • A diverse group of students sit outside on the steps in front of a brick building. They are split off in various smaller groups and are engaged in conversation with each other.

    Driving Positive Change

    Work with world-class faculty on cutting-edge research projects that advance mental health in our state and beyond.

Graduate

Our Ph.D. program prepares you for your psychology career with hands-on research and clinical experience. Choose a concentration, find a faculty mentor and explore the concepts that interest you in one of the top two nationally-ranked psychology programs in terms of research productivity. Here, you will gain the experience you need to teach or practice psychology and enter academic positions at distinguished universities, institutes, medical centers, schools, hospitals or private practices. 

Courses of Study

Choose from concentrations in Clinical-Community Psychology (APA accredited as a program in clinical psychology), Cognitive and Neural Sciences, Quantitative Psychology and School Psychology (APA accredited, NASP accredited). You can also earn your master's degree on the way to your Ph.D. 

Clinical-Community Psychology

Pursue applied practice or ongoing research serving a diverse population.

Cognitive & Neural Science

Uncover the cognitive and neural bases of behavior using experimental methods and the latest technology.

Quantitative Psychology

Measure and analyze data to model psychological processes more effectively.

School Program

Identify the learning and behavioral health needs of children and adolescents.

Behavioral-Biomedical Interface Program

Apply for additional training in biomedical research to promote optimal health outcomes.

 

Research Themes 

Work side by side with leading faculty at the McCausland Center, Institute for Mind and Brain and the Psychology Services Center. Assist on or begin your own project in a focused research area including: 

  • Behavioral neuroscience  
  • Cognitive neuroscience of attention, language, memory, emotion and cognition  
  • Multicultural psychology  
  • Psychological development, etiology, prevention and treatment in communities, family and school contexts  
  • Social, emotional, behavioral and health functioning of children and adolescents 
  • Quantitative psychology 

 

Clinical Training 

Students in the applied concentrations have opportunities to earn coveted APA-certified internships, community-based externship and clinical training opportunities. We have a 100 percent placement rate for the Clinical-Community and School programs at facilities including: 

  • K-12 schools throughout South Carolina 
  • Psychology Services Center at the University of South Carolina 
  • PRISMA, MUSC, Harvard, Johns Hopkins, UNC and CHOP 

Challenge the conventional. Create the exceptional. No Limits.

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