1. Psychology
  2. Training Areas
  3. Psychology and Law
  4. Curriculum and Degree Information

Curriculum and Degree Information

The Psychology & Law curriculum consists of 60 credits. The following courses are required:

  • Statistics I & II
  • Research Methods & Design I & II
  • Experimental Psychology & Law
  • Core courses (3 chosen from list below)
  • Cognitive, Social, Developmental, Physiological, Psychometrics &
  • Advanced Cognitive/Social/Developmental/Physiological
  • Advanced Statistics Elective 
  • Research Practicum I & II
  • Ethics
  • Electives (24 credits in Psychology and/or Law and/or Advanced Statistics/Methods)

Additional requirements:

  • First Doctoral Exam – research project/MA thesis
  • Comprehensive Examination – grant proposals and/or psychological bulletin article
  • Second Doctoral Examination – review of domain relevant to dissertation
  • Third Doctoral Examination – dissertation

Below is a model program of study:

Year 1 – Fall

  • PSY 70500 – Statistics I
  • PSY 70310 – Research Methods & Design I
  • PSY 80900 – Experimental Psychology & Law

Year 1 – Spring

  • PSY 70600 – Statistics II
  • PSY 70320 – Research Methods & Design II
  • Elective (course in Psychology &/or Law, typically, or Advanced Statistics/Methods)

Year 2 – Fall

  • Advanced Statistics Elective - required
  • Core course (Cognitive, Social, Developmental, Physiological, Psychometrics & Advanced Cog/Soc/Dev/Physio)
  • Elective (course in Psychology &/or Law, typically, or Advanced Statistics/Methods)
  • PSY 70330 – Research Practicum I

Year 2 – Spring

  • PSY 77100 (or comparable) – Ethics
  • Core course (Cognitive, Social, Developmental, Physiological, Psychometrics & Advanced Cog/Soc/Dev/Physio)
  • Elective (course in Psychology &/or Law, typically, or Advanced Statistics/Methods)
  • PSY 70330 – Research Practicum II

First Doctoral Exam – Completed approximately here
Year 3 – Fall

  • Core course (Cognitive, Social, Developmental, Physiological, Psychometrics & Advanced Cog/Soc/Dev/Physio)   
  • Elective (course in Psychology &/or Law, typically, or Advanced Statistics/Methods)
  • Elective (course in Psychology &/or Law, typically, or Advanced Statistics/Methods)

Year 3 – Spring

  • Elective (course in Psychology &/or Law, typically, or Advanced Statistics/Methods)
  • Elective (course in Psychology &/or Law, typically, or Advanced Statistics/Methods)
  • Elective (course in Psychology &/or Law, typically, or Advanced Statistics/Methods)

Comprehensive Examination and Second Doctoral Examination – Complete early Year 4
Dissertation research and Third Doctoral Examination – Complete end year 5