Doctor of Philosophy - Psychological and Brain Sciences

Course Requirements

Degree Requirements

1. En route to doctoral candidacy the student must complete the requirements for a master’s degree in Psychological & Brain Sciences and complete 6 credits of thesis over a minimum of 2 semesters.
2. In addition to a master’s degree in Psychological & Brain Sciences equivalent to the one previously described (33 credits), a minimum of 39 credits in graduate coursework is required for the doctoral degree.
3. Student will be required to complete a Qualifying Activity before proposing a Dissertation. The purpose of the qualifying activity is for the student to acquire not only the expertise in a given area, but also the ability to explain, discuss, and debate questions within that and related areas. Students may choose, in consultation with their advisor, from the following qualifying activities: one extensive qualifying paper, three brief papers, a written examination, or an oral examination.
4. Students must obtain a grade of B- or better in each course taken for that course to count toward the degree. One grade below a B- (i.e., C+ or lower) will result in probation. Once a student is on probation for receiving a grade below a B-, a second grade (in the same or a different class) below a B- will result in immediate separation from the program. If a student re-takes a course in which they received a grade lower than a B- (i.e., C+ or lower) and earns a B- or better, they will be removed from probation. A student may be on academic probation only twice during their graduate career in Psychological & Brain Sciences; a third probation will result in separation from the program. No student shall be allowed more than two simultaneous grades of incomplete, except in the case of a documented and approved medical leave.
5. Students must conform to all policies of the UNLV Graduate College, as stated in the UNLV Graduate Catalog, those stated in the UNLV Psychological & Brain Sciences Doctoral Program Student Handbook, and the American Psychological Association Code of Ethics. Students will be evaluated at least yearly across several professional competencies in the following three areas: (1) academic performance; (2) scholarly research activity; and (3) ethical behavior and professional conduct. If the program determines that a student is not making satisfactory progress toward the degree, it may request the Graduate Dean to separate the student from the program or place the student on probation. Failure to meet the conditions of the probation will result in separation from the program.
6. Students must take a minimum of four semesters of dissertation which can include summers. The dissertation must be orally proposed and defended.

Graduation Requirements

1. The student must submit all required forms to the Graduate College as well as apply for graduation up to two semesters prior to completing their degree requirements for both the Master’s and Doctoral portions of the program.
2. The student must submit and successfully defend their thesis by the posted deadline. The defense must be advertised and is open to the public.
3. After the thesis defense, the student must electronically submit a properly formatted pdf copy of their thesis to the Graduate College for format check. Once the thesis format has been approved by the Graduate College, the student will submit the approved electronic version to ProQuest. Deadlines for thesis defenses, format check submissions, and the final ProQuest submission can be found here. 
4. The student must submit and successfully defend their dissertation by the posted deadline. The defense must be advertised and is open to the public.
5. After the dissertation defense, the student must electronically submit a properly formatted pdf copy of their dissertation to the Graduate College for format check. Once the dissertation format has been approved by the Graduate College, the student will submit the approved electronic version to ProQuest. Deadlines for dissertation defenses, format check submissions, and the final ProQuest submission can be found here. 

Course Requirements

Degree Requirements

1. En route to doctoral candidacy the student must complete the requirements for a Master of Arts in Psychological and Brain Sciences, and complete 6 credits of thesis over a minimum of 2 semesters.
2. In addition to a Master of Arts in Psychological and Brain Sciences equivalent to the one previously described (33 credits), a minimum of 39 credits in graduate psychology is required for the doctoral degree.
3. Students will be required to complete a Qualifying Activity before proposing a Dissertation. The purpose of the qualifying activity is for the student to acquire not only the expertise in a given area but also the ability to explain, discuss, and debate questions within that and related areas. Students may choose, in consultation with their advisor, from the following qualifying activities: one extensive qualifying paper, three brief papers, a written examination, or an oral examination.
4. Students must obtain a grade of B- or better in each course taken for that course to count toward the degree. One grade below a B- (i.e., C+ or lower) will result in probation. Once a student is on probation for receiving a grade below a B-, a second grade (in the same or a different class) below a B- will result in immediate separation from the program. If a student retakes a course in which they received a grade lower than a B- (i.e., C+ or lower) and earns a B- or better, that student will be removed from probation. A student may be on academic probation only twice during their graduate career in Psychological & Brain Sciences; a third probation will result in separation from the program. No student shall be allowed more than two simultaneous grades of incomplete, except in the case of a documented and approved medical leave.
5. Students must conform to all policies of the UNLV Graduate College as stated in the UNLV Graduate Catalog, those policies stated in the UNLV Psychological & Brain Sciences Doctoral Program Student Handbook, and the American Psychological Association Code of Ethics. Students will be evaluated at least yearly across several professional competencies in the following three areas: (1) academic performance; (2) scholarly research activity; and (3) ethical behavior and professional conduct. If the program determines that a student is not making satisfactory progress toward the degree, it may request the Graduate Dean to separate the student from the program or place the student on probation. Failure to meet the conditions of the probation will result in separation from the program.
6. Students must take a minimum of four semesters of dissertation, which can include summers. The dissertation must be orally proposed and defended.

Graduation Requirements

1. Students must submit all required forms to the Graduate College as well as apply for graduation up to two semesters prior to completing their degree requirements for both the master’s and doctoral portions of the program.
2. Students must submit and successfully defend their thesis by the posted deadline. The defense must be advertised and is open to the public.
3. After the thesis defense, the student must electronically submit a properly formatted pdf copy of their thesis to the Graduate College for format check. Once the thesis format has been approved by the Graduate College, the student will submit the approved electronic version to ProQuest. Deadlines for thesis defenses, format check submissions, and the final ProQuest submission can be found here. 
4. Students must submit and successfully defend their dissertation by the posted deadline. The defense must be advertised and is open to the public.
5. After the dissertation defense, the student must electronically submit a properly formatted pdf copy of their dissertation to the Graduate College for format check. Once the dissertation format has been approved by the Graduate College, the student will submit the approved electronic version to ProQuest. Deadlines for dissertation defenses, format check submissions, and the final ProQuest submission can be found here. 

Course Requirements

Degree Requirements

1. En route to doctoral candidacy the student must complete the requirements for a Master of Arts in Psychological and Brain Sciences, and complete 6 credits of thesis over a minimum of 2 semesters.
2. In addition to a Master of Arts in Psychological and Brain Sciences equivalent to the one previously described (33 credits), a minimum of 39 credits in graduate psychology is required for the doctoral degree.
3. Student will be required to complete a Qualifying Activity before proposing a Dissertation. The purpose of the qualifying activity is for the student to acquire not only the expertise in a given area, but also the ability to explain, discuss, and debate questions within that and related areas. Students may choose, in consultation with their advisor, from the following qualifying activities: one extensive qualifying paper, three brief papers, a written examination, or an oral examination.
4. Students must obtain a grade of B- or better in each course taken for that course to count toward the degree. One grade below a B- (i.e., C+ or lower) will result in probation. Once a student is on probation for receiving a grade below a B-, a second grade (in the same or a different class) below a B- will result in immediate separation from the program. If a student re-takes a course in which they received a grade lower than a B- (i.e. C+ or lower) and earns a B- or better, they will be removed from probation. A student may be on academic probation only twice during their graduate career in Psychological & Brain Sciences; a third probation will result in separation from the program. No student shall be allowed more than two simultaneous grades of incomplete, except in the case of a documented and approved medical leave.
5. Students must conform to all policies of the UNLV Graduate College, as stated in the UNLV Graduate Catalog, those stated in the UNLV Psychological & Brain Sciences Doctoral Program Student Handbook, and the American Psychological Association Code of Ethics. Students will be evaluated at least yearly across several professional competencies in the following three areas: (1) academic performance; (2) scholarly research activity; and (3) ethical behavior and professional conduct. If the program determines that a student is not making satisfactory progress toward the degree, it may request the Graduate Dean to separate the student from the program or place the student on probation. Failure to meet the conditions of the probation will result in separation from the program.
6. Students must take a minimum of four semesters of dissertation which can include summers. The dissertation must be orally proposed and defended.

Graduation Requirements

1. The student must submit all required forms to the Graduate College as well as apply for graduation up to two semesters prior to completing their degree requirements for both the Master’s and Doctoral portions of the program.
2. The student must submit and successfully defend their thesis by the posted deadline. The defense must be advertised and is open to the public.
3. After the thesis defense, the student must electronically submit a properly formatted pdf copy of their thesis to the Graduate College for format check. Once the thesis format has been approved by the Graduate College, the student will submit the approved electronic version to ProQuest. Deadlines for thesis defenses, format check submissions, and the final ProQuest submission can be found here. 
4. The student must submit and successfully defend their dissertation by the posted deadline. The defense must be advertised and is open to the public.
5. After the dissertation defense, the student must electronically submit a properly formatted pdf copy of their dissertation to the Graduate College for format check. Once the dissertation format has been approved by the Graduate College, the student will submit the approved electronic version to ProQuest. Deadlines for dissertation defenses, format check submissions, and the final ProQuest submission can be found here. 

Course Requirements

Degree Requirements

1. En route to doctoral candidacy the student must complete the requirements for a Master of Arts in Psychological and Brain Sciences, and complete 6 credits of thesis over a minimum of 2 semesters.
2. In addition to a Master of Arts in Psychological and Brain Sciences equivalent to the one previously described (33 credits), a minimum of 39 credits in graduate coursework is required for the doctoral degree.
3. Student will be required to complete a Qualifying Activity before proposing a Dissertation. The purpose of the qualifying activity is for the student to acquire not only the expertise in a given area, but also the ability to explain, discuss, and debate questions within that and related areas. Students may choose, in consultation with their advisor, from the following qualifying activities: one extensive qualifying paper, three brief papers, a written examination, or an oral examination.
4. Students must obtain a grade of B- or better in each course taken for that course to count toward the degree. One grade below a B- (i.e., C+ or lower) will result in probation. Once a student is on probation for receiving a grade below a B-, a second grade (in the same or a different class) below a B- will result in immediate separation from the program. If a student re-takes a course in which they received a grade lower than a B- (i.e., C+ or lower) and earns a B- or better, they will be removed from probation. A student may be on academic probation only twice during their graduate career in Psychological & Brain Sciences; a third probation will result in separation from the program. No student shall be allowed more than two simultaneous grades of incomplete, except in the case of a documented and approved medical leave.
5. Students must conform to all policies of the UNLV Graduate College, as stated in the UNLV Graduate Catalog, those stated in the UNLV Psychological & Brain Sciences Doctoral Program Student Handbook, and the American Psychological Association Code of Ethics. Students will be evaluated at least yearly across several professional competencies in the following three areas: (1) academic performance; (2) scholarly research activity; and (3) ethical behavior and professional conduct. If the program determines that a student is not making satisfactory progress toward the degree, it may request the Graduate Dean to separate the student from the program or place the student on probation. Failure to meet the conditions of the probation will result in separation from the program.
6. Students must take a minimum of four semesters of dissertation which can include summers. The dissertation must be orally proposed and defended.

Graduation Requirements

1. The student must submit all required forms to the Graduate College as well as apply for graduation up to two semesters prior to completing their degree requirements for both the Master’s and Doctoral portions of the program.
2. The student must submit and successfully defend their thesis by the posted deadline. The defense must be advertised and is open to the public.
3. After the thesis defense, the student must electronically submit a properly formatted pdf copy of their thesis to the Graduate College for format check. Once the thesis format has been approved by the Graduate College, the student will submit the approved electronic version to ProQuest. Deadlines for thesis defenses, format check submissions, and the final ProQuest submission can be found here. 
4. The student must submit and successfully defend their dissertation by the posted deadline. The defense must be advertised and is open to the public.
5. After the dissertation defense, the student must electronically submit a properly formatted pdf copy of their dissertation to the Graduate College for format check. Once the dissertation format has been approved by the Graduate College, the student will submit the approved electronic version to ProQuest. Deadlines for dissertation defenses, format check submissions, and the final ProQuest submission can be found here. 

Course Requirements

Degree Requirements

1. Students must complete a minimum of 42 credits with a minimum GPA of 3.00. Additional credits may be required to address student deficiencies or build specialized expertise.
2. Students will be required to complete a Qualifying Activity before proposing a Dissertation. The purpose of the qualifying activity is for the student to acquire not only the expertise in a given area but also the ability to explain, discuss, and debate questions within that and related areas. Students may choose, in consultation with their advisor, from the following qualifying activities: one extensive qualifying paper, three brief papers, a written examination, or an oral examination.
3. Students must obtain a grade of B- or better in each course taken for that course to count toward the degree. One grade below a B- (i.e., C+ or lower) will result in probation. Once a student is on probation for receiving a grade below a B-, a second grade (in the same or a different class) below a B- will result in immediate separation from the program. If a student retakes a course in which they received a grade lower than a B- (i.e., C+ or lower) and earns a B- or better, that student will be removed from probation. A student may be on academic probation only twice during their graduate career in Psychological & Brain Sciences; a third probation will result in separation from the program. No student shall be allowed more than two simultaneous grades of incomplete, except in the case of a documented and approved medical leave.
4. Students must conform to all policies of the UNLV Graduate College as stated in the UNLV Graduate Catalog, those policies stated in the UNLV Psychological & Brain Sciences Doctoral Program Student Handbook, and the American Psychological Association Code of Ethics. Students will be evaluated at least yearly across several professional competencies in the following three areas: (1) academic performance; (2) scholarly research activity; and (3) ethical behavior and professional conduct. If the program determines that a student is not making satisfactory progress toward the degree, it may request the Graduate Dean to separate the student from the program or place the student on probation. Failure to meet the conditions of the probation will result in separation from the program.
5. Students must take a minimum of four semesters of dissertation, which can include summers. The dissertation must be orally proposed and defended.

Graduation Requirements

1. Students must submit all required forms to the Graduate College as well as apply for graduation up to two semesters prior to completing their degree requirements for the doctoral portions of the program.
2. Students must submit and successfully defend their dissertation by the posted deadline. The defense must be advertised and is open to the public.
3. After the dissertation defense, the student must electronically submit a properly formatted pdf copy of their dissertation to the Graduate College for format check. Once the dissertation format has been approved by the Graduate College, the student will submit the approved electronic version to ProQuest. Deadlines for dissertation defenses, format check submissions, and the final ProQuest submission can be found here. 

Course Requirements

Degree Requirements

1. Students must complete a minimum of 42 credits with a minimum GPA of 3.00. Additional credits may be required to address student deficiencies or build specialized expertise.
2. Students will be required to complete a Qualifying Activity before proposing a Dissertation. The purpose of the qualifying activity is for the student to acquire not only the expertise in a given area but also the ability to explain, discuss, and debate questions within that and related areas. Students may choose, in consultation with their advisor, from the following qualifying activities: one extensive qualifying paper, three brief papers, a written examination, or an oral examination.
3. Students must obtain a grade of B- or better in each course taken for that course to count toward the degree. One grade below a B- (i.e., C+ or lower) will result in probation. Once a student is on probation for receiving a grade below a B-, a second grade (in the same or a different class) below a B- will result in immediate separation from the program. If a student retakes a course in which they received a grade lower than a B- (i.e., C+ or lower) and earns a B- or better, that student will be removed from probation. A student may be on academic probation only twice during their graduate career in Psychological & Brain Sciences; a third probation will result in separation from the program. No student shall be allowed more than two simultaneous grades of incomplete, except in the case of a documented and approved medical leave.
4. Students must conform to all policies of the UNLV Graduate College as stated in the UNLV Graduate Catalog, those policies stated in the UNLV Psychological & Brain Sciences Doctoral Program Student Handbook, and the American Psychological Association Code of Ethics. Students will be evaluated at least yearly across several professional competencies in the following three areas: (1) academic performance; (2) scholarly research activity; and (3) ethical behavior and professional conduct. If the program determines that a student is not making satisfactory progress toward the degree, it may request the Graduate Dean to separate the student from the program or place the student on probation. Failure to meet the conditions of the probation will result in separation from the program.
5. Students must take a minimum of four semesters of dissertation, which can include summers. The dissertation must be orally proposed and defended.

Graduation Requirements

1. Students must submit all required forms to the Graduate College as well as apply for graduation up to two semesters prior to completing their degree requirements.
2. Students must submit and successfully defend their dissertation by the posted deadline. The defense must be advertised and is open to the public.
3. After the dissertation defense, the student must electronically submit a properly formatted pdf copy of their dissertation to the Graduate College for format check. Once the dissertation format has been approved by the Graduate College, the student will submit the approved electronic version to ProQuest. Deadlines for dissertation defenses, format check submissions, and the final ProQuest submission can be found here. 

Course Requirements

Degree Requirements

1. Students must complete a minimum of 42 credits with a minimum GPA of 3.00. Additional credits may be required to address student deficiencies or build specialized expertise.
2. Students will be required to complete a Qualifying Activity before proposing a Dissertation. The purpose of the qualifying activity is for the student to acquire not only the expertise in a given area, but also the ability to explain, discuss, and debate questions within that and related areas. Students may choose, in consultation with their advisor, from the following qualifying activities: one extensive qualifying paper, three brief papers, a written examination, or an oral examination.
3. Students must obtain a grade of B- or better in each course taken for that course to count toward the degree. One grade below a B- (i.e., C+ or lower) will result in probation. Once a student is on probation for receiving a grade below a B-, a second grade (in the same or a different class) below a B- will result in immediate separation from the program. If a student retakes a course in which they received a grade lower than a B- (i.e., C+ or lower) and earns a B- or better, they will be removed from probation. A student may be on academic probation only twice during their graduate career in Psychological & Brain Sciences; a third probation will result in separation from the program. No student shall be allowed more than two simultaneous grades of incomplete, except in the case of a documented and approved medical leave.
4. Students must conform to all policies of the UNLV Graduate College as stated in the UNLV Graduate Catalog, those policies stated in the UNLV Psychological & Brain Sciences Doctoral Program Student Handbook, and the American Psychological Association Code of Ethics. Students will be evaluated at least yearly across several professional competencies in the following three areas: (1) academic performance; (2) scholarly research activity; and (3) ethical behavior and professional conduct. If the program determines that a student is not making satisfactory progress toward the degree, it may request the Graduate Dean to separate the student from the program or place the student on probation. Failure to meet the conditions of the probation will result in separation from the program.
5. Students must take a minimum of four semesters of dissertation, which can include summers. The dissertation must be orally proposed and defended.

Graduation Requirements

1. Students must submit all required forms to the Graduate College as well as apply for graduation up to two semesters prior to completing their degree requirements for the doctoral portions of the program.
2. Students must submit and successfully defend their dissertation by the posted deadline. The defense must be advertised and is open to the public.
3. After the dissertation defense, the student must electronically submit a properly formatted pdf copy of their dissertation to the Graduate College for format check. Once the dissertation format has been approved by the Graduate College, the student will submit the approved electronic version to ProQuest. Deadlines for dissertation defenses, format check submissions, and the final ProQuest submission can be found here. 

Course Requirements

Degree Requirements

1. Students must complete a minimum of 42 credits with a minimum GPA of 3.00. Additional credits may be required to address student deficiencies or build specialized expertise.
2. Student will be required to complete a Qualifying Activity before proposing a Dissertation. The purpose of the qualifying activity is for the student to acquire not only the expertise in a given area, but also the ability to explain, discuss, and debate questions within that and related areas. Students may choose, in consultation with their advisor, from the following qualifying activities: one extensive qualifying paper, three brief papers, a written examination, or an oral examination.
3. Students must obtain a grade of B- or better in each course taken for that course to count toward the degree. One grade below a B- (i.e., C+ or lower) will result in probation. Once a student is on probation for receiving a grade below a B-, a second grade (in the same or a different class) below a B- will result in immediate separation from the program. If a student re-takes a course in which they received a grade lower than a B- (i.e., C+ or lower) and earns a B- or better, they will be removed from probation. A student may be on academic probation only twice during their graduate career in Psychological & Brain Sciences; a third probation will result in separation from the program. No student shall be allowed more than two simultaneous grades of incomplete, except in the case of a documented and approved medical leave.
4. Students must conform to all policies of the UNLV Graduate College, as stated in the UNLV Graduate Catalog, those stated in the UNLV Experimental Psychological & Brain Sciences Doctoral Program Student Handbook, and the American Psychological Association Code of Ethics. Students will be evaluated at least yearly across several professional competencies in the following three areas: (1) academic performance; (2) scholarly research activity; and (3) ethical behavior and professional conduct. If the program determines that a student is not making satisfactory progress toward the degree, it may request the Graduate Dean to separate the student from the program or place the student on probation. Failure to meet the conditions of the probation will result in separation from the program.
5. Students must take a minimum of four semesters of dissertation which can include summers. The dissertation must be orally proposed and defended.

Graduation Requirements

1. Students must submit all required forms to the Graduate College as well as apply for graduation up to two semesters prior to completing their degree requirements.
2. Students must submit and successfully defend their dissertation by the posted deadline. The defense must be advertised and is open to the public. After the dissertation defense, the student must electronically submit a properly formatted pdf copy of their dissertation to the Graduate College for format check.
3. Once the dissertation format has been approved by the Graduate College, the student will submit the approved electronic version to ProQuest. Deadlines for dissertation defenses, format check submissions, and the final ProQuest submission can be found here.