Psychology

Chair of the Department: John M. McGuire
Associate Chair: D. W. Abbott
Clinical Psychology Ph.D. Graduate Program Coordinator: Mark D. Rapport
PH 409J, (407) 823-2974.
E-mail: mrapport@mail.ucf.edu
Clinical Psychology M.A. Graduate Program Coordinator: Bernard J. Jensen
PH 302C, (407) 823-2157.
E-mail: bjensen@pegasus.cc.ucf.edu
Industrial/Organizational Psychology Ph.D. Graduate Program Coordinator: Eugene Stone-Romero
PH 309F, (407) 823-2544.
E-mail: estone@pegasus.cc.ucf.edu
Industrial/Organizational Psychology M.S. Graduate Program Coordinator: William Wooten
PH 409G, (407) 823-3478.
E-mail: wwooten@pegasus.cc.ucf.edu
Human Factors Psychology Graduate Program Coordinator: Eduardo Salas
PH 302H, (407) 823-2552.
E-mail: esalas@pegasus.cc.ucf.edu
Graduate Program Coordinator, Daytona Beach Area Campus: Bernard J. Jensen (see above)

Faculty

Professors: D. W. Abbott, Ph.D.; W. A. Burroughs, Ph.D.; R. D. Gilson, Ph.D.; J. C. Hitt, Ph.D., President; J. M. Koonce, Ph.D., Director of CAHFA; J. M. McGuire, Ph.D.; B. B. Morgan, Jr., Associate Dean, Ph.D.; M. D. Rapport, Ph.D.; E. J. Rinalducci, Ph.D.; J. B. Rollins, Ph.D., Director, Daytona Beach Campus; E. Salas, Ph.D.; E. Stone-Romero, Ph.D.; M. H. Thomas, Ph.D.; R. D. Tucker, Ph.D.; A. Y. Wang, Ph.D.
Associate Professors: B. I. Blau, Ph.D.; C. A. Bowers, Ph.D.; J. C. Brophy, Ph.D.; R. D. Fisher, Ph.D.; C. L. Hanson, Ph.D.; B. J. Jensen, Ph.D.; M. Mouloua, Ph.D.; E. C. Shirkey, Ph.D.; J. A. Smither, Ph.D.; P. M. Tell, Ph.D.; W. Wooten, Ph.D.
Assistant Professors: M. E. Dunn, Ph.D.; S. T. Dunn, Ph.D.; C. Frederick, Ph.D.; B. A. Fritzsche, Ph.D.; C. Negy, Ph.D.; K. Renk, Ph.D.; V. Sims, Ph.D.; J. L. Weaver, Ph.D.
Instructors: M. H. Newlin, Ph.D.; M. J. Lavooy, Ph.D.; K. Mottarella, Psy.D.
Visiting Instructor: M. Chin, Ph.D.

The Psychology Department offers graduate programs in three areas: Industrial and Organizational, Human Factors, and Clinical Psychology. Terminal master’s degree programs are offered in Clinical psychology and Industrial and Organizational psychology. The Ph.D. degree in psychology has three tracks: Clinical, Human Factors, and Industrial and Organizational psychology.

Master of Arts in Clinical Psychology

The Master of Arts degree program in clinical psychology is offered at the Daytona Beach area campus and is concerned with the application of psychological principles to individuals. The two primary areas of emphasis include assessment or evaluation skills, and intervention or psychotherapy skills. The program was initiated for the purpose of providing training and preparation at the master’s level for individuals desiring to deliver clinical services through community agencies. M.A. graduates have been involved in mental health service delivery through individual, marital, family, and group psychotherapy, as well as crisis intervention and other specialized therapeutic procedures. The program curriculum is consistent with the educational criteria for licensure as a Mental Health Counselor in the state of Florida.

Admission into the clinical master’s program is competitive, with all information that might be available to the committee (e.g., GRE scores, GPA, letters of reference, personal statement, clinical experience, research experience, interview performance [if held]) considered in admission’s decisions. Many applicants who meet minimum university requirements may not be admitted to the program.

Application Deadlines

Fall admission February 15*
Fall admission July 15
Spring admission September 15

* Students applying for fellowships or assistantships must apply for the fall semester by this date. For those not requiring financial assistance, the application deadline is July 15.

Admission

The Graduate Record Examination (GRE) is required of all graduate students. Applicants must satisfy the university minimum admission criterion of a quantitative-verbal score of 1000 on the GRE or a GPA of 3.0 for the last 60 semester hours of attempted work for the baccalaureate degree. International students and students whose native language is not English must score at least 220 (computer-based test; or equivalent score on the paper-based test) on the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL).

To be considered for admission, applicants must present in a single packet to Graduate Studies, University of Central Florida, P.O. Box 160112, Orlando, FL 32816-0112:

  • A completed UCF graduate degree program application form
  • Evidence of successful completion of undergraduate courses in statistics and in the general area of experimental psychology
  • Official scores on the Graduate Record Examination (taken within the last five years)
  • Completed transcripts showing a baccalaureate degree (and master’s degree, if conferred) and grades for all undergraduate and graduate work
  • A resume and written statement outlining the student’s academic and professional goals
  • Three letters of reference, with at least two furnished by college or university professors who are acquainted with the applicant.
All requested material should be submitted by February 15 (for Fall admission) and September 15 (for Spring admission) for full consideration. Materials submitted after these deadlines will be considered, but the likelihood of admission may be reduced. A department admissions committee reviews each student’s credentials and may invite candidates for an interview. Final selection is based on both paper credentials and the interview, if held.

Competency/Prerequisite Requirements

Applicants must have either a baccalaureate degree with a major in psychology or a baccalaureate degree in another content area and completion of 15 semester hours of undergraduate psychology courses prior to matriculation. It is preferred that the courses be selected from the following areas: abnormal psychology; developmental (lifespan preferred) or child psychology; personality theories; learning; physiological psychology; and courses in research methods and statistics.

Degree Requirements

The M.A. degree program in Clinical Psychology is a two-year, six-semester program for full-time students, with summer course work required in both years. Part-time students should plan their curriculum carefully in consultation with their advisor. The program consists of a minimum of 60 semester hours of work as follows:

Academic Course Work—48 Semester Hours
CLP 5166 Advanced Abnormal Psychology (3 hours)
CLP 6181 Psychological Theories of Substance Abuse Treatment (3 hours)
CLP 6191 Cross-Cultural Psychotherapy (3 hours)
CLP 6321 Psychotherapy in Community Settings (3 hours)
CLP 6441 Introduction to Individual Psychological Assessment (3 hours)
CLP 6456 Individual Counseling - Theory and Practice (3 hours)
CLP 6457 Group Psychotherapy (3 hours)
CLP 6458 Behavior Therapy (3 hours)
CLP 6459 Human Sexuality, Marriage and Sex Therapies (3 hours)
CLP 6460 Introduction to Child, Adolescent, and Family Therapies (3 hours)
CLP 6932 Ethical and Professional Issues in Mental Health Practice (3 hours)
CLP 6943 Clinical Practicum (2 hours)
DEP 5057 Developmental Psychology (3 hours)
PSY 6216 Advanced Research Methodology I (4 hours)
*MHS 6020 Mental Health Care Systems (3 hours)
*SDS 6330 Career Development (3 hours)

* These courses are offered in the Mental Health Counseling Track in the Counselor Education Program of the College of Education

Internship—12 Semester Hours
(See description below.)
CYP 6948 Psychology Internship (12 hours)

Minimum Hours Required for M.A.—60 Semester Hours

Clinical Internship Requirement
The purpose of the internship requirement is to provide the M.A. candidate in Clinical Psychology with a comprehensive, practical-based experience under direct supervision. A public agency or nonprofit institution with nondiscriminatory practices is the prototype. The intern is assigned to an acceptable agency for a total of 1000 hours during three consecutive academic semesters (20 hours per week for 16 weeks during Fall and Spring Terms, and 30 hours per week for 12 weeks during the Summer Term). An additional commitment of two hours per week is required for the interns to meet as a group with a departmental faculty member for review, feedback, and discussions. A major portion of intern training is in the area of psychotherapy/ counseling. The intern also engages in differential diagnosis and participates in a wide variety of psychological assessment procedures.

It is believed that supervision by qualified and experienced personnel is the primary learning mode by which the intern develops professional expertise and augments the classroom material previously acquired. Satisfactory completion of the following courses is generally required prior to internship: CLP 5166, CLP 6191, CLP 6321, CLP 6441, CLP 6456, CLP 6458, CLP 6943., and MHS 6020. Internship placements are assigned by the program coordinator.

Interns are provided with a system for maintaining accurate accounts of their activity during the week. In addition, an Internship Evaluation form is completed by both the intern and supervisor(s) each semester.

Examination
The culminating academic experience in this non-thesis program is completed in the following way:

Case Presentation. During their final semester of internship training, students must present a case that incorporates an integration of assessment data and its interpretation, theoretical conceptualization, treatment planning, course of therapy, and available outcome data. Students are to write a paper on the case (ensuring ethical consideration of confidentiality issues) and present it to their faculty internship supervisor for final approval.

Master of Science in Industrial/Organizational Psychology

The Master of Science degree program in Industrial/Organizational Psychology is concerned with the application of psychological principles to organizations. Major areas of emphasis include selection and training of employees, applied theories of organizational behavior including models of motivation, job satisfaction, and productivity; test theory and construction; assessment center technology; statistics and experimental design and a variety of current topics.

Industrial/Organizational graduates are involved in many issues of critical importance to society including fairness in the selection and treatment of employees, the creation of work environments that maximize the satisfaction and productivity of employees, and the study of technological influences on human performance.

Application Deadline

Fall admission Only February 1

Admission

The Graduate Record Examination (GRE) is required of all graduate students. Applicants must satisfy the university minimum admission criterion of a quantitative-verbal score of 1000 on the GRE or a GPA of 3.0 for the last 60 semester hours of attempted work for the baccalaureate degree. International students and students whose native language is not English must score at least 220 (computer-based test; or equivalent score on the paper-based test) on the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL).

To be considered for admission, applicants must present in a single packet to Graduate Studies, University of Central Florida, P.O. Box 160112, Orlando, FL 32816-0112:

  • A completed UCF graduate degree program application form
  • Evidence of successful completion of undergraduate courses in statistics and in the general area of experimental psychology
  • Official scores on the Graduate Record Examination (taken within the last five years)
  • Completed transcripts showing a baccalaureate degree (and master’s degree, if conferred) and grades for all undergraduate and graduate work
  • A resume and written statement outlining the student’s academic and professional goals
  • Three letters of reference, with at least two furnished by college or university professors who are acquainted with the applicant.
A file of all requested material must be submitted by February 1. Acceptance decisions are made only in the spring semester for admission in the fall of each year.

Competency/Prerequisite Requirements

Applicants must have either a baccalaureate degree with a major in psychology or a baccalaureate degree and completion of undergraduate psychology courses in statistics and research methods, and four additional upper division courses (12 semester hours) in the core content areas of psychology, for a minimum of 18 upper division hours in psychology.

Degree Requirements

The M.S. degree program in Industrial/Organizational Psychology is a four-semester program for full-time students with no summer course work; however, practicum placements and thesis research may be completed in the summer. The program consists of a minimum of 37 semester hours of work. The required courses, which are scheduled primarily in the evenings to accommodate working students, are as follows:

Academic Course Work—29 Semester Hours
INP 6058 Job and Task Analysis (3 hours)
INP 6215 Assessment Centers and Leadership (3 hours)
INP 6317 Organizational Psychology and Motivation (3 hours)
INP 6605 Training and Performance Appraisal (3 hours)
INP 6094 Current Topics in Industrial/Organizational Psychology (3 hours)
INP 6939 Applied Problems in Industrial/Organizational Psychology (3 hours)
PSY 6216 Advanced Research Methodology I (4 hours)
PSY 6308 Psychological Testing I (4 hours)
PSY 6318 Applied Testing and Selection (3 hours)

Practicum—3 Semester Hours
INP 6946 Industrial Psychology Practicum I (3 hours)

Thesis—8 Semester Hours
PSY 6938 Research Planning Seminar I (1 hour)
PSY 6939 Research Planning Seminar II (1 hour)
PSY 6971 Thesis (6 hours)

Minimum Hours Required for M.S.—40 Semester Hours

Comprehensive Examination
All students in the Industrial/Organizational (l/O) program must pass a comprehensive examination, which is administered in March of the second year and covers all course work to that point.

Practicum
Practicum assignments serve to provide the student with experience in an applied setting while also aiding the organization in which the practicum occurs to meet some specific project need. Practicum possibilities generated by the I/O faculty and students may involve settings in private industry, federal, state, or local government, educational institutions, or consulting firms.

Practicum assignments involve one semester commitments ranging from 12 to 15 hours per week on the part of the student. Depending on the nature of the assignment, this time may be distributed in a variety of ways among the organization, library, field work, etc.

Practicum placements are initiated with a behavioral agreement between the graduate student and the organization. Behavioral agreements and performance objectives are jointly decided by the supervising faculty member, the organization representative, and the student. Full-time students are typically assigned practicum projects for the fall or spring terms of their second year.

Treatise (Thesis - PSY 6971)
The I/O program requires that the student complete an empirical research thesis with an oral defense.

Doctor of Philosophy in Psychology

The Psychology Department offers a Ph.D. in Psychology with three tracks. One track, Clinical Psychology, emphasizes the ability of psychologists to design, conduct, and apply clinical research in administration, treatment, teaching, and supervision. The second track, Human Factors, seeks to develop the capacity to design, conduct, and apply human factors research in a variety of professional settings. The third track, Industrial and Organizational Psychology, develops competency through research and training for the application of psychological principles to organizations. Each of these tracks is patterned on the scientist-practitioner model of the American Psychological Association (APA).

Clinical Psychology Track

A Clinical Psychology doctoral track is offered to those with a baccalaureate or master’s degree in psychology or an allied area. Admission to the Ph.D. program is based on an overall assessment of an applicant’s potential for successfully completing the program and making a contribution to the discipline of Clinical Psychology.

The advent of managed care has resulted in significant changes in the mental health care delivery system and the role of clinical psychologists in that system. It is believed that Ph.D. psychologists will be utilized less for the delivery of psychotherapy and more for performing professional duties such as administration, development of programmatic treatments, program evaluation, supervision, and research. Thus, there is a need to change the training for the professional roles of the clinical psychologist of the twenty-first century. The Ph.D. track in Clinical Psychology is designed to respond to these changing roles by inclusion of unique, niche course work and practica in the areas of administration, supervision, treatment development, and teaching. In combination with these unique emphases, traditional training in research methods, experimental psychology, psychotherapy and psychological assessment prepares students for their careers in the changing mental health care field.

Consistent with the mission of a major metropolitan university, the Clinical Psychology Ph.D. track at UCF takes advantage of, and builds upon, a multitude of community partnerships. One specific example of programmatic efforts to develop partnerships with community agencies is our “clinic without walls.” This concept utilizes existing public and private health service delivery resources in the Central Florida area as training sites.

Accreditation by the American Psychological Association is not immediately available to new programs. Therefore, this program, which admitted its first students in the fall of 1998, is not yet accredited. However, the Department of Psychology will move toward full accreditation of the Clinical Ph.D. as soon as possible.

Application Deadline

Fall admission Only January 15

Admissions

The Graduate Record Examination (GRE) is required of all applicants. The Psychology Subject Test portion of the GRE is not required. To be considered for acceptance, all applicants must meet the university minimum admission criteria of a quantitative-verbal score of 1000 on the GRE or a GPA of at least 3.0 for the last 60 semester hours of attempted work for the baccalaureate degree. Due to the competitive nature of the application process (we receive many applications but can only accept a small number of students each year), strong candidates are likely to meet criteria that are more stringent than those listed here. Strong candidates are also likely to have both research and fieldwork experience. Students whose native language is not English will be required to submit scores of at least 220 (computer-based test; or equivalent score on the paper-based test) on the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL). Previous graduate work will be considered on a case-by-case basis (including acceptance of a previously completed master’s thesis). A maximum of 30 semester hours may be transferred for credit.

To be considered for admission, applicants must present in a single packet to: Graduate Studies, University of Central Florida, P.O. Box 160112, Orlando, FL 32816-0112:

  • A completed UCF graduate degree application form
  • Evidence of successful completion of undergraduate course work in statistics and general areas of psychology noted below
  • Official scores on the Graduate Record Examination (GRE; taken within the last five years)
  • Completed transcripts showing a baccalaureate degree (and master’s degree, if conferred) and grades for all undergraduate and graduate course work
  • A resume and written statement outlining the applicant’s academic and professional goals
  • Three letters of reference, with at least two furnished by college or university professors who are acquainted with the applicant
A file of all requested material must be submitted by January 15. Acceptance decisions are made only in the spring semester for admission in the following fall of each year. A department admissions committee reviews the applicants’ credentials and may invite a group of candidates for an interview. Final selection is based on both paper credentials and the interview, if held.

Competency/Prerequisite Requirements

Applicants must have either a baccalaureate degree with a major in psychology or a baccalaureate degree and completion of undergraduate or graduate courses in statistics/research methods, and six additional upper division courses in core content areas of psychology (i.e., personality theories, abnormal psychology, learning, physiological psychology, developmental psychology, social psychology).

Degree Requirements

The Clinical Ph.D. track is designed to be completed in five years and includes a one-year predoctoral internship to be completed off-campus. It is designed to be a full-time program, with some summer enrollment expected. There are a total of 106 semester hours of courses, practica, and research requirements in the track as detailed below. Courses are presented in sequential fashion and students entering with a baccalaureate degree will earn the M.S. degree enroute to the Ph.D. A master’s thesis and a dissertation, which represents a significant contribution to the discipline, are both required. Successful completion of the Candidacy Examination is required prior to initiation of dissertation research.

Psychology Foundation Courses—12 Semester Hours
DEP 5057 Developmental Psychology (3 hours)
SOP 5059 Advanced Social Psychology (3 hours)
PSY 5604 History and Systems of Psychology (3 hours)
PSB 5005 Physiological Psychology (3 hours)

Research Courses—35 Semester Hours
PSY 6216 Advanced Research Methodology I (4 hours)
PSY 6217 Advanced Research Methodology II (4 hours)
PSY 6946 Research Practicum (taken 3 times @ 2 hours; 6 hours)
PSY 6971 Thesis (6 hours)
PSY 7980 Doctoral Dissertation (15 hours)

Clinical Courses—35 Semester Hours
CLP 6191 Cross-Cultural Psychotherapy (3 hours)
CLP 6441C Individual Psychological Assessment I (3 hours)
CLP 6445C Individual Psychological Assessment II (3 hours)
CLP 6456C Individual Counseling - Theory and Practice (3 hours)
PSB 6446 Advanced Abnormal and Clinical Psychopharmacology (3 hours)
CLP 6932 Ethical and Professional Issues in Mental Health Practices (3 hours)
CLP 6943 Clinical Practicum (taken 4 times @ 2 hours; 8 hours)
CLP 6949 Predoctoral Internship (6 hours)
Clinical Treatment Elective (3 hours)

Unique/Niche Courses—12 Semester Hours
EXP 6938 Teaching Seminar (3 hours)
CLP 6491C Treatment Development (3 hours)
CLP 6944 Clinical Supervision Seminar/Practicum (3 hours)
PSY 6933 Administration Seminar/Practicum (3 hours)

Electives—12-13 Semester Hours
Research Methods Elective (3 or 4 hours)
Non-Psychology Electives (2 @ 3 hours; 6 hours)
Other Elective—Psychology or Non-Psychology (3 hours)

Minimum Hours Required for the Ph.D.—106 Semester Hours

Examinations
The Candidacy Examination will consist of a major area paper. The purpose of the paper is to enable students to develop and demonstrate a broad understanding of course material and an ability to apply the concepts and knowledge acquired in the first two years of the Ph.D program. The major area paper will be a comprehensive review of the literature in the student’s primary area of interest. The paper will include a broad overview and integration of applicable theoretical concepts and relevant empirical literature. Students will be required to orally present and defend the paper to a committee of at least three members, one of whom will be the student’s major adviser. The Candidacy Examination will normally be completed in the fall semester of the third year. There will be no Qualifying Examination in the Clinical Ph.D. track.

The American Psychological Association requires that graduate training tracks undertake student evaluation procedures at least annually, and provide written feedback to students. Because clinical psychology involves the provision of mental health services to the public, special care must be taken to ensure that students possess the requisite interpersonal sensitivity and skill. As a result, evaluation procedures within this track will focus not only on academic performance but also on: clinical proficiency; ethical and professional conduct; response to supervision; interpersonal behavior; and intrapersonal functioning. The Clinical Psychology Committee reserves the right to drop from the track students who continue to exhibit serious difficulties in these behavioral domains and do not respond to feedback and efforts at remediation.

Human Factors Psychology Track

A Ph.D. professional’s degree track in Human Factors Psychology is offered to those with a baccalaureate or master’s degree in psychology or an allied area. The track seeks to develop the capacity to design, conduct, and apply human factors research in a variety of professional settings. It is patterned on the scientist-practitioner model of the American Psychological Association (APA) and adheres to guidelines established by the committee for Education and Training of APA’s Division 21 (Applied Experimental and Engineering Psychology). The track has been accredited by the Human Factors and Ergonomics Society. A variety of research, consulting, and internship arrangements are included in the track.

Students receive training in the content and techniques of human factors psychology—including statistical and quantitative procedures, experimental design, survey methods, computer techniques, and other research methodologies. Students must also select a concentration area, which may be in human-computer interaction, human-machine-environment interface, human performance, human factors in simulation and training, or other areas of interest with the adviser’s authorization. A dissertation representing a significant research contribution to the field is required.

Application Deadline

Fall admission Only January 25

Admission

The Graduate Record Examination (GRE) is required of all applicants. To be considered for acceptance as a regular graduate student, successful applicants are expected to have a minimum cumulative GRE score of about 1100 on the combined verbal-quantitative sections and an undergraduate GPA of about 3.20 in the last two years of study. However, the final admission criteria will normally be more stringent because of the competitiveness of the application process. Students whose native language is not English will be required to submit scores of at least 220 (computer-based test; or equivalent score on the paper-based test) on the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL).

In addition, students will not normally be admitted to the track without having completed a minimum amount of basic preparation in content related to experimental psychology. This preparation will be judged on an individual basis but would typically consist of at least 18 semester hours including the following:

  • Courses in research methods, computer applications, and statistical methods.
  • General experimental psychology courses, e.g., learning, physiological, perception, human learning, cognition, motivation, and measurement. Applicants will be evaluated for program prerequisites and advised of any needs for additional preparation. Previous graduate work will be evaluated for credit on a case-by-case basis.
To be considered for admission, applicants must present in a single packet to Graduate Studies, University of Central Florida, P.O. Box 160112, Orlando, FL 32816-0112:
  • A completed UCF graduate degree program application form
  • Evidence of successful completion of undergraduate courses in statistics and in the general area of experimental psychology
  • Official scores on the Graduate Record Examination (taken within the last five years)
  • Completed transcripts showing a baccalaureate degree (and master’s degree, if conferred) and grades for all undergraduate and graduate work
  • A resume and written statement outlining the student’s academic and professional goals
  • Three letters of reference, with at least two furnished by college or university professors who are acquainted with the applicant.
A file of all requested material must be submitted by the deadline. Acceptance decisions are made only in the spring semester for admission in the fall of each year.

Residency Requirements

A minimum of one year full-time student status is required. Students are advised that the degree is designed to be obtained in 3-4 years of full-time study from the baccalaureate level and in 2-3 years from the master’s level.

Degree Requirements

The Doctor of Philosophy degree in Psychology, Human Factors requires a total of 90 semester hours of graduate study.

Fall (Year 1)—13 Semester Hours
EXP 5256 Human Factors I (3 hours)
PSY 6216 Advanced Research Methodology I (4 hours)
EXP 6506 Human Cognition and Learning (3 hours)
SOP 5059 Advanced Social Psychology (3 hours)

Spring (Year 1)—13 Semester Hours
EXP 5257 Human Factors II (3 hours)
PSY 6217 Advanced Research Methodology II (4 hours)
EXP 5208 Sensation and Perception (3 hours)
PSB 5005 Physiological Psychology (3 hours)

Fall (Year 2)—12 Semester Hours
EXP 6255 Human Performance (3 hours)
INP 6317 Organizational Psychology and Motivation (3 hours)
EIN 5248C Ergonomics (3 hours)
Elective* (3 hours)

Spring (Year 2)—9 Semester Hours
Elective* (3 hours)
Elective* (3 hours)
Elective* (3 hours)

Fall (Year 3)—10 Semester Hours
EIN 6258 Human Computer Interaction (3 hours)
EXP 5258 Human Factors III (3 hours)
PSY 6218 Advanced Research Methodology III (4 hours)

Spring (Year 3)—9 Semester Hours
EXP 6938 Teaching Seminar (3 hours)
EXP 6116 Visual Performance (3 hours) OR
EXP 6126 Psychoacoustics (3 hours)
Elective* (3 hours)

Fall (Year 4)—7 Semester Hours
PSY 7980 Doctoral Dissertation (6 hours)
EXP 6XXX Professional Issues Seminar (1 hours)

Spring (Year 4)—9 Semester Hours
PSY 7980 Doctoral Dissertation (9 hours)

Internship—6 Semester Hours
Sometime during the last two years students will be required to complete an internship.
EXP 6946 Human Factors Internship (6 hours)

Ph.D. Awarded in Human Factors Psychology

* Elective Course Groupings for Selected Concentration Areas: Students should choose electives in concentrated course groupings: for example, human-machine systems, performance measurement and evaluation, or simulation and training. Other elective course groupings may be developed for the specific interests of the student.

Electives
DEP 5007 Developmental Psychology (3 hours)
EIN 6938 Human-Computer Interaction: Usability Evaluation (3 hours)
EIN 6938 Ergonomics in Virtual Environments (3 hours)
EXP 6XXX Human Factors in an Aging Society (3 hours)
EXP 6XXX Aviation Psychology (3 hours)
EXP 6541 Advanced Human-Computer Interaction (3 hours)
EXP 6XXX Team Training (3 hours)
PPE 5055 Personality Theories (3 hours)
PSY 5937 HCI Design: Team Approach (3 hours)

Mathematics and Computer Skills
Students must demonstrate for graduation proficiency in both mathematics and computer skills; equivalent to first-level calculus and to a programming language beyond basic, respectively.

Program Requirements
Other program requirements, including comprehensive exam, internship, courses, and research productivity, are detailed in the Human Factors Graduate Student Handbook. The handbook is provided to each student upon admission.

Industrial and Organizational Psychology Track

The Industrial and Organizational (I&O) doctoral program is restricted to individuals who have a baccalaureate or master’s degree in Psychology or in a closely related field. Admission to the program is based upon an overall assessment of the applicant’s potential for completing it and for making significant contributions to the science and/or practice of I&O Psychology.

The doctoral program in I&O Psychology provides students with training that is consistent with the scientist-practitioner model. As a result of this training the student will be prepared to pursue a rewarding career in either academia (university-based teaching and research) or industry (e.g., consulting). A key assumption of the program is that irrespective of an individual’s career path (academic, applied, etc.), he or she must be a highly competent scientist who can contribute to both the science and practice of I&O Psychology.

I&O students receive training in the 21 areas of competence that are detailed in the Guidelines for Education and Training at the Doctoral Level in Industrial/Organizational Psychology, an official publication of the Society for Industrial and Organizational Psychology, Division 14 of the American Psychological Association. These areas include (a) work motivation theory, (b) organization theory, (c) organizational development theory, (d) attitude theory, (e) career development theory, (f) decision making, (g) human performance/human factors, (h) assessment of individual differences, (i) small group theory, (j) performance appraisal and feedback, (k) criterion theory and development, (l) personnel selection, placement, and classification, (m) research methods, (n) statistical methods, (o) job and task analysis, (p) individual assessment, and (q) training theory, program design and evaluation. Primary training in these areas is accomplished through doctoral level study. Note, however, that training in selected areas may also take place through such activities as independent study, supervised field experiences, basic and applied research experiences, on-job-training, and observational learning (modeling). It may also take place through either course work or other educational experiences associated with Master’s level training in I&O Psychology or a closely-related field.

Students in the program are required to complete a common set of courses in I&O Psychology and related areas (e.g., social, personality, and cognitive), but may develop a high level of expertise in a specific area through other courses, independent study, and research activities. In addition, students are expected to be actively involved in research with I&O area faculty throughout their period of study.

Some students who are admitted to the I&O doctoral program may have taken graduate-level courses at UCF or another university. The plan of study for such students may be modified to take such course work into account.

A dissertation is required of all students in the program. The research associated with the dissertation must be empirical in nature. Moreover, it must make an important contribution to the field of I&O Psychology.

Although it is not required, a student may earn a Master’s degree in I&O Psychology en route to the Ph.D. Students who choose to earn the master’s degree must have their plan of study approve by the I&O Program Committee.

Detailed information about the program and its requirements can be found in the Industrial and Organizational Psychology Student Handbook. It is provided to all students in the I&O Program.

Faculty Resources

The Department of Psychology has five I&O Psychologists and over 25 psychologists in other areas (e.g., Experimental, Human Factors, Clinical, Cognitive, and Social). In addition, there are several I&O psychologists in the Department of Management who can contribute to the education and training of I&O doctoral students. Moreover, there are other faculty in the Department of Management who have expertise in such areas as human resource management, organizational theory, and business policy and strategy.

Application Deadline

Fall admission Only February 1

Admission

Students who seek admission to the I&O Program are expected to meet the following general requirements:
  • An undergraduate degree in psychology or a closely-related field. Applicants must have taken a set of undergraduate or graduate-level courses in Psychology that are sufficiently broad to prepare them for graduate-level study in I&O Psychology. The set must include courses in research methods and statistics.
  • Admission to the Ph.D. program is competitive. Successful applicants are expected to have an outstanding academic record.
  • The Graduate Record Examination must be completed by all applicants. In general, applicants should have a combined verbal and quantitative score of at least 1100. Exceptions to this general rule may be made for applicants who have an outstanding undergraduate grade point average.
  • Students who have other than English as their native language must complete the Test of English As a Foreign Language (TOEFL) and achieve a sufficiently high score to demonstrate that they have the ability to complete all I&O Program requirements at a normal pace and without remediation. The minimum university requirement is at least 220 (computer-based test; or equivalent score on the paper-based test).
In order to be considered for admission, applicants must provide the following items to the Graduate Studies Office (P.O. Box 160112, Orlando, FL 32816-0112) in a single packet:
  • A completed UCF Graduate Degree Program Application Form.
  • Evidence of completion (or near completion) of an undergraduate degree in Psychology or a closely-related field. The program of study must be such as to prepare the applicant for doctoral-level study in the I&O program.
  • An official Graduate Record Examination score report showing scores on the verbal and quantitative portions of the examination. The examination must have been taken within five years of the date of the submission of the Application Form.
  • Official transcripts showing grades for all undergraduate and graduate level courses taken by the applicant at all colleges and/or universities.
  • A resume detailing the applicant’s prior activities in the areas of education, work, and research.
  • A written statement detailing how doctoral training in I&O Psychology will contribute to the applicant’s career-related goals and aspirations.
  • Three letters of recommendation must be submitted. At least two of these must be from college or university professors who are familiar with the applicant. One may be from a non-academic professional who knows the applicant and has a valid basis for commenting on his or her capacity to complete a doctoral program in I&O Psychology.
All of the above materials must be submitted by February 1 of the year for which the applicant seeks admission to the program. Admissions decisions are generally made by the second week in March and applicants are notified of their status shortly thereafter. Note that admissions to the program are restricted to the fall semester of each academic year.

Degree Requirements

The doctoral program in I&O Psychology requires approximately four years of full-time study. The first three years are devoted to course work and the final year to the doctoral dissertation.

After completing all required course work students are required to pass a comprehensive Qualifying Examination. This examination may be taken a maximum two times. Failure to pass the examination on both occasions will result in the student being dropped from the program.

Having passed the Qualifying Examination, the student may begin dissertation-related research. After the completion of this research the student must then pass an oral examination, i.e., a dissertation defense.

Program-related Courses
The I&O Program requires a minimum of 72 semester hours of graduate study. The nature of this study is determined by the I&O Area Program Committee. For the typical student, the 72 hours of study will be distributed as follows:

Required I&O Area Courses—39 Semester Hours
INP 7XXX Industrial Psychology I (3 hours)
INP 7XXX Industrial Psychology II (3 hours)
INP 7XXX Organizational Psychology I (3 hours)
INP 7XXX Organizational Psychology II (3 hours)
INP 7XXX Current Topics in Industrial and Organizational Psychology (2 hours per semester for a total of 16 hours)
PSY 6216 Advanced Research Methods I (4 hours)
PSY 6217 Advanced Research Methods II (4 hours)
PSY 6218 Advanced Research Methods III (3 hours)

Required Psychology Field Courses—3 Semester Hours
SOP 5059 Advanced Social Psychology (3 hours)

Elective Psychology Field Courses—9 Semester Hours
Three courses from the following set. These courses in this set are determined by the student in conjunction with his or her advisor. Note, however, that all courses in the set must be approved by the I&O Program Committee. The courses may include:

EXP 5208 Sensation and Perception (3 hours)
EXP 5445 Psychology of Learning and Motivation (3 hours)
EXP 6255 Human Performance (3 hours)
EXP 6506 Human Cognition and Learning (3 hours)
PPE 5055 Personality Theories (3 hours)
PSB 5005 Physiological Psychology (3 hours)
PSY 5604 History and Systems of Psychology (3 hours)

Other Elective Courses—6 Semester Hours
Two courses from the following set. These courses in this set are determined by the student in conjunction with his or her advisor. Note, however, that all courses in the set must be approved by the I&O Program Committee. The courses may include:

EXP 5256 Human Factors I (3 hours)
EXP 5257 Human Factors II (3 hours)
INP 6058 Introduction to Job and Task Analysis (3 hours)
INP 6215 Assessment Centers and Leadership (3 hours)
INP 6605 Training and Performance Appraisal (3 hours)
MAN 6285 Change Management (3 hours)
MAN 6305 Human Resources Management (3 hours)
MAN 6311 Advanced Topics in Human Resources Management (3 hours)
MAN 6395 Management Development and Coaching (3 hours)
PSY 6318 Applied Testing and Selection (3 hours)
PSY 6908 Directed Independent Studies (3-6 hours)

Dissertation—15 Semester Hours
PSY 7980 Doctoral Dissertation (15 hours)




| Graduate Studies |
| Home | Index | Search | News | Events | Contact UCF | Help |
Copyright © 2000
University of Central Florida
Orlando, Florida
(407) 823-2000
Page last updated on:
Maintained by Graduate Studies