Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Psychology

Harold Abel School of Psychology

General Psychology Specialization

This online psychology PhD specialization offers you the opportunity to create an individualized, academic-track program designed to meet your professional goals and research interests. Choose established areas of psychological study such as addiction, family, or health psychology, or design an interdisciplinary program that blends psychology with education, business, or human services courses. People who choose this specialization are often pursuing faculty or administrative training positions in higher education, business or the military, or careers in consulting, institutional research, or program evaluation or administration.

The residential colloquia experience

As a doctoral learner, you will attend three one-week colloquia at specific stages in your program, in addition to your online courses. These energizing residencies provide you with insights and knowledge that will be valuable during your doctoral studies and beyond. Learn more about residential colloquia:

• Interactive guide to becoming doctoral at Capella colloquia
• A preview of the doctoral colloquium experience
• Colloquia schedules and other details

Core Courses

• PSY8002 - Orientation to Doctoral Learning in Psychology
• PSY7110 - History and Systems of Psychology
• PSY7210 - Lifespan Development
• PSY7421 - Cognitive/Affective Psychology
• PSY7520 - Social Psychology
• PSY7543 - Ethics and multicultural Issues in Psychology*
• PSY7610 - Tests and Measurements
• PSY7625 - Advanced Inferential Statistics*
• PSY7630 - Qualitative Analysis
• PSY7656 - Advanced Research Methods*

Specialization Courses

• PSY7510 - Psychology of Personality
• PSY7615 – Data analysis with SPSS
• PSY9919 - Doctoral Comprehensive Examination*
• PSY9920 - Dissertation Courseroom* - non-credit
• PSY9921 - Dissertation Research 1*
• PSY9922 - Dissertation Research 2*
• PSY9923 - Dissertation Research 3*
• PSY9924 - Dissertation Research 4*

Seven Elective Courses

• Choose any graduate courses
• OR
• Choose seven courses from one of the following recommended focus areas
•  

For an addictions psychology focus, recommended electives include

• PSY7330 - Psychopharmacology*
• PSY8410 - Substance-Related Therapies*
• PSY8420 - Multicultural Issues in Addictions
• PSY8430 - Issues and Trends in Addiction-Related Treatments
• PSY8440 - Substance-Related Program Evaluation
• PSY8450 - Compulsive Behavior and the Disturbance of the Self
• PSY8460 - Dual Diagnosis*
• PSY8570 - Family Systems Approach to Addictive Behavior Problems
•  

For a family psychology focus, recommended electives include

• PSY8510 - Family Systems Theories
• PSY8520 - Couples Therapy
• PSY8530 - Family Therapy
• PSY8540 - Current Issues and Methods in Family Research*
• PSY8560 - Principles of Family Pathology
• PSY8570 - Family Systems Approach to Addictive Behavior Problems
• AND
• Choose any graduate courses
•  

For a health psychology focus, recommended electives include

• PSY7320 - Advanced Biological Psychology*
• PSY7330 - Psychopharmacology*
• PSY8610 - Principles of Health Psychology
• PSY8630 - Health Care Delivery
• PSY8640 - Community Psychology
• PSY8650 - Innovative Health Care Practices
• PSY8660 - Coping with Chronic Physical Illness
• PSY8670 - Cognitive/Affective Basis of Physical Illness

Note: Courses without a PSY designation may be worth fewer than five credits. Learners must carefully plan their elective courses to ensure that total credit requirements for the degree are met. Special topics courses in the Harold Abel School of Psychology can be used as an option to complete the total required credits needed for graduation.

Learn more about our related specializations:

PsyD

• Clinical Studies

Master's degree

• Clinical Psychology
• Counseling Psychology
• General Psychology

• Register Now for a Course
• Or call: 1-888-227-2736

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