Idaho State University’s new doctoral experimental psychology program is only one of its type in Idaho; students start this fall

Idaho State University's new doctoral experimental psychology program, the only program of its type in Idaho, will accept its first three students this fall.

"The new program is good for the University and for our department, because it increases the research profile of both," said Maria Wong, associate professor of psychology and program director. "Any time you get Ph.D. students who receive intense research training, it helps with the productivity of both the faculty and students. Students will be actively conducting research studies, writing research papers, and helping with grant applications."

The new experimental psychology doctoral program complements ISU's doctoral clinical psychology program, created in the early 1990s. Eventually, the experimental psychology program plans to accept six students annually.

Creating the program has been a long process, requiring about five years of effort. The Idaho State Board of Education approved the program last summer. Previously, ISU had a terminal Master of Science degree in experimental psychology. The terminal master's degree will be discontinued, and attaining a master's will be a part of the doctoral program. The new program, including a thesis and dissertation, is designed to take approximately four years.

"This program was created through the sustained effort of multiple deans, provosts and faculty members," Wong said. "It has been a lot of work, but we're proud that we're now offering this program."

The ISU psychology department features 13 full-time faculty members.  The ISU experimental psychology doctorate is designed to provide students with an education and research training in core areas of psychological science, such as personality, social psychology, learning, sensation and perception, cognition, developmental psychology and physiological psychology. Although each of these areas is not considered a separate degree program, IS'’s mentor model will allow for individualized courses of study.

For more information about the ISU psychology department and the new experimental psychology program, visit www.isu.edu/psych/.

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