PHD Doctor of Philosophy in Psychology General Psychology specialization

Courses

Total program credits needed for graduation: 120

Core Courses

50 course quarter credits.

Specialization Courses

10 course quarter credits.

Comprehensive Examination and Dissertation Courses

25 course quarter credits.

Seven Elective Courses†

35 course quarter credits. Choose any graduate courses, excluding introductory and special topics courses, lectures, seminars, practica, internships, and any Capella-designated first course.‡

OR

For a health psychology focus, choose seven courses from these recommended electives:

Additional Prerequisite Courses

Learners who enroll in this specialization without the academic background needed to fulfill certain course requirements may be required to complete the following courses:

*This course has a prerequisite. Contact an enrollment counselor or refer to the course descriptions for more information.

**This course has a prerequisite that is not listed as a required course, which may increase the total number of courses needed to complete this specialization. Contact an enrollment counselor or refer to the course descriptions for additional course prerequisites.

†It is recommended that learners without the academic background needed to fulfill certain course requirements use their elective courses to satisfy any two additional prerequisites.

Courses without a PSY designation may be worth fewer than five quarter 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 Social and Behaviorial Sciences can be used as an option to complete the total required credits needed for graduation.

Residency Requirement

To support your academic and professional success, residential colloquia provide learning and community-building experiences in a stimulating scholarly environment. For this specialization, you must complete three four-day colloquia (PSY-R8921, PSY-R8922, PSY-R8923).

To learn more, call 1.866.933.5902 or email an enrollment counselor.

Transfer Credits

There are many ways to reduce tuition costs, including transferring credits which can help save time and money. You can transfer up to 50 credits into this specialization.

Sign Up for a Free One-Week Mini Course

Learn more about our online learning experience with a free one-week mini course.

Take a Single Course

You can enroll in any of our online courses without committing to a degree program. Simply sign up for a single course today — whether you're interested in a specific topic or just want to see if online learning is right for you. We recommend speaking first with an enrollment counselor to discuss your goals and ensure the credits you earn now can be applied to a degree program later.

To learn more, call 1.866.933.5902 or email an enrollment counselor.

Concentrations

If you have elective courses in your specialization, you may be able to use them to fulfill both your degree and concentration requirements at the same time. However, completing a concentration may extend your total credits beyond the requirements of your degree. Concentrations available for this specialization include:

• Child and Adolescent Development
• Coaching Psychology
• Consultation Psychology
• Industrial Psychology
• Organizational Psychology
• Program Evaluation and Measurement
• Psychology Teaching and Instruction