The Department of Psychology at Arizona State University offers doctoral training with an option to earn a master’s degree along the way. Students apply to one of five specialized training areas and collaborate across labs, disciplines and research centers throughout their graduate experience.
Doctoral degrees and training areas
To be considered for admission, applicants must submit two separate applications — one to ASU Graduate Admissions and one to the Department of Psychology via SlideRoom. Both are required for review. Deadlines and application materials vary by training area. Review the information below before applying.
Application deadlines by area
Applications open on September 1 each year.
| Programs and training areas | Deadline |
|---|---|
| Psychology (Clinical), PhD | Nov. 16 |
| Psychology, PhD — Developmental psychology | Dec. 7 |
| Psychology, PhD — Neuroscience, cognition and behavior | Dec. 7 |
| Psychology (Quantitative Research Methods), PhD | Dec. 7 |
| Psychology, PhD — Social psychology | Dec. 7 |
Application requirements by area
Area head: Madeline Meier, PhD
Co-Directors of Clinical Training: Madeline Meier, PhD and Matthew Meier, PhD
Application requirements
Applicants must complete both of the following:
- ASU graduate admission application
- Department of Psychology SlideRoom application (includes a $10 fee)
Academic background and GPA
Applicants must hold a bachelor’s or master’s degree in psychology or a related field from a regionally accredited institution. A minimum cumulative GPA of 3.30 (on a 4.00 scale) is required in the last 60 credit hours of the first bachelor’s degree program or in an applicable master’s program.
Required materials
Curriculum vitae or resume
Upload as a PDF through SlideRoom.Transcripts
Upload unofficial transcripts to both the ASU and SlideRoom applications. Official transcripts will be required upon admission.Three letters of recommendation
Requested and submitted through SlideRoom.GRE General Test scores
Optional. You may include scores if you believe they will enhance your application.Statement of purpose
Complete the departmental form and upload it through SlideRoom.
Supplemental materials (optional)
Applicants are invited to submit additional materials to demonstrate their aptitude and skills. Examples include, but are not limited to:
- Published papers
- Senior honors theses
- Posters presented at conferences
- Video-recorded presentations of research (YouTube link preferred; do not upload video files)
International applicants
Applicants whose native language is not English must meet ASU’s English proficiency requirements. Scores from the TOEFL, IELTS, Duolingo English Test or another approved exam must be submitted directly to ASU.
Faculty accepting students
The following core faculty plan to accept PhD students for fall 2027 admission:
William Corbin, PhD — BARCA: Behavioral Alcohol Research and Clinical Advancement
Lauren Friedman, PhD — HEAT: Hyperactivity, Executive Function and Attention Treatment Lab
Abigail Gewirtz, PhD — ADAPT Lab
Joanna Kim, PhD — Engaging Families Lab
Madeline Meier, PhD — Substance Use, Health and Behavior Lab
Nichea Spillane, PhD — PATHS: Positive Approaches to Health Disparities and Substance Use Lab
Jack Waddell, PhD — DRAMA: Dynamic Research on Addiction and Momentary Assessment Lab
The following affiliated program faculty also plan to accept Psychology (Clinical), PhD students for fall 2027 admission:
Area head: Thao Ha, PhD
Application requirements
Applicants must complete both of the following:
- ASU graduate admission application
- Department of Psychology SlideRoom application (includes a $10 fee)
Academic background and GPA
Applicants must hold a bachelor’s or master’s degree in psychology or a related field from a regionally accredited institution. A minimum cumulative GPA of 3.00 (on a 4.00 scale) is required in the last 60 credit hours of the first bachelor’s degree program or in an applicable master’s program.
Required materials
Curriculum vitae or resume
Upload as a PDF through SlideRoom.Transcripts
Upload unofficial transcripts to both the ASU and SlideRoom applications. Official transcripts will be required upon admission.Three letters of recommendation
Requested and submitted through SlideRoom.GRE General Test scores
Optional. You may include scores if you believe they will enhance your application.Statement of purpose
Complete the departmental form and upload it through SlideRoom.Cover letter (optional)
Respond to the prompt and upload the completed document via SlideRoom.
Supplemental materials (optional)
Applicants are encouraged to submit materials demonstrating preparation and readiness for a research-focused program. Accepted supplemental materials include:
- Writing samples (published papers, honors theses, research coursework papers)
- Presentation samples (conference posters or YouTube links to recorded presentations
- Quantitative measures of academic success (honors or awards)
International applicants
Applicants whose native language is not English must meet ASU’s English proficiency requirements. Scores from the TOEFL, IELTS, Duolingo English Test or another approved exam must be submitted directly to ASU.
Faculty accepting students
The following faculty plan to accept PhD students for fall 2027 admission:
Area head: Federico Sanabria, PhD
Application requirements
Applicants must complete both of the following:
- ASU graduate admission application
- Department of Psychology SlideRoom application (includes a $10 fee)
Academic background and GPA
Applicants must hold a bachelor’s or master’s degree in psychology or a related field from a regionally accredited institution. A minimum cumulative GPA of 3.00 (on a 4.00 scale) is required in the last 60 credit hours of the first bachelor’s degree program or in an applicable master’s program.
Required materials
Curriculum vitae or resume
Upload as a PDF through SlideRoom.Transcripts
Upload unofficial transcripts to both the ASU and SlideRoom applications. Official transcripts will be required upon admission.Three letters of recommendation
Requested and submitted through SlideRoom.GRE General Test scores
Optional. You may include scores if you believe they will enhance your application.Statement of purpose
Complete the departmental form (coming soon) and upload it through SlideRoom.
No supplemental items required beyond the materials listed above.
International applicants
Applicants whose native language is not English must meet ASU’s English proficiency requirements. Scores from the TOEFL, IELTS, Duolingo English Test or another approved exam must be submitted directly to ASU.
Faculty accepting students
The following faculty plan to accept PhD students for fall 2027 admission:
- Eric Amazeen, PhD and Michael McBeath, PhD (co-mentors)
- Gi-Yeul Bae, PhD — Visual Cognition Neuroscience Lab
- Erica Grodin, PhD — Clinical and Translational Addiction Neuroscience Lab
- Clive Wynne, PhD — Canine Science Collaboratory
Area head: Mike Edwards, PhD
Application requirements
Applicants must complete both of the following:
- ASU graduate admission application
- Department of Psychology SlideRoom application (includes a $10 fee)
Academic background and GPA
Applicants must hold a bachelor’s or master’s degree in psychology or a related field from a regionally accredited institution. A minimum cumulative GPA of 3.00 (on a 4.00 scale) is required in the last 60 credit hours of the first bachelor’s degree program or in an applicable master’s program.
Required materials
Curriculum vitae or resume
Upload as a PDF through SlideRoom.Transcripts
Upload unofficial transcripts to both the ASU and SlideRoom applications. Official transcripts will be required upon admission.Three letters of recommendation
Requested and submitted through SlideRoom.GRE General Test scores
Optional. You may include scores if you believe they will enhance your application.Statement of purpose
Complete the departmental form and upload it through SlideRoom.
No supplemental items required beyond the materials listed above.
International applicants
Applicants whose native language is not English must meet ASU’s English proficiency requirements. Scores from the TOEFL, IELTS, Duolingo English Test or another approved exam must be submitted directly to ASU.
Faculty accepting students
The following faculty plan to accept PhD students for fall 2027 admission:
Area head: Michael Varnum, PhD
Application requirements
Applicants must complete both of the following:
- ASU graduate admission application
- Department of Psychology SlideRoom application (includes a $10 fee)
Academic background and GPA
Applicants must hold a bachelor’s or master’s degree in psychology or a related field from a regionally accredited institution. A minimum cumulative GPA of 3.00 (on a 4.00 scale) is required in the last 60 credit hours of the first bachelor’s degree program or in an applicable master’s program.
Required materials
Curriculum vitae or resume
Upload as a PDF through SlideRoom.Transcripts
Upload unofficial transcripts to both the ASU and SlideRoom applications. Official transcripts will be required upon admission.Three letters of recommendation
Requested and submitted through SlideRoom.GRE General Test scores
Optional. You may include scores if you believe they will enhance your application.Statement of purpose
Complete the departmental form and upload it through SlideRoom.
No supplemental items required beyond the materials listed above.
International applicants
Applicants whose native language is not English must meet ASU’s English proficiency requirements. Scores from the TOEFL, IELTS, Duolingo English Test or another approved exam must be submitted directly to ASU.
Faculty accepting students
The following faculty plan to accept PhD students for fall 2027 admission:
- Athena Aktipis, PhD — The Cooperation Lab
- Adam Cohen, PhD — CARMA: Culture, Adaptation, Religion, Morality, Anthropomorphism Lab
- Tamera Schneider, PhD — Social/Health Psychophysiology Lab
- Thomas Talhem, PhD — The Subsistence and Ecology Lab
- Deborah Wu, PhD — IDEA: Identity Development, Emotions and Attitudes Lab
Applicant resources
Contact us
[email protected]
480-727-4561
Interested in a master's instead?
If a doctoral program isn’t the right fit for your goals, we offer additional graduate-level options focused on professional practice. These include: