The Department of Psychology at Arizona State University offers PhD training with a master’s degree earned along the way. Students apply to one of six specialized training areas and collaborate across labs, disciplines, and research centers throughout their graduate experience.
PhD training areas include:
- Behavioral neuroscience and comparative psychology
- Clinical psychology
- Cognitive science
- Developmental psychology
- Quantitative research methods
- Social psychology
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.
Training area | Deadline |
|---|---|
| Behavioral neuroscience and comparative psychology | Dec. 5 |
| Clinical psychology | Nov. 17 |
| Cognitive science | Dec. 5 |
| Developmental psychology | Dec. 5 |
| Quantitative research methods | Dec. 5 |
| Social psychology | Dec. 5 |
Application requirements by area
Area head: Federico Sanabria, PhD
Program code: LAPSYCHPHD (use this code when submitting your ASU graduate application)
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
Faculty planning to accept PhD students for fall 2026 admission will be announced in September.
Area head: Madeline Meier, PhD
Co-Directors of Clinical Training: Madeline Meier, PhD and Matthew Meier, PhD
Program code: LAPSYCHPHD (use this code when submitting your ASU graduate application)
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.Cover letter (optional)
Respond to the prompt and upload the completed document via 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
Faculty planning to accept PhD students for fall 2026 admission will be announced in September.
Area head: Samuel McClure, PhD
Program code: LAPSYCHPHD (use this code when submitting your ASU graduate application)
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.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
Faculty planning to accept PhD students for fall 2026 admission will be announced in September.
Area head: Frank Infurna, PhD
Program code: LAPSYCHPHD (use this code when submitting your ASU graduate application)
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)
Download the cover letter form from our website, respond to the prompt, and upload as a PDF 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
Faculty planning to accept PhD students for fall 2026 admission will be announced in September.
Area head: Mike Edwards, PhD
Program code: LAPSYQUPHD (use this code when submitting your ASU graduate application)
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
Faculty planning to accept PhD students for fall 2026 admission will be announced in September.
Area head: TBD
Program code: LAPSYCHPHD (use this code when submitting your ASU graduate application)
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
Faculty planning to accept PhD students for fall 2026 admission will be announced in September.
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:
- Master of Science in applied behavior analysis
- Master of Science in addiction psychology
- Graduate certificate in addiction and substance-use related disorders
These programs are professional degrees and do not serve as a pathway to doctoral training in psychology at ASU.