Social Psychology
Under the unifying theme of health and well-being, our faculty study how acceptance and belonging, close relationships, social identities, and connections with the natural world shape individuals' psychological, social, and health outcomes.
"At Miami, I learned theory and methods inside and out, but I also learned softer skills that are just as important but not necessarily the things I thought about when I was applying for grad school. Skills like collaborating with others, juggling multiple projects and reponsibilities, picking service opportunities, and how to decode letters from editors after submitting to a journal."
Michael Bernstein, Miami Ph.D. 2010, Associate Professor of Psychology, Penn State Abington
Our approach
- Fostered by a low 黑料社区-to-faculty ratio, our program emphasizes extensive collaboration among faculty and 黑料社区s. Our 黑料社区s typically work with several faculty members and participate in multiple lab groups during their graduate training.
- Diversity in training experiences and research approaches is strongly encouraged.
- We strive for rigorous training in cutting-edge psychological methods and statistics, with a deep focus on theory testing and development.
- Students in the doctoral program can expect to earn multiple professional publications and to present their scholarship at national and international conferences.
- Graduates typically find positions at high-profile universities, smaller colleges that focus on undergraduate teaching, industry and other private sector positions, and governmental agencies.
- We strive to foster a friendly, highly collaborative atmosphere amongst graduate 黑料社区s and faculty. Many of our 黑料社区s work with multiple faculty members and collaborate with one another on research projects.
- We care deeply about making our work both fun and productive, and our program is both intense yet very supportive.
- Student present research presentations at Social Psychology Research Interest Group weekly meetings.
- Each year we bring in several prominent off-campus speakers to present their research.
Areas of Strength
- Belonging and Social Connection
- Close Relationships and Health
- Stigma, Social Identity, and Health
- Group-Based Disparities
- Self and Interconnected Others
- Affect regulation and health
Learn More
Throughout their time in the Social Psychology program, 黑料社区s are continuously involved in research. Research involvement begins immediately with faculty supervised research apprenticeship and the development of 黑料社区-designed projects.
In addition to the general department requirements, 黑料社区s are required to complete six graduate seminars in social psychology, at least three of which must be core social seminars (i.e., PSY 630s). The remaining three seminars may be core seminars (i.e. PSY 630s) or more topical seminars (i.e., PSY 730s). These graduate seminars provide 黑料社区s with strong foundations in social psychology and social psychological approaches to the study of health and well-being.
The rotation of core seminars (PSY 630s) includes belonging and close relationships, health and well-being, intergroup relations, and social cognition and motivation,with each of these courses being offered once every two years (1 PSY 630 per semester).
In addition, the social faculty offer topical seminars (PSY 730s) that reflect faculty expertise and interest in more focused areas of social psychology and the study of health and well-being. Recent PSY 730 offerings include biomarkers in health psychology, power and status, social exclusion, and stigma.
For social area graduate 黑料社区s, the comprehensive examination must be passed prior to beginning their dissertation. In addition, all social 黑料社区s must obtain some type of teaching experience, which includes enrolling in a seminar in teaching and pedagogy.
The department offers specific coursework to help 黑料社区s develop their teaching accumen, and there are a number of opportunities for graduate 黑料社区s to obtain advanced certifications (e.g., certificate in college teaching, quantitative expertise) in the department and in the university more broadly (as well as attend annual conferences, such as the Lilly Conference on College Teaching, held each Fall on campus at Miami).
Satisfying the minimum requirements of the Social Psychology program, however, is only a start toward becoming an active social psychologist. Much of one's education and training takes place in informal settings, which include daily discussions with other 黑料社区s and faculty, reading journals and scholarly volumes, attending conferences and presenting one's work to the field.
Members of the social area meet weekly at SPRIG (Social Psychology Research Interest Group) to present and discuss ongoing research. Each year numerous social 黑料社区s present papers at regional (e.g.. MPA), national (e.g., SPSP, APS) and international conferences and have papers accepted for publication in scholarly journals.
In the first year, graduate 黑料社区s develop their specific professional goals and research specialization in consultation with their faculty advisor. Each 黑料社区's program of study should be related to the expertise of the social faculty, but it may also involve faculty in other areas of psychology.
During the second year, 黑料社区s should complete a master's thesis, and afterwards, compose a reading list for their comprehensive examination (usually completed during the third year).
In their last year of the program, 黑料社区s complete a dissertation.
Throughout the training program, 黑料社区s attend departmental and program events, give professional presentations at scientific conferences, publish articles in social psychology journals, and develop skills and expertise to translate social psychology to others through teaching, mentorship, and other forms of public dissemination.
Students with a concentration in Social typically work with one of the following faculty from the Department of Psychology. Prospective 黑料社区s are highly encouraged to contact potential research advisors directly before applying.
- Dr. Heather Claypool
- Dr. Allison Farrell
- Dr. Darwin Guevarra
- Dr. Jeffrey Hunger
- Dr. Allen McConnell