Psychology Doctorate Degree (PhD) - About



General Information About Üsküdar University Psychology PhD Programme

The frequency of mental problems has been continuously increasing in our country as in the rest of the world. Therefore, our country is in need of psychologists who are able to carry out scientific studies as well as identify the behavioral problems precisely, suggest the most suitable solutions, and remain faithful to ethical values.

As in other countries, in our country doctoral programmes are limited since these programmes are extremely time consuming and mentally effortful. Another reason for being too few doctoral programmes is that after graduating from doctoral programmes the graduates mostly prefer to work at universities as academic staff. For this reason a programme aiming at educating scientists should be competent in content and meticulous in practice. Üsküdar University Psychology Doctoral Programme has been prepared in accordance with this purpose. The programme allows the graduates to specialize in a subfield of psychology depending on the doctoral dissertation as well as to become a researcher in any subject they prefer.

The Goals of the Psychology Doctorate Programme

Üsküdar university psychology doctoral programme aims at educating the participants who are able to integrate theoretical and empirical sides of psychology, and carry out high-impact studies at both national and international platforms. To this end, our students study the theoretical structure of psychology for the first four semesters, and apply this theoretical understanding to their doctoral thesis on any subfield of psychology they prefer in the next four semesters.  As a result, the graduates can declare their specialty when required although the name of programme doesn’t include any subfield of psychology.

What Are The Proficiencies of The Graduates?

-Having a comprehensive understanding of the main subfields of psychology (Developmental psychology, Social psychology, Clinical psychology, Industrial psychology, Cognitive psychology.) Specifically, comprehending the principles of human emotional, mental, social development; the main principles and findings of social psychology; the major mechanisms causing human pathological behaviours; the principles governing human motivation, satisfaction and dissatification, leadership; the principles underlying the human mind.

-Being able to formulate a meaningful research hypothesis underlying a doctoral dissertation at a certain subfield of psychology by using this basic understanding and knowledge so as to become a specialist, and an advisor for a master’s thesis (and for a doctoral dissertation later) in that area.   

-Being able to be a competent and independent researcher under his/her thesis supervisor in the subfield of psychology he/she chose.

-Being loyal to ethical principles.

-Being able to affiliate with his/her colleagues.



What are the Courses Offered in the Psychology Doctoral Program? 

In the psychology doctoral program at Üsküdar University mainly the courses as follows have been offered: Developmental psychology, Social psychology, Clinical psychology, Industrial psychological, and Cognitive psychology. Additionally, Advanced Research Methods, and Advanced Statistics have been offered in order to support the students to carry out succsessful empirical studies. Finally, the doctorands (PhD students) can participate in the studies carrying out by their lecturers either in group or individually.

What Are The Graduates’ Opportunities for Employment? 

After passing the PhD qualifying exam and conducting the doctoral dissertation, our graduates get the right to be lecturers at universities. Probably this is the most efficient way both to educate new generations and to be a part of the contemporary psychology by carrying out outstanding, valuable studies. Such an opportunity, of course, never prevents our graduates from working as a psychological counselors at schools, companies, hospitals and so on; on the contrary, an education at the PhD level provides the advantage to better perform in this kind of professions.

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