Psychology, Assessment and Measurement (PhD)

What is A Psychology, Assessment and Measurement (PhD) Degree?

Psychology is the scientific study of human behavior and mental processing–the mind.  It’s a field that people really enjoy studying because what’s not to like about basically learning about you?!  The field has a very broad application, even though many people think it’s mainly about counseling people and helping them with their problems.  Psychology is a science—a young one compared to physics and chemistry—because it uses established research methods in its quest to understand why people behave the way they do and think the way they do.

The PhD degree in Psychology, Assessment and Measurement prepares students to become assessment specialists with the skills to determine the effectiveness of programs in academic or healthcare organizations and in both business and non-profit institutions.  To apply to the program, you’ll need to have at least a BA or BS degree in education, psychology, statistics, or a related field. You’ll take courses in statistics and measurement theory and in a sub-field of psychology like cognitive, behavioral, or social, all related to the concentration in assessment.  You’ll also take courses in different kinds of research designs, multivariate analysis, performance assessment techniques, different kinds of modeling, and various practicum experiences.  You will probably need to prepare and defend a dissertation.

The video below discusses a “typical” program, so it should help regardless of which school you are considering.