Graduate training in social psychology at the University of Arizona is based on the research mentorship model. Graduate students are admitted to the Ph.D. program based not only on their merit but also on the basis of the fit of their research interests to those of faculty members in the program.

There are currently 4 core faculty in the social psychology program. There are also a variety of faculty both in Psychology and other departments with strong backgrounds and interests in social psychology and related areas.

The primary purpose of our Ph.D. program is to train graduate students to become productive social psychologists who will contribute to the field in two ways:

• By contributing to the advancement of theoretical understanding and empirical research in social psychology.
• By effectively teaching courses within the domain of social psychology.

To be an effective researcher and teacher, when you leave the program, we want you to have:

• A broad knowledge base within social psychology;
• A strong understanding of statistics and methods;
• Extensive experience with the entire research process from conception to publication;
• Directions for your future research.

To achieve these goals, we expect the following from our graduate students:

1. Participation in all graduate courses offered by the social psychology faculty (1 or 2 each year). Graduate courses provide background in specific areas of social psychology. They also represent a forum for scholarly discussion, feedback, brainstorming and developing collaborations for future research.
   
   
2. Active participation in research from the first semester in the program until completion of the Ph.D. A Master's Thesis is to be completed by the end of the second year and a Dissertation is to be completed by the end of the fourth or fifth year. The department maintains a large subject pool and each faculty member has ample lab space for your research endeavors.
   
   
3. Experience T.A.ing and teaching courses in social psychology and related areas. Teaching is one of the best ways to develop breadth of knowledge and ideas for research.
   
   
4. Completion of a 9 credit minor (a departmental requirement). The minor requirement is useful because it provides breadth that should enhance future research endeavors and because it adds knowledge and skills that are often useful in seeking employment upon completion of the Ph.D. Your choice of minors in the department include: clinical, cognitive, health, law, physiological psych, and statistics. Minors outside the department are possible with your advisor's permission.
   
   
5. Active participation in all program-relevant activities. These include:
   • Research Seminar and Lab Meetings. Research meetings provide a semi-formal opportunity for you to practice research presentations and discuss your ideas with the faculty and other students in the social program. Go here for a list of the different labs in our department
   • Colloquia And Other Activities Involving Visiting Social Psychologists. The Department Colloquium Series usually includes two social psychologists; occasionally unofficial visits occur as well. Students have the opportunity to meet and help host visiting colloquium speakers. This a great way to extend your intellectual network beyond the department. The list of invited speakers for the current year can be found at
   • Participation In Faculty Job Searches And Recruitment Of New Graduate Students. Getting involved with various recruitment activities provides students with insight into the job market and experience with evaluating applicants.
   
   
6. Participation in regional and national conferences, such as APA, APS, SPSP, and WPA. These conferences are an opportunity for you to make others aware of your work and to meet other people in the field. They are of great value for your own research and for your eventual job prospects.
   
   
7. Because our program is small, we cannot offer formal coursework to cover all of the areas within social psychology. Therefore, to develop a broad knowledge base in areas for which we don't have formal courses, you will need to make the effort to read classic works and keep up with theoretical and empirical progress on your own. We don't expect you to have the deep, detailed knowledge of every area that you should have for your areas of research specialty, but you should be familiar with the major theories, findings, players, and new trends in all of the major areas. We will of course be happy to help guide you in these efforts. Subscriptions for the journals JPSP and PSPB will greatly aid your efforts. There are a variety of periodic edited volumes that can also help. Prominent among these are:
   • Advances in Experimental Social Psychology
   • Handbook of Social Psychology
   • Ontario Symposium Series
   • Psychological Perspectives on the Self
   • Social Psychology: Basic Principles
   The following are the major areas about which you should have knowledge of the fundamental theories and methodologies:
   • Aggression
   • Attitudes and Persuasion
   • Emotion
   • Group Dynamics
   • Interpersonal Attraction and Close Relationships
   • Interpersonal and Intergroup Conflict
   • Personality Variables and Processes
   • Prejudice and Stereotypes
   • Prosocial Behavior
   • The Self
   • Social Cognition
   • Social Influence
   • Social Psychophysiology
   • Stress and Coping
   
   
8. Finally, to establish the kind of publication record necessary to compete successfully in the job market, you will need to go far beyond what is formally required of you, and this is what we will expect of you. If you are highly motivated to be productive and influential in the field of social psychology, the training and experience provided by our program should allow you to launch a fulfilling career in the field of social psychology.