Psychology < West Virginia University (2024)

Department website: http://psychology.wvu.edu/

Degrees Offered

• Master of Science
• Doctor of Philosophy

Doctoral Program Majors

The doctoral degrees in Behavior Analysis, Behavioral Neuroscience, Clinical Psychology, and Life-Span Developmental Psychology prepare students for careers in research, teaching, and/or practice.

Program Accreditation

The Clinical Program at West Virginia University is comprised of two major areas of study: Clinical Psychology and Clinical Child Psychology. The Clinical Program has been accredited continuously by the American Psychological Association since 1966. In 2020, the Program was re-accredited until 2030. For any questions regarding accreditation of this or any other APA-accredited program, contact the Office of Program Consultation and Accreditation of the American Psychological Association, 750 First Street, NE, Washington, DC 20002. Phone number: (202) 336-5979. Website: http://www.accreditation.apa.org.

The Behavior Analysis Program at West Virginia University has been accredited by the Association for Behavior Analysis International since 2003. In 2019, the Program was re-accredited until 2025. For any questions regarding accreditation of this or any other ABAI-accredited program, contact the ABAI Accreditation Board, 550 West Centre Avenue, Portage, MI 49024. Phone number: (269) 492-9310. Website: https://accreditation.abainternational.org.

Faculty

Chair

• Claire St. Peter - Ph.D. (University of Florida)

Associate Chair

• Karen Anderson - Ph.D. (University of Florida)

Director of Graduate Studies

• Melissa Blank - Ph.D. (Virginia Commonwealth University)

Director of Undergraduate Studies

• Sharon Tenenholz - Ph.D. (University of California, Los Angeles)

Director of Recruitment, Advising, and Student Success

• Elizabeth Levelle - Ph.D. (West Virginia University)

Professors

• Barry Edelstein - Ph.D. (University of Memphis)
  Eberly Family Distinguished Professor of Clinical Psychology; Burnout in Intergenerational Caregiving, Older Adult Decision-Making
• Amy Fiske - Ph.D. (University of Southern California)
  Late Life Depression and Suicide
• Amy Gentzler - Ph.D. (Kent State University)
  Emotion Regulation and Adjustment in Children and Adolescents, Positive Psychology
• Kevin Larkin - Ph.D. (University of Pittsburgh)
  Clinical Health Psychology, Applied Psychophysiology, Cardiovascular Behavioral Medicine
• Kennon A. Lattal - Ph.D. (University of Alabama)
  Centennial Professor. Experimental Analysis of Behavior, History and Philosophy of Psychology, Human-Pet Interactions
• Tracy Morris - Ph.D. (University of Mississippi)
  Eberly Distinguished Professor of Outstanding Teaching
• Melanie Page - Ph.D. (Arizona State University)
  Quantitative/Developmental Psychology
• Julie Hicks Patrick - Ph.D. (University of Akron)
  Health Disparities, Cognitive Aging, Mid- and Late-Life, Methodology
• Michael Perone - Ph.D. (University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee)
  Positive and Negative Reinforcement, Animal and Human Operant Behavior, Research Methodology
• Claire St. Peter - Ph.D. (University of Florida)
  Eberly Family Professor for Outstanding Public Service, Procedural Fidelity, School-Based Behavior Supports, Observational Measurement
• JoNell Strough - Ph.D. (University of Utah)
  Life-Span Development, Decision Making, Everyday Problem Solving, Gender Development

Associate Professors

• Karen Anderson - Ph.D. (University of Florida)
  Behavioral Pharmacology, Self-Control and Impulsivity
• Melissa Blank - Ph.D. (Virginia Commonwealth University)
  Behavioral Pharmacology, Nicotine/Tobacco Addiction, Tobacco Use Disparities
• Elisa Krackow - Ph.D. (Binghamton University-SUNY)
  Adult and Child Testimony, Developmental Psychopathology
• Elizabeth Levelle - Ph.D. (West Virginia University)
  Lifespan Development, Teaching of Psychology, Academic Advising
• Sharon Tenenholz - Ph.D. (University of California, Los Angeles)
  Visual and Crossmodal Perception, Teaching of Psychology, Curriculum Design, Academic Advising
• Nicholas Turiano - Ph.D. (Purdue University)
  Personality, Health, Aging

Assistant Professors

• Brennan Armshaw - Ph.D. (University of North Texas)
  Behavioral Medicine and Neuromuscular Behavior, Behavior Analysis and Education, Advising and Mentorship
• Ryan Best - Ph.D. (Florida State University)
  Adult Development, Value-Based Decision-Making, Cognitive Aging
• Mariya Cherkasova - Ph.D. (McGill University)
  Addiction, Psychopharmacology, Reward-Related Behavior
• James Cole - Ph.D. (University of Virginia)
  Teaching of Neuroscience and Biological Basis of Behavior, Advising and Mentorship
• Ray Joslyn - Ph.D. (University of Florida)
  Applied Behavior Analysis, Behavioral Education, Crime and Deliquency
• Kathryn Kestner - Ph.D. (Western Michigan University)
  Applied Behavior Analysis, Assessment and Treatment of Challenging Behaviors
• Stephanie McWilliams - Ph.D. (West Virginia University)
  Youth Mentorship, Sport and Exercise Psychology, Health Psychology, Behavior Change and Weight Management
• Kathleen Morrison - Ph.D. (University of Tennessee)
  Stress and Neuropsychiatric Disease, Women's Health
• Michelle Roley-Roberts - Ph.D. (University of Toledo)
  Clinical Child and Adolescent Psychology, Childhood traumatic stress, Cultural factors
• Kelly Smith - M.S. (West Virginia University)
  Teaching of Psychology, Life-Span Development, Decision Making, Gender Development

Professors emeriti

• Edward Caldwell - Ph.D.
• Stanley Cohen - Ph.D.
• Christina Duncan - Ph.D.
• William Fremouw - Ph.D.
• Robert Hawkins - Ph.D.
• Katherine Karraker - Ph.D.
• Daniel McNeil - Ph.D.
• Cheryl McNeil - Ph.D.

Admissions for 2025-2026

Ph.D. Programs in Psychology

The Psychology programs admit students directly to the doctoral degree. The requirements for the master's of science are completed as part of the doctoral degree requirements. The department currently offers degrees in Psychology with a specialization in four areas: Behavior Analysis, Behavioral Neuroscience, Clinical, and Life-Span Development

In addition to WVU’sgeneral admission requirements, applicants for graduate studies in Psychology should have adequate preparation in psychology and related fields and a minimum grade point average of 3.0 in undergraduate coursework. The GRE is not required for admission to any of these programs.

List of Admission Requirements:

• See the steps to apply for admissions and access the applicationhere.

• Applicants must submit transcripts from all institutions attended
• Three letters of recommendation, written by people (typically faculty) in a position to evaluate the applicant's academic strengths and abilities
• Resume/Curriculum Vitae
• Statement of purpose that describes the fit between the applicant’s interests and the graduate program major area of study,outline the applicant’s academic and professional goals, and demonstrate the personal qualities that predict success in graduate study.

International Applicants:

• See the steps to apply for admissions and access the applicationhere.
• International applicants should view additional requirementshereandhere.
• Language proficiency is required in order to hold a graduate teaching assistantship. Seehere.

Application Deadlines:

• Psychology only admits students in the fall semester; all application materials, including letters of recommendation, must be received by the preceding December 1^st
• All applications received by the deadline will be considered for financial support, typically in the form of a graduate teaching assistantship (GTA).
• Applications received after the deadline may be reviewed at the discretion of the admissions committee.
• Exceptional Ph.D. applicants may be nominated by the Psychology program for competitive University Fellowships. Qualified applicants will be notified if they are nominated. More information on WVU fellowships can be foundhere.

Certain application requirements may be waived based on a preliminary review of an application by the program.

Ph.D. Behavior Analysis 14D1

Ph.D. Behavioral Neuroscience 14D2

Ph.D. Clinical 14D4

Ph.D. Life-Span Development 14D5

For specific information on the following program, please see the link to the right:

• Psychology, M.S.

• Psychology: Behavior Analysis, M.S.

For specific information on the following program, please see the link to the right:

• Psychology, Ph.D.

Degree Progress

All graduate students enrolled in at least one credit hour during the academic year must be provided with a written evaluation from their program following the end of each spring term. This requirement may be waived for students in good standing who are expected to graduate in spring or summer. Specific processes and timelines for each program’s evaluation can be found in the graduate handbook. Annual evaluation may result in probation for students either not making adequate degree progress or failing to uphold professional standards.

Master's Benchmarks

• ​By the end of year 2, students should have successfully proposed their thesis.
• By the end of year 3, students should have successfully defended and submitted their written thesis.

Probation or Dismissal: Students may be placed on probation or dismissed for any of the following grounds: (1) failing to make timely progress through the program, (2) inability to form a thesis committee, (3) taking unauthorized leaves of absence, (4) engaging in academic misconduct or unethical behavior, (5) receiving two grades below B- (C, D, F, or U), (6) failing to remove two or more grades of incomplete as specified in incomplete contract, (7) failing to meet academic or professional standards outlined in department handbook or program-area supplements to the handbook, (8) violatingof any of the institutional, academic, or behavioral standards described in the Psychology Department Graduate Student Handbook, theWVU Graduate/Professional Handbook, theAmerican Psychological Association code of ethics, or codes of ethics specified for the student’s Program Area.

Doctoral Benchmarks

• ​By the end of year 4(or year 3 if entering with an approved master's thesis), students should have successfully proposed their dissertation.

Note:Each program area also has specific milestones associated with other training activities (found on the program area catalog pages). These additional activities include, at a minimum, completion of preliminary examinations.

Probation or Dismissal: Students may be placed on probation or dismissed for any of the following grounds: (1) failing to make timely progress through the program, (2) failing the preliminary examination, (3) failing to be recommended for doctoral candidacy by training area or full faculty, (4) inability to form a dissertation committee, (5) taking unauthorized leaves of absence, (6) engaging in academic misconduct or unethical behavior, (6) receiving two grades below B- (C, D, F, or U), (7) failing to remove two or more grades of incomplete as specified in incomplete contract, (8) failing to meet academic or professional standards outlined in department handbook or program-area supplements to the handbook, (9) violatingof any of the institutional, academic, or behavioral standards described in the Psychology Department Graduate Student Handbook, theWVU Graduate/Professional Handbook, theAmerican Psychological Association code of ethics, or codes of ethics specified for the student’s Program Area.

More information regarding requirements for both the M.S. and Ph.D. degrees can be found in thePsychology Department Graduate Student Handbook.