Psychology Department

Department Chairperson: Douglas Peterson, Ph.D.
Director of the Clinical Psychology Program: Elizabeth Boyd, Ph.D.
Director of the Human Factors Program: Michael Granaas, Ph.D.
Director of the Disaster Mental Health Institute: Raluca Simons, Ph.D.
Director of the Psychological Services Center: 

Department of Psychology
South Dakota Union, Room 205
414 East Clark Street
Vermillion, SD 57069
Phone: 605-677-5351 (Psychology)
Phone: 605-677-5353 (Clinical Psychology)
Phone: 605-677-5351 (Human Factors Psychology)
psychology@usd.edu
http://www.usd.edu/arts-and-sciences/psychology

FACULTY

Professors Emeritus:

Gerard Jacobs, Ph.D., University of South Florida. Specialization: Disaster Psychology, Community-Based Psychological First Aid. 
Randal P. Quevillon, Department Chairperson, Ph.D., University of Montana. Specialization: Rural Mental Health, Disaster Psychology.
Xiao Tian Wang, Ph.D., New Mexico State University. Specialization: Physiological and Cognitive Psychology, Decision Making.
Barbara Arneson Yutrzenka, Ph.D., University of North Dakota. Specialization: Professional Ethics, Integrated Health Care, Administration, Diversity in Training.

Professors:

Jan Berkhout, Ph.D., University of Chicago. Specialization: Ergonomics.
Elizabeth Boyd, Director of the Clinical Psychology Program, Ph.D., University of Houston. Specialization: Disaster Psychology, Native American Mental Health.
Francis Schieber, Ph.D., University of Notre Dame. Specialization: Aging and Human Performance, Vision, and Transportation.
Jeffrey S. Simons, Ph.D., Syracuse University. Specialization: Substance Use and Emotional Regulation.
Raluca Simons, Ph.D., University of South Dakota. Specialization: Disaster Psychology, PTSD and Substance Use.
Cynthia J. Struckman-Johnson, Ph.D., University of Kentucky. Specialization: Social Psychology, Sexual Coercion, Transportation Safety.

Associate Professors:

S. Jean Caraway, Ph.D., University of North Dakota. Specialization: Traumatic Victimization and Cross-cultural Psychology.
Michael Granaas, Ph.D., University of Kansas. Specialization: Research Design and Quantitative Methods, Virtual Reality, Psychology of Games.
Sara Lowmaster, Ph.D., Texas A&M University. Specialization: Assessment, Psychometrics, and Personality.
Douglas Peterson, Director of the Human Factors Program, Ph.D., Kansas State University. Specialization: Usability and User Experience, Aviation Psychology, Cognitive System Engineering.
Holly Straub, Ph.D., Texas Tech University. Specialization: Cognitive Psychology, Evolutionary Psychology.

Assistant Professors:

Christopher Berghoff, Ph.D., University of Albany, State University of New York. Specialization: Mindfulness Meditation, Acceptance & Commitment Therapy, and other acceptance-based behavioral interventions.
BreAnne Danzi, Ph.D., University of Miami. Specialization: Children’s responses to traumatic stress.

Lecturers:

Gemma D. Skillman, Ph.D., Syracuse University. Specialization: Health Disparities; Developmental and Cultural Factors in Adjustment.

DEGREES

Master of Arts (non-terminal), Plan A (Clinical Psychology)   
Master of Arts (non-terminal), Plan A (Human Factors)   
Master of Arts (terminal), Plan B (Human Factors)   
Doctor of Philosophy (Clinical Psychology)   
Doctor of Philosophy (Human Factors)  

SPECIALIZATIONS

Clinical Psychology 
  Specialization within Clinical Psychology: Clinical Disaster Psychology

Human Factors Psychology

CERTIFICATE

Disaster Mental Health   

Program Description

The Department of Psychology offers the state’s most complete and fully implemented Psychology program with degrees through the Doctoral level. In 1961, the Department of Psychology began training students at the Master’s level. Soon to follow, in 1964, the Department of Psychology was authorized to offer the Ph.D. degree. The specialty areas within the Department’s graduate programs are Clinical Psychology and Human Factors Psychology. The Clinical Disaster Psychology Specialty within the Clinical Psychology Program and the Graduate Certificate Program in Disaster Mental Health were both approved in January of 1999. Also in 1999, the American Psychological Association of Graduate Students (APAGS) named USD’s Psychology Department the Department of the Year.

The Clinical Psychology Program offers graduate training leading to the M.A. (non-terminal*) and Ph.D. degrees. The program adheres to the scientist-practitioner model of training. The American Psychological Association (APA) has continuously accredited the program since 1971. In 1994, the Clinical Psychology Program received the Outstanding Training Program award by the National Alliance of the Mentally Ill, and in 2002, the Program received the John R. Williams award for its significant contributions in service to Native American students at USD.

The Disaster Mental Health Institute (DMHI) is affiliated with the Department of Psychology and the Clinical Psychology Program. The Institute is committed to the emerging field of Disaster Psychology, which involves applying psychological knowledge to assist persons affected by natural and technological disasters, terrorist attacks, public health emergencies, and other large-scale traumatic events. The DMHI offers a Graduate Certificate in Disaster Mental Health, which is available through online courses. The University of South Dakota is the first university in the nation to offer a full curriculum in Clinical Disaster Psychology and the first to offer this approved Doctoral specialty.

The Human Factors Psychology Program offers graduate training leading to the M.A. (Plan B) and Ph.D. degree, with specialization in the broad area of Human Factors Psychology. Human Factors involves the discovery of information regarding human behavior, abilities and limitations, and applies these characteristics to the design of systems, tasks, machines, tools, and environments to enhance efficiency, safety, and productivity in their use. Students admitted to the Ph.D. track must complete an M.A. (Plan A, thesis) en route to earning the Ph.D. 
 

Note: The M.A. in Psychology (Plan A, thesis) is not offered as a terminal degree. It is earned in the process of completing the Ph.D. degree requirements in either of the two specialty areas. The exception to this is the M.A. earned as part of the joint JD/MA Program-see Law (J.D.)  and the M.A. (Plan B) and Accelerated B.A. or B.S./M.A. only in the Human Factors specialization.

ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS (Clinical Psychology)

1. Completed Graduate Application form found at: https://www.usd.edu/graduate-school/apply-now and a non-refundable application fee of $35.
2. Official transcript(s) verifying receipt of an undergraduate degree and previous graduate credit (in English or with translation) must accompany an application. Official transcript of all academic work at the undergraduate and graduate levels are required for all students. The USD Graduate School and/or academic units retain the right to require credential evaluations from organizations, such as Educational Credential Evaluators/World Education Services (ECE/WES), for a student if such an evaluation is deemed necessary.
3. Baccalaureate degree must be from an institution with full regional accreditation for that degree. A minimum undergraduate cumulative GPA of 3.0 on conferred degree and/or graduate cumulative GPA of 3.0 or better, based on a 4.0 scale, on all graduate coursework is required for full admission.
4. Applicants with degrees from countries other than the United States who have obtained an undergraduate or graduate degree from a regionally accredited American college or university or from an accredited institution in the following English-speaking countries: United Kingdom, Republic of Ireland, Canada (Excluding Quebec, Australia, and New Zealand are not required to submit an approved English proficiency exam score. For all other applicants, a minimum score of 79 on the Internet-Based TOEFL (iBT) or 550 on the Paper-Based TOEFL (PBT), a minimum IELTS score of 6.0, or a minimum PTE score of 53 is required for graduate admission. 
5. Applicants are required to submit a statement of purpose.

Additional Program Admission Requirements:

6. *The GRE General Test is waived for Fall 2021 applicants. The GRE General Test is required. There is no minimum score required; the scores are considered along with the other application materials. Applicants generally score at or above the 50th percentile on the GRE General Test. 
7. Three (3) letters of recommendations are required.
8. A course in History & Systems of Psychology with a grade of B- or better.
9. Applicants should have a minimum of 18 credit hours of undergraduate psychology coursework with a grade of B- or better. Foundational knowledge in Affective, Biological/Physiological, Cognitive, Developmental, and Social aspects of behavior is required. This foundational knowledge may be shown in one of two ways:
   1. Specific Courses:  A grade of B- or better in specific courses on the *Affective, Biological/Physiological, Cognitive, Developmental, and Social Psychology; or
   2. The GRE Psychology Subject Test. Scores at or above the 70th percentile on the Biological, Cognitive, Developmental, and Social subtests of the Psychology GRE Subject Test will serve as a demonstration of foundational knowledge in those areas.

It is strongly recommended that prospective students contact the program director for specific program requirements and recommendations. Students admitted to the Clinical Psychology Program may choose to pursue the specialization in Clinical Disaster Psychology.

*Foundational knowledge in Affective aspects of behavior may also be acquired in courses labeled Emotion, Emotion & Motivation, Affective Science, or at a minimum, a combination of Introduction to Psychology and Psychology of Personality and Abnormal Psychology. Applicants may want to check with the program if they are unsure.  The program may ask for a copy of the syllabus for the course they are inquiring about.

Application Deadline

• December 15
  • Fall start

ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS (M.A., Plan B in Human Factors)

1. Completed Graduate Application form found at: https://www.usd.edu/graduate-school/apply-now and a non-refundable application fee of $35.
2. Official transcript(s) verifying receipt of an undergraduate degree and previous graduate credit (in English or with translation) must accompany an application. Official transcript of all academic work at the undergraduate and graduate levels are required for all students. The USD Graduate School and/or academic units retain the right to require credential evaluations from organizations, such as Educational Credential Evaluators/World Education Services (ECE/WES), for a student if such an evaluation is deemed necessary.
3. Baccalaureate degree must be from an institution with full regional accreditation for that degree. A minimum undergraduate cumulative GPA of 3.0 on conferred degree and/or graduate cumulative GPA of 3.0 or better, based on a 4.0 scale, on all graduate coursework is required for full admission. Each graduate program may admit students on provisional status per university policy.
4. Applicants with degrees from countries other than the United States who have obtained an undergraduate or graduate degree from a regionally accredited American college or university or from an accredited institution in the following English-speaking countries: United Kingdom, Republic of Ireland, Canada (Excluding Quebec), Australia, and New Zealand are not required to submit an approved English proficiency exam score. For all other applicants, a minimum score of 79 on the Internet-Based TOEFL (iBT) or 550 on the Paper-Based TOEFL (PBT), a minimum IELTS score of 6.0, or a minimum PTE score of 53 is required for graduate admission. 
5. Applicants are required to submit a statement of purpose.

Additional Program Admission Requirements:

6. Two (2) letters of recommendations are required. At least one letter must be from a USD Psychology faculty member for the Accelerated B.S. or B.A./M.A. program.

It is strongly recommended that applicants have taken an undergraduate class in calculus and have some basic computer programing experience

Application Deadline

• Three weeks before the start of the semester
  • Fall and Spring starts

ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS (Ph.D. in Human Factors)

1. Completed Graduate Application form found at: https://www.usd.edu/graduate-school/apply-now and a non-refundable application fee of $35.
2. Official transcript(s) verifying receipt of an undergraduate degree and previous graduate credit (in English or with translation) must accompany an application. Official transcript of all academic work at the undergraduate and graduate levels are required for all students. The USD Graduate School and/or academic units retain the right to require credential evaluations from organizations, such as Educational Credential Evaluators/World Education Services (ECE/WES), for a student if such an evaluation is deemed necessary.
3. Baccalaureate degree must be from an institution with full regional accreditation for that degree. A minimum undergraduate cumulative GPA of 3.0 on conferred degree and/or graduate cumulative GPA of 3.0 or better, based on a 4.0 scale, on all graduate coursework is required for full admission. Each graduate program may admit students on provisional status per university policy.
4. Applicants with degrees from countries other than the United States who have obtained an undergraduate or graduate degree from a regionally accredited American college or university or from an accredited institution in the following English-speaking countries: United Kingdom, Republic of Ireland, Canada (Excluding Quebec), Australia, and New Zealand are not required to submit an approved English proficiency exam score. For all other applicants, a minimum score of 79 on the Internet-Based TOEFL (iBT) or 550 on the Paper-Based TOEFL (PBT), a minimum IELTS score of 6.0, or a minimum PTE score of 53 is required for graduate admission. 
5. Applicants are required to submit a statement of purpose.

Additional Program Admission Requirements:

6. The GRE General test is required. There is no minimum score required; the scores are considered along with the other application materials. Applicants generally score at or above the 50th percentile on the GRE general subtests. *GRE General Test at Home will be accepted for fall 2021 applications.
7. Three (3) letters of recommendations are required.

Application Deadline

• Fall start
  • Priority Deadline: December 31
  • Final Deadline: Four weeks before the start of the semester

It is strongly recommended that applicants have taken an undergraduate class in calculus and have some basic computer programing experience.

ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS (Disaster Mental Health Graduate Certificate)

1. Completed Graduate Application form found at: https://www.usd.edu/graduate-school/apply-now and a non-refundable application fee of $35.
2. Official transcript(s) verifying receipt of an undergraduate degree and previous graduate credit (in English or with translation) must accompany an application. Official transcript of all academic work at the undergraduate and graduate levels are required for international students. The USD Graduate School and/or academic units retain the right to require credential evaluations from organizations, such as Educational Credential Evaluators/World Education Services (ECE/WES), for a student if such an evaluation is deemed necessary.
3. A minimum undergraduate cumulative GPA of 3.0 on conferred degree and/or graduate cumulative GPA of 3.0 or better, based on a 4.0 scale, on all graduate coursework is required for full admission. Each graduate program may admit students on provisional status per university policy.
4. Applicants with degrees from countries other than the United States who have obtained an undergraduate or graduate degree from a regionally accredited American college or university or from an accredited institution in the following English-speaking countries: United Kingdom, Republic of Ireland, Canada (Excluding Quebec), Australia, and New Zealand are not required to submit an approved English proficiency exam score. For all other applicants, a minimum score of 79 on the Internet-Based TOEFL (iBT) or 550 on the Paper-Based TOEFL (PBT), a minimum IELTS score of 6.0, or a minimum PTE score of 53 is required for graduate admission. 
5. Applicants are required to submit a statement of purpose or goal statement.

Additional Program Admission Requirements:

6. Three (3) professional letters of recommendation are required.

Subject to faculty approval, those who do not meet all of the criteria above may be admitted on a provisional basis.

Application Deadline

• Two weeks before the start of the semester
  • Fall, Spring, and Summer starts

Programs

• Disaster Mental Health Graduate Certificate
• Psychology-Clinical Psychology Specialization (M.A., Ph.D.)
• Psychology-Human Factors Specialization (M.A.)
• Psychology-Human Factors Specialization (Ph.D.)