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Because research is integral to work in cognitive psychology, the dissertation process begins in the first course of this PhD in psychology degree program, during which you are introduced to doctoral dispositions.
You will take courses in advanced research methods and writing strategies, which teach the skills needed to present and defend a dissertation. You can develop a general psychology dissertation topic for the PhD in psychology based on your own research and interests.
This PhD in General Psychology degree includes two in-person residencies on or near campus. These short-term residencies are designed to offer you hands-on experiences with research design principles, personalized guidance, and the opportunity to orally present and defend your preliminary dissertation research.
You may be inspired to further explore the topics reviewed in this program, including:
§ MOU-Alumni 2000 Doctoral-July2025: The Alumni Scholarship for Doctoral Programs is only valid for those applicants who submit a complete application and begin a Doctoral program in July 2025. This scholarship cannot be used in conjunction with any other GCU scholarship or awards and only applies to online and evening programs. Please speak to a university counselor for complete details.
1 Program has residencies that take place on or near GCU's campus.
2 American Psychological Association. (2014). A Career in Cognitive Psychology. American Psychological Association. Retrieved Nov. 8, 2023.
3 Psychology School Guide. (n.d.). What is the Difference Between Cognitive and Behavioral Psychology? Psychology School Guide. Retrieved Nov. 8, 2023.
4 American Psychological Association. (2022, May). Cognitive Psychology Explores our Mental Processes. American Psychological Association. Retrieved Nov. 8, 2023.
Up to 9 doctoral credits
Credits: Fill out the Lopes Eval to find out what will transfer
Admission Requirements (Doctoral)
OR 2.5+ Unweighted GPA and
Admission requirements may differ based on degree level, program and modality, or transfer status. Some programs of study may require a higher GPA and/or other qualifying criteria for admission. Please review full admission and program requirements in the University Policy Handbook.
* Degree must be from an institutionally accredited school. Applicants with a GPA less than 3.4 may be accepted with specifications.
** Degree must be from an institutionally accredited school. Applicants with a GPA between 3.0 - 3.39 may be accepted with specifications. Applicants with a GPA below 3.0 will not be accepted.
As an institutionally accredited university, GCU is proud to continue our longstanding tradition of delivering quality instruction to our student community. The Higher Learning Commission has continually accredited GCU since 1968. The College of Doctoral Studies shares the university’s commitment to upholding the principles and standards established by our accrediting bodies.
Grand Canyon University’s Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in General Psychology: Cognition and Instruction is designed for students who wish to work with adult educational communities. You will investigate how cognitive processes can inform the most appropriate and effective instructional methods.
Entry into this qualitative doctorate program focusing on cognition and instruction requires a master’s degree.
GCU is committed to meeting the needs of adult learners. Our university offers an intuitive and interactive e-learning platform designed to allow you to earn your doctorate from anywhere. You’ll benefit from the same quality of instruction and curriculum as our on-campus evening students, and you’ll be able to engage in discussions with fellow learners and instructors online. Continue to meet your other responsibilities while working toward your PhD in psychology online.1
An empirical, research-based approach is at the heart of the doctorate in general psychology: cognition and instruction program. By exploring the principles of learning in theory and practice, you may have the opportunity to make an impact in the instruction that takes place in formal education settings.
The coursework in this doctorate degree in psychology covers topics relevant to building and analyzing desired learning outcomes, including social cognition and assessments.
Additionally, you will have opportunities to:
You will research and analyze findings on topics in mental and thought processes. These include:
Memory
Reasoning
Intelligence
Motivation
Learning
To learn more about time to completion and the dissertation process at GCU, visit our doctoral page.
In this PhD in General Psychology, you will personally examine events with the expectation of working toward a better understanding of an observed phenomenon. You are taught how to develop research studies for the purpose of gaining insight into how and why people think, believe and behave as they do. This program differs from GCU’s quantitative PhD in General Psychology: Cognition and Instruction degree, which focuses on the creation of a sampling plan and the collection of numeric data.
Earning a PhD in psychology is a significant undertaking. Before you enroll, consider these FAQs about the cognitive psychology field.
Cognitive and behavioral psychology degrees both use principles that can help people live better lives. Behavioral psychology primarily focuses on the observable behavior of individuals. It is the scientific approach to exploring how our behavior can be shaped by reinforcement and punishment. A cognitive psychology degree deals with information processing. It uses principles of human learning and development as well as cognitive processing.3
Cognitive psychology researchers focus on the internal mental processes of individuals. They study how people perceive events and life experiences, memory and language processing, and how people think and then come up with solutions or decisions.4 A career in cognitive psychology may involve jobs within universities, government agencies, treatment centers and research facilities.2
If you’re passionate about figuring out how the brain works and how to help students learn more effectively, then studying cognitive and instruction psychology could be the right choice for you. There will likely be some aspects of the degree program that you may find challenging, but these are opportunities to embrace personal growth and professional development. By the time you defend your dissertation, you may notice that you feel more confident about the subject matter and that you feel capable of pursuing exciting professional opportunities in your field.
If you are eager to explore how people learn and how instruction and assessment can lead to academic achievement, a qualitative general psychology degree may be for you.
This PhD in psychology aims to teach you to research and apply evidence-based instructional practices that can help learners flourish. Some graduates continue in their current positions, while others may seek new opportunities, such as university-level teachers and researchers.
There is a range of possibilities available to the curious researcher. After earning your PhD in general psychology with cognition and instruction specialization, you may decide to focus your professional practice on exploring why some people develop sensory or perception difficulties or on the most effective methods for learning foreign languages. Alternatively, you may decide to become a psychology consultant for the business or legal fields.2
Cognitive psychology specialists may pursue employment across a range of workplace settings.
These may include:2
Universities
Government or private research centers
Hospitals
Consulting groups
