General Psychology PhD in Cognition and Instruction – Quantitative
Earn Your Quantitative Psychology PhD in Cognition and Instruction from GCU
Grand Canyon University’s Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in General Psychology with an Emphasis in Cognition and Instruction program offers a broad array of courses that are designed to increase the understanding of human behavior and mental processes. This program provides you with an opportunity to engage your knowledge and skills in cognition and instruction in applied settings of teaching and/or conducting psychological research in business, government or higher-education institutions.
Core areas of instruction include three emphasis courses in cognition and instruction, cognitive science and social cognition. In this program, you will be taught to employ quantitative methodology to design, collect and analyze information in alignment with conducting a scholarly dissertation. You are advised to inquire directly with your state if you intend to pursue licensure, as this degree is not intended for those seeking licensure in clinical practice and does not lead directly to licensure.
When I chose to earn my Doctor of Philosophy in General Psychology at GCU, I was particularly interested in the emphasis of cognition and instruction because as a college professor teaching English composition, I knew it would complement what I was already doing. Regardless of what subject I’m teaching, if I can look at the way students learn and the way I teach, and the interactions between the two, I can teach with a more unified approach.
Choosing to Specialize in a Quantitative Psychology PhD
In a quantitative PhD program, you will examine and analyze events by interpreting numeric data. Through GCU’s quantitative PhD in General Psychology with an Emphasis in Cognition and Instruction program, you are taught to develop expertise in the creation of a sampling plan and in the collection of data through the use of statistical tools. This program differs from GCU’s qualitative PhD in General Psychology with an Emphasis in Cognition and Instruction program, which focuses on gaining insight into how and why people think, believe and behave a certain way
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Study Social Cognition and Impact Formal Education Settings
GCU’s PhD in General Psychology with an Emphasis in Cognition and Instruction program was created by the College of Doctoral Studies to help professionals expand their understanding of human behavior and mental processes. In this program, you have the opportunity to explore the major schools of thought in psychology and their philosophical origins, learn the nature, origins and history of psychoanalysis and psychotherapy, examine the historical and theoretical background of the behavioristic movement and its major works, discuss the basic components of quantitative research design, and work with statistical analysis software to design a quantitative research study.
To graduate from this program, you must complete a minimum of 60 credits and pass courses including:
- Cognition and instruction
- Cognitive science
- History and systems of psychology
- Humanistic, transpersonal and existential psychology
- Psychoanalysis and psychodynamic theory
- Quantitative data analysis, results and findings
- Quantitative data collection and statistical mechanics
- Social cognition
GCU alumni enrolling in a doctoral program for the first time may be eligible for a $2,000 scholarship.§
Careers for a Quantitative PhD in Cognitive and Instructional Psychology
GCU’s PhD in General Psychology with an Emphasis in Cognition and Instruction can help prepare you for a position in business, government or education. Potential careers include educator, consultant or researcher.
§ 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.
Time to Completion and Dissertation Process
To learn more about time to completion and the dissertation process at GCU, visit our doctoral page.
Core Courses
Course Description
This course introduces doctoral learners to the principle elements of research, scholarly writing, and effective argumentation. Learners are made aware of the dispositions and expectations of doctoral researchers as well as the University’s overarching values and beliefs regarding research and the responsibility of scholars to contribute new knowledge to their respective fields of study. Learners begin the process of identifying a researchable dissertation topic and are acquainted with appropriate scholarly resources that support the development of the dissertation.
Course Description
In this course, learners are introduced to the critical reading of scholarly qualitative and quantitative literature at the doctoral level. Learners also explore the concept of synthesizing the scholarly literature to identify problems and problem spaces that emerge to form a researchable topic of study. The application of scholarly argumentation from the extant literature to defend the need for a research study is discussed.
Course Description
This course is designed to familiarize the graduate student with the major schools of thought in psychology and their philosophical origins. The individuals and their personal experiences are examined in depth. The social, economic, and political forces that have influenced the developing discipline of psychology are also examined.
Course Description
This course is an introduction to the nature, origins, and history of psychoanalysis and psychotherapy. Although not a clinically based course, the course does address the psychoanalytic and psychotherapeutic strategies used to assist individuals with managing personal and inter-personal issues leading to improved mental health.
Course Description
In this course, learners are introduced to key components of qualitative and quantitative research designs and the means to critically appraise the application of research designs as observed in the scholarly literature. The University's core research designs are presented. Consideration is given to the initial selection and defense of a research design to address a problem that emerged from the extant literature.
Course Description
This residency allows learners to continue developing their skills as academic researchers. Learners will have hands-on experience applying quantitative and qualitative design principals to develop the foundational elements for their potential dissertation studies. Prerequisite: RES-850, RES-825, RES-831, or RCS-831.
Course Description
This course provides an introduction to the sampling, data collection, and data analysis methods employed in qualitative and quantitative research designs. Learners explore the alignment of sampling, data collection, and data analysis methods to the research topic, research questions, and research design. The course positions learners to select qualitative or quantitative designs for their dissertation studies. Prerequisite: RES-831.
Course Description
This course examines the historical and theoretical background of the behavioristic movement and its major works. The course also examines methods and techniques to help teach and learn new behaviors as well as the concepts and strategies to diminish or eliminate unwanted behaviors.
Course Description
This course examines theoretical and empirical approaches to understanding different mental processes, including perception, attention, reasoning, intelligence, creativity, concept formation, memory, mental imagery, language, emotional states, and moral reasoning. The development and underlying foundations of these processes and their instantiation in the brain are examined.
Course Description
This course explores the historical roots, theoretical foundations, major works, and guiding philosophy of Humanistic, Transpersonal and Existential (HTE) psychology. This course also examines the different approaches to studying HTE as it relates to human motivation, needs, will, love, and existence in a contemporary world.
Course Description
In this course, learners explore the basic components of quantitative research design. Attention is given to variables, instrumentation, and sources of data. Reliability and validity of instrumentation is discussed in the context of GCU core quantitative research designs.
Course Description
In this course, learners interact with statistical tests and statistical analysis software in the context of designing a quantitative research study. Alignment of statistical tests to research questions, hypotheses and design is stressed as is determining the feasibility of a quantitative research study. Ethical aspects of research are discussed. Prerequisite: RES-842.
Course Description
This course is designed to apply theories of cognitive psychology to learning and instruction, and thus explores the principles of learning in the context of formal education. Educational research related to classroom practice and application is considered in four domains: information processing/memory, attitudes/motivation, intelligence, and formal learning.
Course Description
In this residency, learners orally present and defend an expanded design of their preliminary dissertation research from RSD-851. Emphasis is placed on developing the quantitative dissertation. Practicum/field experience hours: None. RES-844.
Course Description
This course is a study of social cognition, including how people understand themselves and other people. Prerequisite: PSY-863.
Course Description
In this course, learners apply the skills of the practitioner-scholar. They are self-motivated and committed to reflective practice. They actively seek input from other scholars while continuing to design independent research under the guidance of the dissertation committee. Prerequisite: RES-871, PSY-885, RSD-883, or RSD-884.
Course Description
In this course, learners focus on data collection, data preparation and management, and the analysis of quantitative data to produce written research findings, results, and implications. Learners continue to work with their respective dissertation chairs and apply information from this course to move ahead in the dissertation process. Prerequisites: RES-844 and one of the following: DBA-955 or DIS-955 or DHA-955 or PSY-955 or PCE-955 or TLC-955.
Course Description
In this course, learners apply the skills of the practitioner-scholar. They are self-motivated and committed to reflective practice. They actively seek input from other scholars while continuing to design and/or conduct independent research under the guidance of the dissertation committee. Prerequisite: PSY-955.
Course Description
In this course, learners focus on the interpretation of quantitative data to produce written research findings, results, and implications. Learners continue to work with their respective dissertation chairs and apply information from this course to move ahead in the dissertation process. Prerequisites: RES-874 and one of the following: DBA-960 or DIS-960 or DHA-960 or PSY-960 or PCE-960 or TLC-960.
Course Description
In this course, learners apply the skills of the practitioner-scholar. They are self-motivated and committed to reflective practice. They actively seek input from other scholars while continuing to design and/or conduct independent research under the guidance of the dissertation committee. Prerequisite: PSY-960.
Continuation Courses
The course identified above represent the minimum academic course requirements only. Most students will also need to take one or more of the following Research Continuation Courses to complete a dissertation. Research Continuation Courses are 3-credit courses charged at the standard doctoral per credit rate.
Course Description
This course emphasizes the finalization of the dissertation and provides learners with individualized support for completing their dissertation journey. Learners continue to work directly with their dissertation chair and committee members based on their individual progress plan for completing their dissertation. Prerequisite: PSY-965.
Course Description
This course emphasizes the finalization of the dissertation and provides learners with individualized support for completing their dissertation journey. Learners continue to work directly with their dissertation chair and committee members based on their individual progress plan for completing their dissertation. Prerequisite: PSY-966 or PSY-966E.
Course Description
This course emphasizes the finalization of the dissertation and provides learners with individualized support for completing their dissertation journey. Learners continue to work directly with their dissertation chair and committee members based on their individual progress plan for completing their dissertation. Prerequisite: PSY-967 or PSY-967E.
Course Description
This course emphasizes the finalization of the dissertation and provides learners with individualized support for completing their dissertation journey. Learners continue to work directly with their dissertation chair and committee members based on their individual progress plan for completing their dissertation. Prerequisite: PSY-968 or PSY-968E; RSD-951.
Course Description
This course emphasizes the finalization of the dissertation and provides learners with individualized support for completing their dissertation journey. Learners continue to work directly with their dissertation chair and committee members based on their individual progress plan for completing their dissertation. Prerequisite: PSY-969 or PSY-969E.
Course Description
This course emphasizes the finalization of the dissertation and provides learners with individualized support for completing their dissertation journey. Learners continue to work directly with their dissertation chair and committee members based on their individual progress plan for completing their dissertation. Prerequisite: PSY-970 or PSY-970E.
Course Description
This course emphasizes the finalization of the dissertation and provides learners with individualized support for completing their dissertation journey. Learners continue to work directly with their dissertation chair and committee members based on their individual progress plan for completing their dissertation. Prerequisite: PSY-971E.
Course Description
This course emphasizes the finalization of the dissertation and provides learners with individualized support for completing their dissertation journey. Learners continue to work directly with their dissertation chair and committee members based on their individual progress plan for completing their dissertation. Prerequisite: Prerequisite: PSY-972E.
Course Description
This course emphasizes the finalization of the dissertation and provides learners with individualized support for completing their dissertation journey. Learners continue to work directly with their dissertation chair and committee members based on their individual progress plan for completing their dissertation. Prerequisite: PSY-973E.
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- Please refer to the Academic Catalog for more information. Programs or courses subject to change
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