FAQs

Do you offer clinical or counseling psychology degree?
No

Can you be a part-time student?
No, only full-time students are accepted.

How long do most students take to complete the program?
On average, students take 5 years to complete the Ph.D., although some students finish in 4 years. Occasionally students take longer, usually due to particularly engaging internships or a desire to increase publications so as to be more competitive for academic positions.

Can I transfer credit from another university?
Typically students earn more than enough credits through their regular courses and their research courses that the transfer of credit is moot. More relevant is whether it is possible to "place out" of required courses. The answer is "yes" as long as it is determined that the same content was covered in an equally-rigorous manner.

What is the workload like for a first-year grad student, and does it change over the course of the program?
First-year students will usually take 3 classes in addition to their area's research seminar. In addition, they are required to complete a research project (see First-year Project for more information) and will TA for one semester. The amount of coursework tends to lessen over time as students engage in more research and work on degree requirements (thesis and dissertation). Most students will have completed all course requirements by the end of the third year.

Will I have the chance to work with different faculty members, or just one?
Our faculty members often collaborate on research, and we encourage the same from our graduate students; there are several opportunities to work with different faculty members on a variety of projects.

Are graduate students assigned to Research Assistantships (RA/GA) or Teaching Assistantships (TA) each semester for funding?
Currently every graduate student TA's once per academic year (either during Fall or Spring semester), but this is not "in exchange" for funding. Funding for the first four academic years and first two summers is guaranteed to every student in good standing. The university does not provide research assistantships, although students funded by grants are funded as research assistants.

Will I have the opportunity to complete an internship?
Many students in the Industrial/Organizational and Human Factors/HCI areas choose to complete internships either during a semester or summer. Some cognitive students also benefit from an internship experience. Students on internships work in an applied setting and are paid by the sponsoring organization. Previous companies students have interned at include: NASA or Lockheed at the Johnson Space Center, IBM, Texas Instruments, Compaq Computers, Honeywell, Canon Information Systems, Jeanneret and Associates (an industrial psychology consulting firm), Personnel Decisions International, The University of Texas Medical School and the Baylor College of Medicine.

What is the atmosphere like in the department?
The spirit of the department is collegial and collaborative, not competitive. Graduate students and faculty members often work together on research ideas and offer feedback and suggestions on projects.

Does Rice offer graduate student housing?
Rice’s graduate students live off campus, either in nearby rental properties or at the university-owned Rice Graduate Apartments, Morningside Square Apartments or the Rice Village Apartments. Learn more about Rice’s convenient graduate student housing options.

What is Houston like?
Houston – Kiplinger magazine’s best city in the nation for 2008 – is home to a blend of ethnic groups and cultures matched only by New York City and Los Angles. Houston is a center for the visual and performing arts, an international business hub and home to the second-busiest port in the United States. Visit “Houston: It’s Cooler Than You Think" site.

Could you describe the social side of graduate life at Rice?
Rice and Houston are vibrant communities with lots of opportunities for sports, fine arts, dining, etc. Students often gather in neighboring Rice Village for dinner or drinks. The department holds picnics, end of the year parties, and other get-togethers throughout the year.