The Interdisciplinary Social Psychology Ph.D. Program

Explore the depths of social dynamics

Dive into the legacy of our Interdisciplinary Social Psychology Ph.D. program, a fusion of psychology and sociology to shape the future of social interactions. Explore our unique approach and supportive academic community.

Doctoral Program Information

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The Interdisciplinary Social Psychology Ph.D. program

The Interdisciplinary Social Psychology Ph.D. program applies rigorous psychological and sociological scholarship to better understand the processes, structures and contexts that impact social interactions. Learn more about the Ph.D. program, the admissions process and resources for student support.

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About us

Learn more about our interdisciplinary partners and our mission to create an exceptional academic environment.

About us

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Meet our Ph.D. students

Learn more about current students, their advisors and the exciting projects they are collaborating on. Or, see what our alumni are doing now.

Current students

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Student resources

Program handbook, career information, and a list of student organizations and campus resources.

Student Resources

Learn about the work we do and people behind it

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Research areas

Our faculty contribute to four thematic areas. As a student in our program, you may choose research projects that utilize one or more of these themes, or engage in social psychological scholarship in other aspects of the discipline.

Research

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People of Social Psychology

From faculty to doctoral student and alumni, learn more about the people at the forefront of our impactful research.

Awards and Achievements

Winners announced for Founders' Best Paper Award

There are two Founders’ Awards. The Founders’ Best Paper Award recognizes the best research paper by a student in the Interdisciplinary Social Psychology Ph.D. Program that was submitted for publication, or published during the 12 months prior to the submission deadline (April 1).

Best Paper ($750): "From Embezzlement to Antitrust: White Collar Crime Preferences of the Dark Triad" by Sampada Karandikar
Runner-up ($250): N/A

Winners announced for Founders' Best Research Proposal Award

The Founders’ Best Research Proposal Award seeks to support student research by funding the best research proposal submitted by a student in the Interdisciplinary Social Psychology Ph.D. Program.

Best Research Proposal ($750): "Vanished in Plain Sight: Understanding Change Blindness and its Impact on Eyewitness Memory" by Demi Hart
Runner up ($250): N/A

Social psychology Ph.D. student wins GSA Scholarship

Doctoral student Sampada Karandikar just won the Graduate Student Association's Outstanding International Graduate Student Scholarship!

Well done, Sampada!

Social psychology Ph.D. student wins PEO Scholar award

Doctoral student Sarah (Moody) Kruger has won another prestigious dissertation award – the Philanthropic Educational Organization (PEO) Scholar Award!

Sarah is among the 100 women selected out of 775 nominees to receive a $20,000 PEO Scholar Award for the 2022-2023 academic year. Being selected as a PEO Scholar is a prestigious addition to Sarah’s outstanding record. Great job, Sarah!

Social psychology professor named APS Rising Star

Assistant Professor Yueran Yang has been named an Association for Psychological Science Rising Star for 2022! Her research interests include interrogated confessions and eyewitness identification.

Congratulations, Yueran. Well done!

Social psychology Ph.D. student wins AP-LS travel award

Doctoral student Justice Healy recently won the very competitive American Psychology-Law Society (AP-LS) travel award.

Nice work, Justice!

Social psychology student wins GSA Research Grant

Doctoral student Evan Murphy recently won the GSA Research, Travel and Materials Grant to support data collection for his dissertation, which will seek to better understand community sentiment around COVID policies in the justice system (e.g., early prisoner release). Congratulations, Evan!

Social psychology student wins SPSP Graduate Travel Award

Doctoral student Kodai Kusano recently won the SPSP Graduate Travel Award.

Best of luck on your travels, Kodai!

Our impact

News stories from social psychology and the departments that contribute to the program.

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Neuroscience program continues to build capacity

The program, started less than 20 years ago, has grown into one of the largest on campus

A group of people looking at the School of Public Health sign outside the building.

Overdose education and harm reduction program offered for free on campus to the University community

CASAT’s Nevada Opioid Center of Excellence at the School of Public Health leads local efforts of a national initiative

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Panel explores the link between financial stability and mental and physical health

Experts from GNCU, the University of Nevada, Reno, Community Health Alliance, Washoe County Sheriff’s Office and the City of Reno discussed how financial hardship can impact overall health and well-being

Commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, and justice

Social psychology, as an academic and a scientific endeavor, seeks to describe, understand, and enable change of social behavior and social processes. Our goal is to improve lives through our teaching and research, advance opportunities for our students and faculty, and ultimately contribute to a more free, just, and equitable society for all. In so doing, social psychology is dependent on a diversity of perspectives and experiences. We are committed to including students and faculty of all different backgrounds, especially members of groups whose perspectives have been underrepresented and marginalized in the social sciences. We actively oppose racism, discrimination, and prejudice of all kinds on campus and society at large—these injustices threaten social psychology as an empirical science and are incompatible with our goals.

Learn more about what we're doing