university of utah psychology phd acceptance rate

University of Utah: Statistics

Updated: February 29, 2024

Quick Review

University of utah acceptance rate and admissions statistics.

University of Utah has an acceptance rate of 89% and is among the 38% of the easiest universities to gain admission to in the United States. The university reports the admission statistics without distinguishing between local and international students.

16,672 students enrolled in some distance education courses.

2,431 enrolled exclusively in distance education.

Among admitted applicants 643 or 12% submitted SAT

25% of them had 1190 or below

75% of them had 1390 or below

Typical SAT scores of first-years in the University of Utah are 1190-1390 (middle 50% range).

Among admitted applicants 2,651 or 48% submitted ACT

25% of them had 22 or below

75% of them had 29 or below

Typical ACT scores of first-years in the University of Utah are 22-29 (middle 50% range).

Admissions requirements

Enrollment demographics by race or ethnicity

Costs per year: Tuition, Housing, Fees

The final cost of attendance varies for each student based on household income, residency, program, and other factors.

Tuition and fees

Room and board costs

University of Utah majors

University of Utah has granted 5,498 bachelor's degrees across 87 programs, 2,265 master's across 95 programs, and 938 doctorate degrees across 60 programs. Below is a table with majors that lead to degrees at University of Utah.

University of Utah has a graduation rate of 65%, which is among the 32% highest for universities in the US.

Publications & Citations

University of Utah is a world-class research university with 171,271 scientific papers published and 5,519,109 citations received. The research profile covers a range of fields, including Biology, Medicine, Chemistry, Engineering, Computer Science, Liberal Arts & Social Sciences, Physics, Genetics, Environmental Science, and Biochemistry.

Publication / Citation count by topic

Annual publication & citation counts

University of Utah alumni

Alexander Douglas Smith is a former American football quarterback who played in the National Football League (NFL) for 16 seasons. Smith played college football with the Utah Utes, earning first-team All-American honors and winning the 2005 Fiesta Bowl as a senior. He was selected first overall by the San Francisco 49ers in the 2005 NFL Draft.

Kyle Alexander Kuzma is an American professional basketball player for the Washington Wizards of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He played college basketball for the Utah Utes and was named first-team all-conference in the Pac-12 as a junior in 2016–17. Kuzma was selected in the first round of the 2017 NBA draft with the 27th overall pick, and he was named to the NBA All-Rookie First Team with the Los Angeles Lakers in 2018. He won an NBA championship with the Lakers in 2020 before being traded to the Wizards in 2021.

Andrew Bogut

Andrew Michael Bogut is an Australian former professional basketball player who spent the majority of his career in the National Basketball Association (NBA). The 7-foot (213 cm) tall center was selected by the Milwaukee Bucks with the first overall pick in the 2005 NBA draft. He earned All-NBA Third Team honors with the Bucks in 2010. He was traded to the Golden State Warriors in 2012, and was named NBA All-Defensive Second Team in 2015, when he won an NBA championship with the Warriors.

Matthew Davis

Matthew Wadsworth Davis is an American actor. He is mostly known for his roles as Warner Huntington III in Legally Blonde, Adam Hillman on the ABC comedy-drama What About Brian from 2006 to 2007 and Alaric Saltzman on The CW fantasy drama The Vampire Diaries from 2009 to 2017 as well as the spin-off series Legacies from 2018 to 2022. He starred on the short-lived CW mystery and horror drama Cult as Jeff Sefton, and had a recurring role on the CBS police drama CSI: Crime Scene Investigation as Sean Yeager.

General info

Location and contacts

University of Utah in social media

Clinical Mental Health Counseling Master's Program

Department of educational psychology, main navigation, mission statement.

The fundamental mission of the Master's in Clinical Mental Health Counseling specialty is to educate and train counselors who will promote the optimal functioning of individuals, families, groups, and communities. Built upon a foundation of knowledge, skills, and dispositions within a community-minded and social justice framework, program graduates will be able to translate research-validated practices into effective strategies for individuals, groups, and families from all backgrounds. The course of study will support the acquisition of competency-based knowledge while fostering professional and personal growth through self-reflection and constructive feedback.

Watch an Info Session Here

Recording of Info Session from April 2024

About the Clinical Mental Health Counseling Master's Program

Clinical mental health counselors facilitate the growth and development of individuals, families, and groups through the helping relationship. They practice in a range of settings, including outpatient, inpatient, and community mental health agencies, individual and group private practice settings, and other contexts where counseling and mental health services are provided. CMHC is a distinct licensure specialty from other helping professions such as psychology, social work, psychiatry, and psychiatric nursing. Like other mental health professions, a variety of issues may be addressed through professional counseling, and the University of Utah CMHC program emphasizes the use of culturally-relevant, empirically supported, and strength-based approaches in addressing these issues.

The Clinical Mental Health Counseling Specialty is designed to prepare students for entry level counseling positions in community mental health and human service agencies. This specialty is currently designed to meet the educational requirements for licensure as a Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor (LCMHC) in the state of Utah, and is congruent with national standards for master's level licensure in most other jurisdictions across the country. Accordingly, the Clinical Mental Health Counseling Specialty requires a minimum of 60 credit hours, typically over three years, with the final year culminating in a 1000-hour field-based internship.

The faculty is committed to offering a manageable program of study, with course offerings that accommodate those balancing life demands. Consequently, many required courses meet once per week in the early evening, in person, on the University of Utah campus. Moreover, we are dedicated to providing close, individualized attention to our students, selecting only 12-15 students per year. Because we limit our numbers, students regularly provide feedback that they are well-known among the faculty, receive close supervision, and appreciate the small class sizes. Students also comment on both the non-competitive, collegial atmosphere among their class peers and the close connections they are able to develop because of the smaller cohort size.

Students admitted to the Clinical Mental Health Counseling specialty have completed at least a bachelor's degree and have relevant experience and/or education in psychology. Please consult Information for Applicants for specific details on requirements for applying to the program. Please also consult the Program Handbook , which is revised annually for our incoming students, providing details regarding the Clinical Mental Health Counseling program's objectives, curriculum, and internship requirements.

Accreditation

Our CMHC graduates are eligible to take the UT licensing exam for the Utah Licensed Associate CMHC (ACMHC). Eligibility to apply for the CMHC License occurs after accruing 3,000 hours of supervised clinical hours as an ACMHC.

See https://dopl.utah.gov/clinical-mental-health-counseling/  for more details on the licensure process. If you are planning to practice outside of Utah, please visit the specific state’s licensing department to learn more about requirements for licensure.

Interested in partnering with the CMHC program by being an internship site?

In the third and final year of the program, our CMHC students spend 2-3 semesters at a community-based internship site.  If your organization is interested in a partnership the first step is to attend an information session.  We have an application process where applications are then reviewed by the Counseling and Counseling Psychology Staff.  Organizations that are a good fit for our students and program are then invited to an Internship Fair each Fall where they can begin interviewing students.  If you are interested in more information and to register for the next information session, please email:  [email protected]  with your request. 

First Year Cohort

Second Year Cohort

Third Year Cohort

Need more info.

Attend an information session to learn more about our M.Ed. Programs in Clinical Mental Health Counseling (CMHC) and School Counseling (Salt Lake City or St. George Programs ).

• Program Mission/Objectives
• Coursework/Training
• Costs/Tuition
• Financial Aid
• How to Apply

Monthly Virtual Clinical Mental Health Counseling Information Sessions are scheduled for the following dates:

Topic: CMHC Q&A Admission Session Time : Aug 27, 2024 07:30 PM Mountain Time (US and Canada) Join Zoom Meeting https://utah.zoom.us/j/92983253770 Meeting ID : 929 8325 3770 Time : Sep 4, 2024 07:30 PM Mountain Time (US and Canada) Join Zoom Meeting https://utah.zoom.us/j/97129603463 Meeting ID : 971 2960 3463 Time : Oct 1, 2024 07:30 PM Mountain Time (US and Canada) Join Zoom Meeting https://utah.zoom.us/j/91296182333 Meeting ID : 912 9618 2333 Time : Nov 7, 2024 07:30 PM Mountain Time (US and Canada) Join Zoom Meeting https://utah.zoom.us/j/98188060358 Meeting ID : 981 8806 0358

Please contact [email protected] for more information or questions.

For questions, call: 801-581-7148

Related Websites

Department of Educational Psychology  

College of Education

University of Utah

University of Utah Acceptance Rates & Admissions Statistics

What does the admissions department at university of utah look for, on this page you’ll find:, how are university of utah admissions and enrollment stats applicable to you, selectivity (fall 2021): what’s the acceptance rate for students.

Acceptance and Enrollment Stats (Fall 2021)

What’s the Male/Female Breakdown When it Comes to Admissions?

Average test scores, additional question to ask, notes and references, popular reports, compare your school options.

The Graduate School

Office of graduate education and postdoctoral affairs, main navigation, degree programs & contacts.

Connecting you to all graduate degrees at the University of Utah, including contact information, program handbooks and more.

If you see content that needs to be updated, please report a change .

College of Architecture + Planning

School of architecture, architectural studies ms.

Master of Science

Director of Graduate Studies icon   VALERIE GREER

Contact icon BRISA ZAVALA icon 801-585-5354 icon Bldg: ARCH | Rm: 332

Program HANDBOOK

Architecture MAR

Master of Architecture

City & Metropolitan Planning

City & metro planning mcp.

Master of City and Metropolitan Planning

Director of Graduate Studies icon   DIVYA CHANDRASEKHAR

Contact icon ALEX FRANCIS-RIGGAN icon 801-587-7553 icon Bldg: ARCH | Rm: 235

Metropolitan Planning, Policy & Design PHD

Doctor of Philosophy

Division of Games

Entertain arts & engineering mae.

Master of Entertainment Arts and Engineering

Director of Graduate Studies icon   MICHAEL YOUNG

Contact icon DYLAN ZOLLINGER icon 801-581-7110 icon Bldg: BLDG 72 | Rm: SECOND FLR

David Eccles School of Business

Department of accounting, accounting mac.

Master of Accounting

Director of Graduate Studies icon   NATE ZWART

Contact icon LASHELLE MANN icon 801-587-9379 icon Bldg: SFEBB | Rm: 3109

Business Administration Ex MBA

Master of Business Administration

Director of Graduate Studies icon   BRADLEY VIERIG

Contact icon CRISTINA REYNA icon 801-581-5577 icon Bldg: GARFF | Rm: 4400

Business Administration MBA

Contact icon CHRIS CONARD icon 801-585-6291 icon Bldg: GARFF | Rm: 2250

icon Available online Business Administration On MBA

Contact icon XANI HAYNIE icon 801-587-8870 icon Bldg: GARFF | Rm: 2400

Business Administration PHD

Director of Graduate Studies icon   STEVE STUBBEN

Contact icon LARI FRANDSEN icon 801-581-8625 icon Bldg: BU C | Rm: 4100

Business Administration Pr MBA

Business analytics ms.

Director of Graduate Studies icon   JEFF WEBB

Contact icon CATHY BROWN icon 801-585-3557

icon Available online Healthcare Administration MHA

Master of Healthcare Administration

Director of Graduate Studies icon   RAND KERR

Contact icon JACKIE REES icon 801-581-5218

Real Estate Development MRD

Master of Real Estate Development

Director of Graduate Studies icon   DANNY WALL

Contact icon ALICIA BROOKS icon 801-587-8533 icon Bldg: GARFF | Rm: 2359

Department of Entrepreneurship and Strategy

Business creation mbc.

Master of Business Creation

Director of Graduate Studies icon   PAUL BROWN

Contact icon JAMILEH JAMESON icon 801-585-1621 icon Bldg: SFEBB

Department of Finance

Icon available online finance ms.

Director of Graduate Studies icon   DEBBIE ADEBUNMI

Contact icon LAUREN LANCE icon 801-581-5588 icon Bldg: SFEBB | Rm: 8159

Department of Operations and Information Systems

Cybersecurity management ms.

Director of Graduate Studies icon   CHRIS DANSIE

icon Available online Information Systems MS

Director of Graduate Studies icon   CHONG OH

Contact icon CATHY BROWN icon 801-585-3557 icon Bldg: SFEBB | Rm: 7130

School of Dentistry

Dentistry dds.

Doctor of Dental Surgery

Director of Graduate Studies icon   ALEX STEELE

Contact icon ALEX STEELE icon 801-646-4654 icon Bldg: UUSODG

College of Education

Department of education, culture and society, education, culture and society med.

Master of Education

Director of Graduate Studies icon   LETICIA ALVAREZ

Contact icon JASON NEWNUM icon 801-587-1223 icon Bldg: SAEC | Rm: 328

Education, Culture and Society PHD

Contact icon JASON NEWNUM icon 801-587-1223 icon Bldg: SAEC | Rm: 3280

Educational Leadership & Policy

Educational leadership and policy edd.

Doctor of Education

Director of Graduate Studies icon   PAULA SMITH

Contact icon MARILYNN HOWARD icon 801-581-6714 icon Bldg: SAEC | Rm: 2220

Educational Leadership and Policy MED

Educational leadership and policy phd, department of educational psychology, educational psychology med.

Director of Graduate Studies icon   ZAC IMEL

Contact icon SARAH HOMER icon Bldg: SAEC | Rm: 3220

Educational Psychology MS

Educational psychology mst.

Master of Statistics

Contact icon

Educational Psychology PHD

Department of special education, special education med.

Director of Graduate Studies icon   MATT JAMESON

Contact icon KAITLIN LINDSEY icon 801-581-4764 icon Bldg: SAEC | Rm: 2280

Special Education MS

Contact icon KAITLIN LINDSEY icon 801-581-8121 icon Bldg: SAEC | Rm: 2280

Special Education PHD

College of engineering, department of biomedical engineering, biomedical engineering ms.

Director of Graduate Studies icon   ALAN DORVAL

Contact icon LAURA OLSEN icon 801-581-8559 icon Bldg: SMBB | Rm: 3223

Biomedical Engineering PHD

Department of chemical engineering, chemical engineering ms.

Director of Graduate Studies icon   KERRY KELLY

Contact icon WANDA BROWN icon 801-585-1181 icon Bldg: MEB | Rm: 3290

Chemical Engineering PHD

Department of civil and environmental engineering, civil and environmental engineering ms.

Director of Graduate Studies icon   CATHY LIU

Contact icon COURTNEY PHILLIPS icon 801-581-6678 icon Bldg: MCE | Rm: 2008

Civil and Environmental Engineering PHD

Nuclear engineering ms.

Contact icon COURTNEY PHILLIPS icon 801-581-6678 icon Bldg: MCE | Rm: 2012

Nuclear Engineering PHD

School of computing, computer science ms.

Director of Graduate Studies icon   ALEXANDER LEX

Contact icon [email protected] icon 801-581-8224 icon Bldg: MEB | Rm: 3190

Computer Science PHD

Computing ms, computing phd, software development msd.

Master of Software Development

Director of Graduate Studies icon   MATTHEW FLATT

Contact icon LESLIE WALLWORK icon 801-581-7631

Electrical and Computer Engineering

Icon available online electrical and computer engineering ms.

Director of Graduate Studies icon   CYNTHIA FURSE

Contact icon LIZ ROWBERRY icon 801-587-9710 icon Bldg: MEB | Rm: 2110

Electrical and Computer Engineering PHD

Contact icon JOHN BOLKE icon 801-581-4941 icon Bldg: MEB | Rm: 2110

Department of Materials Science and Engineering

Materials science and engineering ms.

Director of Graduate Studies icon   HONG YONG SOHN

Contact icon SARA WILSON icon 801-581-4449 icon Bldg: CME | Rm: 304

Materials Science and Engineering PHD

Director of Graduate Studies icon   DMITRO BEDROV

Department of Mechanical Engineering

Icon available online engineering management mem.

Master of Engineering Management

Director of Graduate Studies icon   TODD EASTON

Contact icon TODD EASTON icon 801-581-7101 icon Bldg: MEK | Rm: 1550

Mechanical Engineering MS

Director of Graduate Studies icon   MARK FEHLBERG

Contact icon MARK FEHLBERG icon 801-585-9293 icon Bldg: MEK | Rm: 1568

Mechanical Engineering PHD

Robotics ms.

Director of Graduate Studies icon   STEPHEN MASCARO

Contact icon KELLY PEARSON icon 801-581-6441 icon Bldg: MEK

Robotics PHD

Systems engineering ms.

Contact icon TODD EASTON

College of Fine Arts

Department of art & art history, art history ma.

Master of Arts

Director of Graduate Studies icon   MONTY PARET

Contact icon SANDIE CROOK icon 801-581-8677 icon Bldg: ART | Rm: 161

Master of Fine Arts

Director of Graduate Studies icon   LEWIS CRAWFORD

Contact icon JANET SOLLER icon 801-581-8677 icon Bldg: ART | Rm: 161

School of Dance

Director of Graduate Studies icon   ERIC HANDMAN

Contact icon SHERIDAN HUTCHINSON icon 801-587-9457 icon Bldg: MCD | Rm: 124

Modern Dance MFA

Film and media arts, film and media arts mfa.

Director of Graduate Studies icon   SARAH SINWELL

Contact icon PAULA LEE icon 801-581-5127 icon Bldg: ART | Rm: 270

icon Available online Fine Arts MAT

Master of Arts in Teaching

Director of Graduate Studies icon   KELBY MCINTYRE-MARTINEZ

Contact icon KELBY MCINTYRE-MARTINEZ icon 801-587-0528 icon Bldg: SAEC | Rm: 1240

School of Music

Master of Music

Director of Graduate Studies icon   HASSE BORUP

Contact icon DAVID FOX icon 801-585-6972 icon Bldg: DGH | Rm: 204

Musical Arts DMA

Doctor of Musical Arts

Musicology MA

College of health, department of communication sciences and disorders, audiology aud.

Doctor of Audiology

Director of Graduate Studies icon   SARAH FERGUSON

Contact icon LEIGH ANN BENEVIDES icon 801-585-0427 icon Bldg: BEH S | Rm: 1201

Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology PHD

Director of Graduate Studies icon   SKYLER JENNINGS

Speech-Language Pathology MA

Director of Graduate Studies icon   ROBERT KRAEMER

Speech-Language Pathology MS

Department of health and kinesiology, health and kinesiology ms.

Director of Graduate Studies icon   JULIE LUCERO

Contact icon ANDREA MOSS icon 801-585-9783 icon Bldg: HPR N

Health and Kinesiology PHD

Contact icon ANDREA MOSS icon 801-581-7558 icon Bldg: HPR N

Department of Nutrition and Integrative Physiology

Icon available online nutrition and integrative physiology ms.

Director of Graduate Studies icon   THUNDER JALILI

Contact icon CARISSE WINEGAR icon 801-581-6730 icon Bldg: HPR N | Rm: 214

Nutrition and Integrative Physiology PHD

Dept of occupational and recreational therapies, occupational therapy mot.

Master of Occupational Therapy

Director of Graduate Studies icon   LORIE RICHARDS

Contact icon KELLY BROWN icon 801-585-0555

Recreational Therapy MS

Director of Graduate Studies icon   RHONDA NELSON

Department of Parks, Recreation and Tourism

Parks, recreation and tourism ms.

Director of Graduate Studies icon   ROBERT SIBTHORP

Contact icon ANDREA MOSS icon 801-585-9783

Parks, Recreation and Tourism PHD

Dept of physical therapy and athletic training, athletic training mtr.

Master of Athletic Training

Director of Graduate Studies icon   JUSTIN RIGBY

Contact icon ASHLEY JOLLY icon 801-585-1820

Physical Therapy DPT

Doctor of Physical Therapy

Director of Graduate Studies icon   MICAH DRUMMOND

Contact icon ALISON VASQUEZ icon 801-581-8681

Rehabilitation Science PHD

Contact icon ELIZABETH SOUTHWELL icon 801-585-9510 icon Bldg: DHPEB

College of Humanities

Department of communication, communication ma.

Director of Graduate Studies icon   CHRIS INGRAHAM

Contact icon TRAVIS CIARAMELLA icon 801-585-6337 icon Bldg: LNCO | Rm: 2400

Communication MPL

Master of Philosophy

Director of Graduate Studies icon   MICHAEL MIDDLETON

Contact icon TRAVIS CIARAMELLA icon 801-631-4773 icon Bldg: LNCO | Rm: 2400

Communication MS

Communication phd, department of english, creative writing mfa.

Director of Graduate Studies icon   ELIZABETH SWANSTROM

Contact icon KARLI SAM icon 801-581-7131 icon Bldg: LNCO | Rm: 3500

Director of Graduate Studies icon   ANNE JAMISON

English PHD

Department of history.

Director of Graduate Studies icon   ELIZABETH CLEMENT

Contact icon AMARILYS SCOTT icon 801-581-6121 icon Bldg: CTIHB | Rm: 310

History PHD

Asian studies ma.

Director of Graduate Studies icon   WINSTON KYAN

Contact icon ROXANNA LEE icon 801-581-6101 icon Bldg: CTIHB | Rm: 210

Environmental Humanities MA

Director of Graduate Studies icon   DANIELLE ENDRES

Contact icon CORY PIKE icon 801-587-6156 icon Bldg: FD 618

Environmental Humanities MS

Latin american studies ma.

Director of Graduate Studies icon   ELENA SHTROMBERG

Linguistics

Linguistics ma.

Director of Graduate Studies icon   MARYANN CHRISTISON

Contact icon KACEY CAMPBELL icon 801-581-8047 icon Bldg: LNCO | Rm: 2300

Linguistics PHD

Department of philosophy, philosophy ma.

Director of Graduate Studies icon   ERIN BEEGHLY

Contact icon CONNIE CORBETT icon 801-581-8162 icon Bldg: CTIHB | Rm: 402 C

Philosophy MS

Philosophy phd.

Contact icon CONNIE CORBETT icon 801-581-8162 icon Bldg: CTIHB | Rm: 402C

World Languages and Cultures

Language pedagogy ma.

Director of Graduate Studies icon   DEBERNIERE TORREY

Contact icon BROOKE WALRATH icon 801-587-3451 icon Bldg: LNCO | Rm: 1400

World Languages and Cultures MA

World languages and cultures phd, department of writing and rhetoric studies, writing and rhetoric studies ma.

Director of Graduate Studies icon   JAY JORDAN

Contact icon KARLI SAM icon 801-581-7131 icon Bldg: LNCO | Rm: 3700

Writing and Rhetoric Studies MS

Writing and rhetoric studies phd, s.j. quinney college of law, environmental and resource law llm.

Master of Laws

Director of Graduate Studies icon   ROBERT KEITER

Contact icon JANETTE NYSTROM icon 801-581-7475 icon Bldg: LAW | Rm: 113

Juris Doctor

Director of Graduate Studies icon   LOUISA HEINY

Contact icon NATASHA CARLTON icon 801-581-3759 icon Bldg: LAW | Rm: 113

icon Available online Legal Studies MLS

Master of Legal Studies

Director of Graduate Studies icon   STEPHANIE JARVI-PETERSON

Contact icon CASSIE SARFATI icon Bldg: LAW | Rm: 113

School of Medicine

Department of biochemistry, biochemistry phd.

Director of Graduate Studies icon   ADAM HUGHES

Contact icon AMITY MOWER icon 801-585-2555 icon Bldg: EEJMRB | Rm: 4100

Department of Biomedical Informatics

Icon available online biomedical informatics ms.

Director of Graduate Studies icon   CAROLYN SCHEESE

Contact icon ELI COVARRUBIAS icon 801-213-3364 icon Bldg: 421 WA | Rm: 140

Biomedical Informatics PHD

Director of Graduate Studies icon   KATHERINE SWARD

Contact icon AMY PARKIN icon Bldg: 421 WA | Rm: 140

Department of Family and Preventive Medicine

Biostatistics mst.

Director of Graduate Studies icon   LISA GREN

Contact icon JOSUE MARTINEZ icon 801-587-7896 icon Bldg: 375 CH | Rm: SUITE A

Public Health MPH

Master of Public Health

Contact icon JOSUE MARTINEZ icon 801-587-7896 icon Bldg: 375 CH

Public Health MS

Public health phd.

Contact icon DALLAS NELSON icon 801-581-6385 icon Bldg: 375 CH | Rm: STE A

Department of Human Genetics

Human genetics phd.

Director of Graduate Studies icon   MARK METZSTEIN

Contact icon KANDACE LEAVITT icon 801-585-0462 icon Bldg: EIHG | Rm: 5100

Spencer Fox Eccles School of Medicine

Cardiovascular perfusion ms.

Director of Graduate Studies icon   KIRK BINGHAM

Contact icon SHAWNDA GILLESPIE icon 801-300-7719

Clinical Investigation MS

Director of Graduate Studies icon   KELLIE BROWN

Contact icon KELLIE BROWN icon 385-501-5344

Genetic Counseling MS

Director of Graduate Studies icon   KARIN DENT

Contact icon LUISA ROGERS icon 801-581-8624 icon Bldg: SOM | Rm: 2 C 454

Health Professions MED

Director of Graduate Studies icon   REBECCA WILSON

Contact icon ARMINKA ZELJKOVIC icon 801-581-8198

Medicine MD

Doctor of Medicine

Director of Graduate Studies icon   JESSICA HURTADO

Contact icon CINDY CARIO icon Bldg: EHSEB | Rm: 5900

Neuroscience PHD

Director of Graduate Studies icon   MEGAN WILLIAMS

Contact icon NICOLE CALDWELL icon 801-581-4820 icon Bldg: BPRB | Rm: 320

Department of Neurobiology

Neurobiology and anatomy phd.

Director of Graduate Studies icon   NIKKI LINK

Contact icon EMILY HARRIS icon 801-581-3653 icon Bldg: BPRB | Rm: 320

Division of Occupational and Environmental Health

Occupational and environmental health phd.

Director of Graduate Studies icon   JOE ALLEN

Contact icon KATHERINE MCCOLL

Occupational Health MOH

Master of Occupational Health

Contact icon KATHERINE MCCOLL icon Bldg: 375 CH | Rm: STE A

Occupational Health MS

Department of oncological sciences, oncological sciences phd.

Director of Graduate Studies icon   RODNEY STEWART

Contact icon WHITNEY REID icon 801-213-6225

Department of Pathology

Laboratory medicine and biomedical science ms.

Director of Graduate Studies icon   DIANA WILKINS

Contact icon CHRISTINE BRATTON icon 801-581-7913 icon Bldg: BD 379 | Rm: 160

Microbiology and Immunology PHD

Director of Graduate Studies icon   HANS HAECKER

Contact icon DESTINY GOMEZ icon 801-213-3717 icon Bldg: EEJMRB | Rm: 1100

Department of Pediatrics

Clinical pharmacology phd.

Director of Graduate Studies icon   ELENA ENIOUTINA

Contact icon ELENA ENIOUTINA icon 801-587-1916

Division of Physician Assistant Education & Sci

Physician assistnt studies mps.

Master of Physician Assistant Studies

Director of Graduate Studies icon   JENNIE COOMBS

Contact icon MAYUMI KASAI icon 801-587-1662

Department of Population Health Sciences

Population health sciences phd.

Director of Graduate Studies icon   ROGER ALTIZER

Contact icon MARCIE LEEK icon 801-587-1606

College of Nursing

Icon available online gerontology ms.

Director of Graduate Studies icon   JULIE GEE

Contact icon KRISTEN MAHONEY icon 801-581-8198 icon Bldg: CNB | Rm: 2220

Contact icon KRISTEN MAHONEY icon 801-581-7046 icon Bldg: CNB | Rm: 2220

Nursing PHD

Contact icon CARRIE RADMALL icon 801-581-8798

Nursing Practice DNP

Doctor of Nursing Practice

Contact icon SHELLEY KERN icon 801-585-0878 icon Bldg: CNB | Rm: 2200

College of Pharmacy

Department of medicinal chemistry, medicinal chemistry phd.

Director of Graduate Studies icon   RAPHAEL FRANZINI

Contact icon TERRI ELDER-HALE icon 801-581-5581 icon Bldg: SK H | Rm: 307

Department of Molecular Pharmaceutics

Molecular pharmaceutics phd.

Director of Graduate Studies icon   JAMES HERRON

Contact icon HALLIE MCCARTHY icon 801-585-0070 icon Bldg: SK H | Rm: 301

Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology

Pharmacology and toxicology phd.

Director of Graduate Studies icon   PHILIP MOOS

Contact icon JULIE CALLAHAN icon 801-581-6287 icon Bldg: SK H | Rm: 112

Department of Pharmacotherapy

Pharmacotherapy outcomes research and health policy phd.

Director of Graduate Studies icon   NATHORN CHAIYAKUNAPRUK

Contact icon LINDA O'CONNOR icon 801-585-1065 icon Bldg: SK H | Rm: 254

Pharmacy DPH

Doctor of Pharmacy

Director of Graduate Studies icon   JAMES RUBLE

Contact icon SHAWNA WEBSTER icon 801-585-1848 icon Bldg: SK H | Rm: 105

College of Science

Department of atmospheric sciences, atmospheric sciences ms.

Director of Graduate Studies icon   COURT STRONG

Contact icon ALEX MUNOZ icon 801-581-6136 icon Bldg: WBB | Rm: 819

Atmospheric Sciences PHD

School of biological sciences, biology (teaching) ms.

Director of Graduate Studies icon   ALLYSON ROCKS

Director of Graduate Studies icon   COLIN DALE

Contact icon SHANNON NIELSEN icon 801-581-5636 icon Bldg: BIOL | Rm: 201

Biology PHD

Department of chemistry, chemistry (teaching) ms, chemistry phd.

Director of Graduate Studies icon   RYAN STEELE

Contact icon JO VALLEJO icon 801-581-4393 icon Bldg: TBBC | Rm: 4404

Department of Geology and Geophysics

Geological engineering men.

Master of Engineering

Director of Graduate Studies icon   FAN-CHI LIN

Contact icon SAM LEE icon 801-581-7162 icon Bldg: FASB | Rm: 383

Geological Engineering MS

Geological engineering phd, geology phd, geophysics ms, geophysics phd, department of mathematics, mathematics ma.

Director of Graduate Studies icon   SRIKANTH IYENGAR

Contact icon PAULA TOOMAN icon 801-581-6841 icon Bldg: JWB | Rm: 233

Mathematics MPL

Contact icon PAULA TOOMAN icon 801-581-6841 icon Bldg: JWB

Mathematics MS

Mathematics mst.

Contact icon ANNA LITTLE icon 801-585-6853

Mathematics PHD

Mathematics teaching ms, department of metallurgical engineering, metallurgical engineering men.

Contact icon SARA WILSON icon 801-581-6386 icon Bldg: WBB | Rm: 412

Metallurgical Engineering MS

Metallurgical engineering phd, college of mines and earth sciences, earth sciences (teaching) ms, department of mining engineering, mining engineering men.

Director of Graduate Studies icon   BRIJES MISHRA

Contact icon BRENDA WICKS icon 801-581-7198 icon Bldg: WBB | Rm: 313

Mining Engineering MS

Mining engineering phd, department of physics and astronomy.

Director of Graduate Studies icon   KYLE DAWSON

Contact icon KELSEY KRAUSE icon 801-581-7578 icon Bldg: JFB | Rm: 201

Physics PHD

Interdisciplinary, biotechnology psm.

Master of Science & Technology

Director of Graduate Studies icon   MEGHAN DOVICK

Contact icon MICHELLE MOOY icon 801-585-3650 icon Bldg: 44 | Rm: 224

Computational and Data Science PSM

Environmental science psm, college of social & behavioral science, department of anthropology, anthropology ma.

Director of Graduate Studies icon   ADRIAN BELL

Contact icon BRITTANY KISER icon 801-213-1399 icon Bldg: GC

Anthropology MS

Contact icon BRITTANY KISER icon 801-213-1399

Anthropology PHD

Department of economics, econometrics mst.

Director of Graduate Studies icon   ELLIS SCHARFENAKER

Contact icon KAYLA SUHRIE icon 801-585-6853

Economics MA

Contact icon KAYLA SUHRIE icon 801-581-3939

Economics MS

Economics phd, school of environment, society, and sustainability, geographic information science ms.

Director of Graduate Studies icon   NENG WAN

Contact icon PAMELA MITCHELL icon 801-581-8218

Geography MS

Contact icon PAMELA MITCHELL icon 801-581-8218 icon Bldg: GC | Rm: 4625

Geography PHD

Director of Graduate Studies icon   SUMMER RUPPER

Department of Family and Consumer Studies

Human development and social policy ms.

Director of Graduate Studies icon   SU SHIN

Contact icon ASHLEY JOHNSON icon 801-585-3047 icon Bldg: AEB | Rm: 228

Human Development and Social Policy PHD

Department of political science, political science ma.

Director of Graduate Studies icon   BAODONG LIU

Contact icon JEN WOZAB icon 801-581-8608 icon Bldg: GC | Rm: 3345

Political Science MS

Political science phd, department of psychology, psychology phd.

Director of Graduate Studies icon   CYNTHIA BERG

Contact icon NANCY SEEGMILLER icon 801-585-3997 icon Bldg: BEH S | Rm: 502

Division of Public Affairs

International affairs and global enterprise ms.

Director of Graduate Studies icon   DAVID CARTER

Contact icon GABRIELLA BLANCHARD icon 801-585-7834 icon Bldg: GC | Rm: 3050

Public Administration Ex MPA

Master of Public Administration

Director of Graduate Studies icon   JESUS VALERO ENRIQUEZ

Contact icon JATARA GREENIDGE icon 801-585-7985

Public Administration MPA

Public policy mpp.

Master of Public Policy

Director of Graduate Studies icon   JON FISK

Department of Sociology

Sociology mst.

Director of Graduate Studies icon   BETHANY EVERETT

Contact icon LAURA EGBERT icon 801-585-6853

Sociology PHD

Contact icon ALANA ROBISON icon 801-581-6153 icon Bldg: BEH S | Rm: 307

College of Social Work

Social work msw.

Master of Social Work

Director of Graduate Studies icon   LINDSAY GEZINSKI

Contact icon NIKKI KUCULYN icon 801-581-3026 icon Bldg: SW | Rm: 331

Social Work PHD

Director of Graduate Studies icon   JEREMIAH JAGGERS

Contact icon MIRELA RANKOVIC icon 801-585-5979 icon Bldg: SW | Rm: 111

Global Health Innovation and Technology

Need to report a change?

To change, update, or add information in this directory, please complete the Changes and Updates form. 

Submit a Change

Utah Admissions

International graduate admissions & graduate costs, welcome to the u.

Graduate applicants must hold a completed and officially conferred U.S. four-year Bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited U.S. institution, or the institutionally-recognized international equivalent from a foreign institution recognized by the country’s Ministry of Higher Education.

All prospective graduate students must submit an application to the University of Utah, including those who are currently undergraduate students at the University. Please note that some degrees also require program-specific applications. Please review the department’s page for particular admissions requirements.

To ensure enough time to secure a visa, international applicants are encouraged to apply as early as possible. The earlier you submit your documents, the less likely you are to experience delays in your admissions decision.

Ready to dive in? See our comprehensive list of the over 100 Masters and Doctoral programs offered at the University of Utah.

Your Future Begins with U

Review admissions standards and deadlines.

Graduate applicants must meet the application deadlines and academic standards set by their department.

University of Utah Graduate School admissions requirements can be reviewed here .

PLEASE NOTE: International Students must meet application deadlines and I-20 document deadlines .

The University of Utah will evaluate your application only after we receive all required fees and documents, including transcripts and proof of English proficiency for international applicants.

The non-refundable graduate application fee is $65 for international applicants. The application fee must be paid in order to consider your application complete.

Some academic programs may cover the cost (or partial cost) of the application fee. Consult your department’s website to learn more about fee waiver possibilities.

Submit Required Documentation

Applicants must upload:

A copy of all college-level transcripts to their application

These transcripts will be used as working copies during the admissions evaluation process. You must report and upload an individual, up-to-date transcript for every college you have attended (including courses taken as concurrent enrollment or transferred into another university).

To provide a clear picture of your academic history, a complete record of your student credentials must be present within your application. Applications are checked against National Student Clearinghouse which provides a record for each institution that reports a student has attended their institution. The evaluation team reaches out to students by email for missing materials. Please note that missing materials can cause further delay in processing your application and it cannot move forward until what is requested is received.

In order to be evaluated, a transcript must include:

• The student’s name
• The name of the institution
• Any degrees that have been conferred along with the date (if not posted on the transcript, upload a copy of your diploma or degree certificate)
• A copy of both the original transcript and an English-language translation if the transcript is in a different language

Any additional documents required by the academic department/program

• Questions about program specific admissions requirements (e.g., statements of purpose, letters of recommendation) can be answered by the department to which you are applying.
• Proof of English proficiency, if required.
• Learn more about who needs to submit proof of English proficiency here . For additional information and clarification about the documents we require of international applicants, review this page .

All documents submitted to the University of Utah become its property and will not be released to students or other institutions. While student-provided transcripts are used during the admissions process, admitted students will be required to submit official transcripts sent directly from their previous institutions to the University of Utah.

Submit SEVIS/I-20 Documentation

Only after a graduate student is both admitted and has confirmed their intent to enroll can they be issued an I-20 Certificate of Eligibility. While the I-20 request process is independent from the application process for admission, students can choose to begin submitting documents and information related to the I-20 process either before or after a decision is reached on their application. More information is available on how to request an I-20 from the U of U here .

Policy Regarding Accepting an Offer of Admission & Financial Support

Once the academic department/program admissions committee decides which applicants to recommend for admission, they will complete the department’s referral form advising the University Office of Admissions of their decisions.

Once academic departments/programs complete the department referral form, the University Office of Admissions will do a final review of all applicants to determine if they meet the Graduate School admissions requirements.

If you meet all admissions criteria and the academic department/program has recommended you for admission to your respective degree program, the Office of Admissions will complete the admission processes and notify you.

An official Letter of Acceptance will be sent by postal mail from the University Office of Admissions.

When a decision has been posted to your ApplyYourself account, an email will be sent advising you to sign in to your ApplyYourself account to view the decision.

Need Readmission?

Graduate School Policy states:

• Graduate students are required to maintain continuous registration and must acquire permission from their Graduate Department for a “Leave of Absence” before leaving the University.
• A graduate student who fails to register for a term (excluding summer term) and does not file for a leave of absence is immediately made ineligible to register for future terms.
• Continuing students who have been discontinued will be required to apply for readmission into their graduate program.

If you are a previous graduate student who did not maintain continuous registration in your academic program, you must reapply through the ApplyYourself online graduate admissions application found at each graduate program’s website.

Estimated International Graduate Expenses for I-20 Purposes

Below is a breakdown of the estimated undergraduate expenses for international students requesting an I-20 from the University of Utah for FALL 2024 – SPRING 2025 – SUMMER 2025.

Annual Living Expenses* $27,460

Living Expenses (Housing): $9,900

Living Expenses (Food): $5,900

Books & Supplies: $1,240

Health Insurance: $2,720

Other Expenses: $7,700

Includes Two Semester Fees

Non-resident Tuition & Fees** $37,089

International Student Fee ($150 per semester): $300**

Int’l Orientation Fee (one-time charge only): $75**

Graduate Non-Resident Tuition (18 Credits): $36,714

Total Estimated Graduate Cost*** $64,549

**The Office of International Student & Scholar Services charges these fees.

PLEASE NOTE

Graduate students must only prove they have funding for 9 credit hours per semester in order for the University of Utah to issue an I-20.

Some graduate departments have higher credit hour requirements and tuition rates.

The following departments have different tuition rates and fees associated with them.

• Please check with your department for current tuition rates and fees.
• You may also check current tuition rates here.

David Eccles School of Business

• MBA, MprA, MS
• Executive MBA Program
• Professional MBA Program
• MAcc Evening Program

S.J. Quinney College of Law

School of Medicine

• Physician’s Assistant

College of Architecture + Planning

College of Education (Masters)

College of Engineering

College of Nursing

College of Pharmacy (PharmD)

College of Social Work

• MPA/ Executive MPA

Physical Therapy

Entertainment Arts & Engineering

Biomedical Informatics

Communication Disorders

Genetic Counseling

Educational Psychology

Occupational Therapy

Public Health

House Bill 118 Tuition Waiver

You may qualify for the House Bill 118 tuition waiver, which allows eligible Utah high school graduates the opportunity to attend Utah universities and colleges and have the non-resident portion of their tuition waived.

You may qualify for this waiver if you:

• Are a foreign national legally admitted to the United States (holds a non-immigrant visa such as F-1, H-4, J-1, etc.)
• Attended a Utah high school for three or more years.
• Graduated or will graduate from a Utah high school or attained the equivalent of a high school diploma (GED) in Utah.

PLEASE NOTE:

• House Bill 118 is a Utah State law.
• If HB118 requirements are met, proof of funding is required for I-20 issuance.
• The estimated amount needed for an I-20 has nothing to do with the Utah State Law HB118 tuition waiver.
• If your HB118 application is approved, you will be responsible for the resident portion of tuition cost.

Important Notes About Dependents & Actual Expenses

The estimated cost per year for each dependent is $6,000.

• This will be calculated into the required proof of funding for each dependent requested.
• Your actual expenses may be higher or lower than this estimate depending on your personal spending habits.
• The estimated cost for room and board is for living on-campus .
• If you will be living off-campus , the cost of living will likely increase.

International students pay non-resident tuition rates at the University of Utah.

• The estimate reflects the minimum amount required for issuing an I-20 needed for the F-1 student visa application process.
• Amounts are subject to change at any time.
• All students are eligible for resident tuition rates during the summer term.

Counseling Psychology Doctoral Program

Department of educational psychology, main navigation, frequently asked questions (faq).

Is there a specific area of focus in this program? How many credits is the Counseling Psychology degree? How many credits would I take per semester? When are classes offered? Can I work and go to school? Are classes available online? What are the class sizes? What are my options for internship training? Is the University of Utah program APA accredited? Is the degree portable to other states? What are the thesis and dissertation requirements? What are the tuition costs? Is funding available for graduate students to offset tuition costs? What do I need to know about applying to the program? What kind of jobs do graduates of this program find? Who do I contact for information?

Is there a specific area of focus in this program?

The training and education plan for the Doctoral Program in Counseling Psychology is based on seven overarching principles: Science, Practice, Integration of Science and Practice, Individual and Cultural Diversity, Optimal Human Functioning and Adaptive Developmental Processes, Professional Identity and Development, and Legal and Ethical Issues. Counseling psychology as a psychological specialty facilitates personal and interpersonal functioning across the life span with a focus on emotional, social, vocational, educational, health-related, developmental, and organizational concerns. Through the integration of theory, research, and practice, and with a sensitivity to multicultural issues, this specialty encompasses a broad range of practices that help people improve their well-being, alleviate distress and maladjustment, resolve crises, and increase their ability to live more highly functioning lives. Counseling psychology is unique in its attention both to normal developmental issues and to problems associated with physical, emotional, and mental disorders. Counseling Psychology students at the University of Utah are expected to choose a special proficiency (or proficiencies) they wish to pursue and complete coursework in that area. Some of the special proficiencies for which coursework is available include: Psychotherapy Process and Outcome, Assessment, Child/Adolescent Psychology, Family/Couples Psychology, Forensic Psychology, Feminist and/or Gender Psychology, Adult Lifespan Development and Aging, Health Psychology, Multicultural Psychology and Human Diversity, Applied Neuropsychology, Psychometric Theory and Test Construction, Substance Abuse, and Vocational Psychology.

How many credits is the Counseling Psychology degree?

Check with the department

How many credits would I take per semester?

Most students take between 13-16 credit hours per semester. Students in their 3rd year and beyond often work up to half-time in community agencies in professionally relevant positions.

When are classes offered?

Most courses are offered in the fall and spring semesters. There are a few course offerings (usually electives) in the summer. With respect to the times that courses are offered, a number of classes are offered in the late afternoon/evening and meet Monday through Thursday from 4:30-7:30 p.m. However, some classes are offered only during day-time hours, making it difficult to maintain full-time, 8-5 employment obligations when taking those courses.

Can I work and go to school?

The Ph.D. Program in Counseling Psychology is designed to be a full-time program, with opportunities to work at graduate assistantships and field practicum placements. Some students work part-time at their previous places of employment, especially if that employment is in the field of counseling psychology. Many courses are scheduled during daytime hours, so a flexible work schedule would be required. During the second year of the program, the demands of courses, practicum, and research make working outside prohibitive.

Are classes available online?

Not presently. At this time, the nature of the coursework and professional preparation involves active attendance and face-to-face involvement in the curriculum and with other students. Our commitment to high quality programming involves fostering a close, collegial atmosphere with you, your instructors, and your peers. A rare exception exists for students who wish to take an online course as part of their special proficiency requirement.

What are the class sizes?

The majority of courses enroll from 10 to 20 students. It is our goal to keep class size small so that you can become personally familiar (and interact) with your other classmates. A few classes are made up of only the current cohort of 3-5 students.

What are my options for internship training?

During the 5th year of the program, after all coursework and practicum are completed, students go on a predoctoral internship, which is a paid, full-time training experience at a college or university counseling center, VA medical center or other hospital, a community mental health center, or a consortium. Internships are located across the country. Specific internship sites can be explored at the website of the Association of Psychology Postdoctoral and Internship Centers at www.appic.org .

Is the University of Utah program APA accredited?

The Doctoral program is accredited by the American Psychological Association, office of Program Consultation and Accreditation; 750 First Street, NE; Washington, DC 20002-4242; Phone: 202-336-5979/TDD/TTY: 202-336-6123; Fax: 202-336-5978.

Is the degree portable to other states?

Because the Doctoral program meets standards for licensure as a Professional Psychologist from the Utah State Department of Occupational Licensing, our graduates generally have little trouble obtaining licensure in other States and/or jurisdictions in the United States. Licensure is determined state by state. The Association of State and Provincial Licensing Boards (ASPPB) expedites portability across states ( http://www.asppb.net/?page=CPQ ).

Do I have to do a research thesis or Dissertation?

Students must conduct a Pre-dissertation Research Project during their first two years in the doctoral program. This project is typically conducted as part of the student's research advisor's research team and may be closely connected to the advisor's research. All students are required to complete a dissertation project under the supervision of a five-member committee chaired by a faculty advisor.

What are the tuition costs?

Exact, up-to-date tuition rates can be found by consulting the appropriate link below: Resident Tuition and Fee Schedule Non-Resident Tuition and Fee Schedule

Is funding available for graduate students to offset tuition costs?

In general, students in our program who wish funding are able to obtain it. The typical first-year student will be funded with a 20-hour per week research, teaching, or other graduate assistantship at the rate of $7750 per semester, which also comes with a tuition benefit that covers the full amount of student tuition and fees. It does not provide assistance for differential tuition. The program works with students after the first year to provide assistantships. In addition, students work at paid field practicum sites, teach on campus or at local colleges, and find other relevant work in the field. Our students are very successful in obtaining scholarships from the College of Education and the university, as well as from professional organizations. College of Education scholarship information can be found here .

What do I need to know about applying to the program?

Most of what you need to know about the process of applying to the Counseling Psychology Program is contained within the standard application process for the Department of Educational Psychology. You can also download the Information for Counseling Psychology Applicants page for details. When completing your application be sure to check the box to indicate your interest in being considered for the Ph.D. program in Counseling Psychology.

What kind of jobs do graduates of this program find?

Graduates of the Counseling Psychology Program at the University of Utah work in a variety of positions, including as faculty members at colleges and universities, college and university counseling center psychologists, independent practitioners, research psychologists, psychologists at community mental health centers, psychological or educational consultants, the criminal justice system, and others.

Who do I contact for information?

The Program Director of Clinical Training for the Counseling Psychology Doctoral Program is Dr. Karen Tao at email: [email protected]

You may also contact our Academic Coordinator, Sarah Homer, by email at: [email protected] or phone at: 801.581.7148

Counseling Psychology Information Sessions

These video conference information sessions will provide important information about our Ph.D. Program. Please review our program introduction video on this page before the information session. The video includes an introduction to our program, what professionals in these careers do, the job outlook, program requirements,  admissions requirements , and the admissions process. The information session will primarily be a question-and-answer session about the program. Video Conference Times are in Mountain Time, so adjust if you are in a different time zone.

Please contact  [email protected]  and specify which date to participate.

Upcoming Info Session Dates/Times:

September 9th: 6pm-7pm MST October 16th: 7:15pm-8:15pm MST November 4th: 7pm-8pm MST

Department of Philosophy

College of humanities, main navigation, phd program.

About the Philosophy PhD Program

The Ph.D. program in Philosophy at the University of Utah provides students with the opportunity to study philosophy on an advanced level, prepares students to engage in independent research in philosophy, and equips them to teach philosophy at the university level.  The Philosophy Department also recognizes the appropriateness for some students of philosophy to receive training in a complementary discipline such as mathematics, computer science, law, or health specialties.

In addition to the Departmental Requirements noted in the   Philosophy Department Graduate Handbook , please read the University requirements for the Ph.D. degree, which are listed on the   Graduate School’s website .

Click Here to Apply

PhD Departmental Requirements

For a complete list of Doctoral Degree Requirements, please review the Graduate Handbook, pages 13-23.

Maintaining Standing

• Students must maintain a minimum graduate GPA of 3.10
• Complete all degree requirements within 7 years of admission

Maintain Funding Eligible Standing

       Funding Eligible standing is normally required for initial eligibility for funding and for the presumption of continued funding.

At the time of being offered admission to the graduate program, students are issued a letter that states for how long and at what level the department proposes to fund the student’s studies, based on long-term departmental budgetary planning at the time the offer of admission is made. However, all student funding as outlined in such letters is contingent on the availability of funding: in case of unexpected fiscal shortfall, funding may not be available and the department shall not be obligated to fund students under such circumstances. The purpose of the “Funding Eligible Progress” or “Funding Eligible Standing” designation is to indicate to unfunded students that they are eligible to receive funding and to indicate to funded students that (in normal circumstances) they have the presumption of continuing funding.

(upon the availability of funds as described above. Failure to retain Funding Eligible standing is, therefore, a loss of this presumption (and not necessarily the loss of continuing funding).

       A student who fails to meet the conditions set out below shall have their “Funding Eligible” status reviewed by the Graduate Committee, upon which the Graduate Committee may issue guidance to the student, set conditions upon remaining in Funding Eligible standing, remove Funding Eligible standing or remove funding, as appropriate.

Maintain a high level of quality in all graduate work

• Students who receive a B- or below in a philosophy graduate course will have their Funding Eligible standing status reviewed by the Graduate Committee within one semester.
• Students shall not have excessive incompletes (I grades). No more than two, and none lasting more than two years.

Notes that students who fall below a 3.0 will have their funding automatically cut by the Graduate School, as per Graduate School regulations. (See also the “Minimally Eligible Standing” requirements above).

Attendance at Department Colloquia

• Funded students enroll in PHIL 7020: Philosophical Traditions. Each semester this course awards credit for attendance at departmental colloquia. This requirement may be waived with approval from the department’s Director of Graduate Studies.
• Funded students who teach or are TAs shall be required to enroll in PHIL 6920: Teaching Practicum for 1 credit hour each semester . When taking PHIL 6920, students should enroll in 2 credit hour of PHIL 7020: Philosophical Traditions. This requirement may be waived with approval from the Director of Graduate Studies.
• Complete the Proseminar Requirement (PHIL 7010) – All students entering the program must take PHIL 7010: Proseminar twice: once during their firs fall semester and once again their second fall semester. 
• Teaching Assistants should maintain a sufficient level of quality in teaching. Students should arrange to have faculty members visit their class and complete an evaluation form once a semester.
• * Summer teaching assignments are made at the discretion of the Director of Graduate Studies. Funding Eligible status will be considered when making these assignments.

PhD Model Timeline/Fulfill the Proseminar Requirement

Grad School Timeline

All students entering the program must take PHIL 7010: Proseminar, twice: once during their first fall semester and once during their second fall semester.

Form a Supervisory Committee

Comply with the Graduate School requirement for formation of the committee .

• A Supervisory Committee should be formed as soon as an area of focus has been settled on, but no later than the beginning of the semester in which the student intends to defend his/her COMP Exam.
• Doctoral students’ Supervisory Committees must consist of five faculty members, the majority of whom must be tenure-line faculty in the Philosophy Department. At least one member must be from outside the Philosophy Department. Faculty members may at any time withdraw from the committee, and shall notify the student that they are doing so. Likewise, a student may remove a faculty member from the committee, but must notify both the chair of the Supervisory Committee and the faculty member(s) being removed.
• Members may or may not include those used for the approval of the COMP Exam paper.

In order to advance to candidacy, students must pass a comprehensive exam (called a “Qualifying Exam” by the Graduate School). To pass this exam, students must write and defend a substantial paper of journal submission length (5000 words or more). The objective of the comprehensive exam is to demonstrate that the student is able to produce written work of professional quality and is capable of defending the paper in oral presentation. The paper of professional quality and the oral presentation will be graded by faculty members selected by the Director of Graduate Studies as appropriate. It is intended that acceptable papers be submitted to professional journals for publication or to professional conferences for presentation. Students MUST be registered for at least 3 credit hours when defending their comprehensive exam. Graduate School website

Complete Approved Program of Study

The expectation is that graduate students will use coursework to develop a broad understanding of the main areas of philosophy and of several more specialized areas of philosophy. After fulfilling the field requirements, students specializing in a particular area will be encouraged to complete their remaining coursework in that area. After completion of coursework, students must consult with the Director of Graduate Studies to ensure that they have completed their course requirements.

Funded students who are not TA’s must register for 3 credits of PHIL 7020 – Philosophical Traditions. (This last requirement may be waived with approval from the Director of Graduate Studies.)

Dissertation Prospectus

• For students who enter the PhD program without a master’s degree , the dissertation prospectus must be successfully defended in the 6 th semester of PhD study.
• For students who enter the PhD program with a master’s degree , the dissertation prospectus must be successfully defend in the 4 th semester of PhD study.
• For students who enter the PhD program from the master’s program at the University of Utah, the dissertation prospectus must be successfully defended in the 2 nd semester of PhD study. A written copy of the prospectus must be given to the student’s Supervisory Committee at least 2 weeks prior to the oral defense.

Present Dissertation Prospectus

In order to advance to candidacy, students must have their written prospectus defense approved at an oral review and defense conducted by the student’s Supervisory Committee. A student’s prospectus will normally be on the order of 15 pages. The committee may request that the student complete a review of the literature on their dissertation topic; if so, students may be examined on their literature review during their prospectus defense.

The comprehensive exam and dissertation prospectus, and their respective oral defenses, are distinct exercises. The written component of the comprehensive exam is a paper intended for ultimate publication (one which may also be intended as a draft of a dissertation chapter); it will contain a completed argument for some claim. The prospectus outlines and motivates a plan of action for writing a dissertation; it will describe how the student proposes to go about developing an argument for what will ultimately be the conclusion of their dissertation.

Defend Dissertation

              PhD students must pass an oral examination based on the thesis in order to graduate. The examination should be scheduled only when the dissertation is essentially completed and the student’s thesis advisor has agreed that the thesis is ready to be defended. The Supervisory Committee schedules and announces a public oral examination at which the candidate must defend the dissertation. The length and content of the oral examination are determined by the thesis Supervisory Committee. All members of the committee must participate in the oral defense. A candidate must be enrolled for at least 1 credit hour in the semester in which his or her oral examination is held.

The department requires that the thesis advisor and the other members of the committee must receive a copy of the dissertation at least four weeks before the final oral examination. The Graduate School also requires that in order to be considered for graduation in a particular semester, the defended and committee-approved thesis or dissertation must be submitted to the Thesis Office seven weeks prior to the closing date of the semester, and eight weeks’ prior for manuscripts in excess of 200 pages.

Milestone Master’s Degree

PhD students may receive a milestone master’s’ degree while pursuing a PhD. To do so they must:

• Fill out a Change of Classification Form and mark ADD Career – Non-thesis Master’s. This effectively makes them a master’s student while completing the PhD degree. The form must be signed by the Graduate Director.
• The 30 hours required for the master’s (recorded on the Program of Study) cannot be counted towards the PhD Program of Study. Students should review coursework with the Graduate Director. NOTE: There is no hour requirement for the PhD program, so even though coursework listed on the Master’s Program of Study will not be listed on the PhD program of Study, the coursework will still count internally for the PhD.
• Gather a Supervisory Committee and defend their best paper as if they were doing a normal Non-thesis master’s program. (The Supervisory Committee should be assembled one semester before defending the best paper.) The Best Paper for the master’s non-thesis must be a paper that is written at the University of Utah, for one of our graduate faculty, and (ideally) the paper should have received an “A” for a graduate seminar. There is no prohibition on using the comprehensive paper, in cases where the student is applying for the “Milestone” Master’s. The paper will be signed-off by the student’s graduate advisor. If the student does not have a supervisor, the Director of Graduate Studies will sign-off.
• Meet all requirements of the Master’s including two consecutive semesters of at least 9 hours each for the residency

To complete the PhD

• Students must have three more years of continuous registration at the University of Utah of at least three hours per semester (this can be all thesis hours or other courses not already counted toward the non-thesis master’s).
• Students must complete another two consecutive semesters of at least nine credit hours each for the residency requirement (they may be nine thesis hours) See: gradschool.utah.edu/graduate-catalog//degree-requirements

NOTE: Although the master’s degree does not have area requirements other than formal methods, those also pursuing a PhD should take classes as if following the PhD coursework with area requirements. Also, students should be aware that all coursework must be completed in order to receive the master’s degree. Thus, if you are a PhD student with incomplete coursework you are not eligible for the Milestone Master’s degree.

Forms/ Thesis Office Manuscript Submission 

PhD Supervisory Committee Form Comprehensive Exam Form (COMP) PhD Program of Study Form Prospectus Form Apply for Graduation

Thesis Office Manuscript Submission Procedures Thesis Office General Information Manuscript Submission Procedures

Policy on Outside Teaching and Employment

In providing student stipends and in helping our students receive stipends from outside the Department, the Philosophy Department seeks to enable our students to concentrate on philosophy, to further their development as philosophers, and to provide them with a source of support. Thus, the Department requires that full-time student TA’s and those teaching independent courses not take outside employment or teaching. We recognize, however, that student’s may receive outside opportunities which further their career objectives or that they may need to seek outside employment for further economic support. Any exceptions to the policy prohibiting outside teaching or employment for full-time TA’s and those teaching independent courses require explicit disclosure to and permission from the Director of Graduate Studies.

Graduate students receiving fellowships to support completion of the PhD may accept outside part-time teaching or outside part-time employment as long as two conditions are met. First such work must not be explicitly prohibited under the terms of the fellowship. Second, the student must make satisfactory progress toward the degree. (Note: normal progress includes regular attendance at Departmental programs and colloquia). If a student has not make satisfactory progress, they will not be recommended for a fellowship the following year. Any outside teaching or employment must be disclosed to the Director of Graduate Studies.

Departmental Teaching Assistantships

Purpose: To provide financial support for graduate students in the form of a teaching apprenticeship under the guidance of professional teachers of philosophy.

Stipend:   Varies per academic year but includes full tuition and mandatory fee waiver. Also includes health insurance option.

Application: Submit a Departmental Application for Financial Aid form by January 15 for fall semester of the same year.

Current students without funding are eligible on the same cycle year if they apply.

Family Leave Policy

The Philosophy Department recognizes that, during their time in the graduate program, some students may have children or add children to their families through childbirth or adoption. With advance notice (at least three months prior to the arrival of the child), the department is willing to make reasonable accommodations for students who need to take parental leave and who meet the criteria for being an “eligible caregiver” as defined in the University Policy 6-315. In such circumstances, students will be eligible to take leave for up to 16 weeks, and:

• Students on parental leave shall have the deadlines for completion of required coursework, courses, exams, theses, or thesis defenses extended by one full semester. Such extensions shall be taken into consideration in determining whether the student is maintaining minimally acceptable standing and funding eligible standing (but shall not count as adding a semester of eligibility under the Graduate School’s Tuition Benefit Program).
• Students should avoid registering for classes and then withdrawing from them. Students should therefore either a) register for classes and then maintain their registration throughout the leave period, or b) avoid registering for classes entirely when the leave period would commence or overlap with the beginning of a semester in such a way that, in the opinion of the instructor(s), the student would be unlikely to obtain the requisite grade for the course as specified elsewhere in this handbook. Students who do not register for any classes need to file leave paperwork in advance with the Graduate School, in order to retain their eligibility to register again in future semesters.
• For students who are funded by the department, the department shall continue their compensation (at the usual rate) and health insurance benefits for up to 8 weeks of any period in which the department would normally pay for compensation and benefits.

Other details of accommodations will depend on the student’s stage of progress through the graduate program and will be arranged in consultation with the Director of Graduate Studies and other relevant department faculty. The departmental accommodations as described above will be granted no more than twice during the entire time of a student’s matriculation in the graduate program. Applications for parental leave should be filed with the departments Director of Graduate Studies. Students who experience a medical condition associated with their pregnancy and need accommodations recommended by their medical provider should contact the Office of Equal Opportunity, Affirmative Action, and Title IX Office , (https://oeo.utah.edu) who will work with the student, cognizant faculty, and administration, to determine what accommodations are reasonable and effective.

Code of Conduct

The department expects graduate students’ behavior to adhere to the Professional Code of Conduct adopted by the American Philosophical Association, as outlined at: apa.org/ethics/code

Graduate students who violate this Code of Conduct may be subject to disciplinary actions by the department, up to, and including dismissal from the program.

Graduate School Timeline (PhD)

Department of Economics

College of social and behavioral science, main navigation, program admissions.

CLICK HERE TO BEGIN YOUR PhD APPLICATION

The requirements for admission to the PhD program are:

• The completion of a bachelor's degree from a regionally-accredited College or University
• GPA of 3.0 or better or its equivalent
• The successful completion of intermediate microeconomic and macroeconomic theory*
• Sufficient preparation in mathematics through calculus, statistics, and linear algebra
• Three academic reference letters
• A brief statement of personal academic goals

  A master's degree in economics is not a requirement for admission.  The GRE is no longer a requirement for admission. 

*If you do not meet these prerequisites, your application will be considered incomplete. Grades for the prerequisites should be posted on your transcripts at the time of application. These requirements may be completed at any accredited university, including as a non-degree seeking student at the University of Utah. These courses do not count towards your graduate degree program once admitted. 

Preparation in mathematics through calculus, statistics, and linear algebra is strongly recommended. The level of required mathematics is described in the document  Mathematics Prerequisite . Students who lack the proper background in micro and macroeconomic theory, statistics, and mathematics must take courses to remedy these deficiencies prior to being admitted into the program. It may be necessary for students not fully prepared for a graduate program to take remedial courses. 

Detailed information on the University of Utah Graduate School admissions policies can be found here.

International students must demonstrate their proficiency in English by specific citizenship or examination. The University requires a minimum of 80 on the TOEFL   i BT exam, 110 on Duolingo , or 6.5 on the IELTS . The TOEFL is preferred by our department. A strong speaking score (25 or higher) is particularly important for funding through a teaching assistantship. For details about the English Proficiency requirement, including approved non-examination demonstrations of proficiency, please visit this page . 

We recommend completing all TOEFL exams by December 15. To ensure that scores reach Admissions in a timely manner, please provide ETS with the following codes: University of Utah: 4853 Department of Economics: 1801

More information about University of Utah International Graduate Admissions can be found here .  

Application Deadline

Fall admission: january 15.

Applications for the PhD program are only accepted for Fall semester. The PhD program is scheduled so that the first-year core courses are offered in a sequence; therefore, it is only possible to begin the PhD program in the fall.

Applicants will hear back between early March and mid-May.

Applications for Fall 2025 will open on August 1, 2024. 

Application Procedure

Applications to our PhD program are made online through the Slate application system .

• Please upload all materials directly to Slate.
• Letters of recommendation are completed online and submitted directly through Slate. Please confirm with your recommendation providers before submitting your application that they have e-mail and Internet access and will be able to complete the process online. Letters of recommendation must be submitted by the recommendation provider by the February 1st deadline to be considered. 
• Please send official documents directly to the Office of Admissions , not the Economics Department.
• The Economics Department cannot waive the application fee . 
• Access the application at https://futureu.admissions.utah.edu/apply/ . After an application is submitted, applicants can login to their application status portal to track letters of recommendations, submit additional transcripts and other materials, withdraw their application, and view their decision. 

CLICK HERE TO BEGIN YOUR APPLICATION

Admissions Tips and Frequently Asked Questions

• Application Fee: We are unable to waive the application fee under any circumstances. New PhD students are offered $1,000 to help cover the admissions fee and moving expenses. This is disbursed as a reimbursement following the start of the program. 
• Late Submissions: Our Admissions Committee meets very soon after the January 15th deadline. Please complete your application by that date and ensure that all materials are uploaded and your letters of recommendation are submitted by that date. Late applications will not be accepted. 
• Letters of Recommendation: are completed online and submitted directly into the Slate system. Before beginning your application, please confirm with your recommendation providers that they have access to e-mail and the Internet and will be able to complete the process online. If a recommendation provider is having trouble completing their recommendation, they should reach out to Slate technical support. 
• Sending Materials: Please upload all materials directly into the Slate application system.  We cannot add emailed or mailed materials to your application. Official transcripts should be sent to the Office of Admissions as explained here .
• Transcripts: You may upload unofficial transcripts to the application system. Transcripts should include: Your name, Institution name,  Course names and grades, Credit hours, GPA, and Information about degree conferral or a degree certificate. If you are accepted you will be then be asked to have all official transcripts sent to the Office of Admissions as explained here .  
• Application Updates and Status: After an application is submitted, you can login to the application status portal at https://futureu.admissions.utah.edu/status to track letters of recommendations, submit additional transcripts and other materials, withdraw your application, and view your admissions decision.
• University of Utah Office of Admissions: The Office of Admissions and the Economics Department are separate offices. If you need to check on receipt of materials you have sent to the Office of Admissions, please contact them directly. The best email for Graduate Admissions in the Office of Admissions is [email protected] . The best email for International Admissions in the Office of Admissions is [email protected] . 
• Acceptance Rates: We receive around 160 applications each year and admit a cohort of 4-8 students. Four to six are fully funded with a teaching assistantship . The Admissions Committee conducts a holistic review that incorporates academic history (including completion of prerequisite courses and math preparation), recommendation letters, the personal statement, research interests and fit with the department's areas of research, and cohort make-up. 
• Financial Assistance:  All applicants are considered for a teaching assistantship alongside their application review. No additional information is required to apply for a teaching assistantship. The Department of Economics offers a teaching assistantship to 4-6 incoming students per year. This teaching assistantship is compensated with a stipend of $26,000 (for the 2024-2025 academic year) and participation in the University's Tuition Benefit Program , which offers full tuition and health insurance (per the policies found here and here ). More details about Financial Assistance and Tuition Costs can be found here . 
• Re-Applying: If you unsuccessfully applied to the program in a previous term and wish to apply again, you may do so.  You will need to submit all new materials. 
• Decision Notifications: Initial offers are made in early March, and additional offers (when available) are made on a rolling basis through early May. You will receive your notification by e-mail. We strive to have admissions decisions available to all applicants by May 15th. 
• Faculty Mentor/Advisor: Applicants do not need to identify a faculty mentor or advisor to support their application. Applications are reviewed by a central admissions committee within the Department of Economics. Faculty mentor/advisor relationships are developed during the program. 
• Part-Time or Full-Time: The PhD program is designed to be a full-time program of study with classes and research workshops scheduled for daytime hours. In limited circumstances, a student may be able to pursue a part-time program from their second-year onward. Prospective students wishing to pursue this option are encouraged to consult with the Graduate Student Coordinator before applying. Financial Assistance is only available to full-time students.
• GPA: This varies from year to year, but over the past 10 admission cycles, the average GPA of accepted students is 3.7 on a 4.0 scale.
• Statement of Purpose: The Statement of Purpose is an important part of your application.  Take the time to write a great one.  A page or two is a good length. Include information about your background, career goals, and research interests. Explain why you feel that our PhD program would be a good fit for you and what you would like to contribute.
• GRE: Our department no longer requires the Graduate Record Examinations (GRE) for admission. You do not need to submit a GRE score.
• Will I be admitted? : Because of the diverse and competitive nature of our applicant pool each year, it is difficult to say whether or not an applicant will make it into the program based on transcripts or CVs.  The Admissions Committee conducts a holistic review that incorporates academic history (including completion of prerequisite courses and math preparation), recommendation letters, the personal statement, research interests and fit with the department's areas of research, and cohort make-up. Applicants should do their best to submit a complete, thorough application for consideration. 

International Students

• Proof of English Language Proficiency (IELTS/TOEFL/Duolingo): The University accepts several English Proficiency tests for international students and several non-examination ways to prove proficiency. Please read this page thoroughly here to determine if you need to take an English Proficiency exam . Take the TOEFL/IELTS/Duolingo test early enough so that your scores arrive before the January 15th deadline. Only official test scores are accepted. Test scores should be sent from the examination service directly to the Office of Admissions (not to the Economics Department) for the quickest processing. The ETS code (for TOEFL scores) is 4853. If you wish to receive financial aid from our department, a strong TOEFL speaking sub-score (around 25) or a strong IELTS speaking band score (around 7.0)  is important and we would encourage you to take the TOEFL or IELTS even if it is waived.
• International Admissions: Please see this page for more information on International Application Documents .  
• I-20:  I-20s for international students are processed and mailed by the Office of Admissions after a student has been admitted into the PhD program. Processing times will vary. Students must have their I-20 documents sent to the Office of Admissions as early as possible, but no later than June 1st. To learn more about the I-20 Certificate of Eligibility required to apply for or maintain an F-1 Student Visa, please see this Office of Admissions page . 

Admissions Questions

Prospective students who have   thoroughly   explored our website (including the   FAQs) and have additional questions about the program or admission process are invited to contact the Economics Graduate Student Coordinator at   [email protected] .

Search Utah State University:

Psychology - bs, ba.

About This Degree

Psychology is the science of behavior and mental processes.

The department is internationally known for its innovative research, teaching, and scholarship programs. Graduates are prepared for professions in mental health, research, education, and human service settings. Given that most career paths in psychology require graduate training , Utah State's psychology program is directed toward helping majors meet the prerequisites of competitive graduate programs and preparing them for research and graduate work in psychology.

What You Will Learn

Faculty involve students in research opportunities, which can be conducted in any number of Utah State’s excellent research facilities. Students must either complete a capstone course or an apprenticeship course which allows them to gain work experience outside of the classroom. They are also encouraged to get involved with Psi Chi, the national honor society in psychology, in order to help them with their academic pursuits and get more information about opportunities available with a degree in psychology.

Students earn a major in psychology by completing all required courses in the major. To receive a BA , students must also gain proficiency in one or more foreign languages.

At a Glance

College: Emma Eccles Jones College of Education & Human Services

Department: Psychology Department

USU Locations:

• Logan campus
• Statewide campuses

Program Requirements

• Update this page

Career And Outcomes

Career opportunities.

With a degree in psychology, students will be well prepared for graduate study in psychology and other areas. Graduates can also pursue the following careers:

• Probation and parole officer
• Career counselor
• Rehabilitation specialist
• Psychiatric technician

Job Outlook

Request for information and advising.

We will build on your goals and experiences while working together to design an individualized semester-by-semester plan. Your personalized plan will help you see a path from where you are now on to graduation. Even if you are unsure of the major you would like to pursue, we can help with resources and ideas.

I am not a current USU student

I have not applied or been admitted, even if I've taken a USU Concurrent Enrollment course

I am a current USU student

I have been admitted and plan to attend, or continue attending USU

USU Locations

LOGAN CAMPUS

STATEWIDE CAMPUSES *

USU ONLINE **

*This degree is available at various USU locations.

• Brigham City
• Castle Dale
• Cortez (CO)
• Montezuma Creek
• Monument Valley
• Price (USU Eastern)
• Roosevelt (Uintah Basin)
• Vernal (Uintah Basin)

**This degree is 100% available online. USU is a SARA-approved institution offering fully online programs nationwide; please visit USU's state authorizations for details.

Admission Requirements

In addition to Utah State University’s admissions requirements , the psychology program has additional requirements:

• First-Year students: Students that meet the USU admission requirements can be admitted into the psychology department.
• Transfer Students: Transfer students and USU students transferring from other majors qualify to be admitted to the psychology department if they are in good standing at USU.
• Completion of at least 40 semester credits with a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher
• Completion of at least 18 USU credits with a GPA of 3.0 or higher
• Completion of the following psychology pre-requisite courses: Psy 1010, 1100, 1400, 1410, 3010, 2010 with a GPA of 3.0 or higher
• After the prerequisites above have been met, students must make a written application to the department to declare a psychology major.

International students have additional admissions requirements .

Students are required to complete a minor.

Take The Next Step

Visit campus.

Schedule a campus tour and come see what it's all about.

Cost and Aid

Learn about tuition, scholarships, and other financial aid opportunities.

How to Apply

Start your degree path and apply now.

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Main navigation

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Bindra Lecture

Annual Bindra lecture is held in honor of Dalbir Bindra's (1922-1980) scientific and academic contributions.

Lecture from 3:30 - 5:00 pm, followed by a Wine and Cheese Reception. Admission is free.

April 5, 2024 - Location: McIntyre Medical 522

Vijay mohan k namboodiri, phd, weill institute for neurosciences university of california, san francisco.

Title:   Retrospective Learning in the Brain

Abstract:   A hallmark of intelligence is the ability to learn associations between causes and effects (e.g., environmental cues and associated rewards). The near consensus understanding of the last few decades is that animals learn cause-effect associations from errors in the prediction of the effect (e.g., a reward prediction error or RPE). This theory has been hugely influential in neuroscience as decades of evidence suggested that mesolimbic dopamine (DA)—known to be critical for associative learning—appears to signal RPE. Though some evidence questioned whether DA signals RPE, the RPE hypothesis remained the best explanation of learning because no other normative theory of learning explained experimental observations inconsistent with RPE while also capturing phenomena explained by RPE. My lab has recently provided such an alternative. Specifically, we proposed a new theory of associative learning (named ANCCR, read “anchor”) which postulates that animals learn associations by retrospectively identifying causes of meaningful effects such as rewards and that mesolimbic dopamine conveys that a current event is meaningful. The core idea is simple: you can learn to predict the future by retrodicting the past, and you retrodict the past only after meaningful events. Here, I will present the basic formulation of this theory, some experimental data focused on distinguishing predictions of ANCCR and RPE, unpublished experimental results demonstrating that behavioral and dopaminergic learning rates from cue-reward experiences are quantitatively scaled by reward sparsity, and end with discussions regarding the implications of the theory for translational applications for some neuropsychological disorders involving maladaptive associative memories.

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