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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

2025 GSA Outstanding Graduate Student Researcher Awards Winners

The Outstanding Graduate Researcher Award recognizes graduate students at the ҹɫÊÓƵ for excellence in research or creative activities. One student in each of four categories is awarded $750, based on their graduate program enrollment in the most recently attended semester. The highest-ranked recipient is also recognized as the Outstanding Graduate Student Researcher during the University’s Honor the Best ceremony.

  • Ph.D. – Non-STEM ($750): Janice Burke, Social Psychology
  • Ph.D. – Non-STEM ($750): Sampada Karandikar, Social Psychology

2025 GSA Outstanding Graduating Graduate Student Winner

The Outstanding Graduating Graduate Student Scholarship recognizes two graduating students at the ҹɫÊÓƵ who have excelled academically, demonstrated leadership on campus, and contributed to the improvement of the University. One recipient is selected from each of four categories based on graduate program enrollment. Each awardee receives $1,000, and the highest-ranked applicant is honored at the University’s Honor the Best ceremony.

  • Ph.D. – Non-STEM ($1,000): Tahliah Ling-Sudler, Social Psychology

2025 GSA Research, Travel and Materials Grant Program Awardees

GSA's Research, Travel and Materials Grant Program supports graduate students at the ҹɫÊÓƵ by providing funding for scholarly and creative projects. Awards of up to $2,000 are given based on the quality, viability, and impact of the proposed work. A total of $25,000 in funding is distributed each spring to as many qualified applicants as possible, with selections made by a cross-disciplinary panel of judges.

  • Grant Recipient ($2,000): Katie Cunius, Social Psychology
    Grant Recipient ($2,000): Kara Hoofman, Social Psychology

Congratulations to the winners of the 2025 Founders' Best Paper Award!

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): "How discriminatory policing affects the mental health of Black Americans" by Alaina Martine (advisor: Marta Elliott)
  • Runner-up ($250): “I didn’t know Hitler personally, but...: A qualitative interview study investigating lay beliefs regarding extremist groups” by Katie Cunius and Teyah Giannetta (advisor: Monica Miller)

Winners announced for 2025 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): "Are judgements of guilt related to evidence type?" by Natalie Barretto (advisor: Yueran Yang)
  • Runner-up ($250): N/A

The Founders' Awards are funded by donors to honor the contributions of our founders: Carl W. Backman, Paul F. Secord, and Gerald (Jerry) P. Ginsburg.

Director wins the 2025 AP-LS Mid-Career, NSHE Nevada Regents’ Researcher Award

Monica Miller

Director Monica Miller was awarded the 2025 American Psychology-Law Society mid-career award. , which is a division 41 of the American Psychological Association.

Director Miller was also chosen as the 2025 NSHE Nevada Regents’ Researcher Award recipient. She was selected from a pool of nominees from all members of the Nevada System of Higher Education.

Ph.d. student wins 2025 AP-LS Student Research Award, 2025-2026 Bilinski Fellowship

Katie Cunius

M. Katie Cunius has been awarded the 2025 American Psychology-Law Society student research award for her proposal, “Schemas About a White Nationalist Defendant on Trial." This grant is worth $1229.03. Read more about AP-LS, which is a division 41 of the . This is a prestigious, nationwide award.

Also, congratulations to Katie for winning the 2025-2026 Bilinski Fellowship for her dissertation year!

Ph.D. student awarded the 2025-2026 Bilinski Fellowship

James Ragsdale

Congratulations to James Ragsdale, who was awarded the 2025-2026 Bilinski Fellowship for his dissertation year!

Our impact

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

Students doing triage training on a volunteer.

When seconds matter: students step into action at Interprofessional Care TTX 2025

A high-impact simulation unites future healthcare leaders, faculty, and first responders in a race against time to prepare for Nevada’s next big crisis

ҹɫÊÓƵ and UNLV School of Public Health deans.

Public Health: Nevada’s best bet for a stronger future

Deans from the ҹɫÊÓƵ and University of Nevada Las Vegas advocate for public health funding: 'A strong public health system is the key to a thriving Nevada, ensuring the well-being of our communities, protecting against disease and fostering a resilient economy'

Dean Muge Akpinar-Elci standing with three students at the State Legislature. The students hold a sign that reads "We are Public Health" with the school's identifier on it.

School of Public Health celebrates National Public Health Week

The School visits the state legislature, holds open house at Edna S. Brigham Building

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