Psychology

Academic Year: 
2017-18
Address: 
Peretsman Scully Hall
Phone: 
609-258-5289
Website: 
Department of Psychology
Program offerings: 
Ph.D.
Director of Graduate Studies
Uri Hasson
Graduate Program Administrator
Samita Mezger

Academic department detail

Overview

Graduate work within the Department of Psychology emphasizes preparation for research and teaching in psychology, with specialization in the following broad areas: cognitive neuroscience, developmental psychology, language, learning and memory, perception and cognition, the psychology of inequality, social neuroscience, social psychology, and systems neuroscience. The program is designed to prepare students for attaining the degree of Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) and a career of productive scholarship in psychology.

First-year students work closely with a faculty adviser to plan and conduct research, as well as begin their coursework.  Second-year students take advanced seminars and conduct research to prepare a written report of a research project and prepare for the general exam. Students may also take relevant courses in other departments. The third year is devoted to conducting research and to continuing study in the student’s area of specialization by means of courses, independent reading and advanced seminars. During the fourth and fifth years, students are expected to dedicate their time to mastering methods and techniques in the relevant area of study, complete thesis-related research, and write the thesis. Students are expected to write up and submit for publication their research on an on-going basis throughout their graduate career.

The final public oral examination for the doctoral degree is based on the problem, methods and results of the dissertation and the relation of its findings to major trends and current problems in psychological research.

Courses

Permanent Courses

Courses listed below are graduate-level courses that have been approved by the program’s faculty as well as the Curriculum Subcommittee of the Faculty Committee on the Graduate School as permanent course offerings. Permanent courses may be offered by the department or program on an ongoing basis, depending on curricular needs, scheduling requirements, and student interest. Not listed below are undergraduate courses and one-time-only graduate courses, which may be found for a specific term through the Registrar’s website. Also not listed are graduate-level independent reading and research courses, which may be approved by the Graduate School for individual students.

NEU 511 Current Issues in Neuroscience and Behavior (also
PSY 511
) An advanced seminar that reflects current research on the brain and behavior. Research by seminar participants and articles from the literature are discussed.
NEU 537 Computational Neuroscience and Computing Networks (also
MOL 537
/
PSY 517
) An Introduction to the biophysics of nerve cells and synapses, the mathematical description of neural networks, and how neurons represent information. Course will survey computational modeling and data analysis methods for neuroscience and will parallel some topics from 549, but from a computational perspective. Topics will include representation of visual informaion, spatial navigation, short-term memory, and decision-making. Two 90 minute lectures, one laboratory. Lectures in common with MOL 437. Graduate students will carry out and write up an in-depth semester-long project. Prerequisite: 410, or elementary knowledge of linear algebra, di
NEU 593 Magnetic Resonance Imaging (also
PSY 593
) An introduction to some common imaging techniques and their applications. Labs provide opportunities to practice pulse sequence design and image reconstruction.
PSY 500 Proseminar in Basic Problems in Psychology: Social Psychology Social Proseminar: Introduction to graduate level social psychology for first year graduate students in psychology. This course will serve as the basis for more advanced graduate courses on specific topics in this area.
PSY 501 Proseminar in Basic Problems in Psychology: Cognitive Psychology Introduction to cognitive psychology for first-year graduate students. This course will serve as the basis for more advanced graduate courses on specific topics in this area.
PSY 503 Quantitative Analysis in Psychological Research An introduction to quantitative methods in psychological research appropriate for first-year graduate students. The topics covered include exploratory data analysis, analysis of variance and covariance, and multiple regression.
PSY 516 Brain Imaging in Cognitive Neuroscience Research (also
NEU 516
) Course provides an introduction for advanced students on the use of functional brain imaging in cognitive neuroscience research, covering the foundations of brain imaging in neurophysiology, imaging physics, experimental design, and image analysis. Also examines innovations in experimental design and methods of analysis that have opened new areas of cognitive neuroscience to inquiry using functional brain imaging. Students gain first-hand exposure to the scanning environment, data collection procedures, and basic, hands-on experience with data treatment and statistical analysis.
PSY 543 Research Seminar in Cognitive Psychology Current research and issues in sensation, perception, and cognition. Ongoing research by seminar participants, research methodology, and current issues in the literature are discussed.
PSY 551 Design and Interpretation of Social Psychological Research An advanced seminar that considers current research in social psychology. Contemporary research conducted by the seminar participants is discussed.
PSY 591A Responsible Conduct of Research (Half-Term) (also
NEU 591A
) Examination of issues in the responsible conduct of scientific research, including the definition of scientific misconduct, mentoring, authorship, peer review, grant practices, use of humans and of animals as subjects, ownership of data, and conflict of interest. Class will consist primarily of the discussion of cases. Required of all first and second year graduate students in the Department of Psychology. Open to other graduate students.
PSY 591B Neuroethics Discussion of ethical issues raised by developments in neuroscience, including pharmacological enhancement of mood and cognition, neuroimaging, and transmagnetic stimulation. (Half-term course).
WWS 519A Negotiation, Persuasion and Social Influence: Theory and Practice (also
PSY 528A
) Examines the principles of negotiation in organizational settings and provides firsthand experience in simulated negotiations. Theoretical and empirical research on the variables that affect success in negotiations is discussed. Students engage in a series of bargaining exercises between individuals and teams, and results are analyzed in detail by the class. Course is taught in two versions, 519a for MPA's, 519b for MPP's.
WWS 519B Negotiation, Persuasion and Social Influence: Theory and Practice (also
PSY 528B
) Examines the principles of negotiation in organizational settings and provides firsthand experience in simulated negotiations. Theoretical and empirical research on the variables that affect success in negotiations is discussed. Students engage in a series of bargaining exercises between individuals and teams, and results are analyzed in detail by the class. Course is taught in two versions, 519a for MPA's, 519b for MPP's.