PSYCHOLOGY PHD PROGRAM
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The Department of Psychology at Rutgers-Newark includes world-class researchers in cognition, developmental psychology, neuroscience, and social psychology. We are ranked among the top third of American psychology departments, according to US News and World Report. Our faculty engage in pioneering basic and applied research, publish in premier scientific journals, and lead model community-intervention programs. We offer one of the most popular campus majors.
Our research, which is heavily grant-supported, is enhanced by our various resources and collaborations. Our neuroscience faculty are part of the Rutgers University Brain Imaging Center (RUBIC), which houses a state-of-the-art neuroimaging facility with access to a 3T Siemens TRIO and peripheral equipment for collection of physiological data. Our developmental program makes use of behavioral, neuroscience (fMRI, EEG/ERP), eye-tracking, physiological, and computational techniques, and manages a mobile child development lab—The Rutgers Newark Mobile Maker Center—that is situated in local museums for both data collection and community outreach. The department also has an ample and well-organized subject pool, employing Sona Systems software, and an omnibus prescreening survey, which permits large-sample studies with highly diverse samples.
Besides the resources we can offer directly, our students also are also encouraged to take advantage of training opportunities in the adjacent Center for Molecular and Behavioral Neuroscience, the College of Business (Information Sciences), the School of Criminal Justice, as well as courses listed in related areas (such as linguistics and philosophy) on the Rutgers-New Brunswick campus. Our faculty are actively involved with the Center on Youth Violence and Juvenile Justice as well, which serves as a hub for engaged scholarship on issues related to juvenile justice reform, the intersection of youth development and juvenile justice policy and practice, and the prevention of youth violence and delinquency.
PROGRAM OVERVIEW
The graduate program in psychology offers training in the behavioral sciences including concentrations in:
Our program places a strong emphasis on research, empirical methods, teaching, and presentation skills during graduate training. We emphasize comprehensive training while providing a nurturing environment for students to explore their research interests. All students are required to take and pass 72 credits of courses in our four core concentration areas, including required foundational courses in statistics, experimental design, and specialized electives taught by our expert faculty. In addition to coursework and continuous research, all third-year graduate students must pass a qualifying examination. The qualifying exam consists of an NIH-style grant proposal that is evaluated through oral and written examination. The dissertation committee is formed after the student has passed the qualifying examination. When the dissertation is complete, the student and the committee chairperson schedule an oral defense, where all members of the graduate faculty are invited to attend.
FUNDING
All students accepted into the program receive a full stipend and tuition remission through one of the wide range of scholarships, fellowships, and assistantships offered by the Rutgers Graduate School to full-time Ph.D. students whose records demonstrate superior academic achievement and scholarly promise. Students of minority groups may receive additional support through the Minority Biomedical Research Support Program and other programs. Students also receive some financial support from the Department of Psychology to attend conferences.
APPLYING
We require the GRE general test scores, TOEFL score from applicants for whom English is not the primary language, three letters of recommendation, academic transcripts, and a personal statement that identifies desired faculty advisors. Applications are due yearly on December 1. Please direct questions to the Graduate Program Director, Dr. Vanessa LoBue: vlobue@psychology.rutgers.edu.
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ADDITIONAL INFORMATION