PhD Cognitive Psychology

Program Overview

The PhD in Cognitive Psychology at the University at Albany is a research-intensive program that prepares students for careers in academia, research, teaching, and industry. The program emphasizes a strong foundation in research design, methodology, and statistics, along with individual mentorship and development opportunities. Students conduct original research, demonstrate ability to conduct comprehensive literature reviews, and utilize existing software and databases for conducting experiments, collecting data, and performing statistical analyses.

Program Outline

Degree Overview:

Overview:

The PhD in Cognitive Psychology at the University of Albany is a research-intensive program designed to prepare students for careers in academia, research, teaching, and industry. The program emphasizes a strong foundation in research design, methodology, and statistics, along with individual mentorship and development opportunities.

Objectives:

• Conduct original research and effectively communicate results in written and oral formats.
• Demonstrate ability to conduct comprehensive literature reviews and critically synthesize findings.
• Utilize existing software and databases for conducting experiments, collecting data, and performing statistical analyses.

Program Description:

The program provides a comprehensive curriculum covering a wide range of topics in cognitive psychology, including:

• Memory
• Language Processing
• Attention
• Decision Making
• Visual Cognition
• Artificial Intelligence
• Cognitive Modeling
• Cognitive Neuroscience
• Advanced Seminar Classes: Students choose from a variety of areas within cognitive psychology, such as bilingualism, online communication, and cognitive neuroscience.
• Statistics/Method Courses: Statistical and Experimental Methods I & II.
• Initial Research Project: Conducted during the first two years, often serving as a Master's thesis.
• Dissertation: An independent research project culminating in a significant contribution to the field.

Course Schedule:

Students typically take 2-3 courses per semester during their first two years and focus on research during subsequent years.

Assessment:

• Coursework: Assignments, exams, and presentations.
• Initial Research Project: Evaluation by faculty advisor.
• Qualifying Examination: Critical review paper on a chosen topic.
• Dissertation: Defense and evaluation by a dissertation committee.

Teaching:

• Opportunities for teaching assistantships and leading courses to gain experience.
• Informal reading groups, workshops, and colloquia to develop research and teaching skills.

Careers:

• Academia: Tenure-track faculty positions at universities worldwide.
• Research: Industry research positions in related fields.
• Other: Legal consultant, data analyst, experiment designer, marketing researcher, human factors consultant, human-computer interaction designer.

Other:

• Program Length: Typically 5-7 years.
• Financial Aid: Assistantships and internal grants available.
• International Students: Eligible for STEM OPT work authorization extension.
• Faculty: Active researchers with expertise in various areas of cognitive psychology.
• Facilities: Access to advanced equipment and software for conducting research.