We offer mentorship for students interested in pursuing exciting and diverse areas that span areas of the cognitive and behavioral sciences. The curriculum is designed to provide exposure to core content areas in cognition and conditioning processes as well as experimental methods. In addition, we offer advanced seminars and "brown bag" opportunities to pursue specialized topics and remain in touch with research conducted by our faculty. These courses will prepare the student for closely mentored research in one of our laboratories and will lay the foundation for a scientific career.
Cognitive and Behavioral Sciences Doctoral Program Requirements
| Course Number | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| PSYC 7110 | Ethics and Problems* | 1 |
| HIED 8510 | Seminar in College Teaching* | 3 |
| PSYC 7140 | Learning & Conditioning* | 3 |
| PSYC 7150 | Biological Psychology* | 3 |
| PSYC 7190 | Cognitive Psychology* | 3 |
| PSYC 7270 | Experimental Design in Psychology* | 4 |
| PSYC 7280 | Experimental Design in Psychology II* | 4 |
| PSYC 7400 | Cognitive Neuroscience* | 3 |
| PSYC 8500 | CaBS Seminar* | 1 |
| PSYC 7990 | Research and Thesis* | 4 |
| PSYC | Additional Stat. or Methods (3)** | 3 |
| PSYC 8990 | Research and Dissertation** | 10 |
* = required for the Master’s degree and the Doctoral degree
** = required for Doctoral degree.
In consultation with your supervisory committee, select additional courses amounting to at least 18 additional graduate level (6000 or above) credit hours. Please consult the Auburn University Bulletin for list of possible courses.
Courses offerings may vary each year, however, core classes listed above are offered on a regular basis.
Link to Plan of Study Directions and Worksheet
Notes:
- Master's Degree: We do not offer a terminal Master's degree program in Cognitive and Behavioral Sciences. However, students in the doctoral program do complete a thesis and earn an M.S. degree as part of the doctoral program. The Graduate School requires 30 hours of graduate level coursework for the Master's degree. Please consult plan of study worksheet for specific courses required for this degree. The thesis must be an experimental study. Rules relating to thesis committee membership may be found at Department of Psychological Sciences Rules and Regulations. In addition, at least one member of the thesis committee must be a member of the Cognitive and Behavioral Sciences faculty.
- The Graduate School requires 30 hours of graduate level coursework beyond the master's degree for the Ph.D. Please consult plan of study worksheet for specific courses required for this degree.
- The Graduate School requires satisfactory completion of the General Doctoral Exam. In Psychology this may be fulfilled by completion of either a written doctoral preliminary examination or a Major Area Paper, followed by successful oral defense of the written component. These requirements are explained in greater detail at General Doctoral Exam policy and at rules and regulations.
- Exemption from Required Courses: Students may request exemption from specific required courses based upon the completion of similar graduate level work at Auburn or elsewhere. Approval of substitutions/exemptions is secured via an "Exemption from Departmental or Program Requirement" form signed by your major professor, program director, the teacher who most recently taught the course from which you seek exemption, and the department Chair. Students seeking this exemption must provide an official transcript showing completion of the course(s) upon which they are basing their exemption request and must demonstrate mastery of the required subject matter in a manner to be determined by the relevant faculty members.
- Exemption from the Master's Thesis: Students who enter the program with a Master's Degree and Master's Thesis from another program may request exemption from the thesis requirement. Students seeking such exemption should discuss it with the program director during their first semester in the program and should secure approval as soon as possible (but no later than the end of their second semester) via an "Exemption from Departmental or Program Requirement" form signed by your major professor, program director, and the Department Chair. Students seeking this exemption must provide an official transcript demonstrating that they earned the Master's degree and secured official approval of the thesis upon which they are basing their exemption request. The suitability of the thesis as a basis of exemption from our thesis requirement will be assessed in a manner to be determined by the relevant faculty members.
- These requirements are subject to change but students retain the option of graduating under the curriculum that was in place at the time they initiated the program.