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Admissions

Applications must be submitted electronically by January 20, 2008. See www.uri.edu/gsadmis for details.

Applicants

Qualified applicants to the Behavioral Science Program should show interest and ability for graduate training. Students who have been involved in research activities and who wish to pursue further research training are highly regarded in the selection process. Ordinarily, students are expected to have a combined score of at least 1100 on the GRE math and verbal sections and a grade point average of "B" (3.0) or better in their undergraduate course work. The specific nature of each applicants' research interest is considered in admission decisions in order to maximize the fit between prospective students and the program.

The personal statement is an important part of your application. It should be approximately two pages, and provide the following information:

An introduction to yourself and why you are pursuing a Behavioral Science (Experimental Psychology) Ph.D.
Your area(s) of interest and potential faculty advisors - please feel free to contact faculty members you feel might be a good "fit" for your interests in advance. Please note that not all advisors are available in any given year, so it is wise to contact more than one individual.
Your research experience, involvement in community and university activities, and ways in which you feel your experiences and interests fit with the URI Psychology Department Mission, particularly with respect to our multicultural emphasis.
(Please note this does not refer to your personal background or ethnicity, although minorities are encouraged to apply, and travel and other personal experiences may contribute to your statement).

Student Support

Financial support for graduate students is available from a variety of sources, including: l) graduate and teaching assistantships both within the department and across the university; 2) grant-funded research assistantships; 3) tuition remission scholarships (full and partial); and 4) university fellowships. In addition to these direct sources of support, the Experimental Program draws on contacts in applied research settings in the surrounding region to provide paid training and employment assistantships. Students must apply for these on a competitive basis. Generally, the combination of direct support and off-campus research positions allows students to receive adequate, career-relevant, financial support while in the program.

Curriculum and Programs of Study

The Graduate School requires a total of 90 course and research credits for the Ph.D. degree in psychology (18=dissertation; 6=thesis; 66=course credit). Specific departmental and program requirements are as follows:

Departmental Requirements

The department requires preparation in three major areas: l) foundations of psychology and content area; 2) research methodology and data analysis; and 3) actual research proficiency. These requirements must be met by all doctoral students, regardless of their area of concentration. The following requirements must be met by successful completion of the designated courses unless transfer credit is approved for equivalent courses taken at another institution (see below).

Foundations of Psychology:
Any four courses from among the core content area (PSY 600-609 series), which include: physiological psychology, learning, development must be completed. Students entering without a Master's degreal psychology, perception, cognition, personality, social psychology, theories and systems of psychology, multicultural psychology, and advanced psychopathology.

Research Methodology and Data Analysis:
Experimental Design (PSY 532); Advanced Quantitative Methods(PSY 533); and, Methods of Psychological Research and Experimental Design (PSY 6ll).

Research Proficiency:

A doctoral dissertation (PSY 699: 18 credits) must be completed. Students entering without a Master's degree in Psychology must do a Master's thesis (PSY 599: 6 credits) prior to attempting a doctoral dissertation. Students with a Master's degree in Psychology must demonstrate research competency. This can be done by having a previously completed Master's thesis reviewed and accepted by the student's committee or completing a research competency project.

Additional Requirements: Students must complete a multi-component multicultural competence requirement, pass a qualifying examination (which can be satisfied by successfully passing (B or better) any four of the courses in the Foundations and Research Methodology as listed above), and pass written and oral comprehensive examinations.

Behavioral Science Program Requirements

The Behavioral Science Program relies on students' Program Committees (i.e., Master's and Doctoral Committees) to work with students to design uniquely tailored programs of study that will meet the students' needs within the constraints of requirements and available resources. Students choose their course work from a variety of courses depending upon their area of interest. As noted earlier, emphasis is placed on methodological and quantitative skills in both coursework and practicum experience. Beyond the required 3-course sequence in Research Methodology and Data Analysis (PSY532, PSY533, & PSY611), other courses are available that allow students to broaden their skills in this area including Small N Designs, Psychometric Methods, Factor Analysis, Evaluation Research, Non-Parametric Statistics, and Structural Modeling. Focus areas in Multicultural and Gender studies and in Health Psychology are also available.

All first-year students are required to take a one-credit orientation seminar during the first semester (PSY 615C).

Transfer of Credit

Students entering the experimental program who have done graduate work at another accredited college, university, or professional school may: 1) transfer up to 30 credits if they have a Master's degree in psychology; or, 2) transfer as many as one-fifth of the credits required to complete their Master's degree or doctoral program. Transfer credit is granted only when the request is endorsed by the major professor and approved by the Dean of the Graduate School. Requests for transfer credit for course equivalency are typically reviewed and endorsed in writing by the faculty member who usually teaches the course at URI. Transfer credit for core content courses is limited to six credits (two courses). Transfer credit for courses taken prior to admission should be submitted as part of the student's program of study (within the first year of graduate work).

For More Information

Behavioral Science Admissions Assistant:

Hayley Golden
401-874-4225
psyadmin@etal.uri.edu

Behavioral Science Admissions Chair:

Joseph Rossi, Ph.D.
401-874-5983
jsrossi@uri.edu

URI Graduate School Admissions Information:

www.uri.edu/gsadmis/

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		Admissions

			Applications must be submitted electronically by January 20, 2008. See www.uri.edu/gsadmis for details. Applicants Qualified applicants to the Behavioral Science Program should show interest and ability for graduate training. Students who have been involved in research activities and who wish to pursue further research training are highly regarded in the selection process. Ordinarily, students are expected to have a combined score of at least 1100 on the GRE math and verbal sections and a grade point average of "B" (3.0) or better in their undergraduate course work. The specific nature of each applicants' research interest is considered in admission decisions in order to maximize the fit between prospective students and the program. The personal statement is an important part of your application. It should be approximately two pages, and provide the following information: An introduction to yourself and why you are pursuing a Behavioral Science (Experimental Psychology) Ph.D. Your area(s) of interest and potential faculty advisors - please feel free to contact faculty members you feel might be a good "fit" for your interests in advance. Please note that not all advisors are available in any given year, so it is wise to contact more than one individual. Your research experience, involvement in community and university activities, and ways in which you feel your experiences and interests fit with the URI Psychology Department Mission, particularly with respect to our multicultural emphasis. (Please note this does not refer to your personal background or ethnicity, although minorities are encouraged to apply, and travel and other personal experiences may contribute to your statement). Student Support Financial support for graduate students is available from a variety of sources, including: l) graduate and teaching assistantships both within the department and across the university; 2) grant-funded research assistantships; 3) tuition remission scholarships (full and partial); and 4) university fellowships. In addition to these direct sources of support, the Experimental Program draws on contacts in applied research settings in the surrounding region to provide paid training and employment assistantships. Students must apply for these on a competitive basis. Generally, the combination of direct support and off-campus research positions allows students to receive adequate, career-relevant, financial support while in the program. Curriculum and Programs of Study The Graduate School requires a total of 90 course and research credits for the Ph.D. degree in psychology (18=dissertation; 6=thesis; 66=course credit). Specific departmental and program requirements are as follows: Departmental Requirements The department requires preparation in three major areas: l) foundations of psychology and content area; 2) research methodology and data analysis; and 3) actual research proficiency. These requirements must be met by all doctoral students, regardless of their area of concentration. The following requirements must be met by successful completion of the designated courses unless transfer credit is approved for equivalent courses taken at another institution (see below). *Foundations of Psychology:* Any four courses from among the core content area (PSY 600-609 series), which include: physiological psychology, learning, development must be completed. Students entering without a Master's degreal psychology, perception, cognition, personality, social psychology, theories and systems of psychology, multicultural psychology, and advanced psychopathology. *Research Methodology and Data Analysis:* Experimental Design (PSY 532); Advanced Quantitative Methods(PSY 533); and, Methods of Psychological Research and Experimental Design (PSY 6ll). *Research Proficiency:* A doctoral dissertation (PSY 699: 18 credits) must be completed. Students entering without a Master's degree in Psychology must do a Master's thesis (PSY 599: 6 credits) prior to attempting a doctoral dissertation. Students with a Master's degree in Psychology must demonstrate research competency. This can be done by having a previously completed Master's thesis reviewed and accepted by the student's committee or completing a research competency project. *Additional Requirements:* Students must complete a multi-component multicultural competence requirement, pass a qualifying examination (which can be satisfied by successfully passing (B or better) any four of the courses in the Foundations and Research Methodology as listed above), and pass written and oral comprehensive examinations. Behavioral Science Program Requirements The Behavioral Science Program relies on students' Program Committees (i.e., Master's and Doctoral Committees) to work with students to design uniquely tailored programs of study that will meet the students' needs within the constraints of requirements and available resources. Students choose their course work from a variety of courses depending upon their area of interest. As noted earlier, emphasis is placed on methodological and quantitative skills in both coursework and practicum experience. Beyond the required 3-course sequence in Research Methodology and Data Analysis (PSY532, PSY533, & PSY611), other courses are available that allow students to broaden their skills in this area including Small N Designs, Psychometric Methods, Factor Analysis, Evaluation Research, Non-Parametric Statistics, and Structural Modeling. Focus areas in Multicultural and Gender studies and in Health Psychology are also available. All first-year students are required to take a one-credit orientation seminar during the first semester (PSY 615C). Transfer of Credit Students entering the experimental program who have done graduate work at another accredited college, university, or professional school may: 1) transfer up to 30 credits if they have a Master's degree in psychology; or, 2) transfer as many as one-fifth of the credits required to complete their Master's degree or doctoral program. Transfer credit is granted only when the request is endorsed by the major professor and approved by the Dean of the Graduate School. Requests for transfer credit for course equivalency are typically reviewed and endorsed in writing by the faculty member who usually teaches the course at URI. Transfer credit for core content courses is limited to six credits (two courses). Transfer credit for courses taken prior to admission should be submitted as part of the student's program of study (within the first year of graduate work). For More Information Behavioral Science Admissions Assistant: Hayley Golden 401-874-4225 psyadmin@etal.uri.edu Behavioral Science Admissions Chair: Joseph Rossi, Ph.D. 401-874-5983 jsrossi@uri.edu URI Graduate School Admissions Information: www.uri.edu/gsadmis/
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