The cognitive/cognitive development program is designed to train students in conducting and communicating high-quality psychological research. As a graduate student in the cognitive/cognitive development program, you will have an opportunity to collaborate closely with one or more faculty members in ongoing research projects, from conception to publication. In the first year, students begin a research project under the supervision of one of the cognitive/cognitive development faculty. Often, this first year research project broadens into the topic of the masters' thesis. As students progress through the graduate program, they are encouraged to pursue additional collaborative and independent research projects, culminating in a dissertation project that often reflects the students' unique interests and expertise.
In the first two years, graduate students also take a number of graduate courses and seminars that cover current research in cognitive psychology, cognitive development, cognitive neuropsychology, research methods, and statistical analyses. Students in the cognitive/cognitive development program may elect to gain additional training by pursuing a quantitative minor, or taking classes in developmental psychology.
In addition, faculty and students in the cognitive/cognitive development program meet for the "cognitive brown-bag." In the brownbag, students and faculty present research ideas and learn about current research trends, attend research presentations by guest speakers from other institutions, and discuss issues relevant to professional and career development.
All graduate students are eligible to receive financial support, usually in the form of a graduate assistantship, which is viewed as an integral part of the program. Both research and teaching skills are advanced by the graduate assistantships. Through a research assignment, students are involved directly in research with faculty. In later years, students develop teaching skills through instruction of undergraduate psychology classes.