Doctor of Philosophy in Psychology - Comparative-Neurobiology Psychology

The principal aim of graduate training in the comparative-neurobiology psychology track is to develop a strong theoretical understanding and research competence in the study of comparative psychology andor neurobiology. Graduate students work in a close mentoring relationship with a faculty member in this track. The ultimate goal is to prepare students for productive academic careers. Comparative description: Comparative psychology is the study of the similarities and differences in the behavior of organisms. Students of comparative psychology are natural scientists explicitly trained in the science of making comparisons and use such training to examine, for instance, phylogenetic, ontogenetic and cross-cultural aspects of behavior. Graduate students with an interest in comparative psychology learn to conduct experiments with a variety of vertebrates and invertebrates including pigeons, rattlesnakes, turtles, honey bees, flatworms, earthworms, and humans in a variety of pure and applied problems. These problems include timing in animals, aversive conditioning, the effect of agrochemicals on behavior, and the role of biogenic amines on learning and memory. In addition, students learn how to build and assess training devices for a variety of organisms and learn to use animals to demonstrate a variety of psychological principles. Students are encouraged to take courses with affiliated faculty in the Department of Zoology and Animal Science. Neurobiology description: Neurobiology examines the physiological or biological bases for psychological processes. Graduate students with an interest in neurobiology learn to conduct studies using a variety of physiological indicators, including salivary analysis, dietary intake, electoencephalography and electocardiology. Current research by faculty members in the neurobiology track includes work in immune system reactivity, stress response, and nutritional influences on the developing brain. Students who have earned doctoral degrees from Oklahoma State University specializing in neurobiology have chosen academic careers in colleges and universities throughout the United States (e.g., University of California, San Francisco, University of Kansas), have arranged post-doctoral training, or have worked for the government or private industry as research consultants (e.g. Brown University Medical School).

TOEFL 79 internet-based 550 paper-based. IELTS 6.5 Students who are successful in their application typically have GPAs of 3.3 or higher We do not require that applicants have a bachelors degree in psychology We do require however that the applicant have specific courses on the transcript We require three letters of reference These letters should be from psychology faculty from whom you have taken classes or under whom you have carried out research If you are applying to the Clinical Program it is advisable that you include letters from individuals with whom you have worked that can attest to your abilities industriousness interpersonal facility stability and so forth Be aware that letters of reference should contain specifics about the referees knowledge of you Positive general letters of reference are not especially helpful to us We require a two to fourpage Statement of Purpose This statement should be typed and wellwritten This statement should address a why you want to become a psychologist b experiences you have had that enhance your psychology application c future plans after you achieve the doctorate etc For those applying to the Clinical Program carefully chronicle any job experience in the helping professions especially any jobs relating to mental health Include both paid and volunteer experience in these areas We require that you submit a paper representative of your writing abilities preferably from an experimental psychology course a convention paper presentation or a manuscript submitted or accepted for publication If one of these is not available any paper from a psychology course will suffice Please note however that the paper will be examined for evidence of both writing skills and research expertise One very important requirement for admission is taking the general aptitude tests of the Graduate Record Examination Average GRE aptitude score for our admitted students is 300 for verbal and quantitative combined