Applied Cognitive and Brain Sciences PhD
Major: Applied Cognitive and Brain Sciences
Degree Awarded: Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
Calendar Type: Quarter
Minimum Required Credits: 90.0 (PhD)
Co-op Option: None
Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP) code: 42.2799
Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) code: 19-3031; 19-3032; 19-3039
About the Program
The Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences' program in Applied Cognitive and Brain Sciences (ACBS) is a research-oriented, non-clinical program in experimental psychology and cognitive neuroscience. The program places emphasis on psychological questions of real-world significance, grounded in fundamental issues and rigorous methods of basic science.
Additional Information
Please visit the ACBS program website for more information on the ACBS program and the Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences' website for details on the PhD program requirements.
Admission Requirements
Drexel University is seeking applicants with a strong academic record, as evidenced by their GRE scores (a quantitative plus verbal sum of 1250 or greater is desirable), strength of undergraduate institution, and GPA (3.5 or greater is preferred). In addition, applicants should have outstanding letters of recommendation (from doctoral-level academic, research-oriented psychologists, if possible), high-quality research experience, and include a statement of purpose that convinces Drexel that a potential student is an excellent match for one or more of our research groups.
Additional Information
For more details on how to apply to this program, please visit the Graduate Admissions Psychology page.
Degree Requirements
The PhD program curriculum requires students to earn a minimum of 90.0 credits. Students completing the Applied Cognitive and Brain Science program take all or most of their core courses within the first two years. The third and fourth years, following the receipt of the master’s degree, successful passing of the qualifying examinations, and advancement to doctoral candidacy, will be spent in enrichment or specialization courses negotiated with their research supervisor and in research activities.
Program Requirements
| Required courses | ||
| PSY 530 | Neuroanatomy and Behavior | 3.0 |
| PSY 709 | Data Analysis in Psychology I | 3.0 |
| PSY 710 | Data Analysis in Psychology II | 3.0 |
| PSY 711 | Data Analysis in Psychology III | 3.0 |
| PSY 810 | Behavioral Data Mining * | 3.0 |
| or PSY 811 | Multilevel Regression | |
| PSY 812 | Cognitive Neuroscience | 3.0 |
| Topics course | 15.0-21.0 | |
| Current Topics in Applied Cognitive and Brain Sciences ** | ||
| PSY electives | 21.0 | |
| Master's thesis *** | 9.0-27.0 | |
| Master's Thesis in Psychology | ||
| Dissertation credits | 27.0-45.0 | |
| Ph.D. Dissertation in Psychology | ||
| Total Credits | 90.0-132.0 | |
- *
Or any other statistics course approved by the program director.
- **
This is a required course for all ACBS students every single term the class is offered, regardless of a student's year in the program. If PSY 600 is offered any given term, ACBS students are required to take it.
- ***
The actual number of credits required will vary dependent upon student's thesis and research topic.
| Sample PSY electives | ||
| PSY 512 | Cognitive Psychology | 3.0 |
| PSY 516 | Developmental Psychology | 3.0 |
| PSY 601 | Introduction to Data Science for Psychology | 1.0 |
| PSY 615 | Judgment & Decision-making | 3.0 |
| PSY 616 | Motivation and Emotion | 3.0 |
| PSY 712 | History and Systems | 3.0 |
| PSY 809 | Statistical Programming and Modeling with R for Psychology | 3.0 |
| PSY 814 | Neuroimaging & Physiology of Behavior | 3.0 |
| PSY I899 | Independent Study in Psychology | 3.0-12.0 |
| PSY I999 | Independent Study in Psychology | 3.0-12.0 |
Sample Plan of Study
| First Year | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall | Credits | |
| PSY 600 | Current Topics in Applied Cognitive and Brain Sciences | 3.0 |
| PSY 709 | Data Analysis in Psychology I | 3.0 |
| PSY 812 | Cognitive Neuroscience | 3.0 |
| Credits | 9 | |
| Winter | ||
| PSY 530 | Neuroanatomy and Behavior | 3.0 |
| PSY 600 | Current Topics in Applied Cognitive and Brain Sciences | 3.0 |
| PSY 710 | Data Analysis in Psychology II | 3.0 |
| Credits | 9 | |
| Spring | ||
| PSY 711 | Data Analysis in Psychology III | 3.0 |
| PSY Electives | 6.0 | |
| Credits | 9 | |
| Summer | ||
| VACATION | ||
| Credits | 0 | |
| Second Year | ||
| Fall | ||
| PSY 810 or PSY 811 | Behavioral Data Mining * or Multilevel Regression | 3.0 |
| PSY Electives | 6.0 | |
| Credits | 9 | |
| Winter | ||
| PSY 898 | Master's Thesis in Psychology | 3.0 |
| PSY Electives | 6.0 | |
| Credits | 9 | |
| Spring | ||
| PSY 600 | Current Topics in Applied Cognitive and Brain Sciences | 3.0 |
| PSY 898 | Master's Thesis in Psychology | 6.0 |
| Credits | 9 | |
| Summer | ||
| VACATION | ||
| Credits | 0 | |
| Third Year | ||
| Fall | ||
| PSY 600 | Current Topics in Applied Cognitive and Brain Sciences | 3.0 |
| PSY 998 | Ph.D. Dissertation in Psychology | 6.0 |
| Credits | 9 | |
| Winter | ||
| PSY 998 | Ph.D. Dissertation in Psychology | 6.0 |
| PSY electives | 3.0 | |
| Credits | 9 | |
| Spring | ||
| PSY 998 | Ph.D. Dissertation in Psychology | 9.0 |
| Credits | 9 | |
| Summer | ||
| VACATION | ||
| Credits | 0 | |
| Fourth Year | ||
| Fall | ||
| PSY 600 | Current Topics in Applied Cognitive and Brain Sciences | 3.0 |
| PSY 998 | Ph.D. Dissertation in Psychology | 6.0 |
| Credits | 9 | |
| Total Credits | 90 | |
- *
Or any other statistics course approved by the program director.
In years four and five, students continue to register for 9.0 credits of PSY 998 (or 3.0 credits of PSY 600 and 6.0 credits of PSY 998 in terms when PSY 600 is offered) each Fall, Winter, and Spring Term until the completion of program requirements, including successful defense of the dissertation.
Program Learning Outcomes
Upon completion of the program, graduates will be prepared to:
- Have a good general understanding of human cognition and its neural basis.
- Conduct independent research in an ethical manner.
- Achieve good scientific writing skills.
- Achieve good presentation skills.
- Acquire superior statistical skills.
- Acquire computer skills for experimental control, data analysis, and modeling.