Wayne State University

Program Information

Degree Offered

M.A.- Cognitive Psychology, Ph.D.- Cognitive Psychology

Program Description:

This area includes students pursuing degrees in social, developmental, and cognitive psychology. Although all students are trained to take an interdisciplinary approach to research, some students are trained primarily in one of these sub-disciplines. Others are trained in one of a variety of cross-disciplinary "tracks” which provide a greater emphasis on integration (e.g., social cognition, social development). Students can also integrate their disciplinary focus with health psychology.

The Cognitive program focuses on fundamental research on human cognition and its application to educational and human factors settings. Current research interests include speech perception, attention, memory, psycholinguistics, sign language and deafness, and gerontological studies of memory.

The Social program focuses on theory-based basic and applied research. Students are trained in experimental and survey research methods. Current research interests include psychosocial factors that influence health, alleviating negative stigmatization, sexual violence, social cognition, and attitude representation and change.

The Developmental program emphasizes the life-span perspective, within which students may specialize in social-emotional development, developmental psychobiology, or applied developmental psychology. Research areas include cross-cultural research with married couples, development in high risk families, early childhood temperament, and cognitive interventions with older adults.

This program is designed to prepare students for an academic career, as well as for research positions in applied settings. Laboratory and computer facilities are excellent. Most students accepted into the Ph.D. program receive full financial aid.

The department has close associations with the Institute of Gerontology and the Merrill-Palmer Skillman Institute for Child and Family Development. A terminal Masters Degree program in Human Development is also offered.

Tuition & Financial Aid

Financial Aid Offered: No

Format: Campus

Classification: Doctoral/Research Universities - Extensive

Institution Sector: Public

Locale: Large City

Size & Settings: 20,000 and above