Graduate Programs

Psychological and Brain Sciences Certificates

Psychological and brain sciences students may structure their elective coursework so that they are recognized for additional specialized study that cuts across behavioral neuroscience, clinical science, cognitive psychology and social psychology. We currently offer three such certificates: developmental processes, quantitative analysis, and social cognitive and affective neuroscience. The certificate programs are open to any current graduate student in any program at the University of Delaware.

Developmental Processes Certificate

Students may elect to structure their electives such that they take four developmental courses, or they take three developmental courses and perform a semester of laboratory work outside the advisor’s lab and in another lab doing developmental work. At least two of the courses must be outside the main concentration of study.

Quantitative Analysis Certificate

Students may elect to structure their coursework such that they take a sequence of six courses in statistics. Any statistics courses not in the Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences will require approval from the department Quantitative Statistics Committee.

Social Cognitive and Affective Neuroscience (SCAN) Certificate

Students in SCAN need to declare a major and minor program of study, chosen from cognitive, social, clinical and behavioral neuroscience. For example, a student might choose cognitive for the major and social for the minor. Each SCAN student will be assigned a faculty advisor from each program of study (as part of a student’s advisory committee) who will help them choose relevant required and elective courses. In addition to completing required coursework in the chosen major program of study, two elective courses need to be chosen that represent the minor program of study. One of these electives should also be related to SCAN research topics. The particular courses need to be approved by the student’s advisory committee.

Each SCAN student is also required to participate in at least one research project that cuts across two labs in the SCAN areas (enrolling in three credits of PSYC 801: Laboratory Rotation). This collaboration could involve using the primary PI’s methods to investigate theoretical predictions from a model associated with a faculty member in another area. For example, a student might use methods, such as time-frequency analysis, that were developed in one lab in the social area to investigate statistical learning that was being studied using fMRI in the cognitive area. The goal of the collaborative project is to combine theories, expertise and methods across areas.

These certificates are only available to any current graduate students in any program at the University of Delaware.

Application Deadlines

When applying to complete a certificate, students should fill out their plan of study (Psych Forms > Grad Student Form > Plan of Study) and send it electronically to the director of graduate education.