Program in Cognition, Neuroscience, & Social Psychology

Our goal is to educate scientists who will successfully compete for academic and applied positions and who will contribute meaningful research in their chosen field. We strive to:

• expose students to a variety of experimental methodologies and analytical techniques
• train students to apply sound experimental techniques to address basic and applied research problems
• foster knowledge of and an appreciation for the cognitive, neural, and social aspects of behavior

The faculty in Cognition, Neuroscience, and Social Psychology provide an intensive and individually tailored Ph.D. program. Beginning in the first year, students choose and then work closely with a faculty advisor to develop a specific research focus based on shared research interests. Students create individually tailored programs to fit their interests and areas of specialization. Students may specialize within a variety of areas, including cognitive science, behavioral neuroscience, and social psychology. Interdisciplinary skills are emphasized. We also offer a unique interdisciplinary Ph.D. program (in collaboration with the Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders) focusing on language, speech, and hearing sciences. Our faculty is congenial and many students have worked with several advisors.

The Department and University provide a wide range of research facilities to students. These include the University’s computing services which offer Internet connections and e-mail, as well as departmental computers for lab use and word processing. Labs are available for acoustic analysis and speech synthesis, image processing and video taping, modeling memory structures, psychophysics, and neuroanatomical and neurochemical work. The University operates three child care centers and two elementary schools that are available for research purposes. The University libraries are conveniently located and contain extensive collections of relevant journals and books.

The Ph.D. program usually takes four to six years of dedicated effort. Students are expected to conduct research actively throughout this period. Our Graduate Handbook lays out specific program requirements and other information about our graduate programs (see link). Over the past 20 years, all students making good progress have been financially supported by means of teaching assistantships, research assistantships, or fellowships.

Our graduates are competitive - earning jobs in the academic world and in a variety of applied research settings. Our Ph.D.s’ technical abilities and problem-solving skills are well regarded by potential employers.

You may wonder what it’s like to live in Tampa. Living expenses in Tampa are among the more moderate in the country. A wide selection of on- and off-campus housing is readily available and within easy walking or bicycling distance from the department. There is also free University shuttle and public bus service to and from the university.

The University’s Tampa Campus occupies a 1,700-acre tract ten miles northeast of downtown, the commercial and cultural hub for over one million citizens of Hillsborough County. The campus atmosphere is informal. Outdoor activities are popular because of the area’s extraordinary climate, including an average annual temperature of 72 degrees.

The Phyllis Marshall Center serves as a focal point for daily activities of the University community. The Center houses a diversity of programs and services. The Sun Dome, a large multi-purpose facility with seating for 10,000, hosts an array of athletic events, concerts, and lectures. USF’s School of Visual and Performing Arts hosts excellent art exhibits as well as theater, dance, and musical performances. The University also maintains a nearby park on the Hillsborough River, where softball, canoeing, fishing, and cookouts are popular activities.