Program Overview
Cognitive psychology is the scientific study of mind and mental function, including learning, memory, attention, perception, reasoning, language, conceptual development, and decision making. The modern study of cognition rests on the premise that the brain can be understood as a complex computing system.
The Doctoral Program in Cognition offers students the opportunity to pursue original research with our faculty as part of an exciting educational program that emphasizes the theoretical, experimental, and technical foundations of cognition and cognitive science.
The Cognitive faculty have outstanding records of productivity and extramural research support. The Cognitive Area includes two members of the National Academy of Sciences. Areas of special emphasis include: psycholinguistics, language acquisition, memory, visual and auditory perception, sensorimotor processes, attention, mathematical models of perception and cognition, decision making, cognitive development, and cognitive neuroscience.
For a list of current cognitive students, click here.
Graduate education is enhanced by close ties with the Center for Cognitive Science and the Laboratory for Vision Research, and by collaborations with faculty in several related departments, such as Computer Science, Philosophy, Linguistics,as well as with scientists from local industries engaged in basic and applied cognitive research.
Research is conducted in modern laboratories featuring state-of-the-art equipment for experimental studies and computational modeling of cognition, perception, and language.
Students become involved in research during their first semester and complete the basic required courses during the first two years. Students may supplement Psychology courses by choosing electives in departments such as Computer Science, Philosophy, Linguistics, Education, Statistics, Mathematics, and Biomedical Engineering. Candidacy for the doctorate is granted following successful completion of course requirements, a master's thesis, and the qualifying examination.
Only those individuals wishing to work full-time toward the doctorate are encouraged to apply. Graduates of this program are found in research positions in universities and private industry.
Center for Cognitive Science
The cognitive program works closely with the interdisciplinary Center for Cognitive Science (RuCCS) on the Busch Campus, which includes the Laboratory of Vision Research (LVR), originally founded by Bela Julesz. Other departments that participate in the activities of the Center include: Computer Science, Philosophy, Linguistics, Biomedical Engineering, and Electrical Engineering. As a multidisciplinary center it also advises graduate students in course selection and research opportunities in cognitive science. Further information on the Center may be obtained from its website.
Graduate Programs
Cognitive Psychology
Core Faculty
Gretchen
Chapman
Jacob
Feldman
Jerry Fodor
Charles
R. Gallistel
Rochel
Gelman
Arnold
Glass
Jane Grimshaw
Judith
Hudson
Eileen
Kowler
Alan
M. Leslie
Michael
Leyton
Robert
Matthews
Julien Musolino
Thomas V. Papathomas
Alan Prince
Zenon
W. Pylyshyn
Carolyn
Rovee-Collier
Manish
Singh
Karin
Stromswold
Interdisciplinary Training in Perceptual Science
Interdisciplinary Training in Perceptual Science, funded by a grant from the National Science Foundation’s IGERT program, provides graduate fellowships for training that integrates human perception with computer modeling. Perceptual Science training is focused on the integration of models of human perception with the design of innovative technologies for automated recognition, multimodal interfaces and realistic virtual environments. The Core Curriculum in Perceptual Science begins with foundational coursework in human perception and computer science and culminates in an interdisciplinary co-advised doctoral thesis in one of six core research areas: animate vision, 3D object perception, scanning and searching, visual-auditory integration, visual language, and visual communication. More than 18 different laboratories at Rutgers participate in Perceptual Science training. NSF’s IGERT program is strongly committed to increasing the participation of underrepresented groups in science.
Financial Assistance
Fellowships, including tuition remission, are available for highly qualified applicants. Teaching and graduate assistantships, which include tuition remission, are also available. Funding is also available for qualified foreign nationals wishing to study full-time at Rutgers. Applicants for training under the IGERT in program in Perceptual Science click here.
To Apply
Applications are strongly encouraged to be submitted no later than December 15. Although applications submitted after that time may be considered, those submitted by December 15 will be given highest priority.
Click on the Admissions button above for full details about applications. Click here for answers to frequently asked questions about the Cognitive Area.
Interested students should refer to the individual faculty web pages for up to date information about ongoing research projects. Pre-application inquiries should be directed to Jacob Feldman, Cognitive Psychology Area Coordinator.