The Learning Processes program offers doctoral students in Psychology training in the experimental analysis of human and animal behavior and in applied behavior analysis. Students and faculty investigate a wide spectrum of behavioral processes through lectures and experimental laboratory course work, advanced seminars, informal student-faculty discussions, practica, internships, and individual research projects. Faculty and students publish regularly in peer-reviewed journals and are strongly represented at major national and international conferences. Their current research interests include such topics as categorization and concept formation, language acquisition, affective behavior, behavioral assessment, human and animal timing, pattern recognition, stimulus control, behavioral community psychology, education and training of children with autism, and staff training in organizational settings. The program of study includes a complement of courses in psychology and related fields, a first and second doctoral examination, a predissertation research project, and a major literature review.
Course work is required in quantitative methods, learning, experimental methodology, and ethics.
The first doctoral exam focuses on general knowledge of psychology. The second doctoral exam is specialized and focuses on knowledge of learning processes. Students must complete a dissertation that embodies original research under the guidance of a member of the doctoral faculty and an advisory committee. Detailed information about all aspects of the program is presented in the Learning Processes Handbook . A description of the developmental disabilities specialization can be found in our handbook.