BN Program - Admissions & Training

How to Apply

• All interested applicants should review admissions information at  http://psychology.clas.asu.edu/graduate/prospectivestudents .
• Applicants are encouraged to contact potential mentors for openings and postions in their laboratories.  Graduate student academic record and fit in potential research lab are key for successful admission.
• For non-native English speakers, the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or International English Language Testing System (IELTS) is required as follows:
• • The minimum TOEFL requirement is 550 (PBT) or 213 (CBT).
  • The minimum IELTS is an overall band score of 6.5 with no individual band below a 6.0.
  • The TOEFL and IETLS scores are valid when the test date is within two years of the first day of classes of the semester that a student enrolls at ASU.
  • Non-native English speakers who have met one of the following requirements at an accredited college/university in the United States do not need to submit evidence of English proficiency:
    • Earned a bachelor's degree or higher,
    • Completed a minimum of 12 semester hours of graduate study with a GPA of 3.00 or higher,
    • Completed at least 90 undergraduate semester hours with a cumulative GPA of 3.00 or higher.

Admission and Financial Support

Students in the behavioral neuroscience concentration are admitted directly to the Ph.D. program, with the expectation that the student will progress through a master's (M.A.) degree to the Ph.D. The modal time for achieving the Ph.D. degree is five years, and in recent years we have been able to offer five years of funding through various research and teaching assistantships. A number of area faculty have received grants through NIH and NSF that fund research assistants, and some assistantship is available through the interdisciplinary programs.

Research Experience

Graduate study blends formal course work and laboratory research to provide students with both a broad knowledge base and specialized skills applicable to their personalized research program. Throughout their training, students participate in graduate seminars, tool skill courses, and advanced content courses in psychology and related disciplines. Students engage in research with faculty mentors from their first semester, with the first-year research experience culminating in a paper and oral presentation. In subsequent years of study, the course work and research projects are individually tailored to each student's particular interests and talents. Research becomes more independent as students complete a master's thesis and doctoral dissertation. During this time, students are also encouraged to present posters and talks to local and national conferences, and to submit their research for publication.

Teaching Experience

Students may gain teaching experience by serving as teaching assistants or lab instructors of undergraduate and introductory graduate courses, under the supervision of the faculty who are teaching the course. This experience is especially valuable for students with plans to pursue a career in academia.