PSYCHOLOGY, PHD
Psychology
Graduate Program
The Doctoral Program in the Department of Psychology offers three concentrations: Behavioral Neuroscience, Developmental Psychology, and Medical/Clinical Psychology. Upon completion of any of these concentrations the student receives a Ph.D. in Psychology. A terminal master's degree is not offered.
Training in Behavioral Neuroscience is designed to prepare students for independent research and teaching in the neurobiology of behavior. Research training is provided by faculty in the Department of Psychology and in the UAB Schools of Medicine and Optometry, who share an interest in the biological basis of behavior. The course of study includes a core curriculum in neuroscience and recognizes the interdisciplinary nature of this field. Students obtain strong backgrounds in behavioral science and in neuroscience and gain expertise in the content and techniques of selected areas of neuroscience as they apply to the study of behavior.
Faculty laboratories are equipped for research in behavior, neuroanatomy, neurochemistry, neuroimaging, neuropharmacology, neurophysiology, and molecular biology. The research interests of the faculty include neuroanatomy and neurophysiology of the visual system; interactions between the central nervous system and the periphery in the control of feeding and energy balance; neural underpinnings of obesity and plasticity in participants in a weight loss program; autism; emotional substrates of conditioned fear; neurophysiology and neuropharmacology of pain.
Training in Developmental Psychology prepares students to discover and apply basic principles of development across the lifespan in an interdisciplinary research context. Our premise is that the application of psychological principles of development can contribute in important ways to solving problems encountered throughout the lifespan. Graduates are capable of taking positions in institutions of higher learning, medical schools, research institutions, government agencies, nonprofit organizations, and other research and teaching positions.
Research training is provided by the faculty of the Department of Psychology and may occur in collaboration with faculty across campus including the Civitan International Research Center, the Center for Aging, the Center for Applied Gerontology, the Department of Pediatrics, The School of Public Health, and other centers and departments.
The research programs of faculty with interests in lifespan developmental psychology include a wide variety of topics from infancy to the elderly. Much of this research is funded by federal research grants. Research subareas include: injury prevention, developmental disabilities (with special interests in Autism Spectrum Disorders, prenatal development and exposure to toxic substances, early intervention, adolescent psychosocial development and mental health); adolescence (with special interest in longitudinal studies, interactions between health and development, alcohol and drug use, predictors of depression and suicide, family and peer relations, those with special health care or education needs); and aging (with special interest in visual-perceptual problems of older adults with low vision, memory skills training with elderly populations, the psychological aspects of chronic illness in the elderly, chronically ill individuals, care giving in families of elderly persons, human factor issues in vision and aging).
Developmental Psychology students must complete a master's thesis. Admission to candidacy for the doctoral degree is based on satisfactory completion of coursework and completion of an area review in the form of a Psychological Bulletin or Psychological Review article. The doctoral degree is awarded upon successful defense of the dissertation.
Training in Medical / Clinical Psychology prepares students to become leaders in health promotion, disease prevention, risk reduction, and symptom assessment and amelioration in interdisciplinary and medical settings. Research, course work and clinical training emphasize behavioral and psychological factors associated with medical illness and injury as well as neurobehavioral and psychological disorders across the lifespan. The Medical/Clinical Psychology concentration is accredited as a clinical psychology doctoral program by the American Psychological Association (https://www.apa.org/ed/accreditation/programs/index.aspx).
The Medical/Clinical Psychology concentration is co-sponsored by the Department of Psychology (College of Arts and Sciences) and the UAB School of Medicine. Faculty are distributed across multiple academic departments and divisions, including but not limited to Psychology, Psychiatry, Pediatrics, Neurology, Preventive Medicine, Clinical Immunology and Rheumatology, and Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation. Clinical psychologists and researchers in UAB-affiliated clinics and research centers, the Children's of Alabama Hospital, the Birmingham VA Medical Center and throughout the community also play active roles in teaching as well as research mentoring and clinical supervision.
Research programs in which faculty and students are currently involved include: accidental injury and child abuse risk prevention; adolescence, aging, autism spectrum and other neurodevelopmental disorders and developmental disabilities; chronic pain; coping with medical illness, dementia, eating disorders and obesity; epilepsy; minority health issues and health disparities; neural plasticity; neuroimaging; pediatric oncology; response to stress and psychological trauma; rehabilitation following traumatic brain and spinal cord injury, stroke and neurobehavioral disease; sleep and feeding problems of childhood; and substance abuse.
With appropriate approvals it is possible to complete the Master of Science in Public Health program and the Medical/Clinical Psychology concentration concurrently.
Application and Admissions
Applications are invited both from students with bachelor's degrees and from those who may have already completed some graduate study. Admission to the Psychology graduate program is highly selective. Applications are evaluated as a whole without minimum criteria on any single indicators. Transcripts are evaluated for the content and difficulty of courses completed as well as grades received. All programs follow an affirmative action/equal opportunity process to ensure that all applicants are evaluated fairly and on the basis of their individual merit. Brief information regarding admission to the three Psychology concentrations appears below. For up-to-date details, including deadlines and specific requirements, prospective applicants should consult the Psychology Graduate Program website (https://www.uab.edu/cas/psychology/graduate).
Because of the interdisciplinary nature of Behavioral Neuroscience, students with diverse backgrounds in psychology, biology, and physical science are encouraged to apply. All students are expected to have undergraduate training in psychology, biology, physics, chemistry, and mathematics. Students not trained in one or more of these areas may be required to make up deficits after enrollment.
Developmental Psychology admission requires a solid background in psychology as well as some courses in the life sciences. Research experience is essential. Excellent grades in statistics and mathematics are also valued.
Medical/Clinical Psychology requires a strong background in psychology (including statistics and research design; cognitive, biological, and affective bases of behavior; abnormal psychology and personality). Advanced course work in mathematics and natural science (especially anatomy and physiology) is also recommended. Relevant research experience is considered an important indication of the applicant's motivation and commitment to program goals, and prior experience with clinical populations is also advantageous. The relevance of the applicant's goals and interests to ongoing activities of our faculty is weighed heavily in admissions decisions.
Advisement
Behavioral Neuroscience students are advised by the Behavioral Neuroscience Director in consultation with a program steering committee and by their research preceptors until the dissertation committee is appointed, usually early in the third year of study.
Students accepted into the Developmental Psychology specialization are matched with a faculty member who agrees to mentor that student. Therefore, applicants will need to identify faculty members with whom they share research interest and would like to study.
Medical/Clinical Psychology students are advised by their research mentor, an individually-tailored advisory committee, and the Director of Medical/Clinical Psychology.
Financial Aid
All students in the Psychology Doctoral Program receive financial aid, including a stipend, tuition and health insurance for at least 5 years. Sources of support include fellowships, traineeships, assistantships, and tuition scholarships.
Additional Information
For further information please visit the websites listed below. Questions may be directed to the appropriate Director or to the Psychology Graduate Program Manager, Ms. Terri Roberson, at 205-934-8723 or trobe@uab.edu.
Behavioral Neuroscience
Website: http://www.uab.edu/cas/psychology/graduate/behavioral-neuroscience
Dr. David C. Knight, Director
Email knightdc@uab.edu
Developmental Psychology
Website: http://www.uab.edu/cas/psychology/graduate/developmental
Dr. Despina Stavrinos, Director
Email dstavrin@uab.edu
Medical/Clinical Psychology
Website: http://www.uab.edu/cas/psychology/graduate/medical-clinical-psychology
Dr. Edwin W. Cook III, Director
Email: ecook@uab.edu