Experimental Program

The experimental program adopts a broad approach to the science of psychology by examining the biological, cognitive, developmental, social, and personality factors that affect behavior across the full range of the individual’s lifespan, providing an approach to psychology that extends “from the cradle to the grave.”

There are four concentrations to choose from, all housed under the general experimental program. The cognitive, comparative-neurobiology, developmental and social-personality tracks are all housed under the general experimental psychology program. Our program adopts the perspective that psychology is a very broad and dynamic discipline. The central focus of psychology is on the understanding, prediction, and enhancement of individual behavior, from a variety of perspectives. These perspectives can range from cognitive neuroscience; to the biological and physiological bases of behavior; to behavior in social environments; to the assessment of individual differences in personality; to the developmental changes that impact behavior; to the quantitative modeling of individual performance. To accommodate this broad spectrum, our program examines the biological, cognitive, developmental, social, and personality factors that affect behavior.

When applying to the experimental psychology program, each potential graduate student applies directly to one of these four tracks, depending on their interests and career goals. In general, students will be “housed” in a particular track and within a particular laboratory, but it is also possible to collaborate with faculty and students in other tracks or laboratories, especially during the later years of graduate training.

• Cognitive 

  Develop a strong theoretical understanding and research competence in the study of human cognition.

   

  The principal aim of graduate training in the cognitive psychology track is to develop a strong theoretical understanding and research competence in the study of human cognition. The ultimate goal is to prepare students for productive academic careers. Graduate students in the cognitive psychology track work in a close mentoring relationship with a cognitive psychology faculty member. Current research by faculty members in the cognitive psychology track includes work in decision making, language, and memory.

   

  Numerous students have earned doctoral degrees from our program.  These students have chosen academic careers in colleges and universities throughout the United States (e.g., Kansas State University, University of Central Arkansas), have arranged post-doctoral training (e.g., University of Maryland), or have worked for the government or private industry as research consultants.

   

  Required Courses:
  PSYC 5813 – Lifespan Cognitive Development

  PSYC 5913 – Lifespan Social Development
  PSYC 6913 – Multilevel Modeling in Psychology

   
  Recommended Track Courses:
  PSYC 4223 – Decision Making and Problem Solving

  PSYC 5823 – Cognitive Processes

  PSYC 6393 – Language Development

• Comparative-Neurobiology

  Develop a strong theoretical understanding and research competence in the study of comparative psychology and/or neurobiology.

   

  The principal aim of graduate training in the comparative-neurobiology psychology track is to develop a strong theoretical understanding and research competence in the study of comparative psychology and/or neurobiology. Graduate students work in a close mentoring relationship with a faculty member in this track. The ultimate goal is to prepare students for productive academic careers.

   

  Comparative description: Comparative psychology is the study of the similarities and differences in the behavior of organisms. Students of comparative psychology are natural scientists explicitly trained in the science of making comparisons and use such training to examine, for instance, phylogenetic, ontogenetic and cross-cultural aspects of behavior. Graduate students with an interest in comparative psychology learn to conduct experiments with a variety of vertebrates and invertebrates including pigeons, rattlesnakes, turtles, honey bees, flatworms, earthworms, and humans in a variety of pure and applied problems. These problems include timing in animals, aversive conditioning, the effect of agrochemicals on behavior, and the role of biogenic amines on learning and memory. In addition, students learn how to build and assess training devices for a variety of organisms and learn to use animals to demonstrate a variety of psychological principles. Students are encouraged to take courses with affiliated faculty in the Department of Zoology and Animal Science.

   

  Neurobiology description: Neurobiology examines the physiological or biological bases for psychological processes. Graduate students with an interest in neurobiology learn to conduct studies using a variety of physiological indicators, including salivary analysis, dietary intake, electoencephalography and electocardiology. Current research by faculty members in the neurobiology track includes work in immune system reactivity, stress response, and nutritional influences on the developing brain. Students who have earned doctoral degrees from Oklahoma State University specializing in neurobiology have chosen academic careers in colleges and universities throughout the United States (e.g., University of California, San Francisco, University of Kansas), have arranged post-doctoral training, or have worked for the government or private industry as research consultants (e.g. Brown University Medical School).

   

  Numerous students have earned doctoral degrees from our program.  These students have chosen academic careers in colleges and universities throughout the United States (e.g., Kansas State University, University of Central Arkansas), have arranged post-doctoral training (e.g., University of Maryland), or have worked for the government or private industry as research consultants.

   

  Required Courses:
  PSYC 5813 – Lifespan Cognitive Development

  PSYC 5913 – Lifespan Social Development
  PSYC 6913 – Multilevel Modeling in Psychology

   
  Recommended Track Courses
  PSYC 6483 – Neurobiological Psychology

  PSYC 6583 – Developmental Psychobiology

  PSYC 6613 – Experimental Learning Theories

• Developmental

  Gain a strong background in research design and statistics in addition to coursework in lifespan social and cognitive development.

   

  The Developmental Psychology track stems from the strong developmental interests of many of the faculty in the Department of Psychology and affiliated areas. It consists of six core faculty, who themselves have been trained in developmental programs with national and international reputations, and a number of affiliated faculty. The major goal of our program is research training in the broad area of lifespan developmental psychology and to prepare students for careers in research and teaching. Graduate students in this track engage in research with their primary advisor beginning their first semester and take supporting coursework. They gain a strong background in research design and statistics in addition to coursework in lifespan social and cognitive development. Current research by faculty members in the developmental psychology track includes work in nutritional influences on the developing brain, immune system reactivity and stress response, development of math and science interests in young children, retirement planning, psycholinguistics, and age differences in prospective memory.

   

  Numerous students have earned doctoral degrees from our program.  These students have chosen academic careers in colleges and universities throughout the United States (e.g., Kansas State University, University of Central Arkansas), have arranged post-doctoral training (e.g., University of Maryland), or have worked for the government or private industry as research consultants.

   

  Required Courses:
  PSYC 5813 – Lifespan Cognitive Development

  PSYC 5913 – Lifespan Social Development
  PSYC 6913 – Multilevel Modeling in Psychology

   
  Recommended Track Courses:
  PSYC 6583 – Developmental Psychobiology

  PSYC 6393 – Language Development

  HDFS 5143 – Parent-Child Relations

  HDFS 5293 – Developmental Contexts of Normative Behavior Problems

  HDFS 5253 – Theory and Research in Social and Emotional Development

  HDFS 5243 – Infant Behavior and Development

  HDFS 5573 – Adolescent in Family Context

  HDFS 5423 – Research Perspectives in Gerontology

  HDFS 5443 – Attachment in Later Life

  HDFS 5433 – Theories of Aging

  HDFS 5453 – Aging in the Medical Context

  HDFS 6553 – Marital and Couple Relations

• Social-Personality

  Develop a strong theoretical and research competence in the field.

   

  An emphasis in social-personality psychology was first introduced to Oklahoma State University in 1967 by Mark MacNeil, a student of the esteemed social psychologist Muzafer Sherif. Social-personality psychology is the scientific study of the how people think, behave, and feel about themselves and others. Social-personality psychologists examine how the social situation and the individual’s personality interact to influence a wide range of topics, including prejudice, motivation, aggression, conformity, group behavior, and social perception. The principal aim of graduate training in the social-personality psychology track is to develop a strong theoretical and research competence in the field; the ultimate goal is to prepare students for productive careers in research and/or teaching. Graduate students in the social-personality psychology track work in a close mentoring relationship with a social-personality psychology faculty member. Current research by faculty members in the social-personality psychology track includes work in motivation, self-regulation, prejudice and stereotyping, persuasion, social cognition, personality assessment, and mortality salience.

   

  Numerous students have earned doctoral degrees from our program.  These students have chosen academic careers in colleges and universities throughout the United States (e.g., Kansas State University, University of Central Arkansas), have arranged post-doctoral training (e.g., University of Maryland), or have worked for the government or private industry as research consultants.

   

  Required Courses:
  PSYC 5813 – Lifespan Cognitive Development

  PSYC 5913 – Lifespan Social Development
  PSYC 6913 – Multilevel Modeling in Psychology
   
  Recommended Track Courses:
  PSYC 4333 - Personality

  PSYC 6563 - Advanced Social Psychology

  PSYC 6130 - Ethnic and Cultural Diversity

Thesis and Research

All students are required to complete a master's thesis and doctoral research. Students are expected to participate in research activities throughout their graduate training. Research experience is complemented by course work in statistics and research methodology and design. All students also take a practicum course in the teaching of psychology, and most gain experience as instructors. In addition, students in the experimental program are encouraged to develop applied skills to enhance their job market potential.

We offer a flexible curriculum, and encourage students to design a plan of study that fits their needs and goals. Experimental faculty works with you to achieve your goals, and all students are expected to earn their degrees. Students are funded through grants, assistantships, full out-of-state tuition waivers, and partial waivers of general fees.

Click here to download the Graduate Student Handbook and Experimental Psychology Supplement for more information.

Application Information

The deadline for the Experimental Program is December 1st of each year. The Experimental Program expects prospective students to attend Interview Weekend held in February. Applicants will be notified by late December if they are to be invited.