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The Department of Psychology at the University of Wisconsin, among the oldest in the United States,
has fostered a tradition of excellence in research and scholarship
since its founding in 1888. Our faculty conducts
leading edge research that spans the breadth and diversity of contemporary psychology, including the biological
bases of behavior in many organisms (including humans), emotion, language, perception, memory, cognitive
development, psychopathology, depression, addiction, motivation, prejudice, and personality. Our leadership role in these areas
is reflected in the fact that members of our faculty edit several leading scholarly journals, and we currently lead all U.S.
departments of psychology in federal R&D funding by an
astounding factor of 2! (This despite the fact that our faculty is smaller (also by roughly a factor of 2) than many of
our peer institutions.) This blend of rich tradition and contemporary leadership combine to make the Department of
Psychology a uniquely vibrant and productive environment in which to study mind, brain, and behavior.
Our faculty and students take advantage of a remarkable array of resources that are available both within the
department and across the university. These include:
There are strong ties to the departments of
The Department of Psychology is also renowned for our commitment to teaching. We have a
superb undergraduate program that, in 2002, was
recognized with the Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Teaching. Six of our current faculty having received
Distinguished Teaching Awards from the University. We have a vibrant honors program, and we encourage research
experience in all students, with more than 400 undergraduates involved in research each year. Each year more
Department of Psychology students and faculty receive highly competitive Hilldale Student-Faculty Grants than any
other department. We have an active chapter of Psi Chi, the Psychology Honor Society that produces the
undergraduate news letter, hosts an annual undergraduate research symposium, and provides tutoring services and
career advising workshops. We have a grant from the National Science Foundation to support a summer Psychology
Research Experience Program that supports minority and low income/first generation students from around the
country to spend a summer working in a research lab.
Graduate students receive excellent training for a variety of professional careers in academic, clinical, research and other
settings. Students may select from six areas of concentration: Biology of Brain and Behavior, Clinical, Cognitive
and Cognitive Neurosciences, Developmental, Perception, and Social and Personality. Although interests of most
graduate students fall within these six areas, interests of other students cut across boundaries of area groups
or interface with other departments. The Individualized Graduate Major is designed for graduate students who wish
to cross area group lines and/or incorporate substantial training from other departments in their graduate work.
We emphasize both extensive academic training in general psychology and intensive research training. We expect
students to become creative scientists and to exhibit an early and continuing commitment to research and
scholarship. All students initiate a First Year Research project and present the results to the entire department
in the fall of their second year. Many students have several significant publications and conference presentations
before receiving their Ph.D.s. We provide small grants to support student research as well as travel grants. We
offer workshops on writing proposals for grants and fellowships and many of our students receive NSF or NIH
predoctoral fellowships and other awards. We host an NIH Emotions Training Grant.
We are privileged to be located in Madison, WI, a city renowned for its culture, recreational opportunities, and
highly rated quality of life.
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