Penn Psychology: Info for Applicants

Ours is a four-year, full-time Ph.D. program. We do not offer a master's degree. The Department provides curricular and research opportunities for the study of sensation and perception, cognition, language, learning, motivation, motor control, psychopathology, judgments and decisions, and social processes. Biological, cultural, developmental, experimental, mathematical, and neuroscience approaches to these areas are used in teaching and research.

Every student is required to take an individual research course during the first year. The Department has an APA accredited clinical program, the purpose of which is to train research investigators (rather than training practicing clinicians). In all of our areas of study, students are prepared for scientific research and teaching.

For Fall 2008 admission, the application deadline is December 15, 2007. We strongly encourage electronic applications. Paper applications require extra work and lead to delays. Use paper for materials (such as transcripts) only if you must.

All parts (Verbal, Quantitative, Writing) of the GRE (General Test of the Graduate Record Examination) are required, and we strongly recommend that you also take the Psychology Subject Test. We have a relatively small program which can accommodate about 10 new students each year. For students enrolled for Fall 2007, the median score for the Verbal GRE was 680, the median score for the Quantitative GRE was 785, and the median score for the Writing GRE was 5.0. The median GPA was 3.9. (Non-native English speakers must take the TOEFL, unless they graduated from an English-speaking university. No other special tests are required.)

Many factors are taken into consideration in deciding which applicants to recruit. Some of these include the candidate's test scores, the statement of interest, evidence of research experience and accomplishment, letters of recommendation, and grades. We need to know what you hope to do after you receive a Ph.D. what research problems you would like to work on during your first year, and who might serve as your research advisor. Please look at the list of members of the graduate group, and their web pages, before you answer the last qustion. If you have a research paper, please feel free to include it as part of your application. All questions should be directed to: Dr. Jonathan Baron, Director of Graduate Studies (dgs@psych.upenn.edu)

Application deadline: December 15, 2007 (this also includes the $70 application fee)

You may send any paper materials (transcripts, letters, supplementary papers) to:
The Graduate Division of Arts and Sciences
3401 Walnut St., Suite 322A
Philadelphia, PA 19104

However, it is strongly preferable to send these things by email rather than paper. Send these directly to Dr. Jonathan Baron (dgs@psych.upenn.edu). For letters, it is best to use the on-line application, but, again, email is better than paper.

The Psychology Department and Graduate Group function as a unit. Students are admitted into the graduate program as a whole, not into specific subfields. Students and faculty are free to define their fields of interest. These fields often combine two or more of the traditional subfields of psychology, or a subfield of psychology and some other discipline.

We have strong connections with other disciplines at the University. Our members play pivotal roles in two of the most important interdisciplinary areas on campus, the cognitive sciences and the neurosciences, both of which have been fostered by the Department as a matter of policy.

Faculty join together from different subdisciplines for teaching and research purposes so that students become conversant with issues in a number of different areas. Most graduate students and faculty attend Departmental colloquia several times each semester. A high level of interaction between students and faculty helps generate both a shared set of interests in the theoretical, historical, and philosophical foundations of psychology and active collaboration in research projects. The high level of intellectual interaction is made possible, in part, by the small size of the Department.

The twin emphases of scholarship and research accomplishment pervade the graduate program. The first-year program is divided between courses that introduce various areas of psychology and a focused research experience. A deep involvement in research continues throughout the graduate program, and is supplemented by participation in seminars, teaching, and general intellectual give-and-take.

Although there are no formal sub-areas, faculty in the department conduct research in a number of overlapping Areas of Interest.

The University of Pennsylvania is unusual in that a wide variety of graduate programs and professional schools are all located on the same campus. This includes outstanding graduate programs in such related fields as neuroscience and linguistics, and distinguished schools of law, medicine, veterinary medicine, nursing, engineering, and business (the Wharton School). There are three major hospitals on campus.

Informal interdisciplinary groups of students and faculty abound throughout the University, such as the rich network of collaborations between psychology and psychiatry. However, some of these groups have attained a formal status that deserves special mention here:

Ethnopolitical conflict. Ethnopolitical conflict is one of the major problems facing the world in the 21st century. A group of faculty are engaged in research on the origins of violent conflict includes studies of group stereotyping, group identification, group guilt, group forgiveness, and group aversion - as these contribute to or inhibit mechanisms of mobilization for state and non-state terrorism, ethnic expulsion, coercive assimilation, and genocide. Research is carried out in ISrael/Palestine, Sri Lanka, and other sites of ethnic conflict, as well as in the United States. Participating in research related to psychology are psychology department graduate group members Clark McCauley, Ian Lustick, and Paul Rozin.

Neuroscience. Graduate students who are interested in advancing their knowledge of the nervous system are encouraged to take advantage of a wealth of seminars, courses and other programs offered by the Institute of Neurological Sciences ( INS ) . The Institute is an interdisciplinary organization of about 120 scientists from 14 departments in the four schools - Arts and Sciences (six from Psychology), Engineering, Medicine and Veterinary Medicine - who are active in neuroscience research. The subdisciplines encompassed by INS include outstanding groups in Behavioral Neuroscience, Vision, and Computational Neuroscience. Available courses include Behavioral Neuroscience, Systems Neuroscience, Cognitive Neuroscience, Neuroendocrinology, and Psychopharmacology.

Behavioral Neuroscience . This group which includes a major component from Psychology, encompasses a range of research from field ethological studies to the neurohumoral basis of feeding and sexual behavior andthe role of single neurons in mediating complex behavior (see the section on Faculty Interests for further details).

Center for Cognitive Neuroscience. The CCN brings together faculty and students from across the campus to study the neural bases of cognition. CCN researchers use fMRI, ERP, and other methods to image cognitive processes in normal human brains; they also use neuropsychological methods with brain damaged patients. Graduate group faculty and students have been active participants in the CCN.

Perception. Training in perception at Penn emphasizes the development of research programs that draw on a general understanding of perception. The program is theoretically rigorous and offers training in psychophysics, the measurement of neural correlates of sensory and perceptual processing, and computational modeling. Cognitive neuroscience, machine learning, and computer vision are also well represented. Students with backgrounds in mathematics, physics, and engineering are encouraged to apply.

Cognitive Science. Cognitive science investigates the nature of the representations, biological and man-made, that embody our knowledge of the world and of ourselves, and the symbol systems that allow us to communicate and manipulate these representations. The Institute for Research in Cognitive Science at the University of Pennsylvania is an interdisciplinary organization comprising many scholars from the Departments of Computer & Information Sciences, Linguistics, Philosophy and Psychology, and is especially known for its depth in the areas of formal analysis of natural and artificial languages and language acquisition. The National Science Foundation has recognized the excellence of the Institute by awarding it the first Science & Technology Center grant ever made for cognitive science, a seven year multi-million dollar award. The Institute sponsors a seminar series, coordinates cognitive science courses at the University, and funds many activities that promote cognitive science.

Decision Processes. A large group of faculty, students, and postdoctoral researchers in several schools are concerned with the empirical analysis of decision making in such fields as health care (by both providers and patients), consumer behavior, economic behavior as studied through laboratory games, risk regulation, and protective behavior. Faculty and students from Psychology, Medicine, the Wharton School and elsewhere, work closely together through individual collaborations, a weekly brown-bag seminar, and lab meetings. See http://www.psych.upenn.edu/~baron/dp. html.

Our financial support policy makes it possible for graduate students to focus on their own research interests and pursue as independent a course of research as seems suitable. All students are guaranteed support for four years, the expected length of time necessary to finish the Ph.D. The support covers full tuition and a stipend of at least $20,000 per year (including summer research and teaching). Every year a serious effort is made to increase the stipend.

No student is financially tied to any faculty member. Regardless of the source of support (see details later), all students have the same opportunities and must meet the same requirements. All students are expected to play an active role in the undergraduate teaching functions of the Department.

The Graduate School requires a total of 20 course units (one semester course equivalent) for the Ph.D. Degree. Up to 11 of the 20 course units may beresearch. At least 12 units must be completed at the University of Pennsylvania; eight, at most, can be transferred from other institutions. Decisions about transfer credits are made by the Graduate Group Chair.

The Department does not have a Master's program and does not give any special recognition to a Master's Degree from other institutions. It will not admit a student who wants only a Master's Degree from the University of Pennsylvania. However, since such a degree may be useful to a student who is seeking summer work elsewhere or who finds it necessary to withdraw from the Department's Ph.D. program, students may apply for a Master's Degree after they have completed the first-year program at a Master's level.

Most students audit additional courses once they have met their course requirements. The main constraint on the time taken to complete the Ph.D. in recent years is not the course requirements but rather the highly competitive academic job market. Students feel that they need to have completed substantial research in order to compete for desirable positions. Accordingly, requirements have recently been changed so that students can more easily carry out a research program without interruption from their first semester through their thesis.

The First-Year Program. The required courses for all first-year graduate students are:

The Proseminars consist of about 14 half and full-semester courses covering a wide range of psychological studies. The student must take five units (semesters) of proseminars normally including three in the first year. All students are required to take the Research Methods Proseminar. An appropriate course in another Department can count as one unit; for example, a student interested in language might take the Graduate Introduction to Syntax offered by the Linguistics Department.

The Statistics requirement can be met either by completion of Stat 611 or a more advanced course. This requirement must be completed by the end of the second year. Additional statistics courses are offered.

The individual research course is intended to get each student involved in research immediately upon enrollment in the program. Under the guidance of a faculty member, a student plans the research, learns the necessary techniques, and writes a report on whatever has been accomplished by the end of the first year. This project is expected to occupy about half of a student's time in the first year.

Clinical students are expected to take the Clinical Seminar during their first year as well as during the subsequent years. For other students, the elective consists of a graduate course anywhere in the University.

After the First Year. A committee of three faculty members, including the student's advisor, is chosen to guide each student's education after the first year.

Typically, second-year students take two further units of proseminars, having taken three in their first year. Students are required to include among their five proseminars, one from each of the following three broad areas of Psychology: Cognition (including Psycholinguistics, Perception, Animal Learning, Thinking and Deciding, among others), the Brain (including Behavioral Neuroscience and Cognitive Neuroscience, among others) and the Individual and Groups (including Cultural, Personality, Psychopathology, and Social, among others).

Otherwise a student's primary activity is scholarship and research in his or her chosen area of specialization, supplemented by a selection of advanced seminars and courses in other departments or schools, colloquium attendance, and undergraduate teaching. Students in the clinical program also take a clinical practicum and a year of assessment. Many students in biological psychology take neuroscience courses in the Institute of Neurological Sciences.

In the second half of their third year, students take a Doctoral Qualifying Examination. Students continue with research and teaching in the third and fourth year. Special arrangements are possible for students who must go elsewhere to do their research, e.g., those who must observe animals in the field.

Research through the fourth year leads to a dissertation. The program is designed to be completed in four years, and financial support is promised for this period. Students who do not complete the program in four years can often find employment within the Department (e.g., teaching or grant support of research).

First Year. Performance in the proseminars, in the first-year research project, and in the statistics course must be satisfactory for a student to remain in the program. This is evaluated by the faculty at the end of the first year.

Qualifying Examination. Graduate students must pass an oral and written examination based on their area of special competence. The form and content of this examination are determined by the student's advisory committee in consultation with the student. This examination is normally taken by the end of the third year.

Dissertation. A dissertation is required, and must be approved by a committee consisting of the dissertation advisor and two other Graduate Group members.

All applicants are required to take the General Test of the GRE (Graduate Record Examination) exam. We also strongly recommend taking the Subject Test. (The Psychology Department GRE code is 2016; the institutional code is 2926.) These results should be forwarded to the Graduate Division of Arts and Sciences, 3401 Walnut St., Suite 322A, Philadelphia, PA 19104. (Except for the TOEFL for non-native English speakers, no other tests are required.)

Students who wish to be considered for admission in September 2008 should make certain that all portions of the application (letters of recommendation, transcripts, test scores, etc.) are submitted by December 15, 2007. We do not accept applications for mid-year, part-time, M.A., or non-degree status.

Here are answers to some frequently asked questions about the application process.

Each year we typically offer admission to 15-20 students. Of those, about 8-10 students enroll.

2. What are the GRE and GPA scores of students enrolled for the academic year 2006-2007?

	Median Scores	Range of Scores
Verbal	675	490 - 740
Quantitative	745	570 - 800
Writing	5.5	3.5 - 6.0
GPA	3.87	3.59 - 4.0

3. What is your GRE Department code and TOEFL code?

The GRE departmental code is 2016; the institutional code is 2926. The TOEFL code is 08.

Applications are available on-line. Transcripts (2 copies), etc. must be sent to the Graduate Division of Arts and Sciences, 3401 Walnut St., Suite 322A, Philadelphia, PA 19104. We ask that you urge your recommenders to send their letters on-line. (There are instructions provided for this process at the on-line link above.) If they choose not to use this method, those letters then must also be sent to the above address in signed and sealed envelopes from each recommender.

In order that we that we may best consider your application, we ask that you take special care in composing your Personal Statement. It should include 1) professional goals (i.e., what you hope to do after you receive a Ph.D.) and 2) possible research activities in the first year of graduate study (i.e., what research problems you would like to work on during your first year, and with whom).

7. I have a write-up of research in Psychology that I have conducted. Can I submit this as part of my application?

By all means, please send it to the Graduate Division address listed above, or (preferably) by email to Prof. Baron.

9. Do applicants visit the campus? Once we have reviewed all applications, we will assemble a “short-list” of applicants who will be asked to join us for a program of interviews and other activities in late February or early March.

Further questions should be directed to Dr. Jon Baron, Director of Graduate Studies (dgs@psych.upenn.edu)

In the last few decades Philadelphia has emerged as a fiscally healthy and socially vibrant city. Philadelphia offers the attractions one expects to find in a major city. The Philadelphia Orchestra is world-class and in the summer performs outdoor concerts at the Mann Music Center located in the world's largest urban park. There are several smaller musical organizations of international standing and many local groups and conservatories also offer free concerts throughout the year. Art in Philadelphia is represented by the Philadelphia Museum of Art, the third largest in the country; the Barnes Foundation which has an excellent collection of Impressionist and Post-Impressionist works; the Rodin Museum which has the largest collection of Rodin's works outside France; and the Museum of the Academy of Fine Arts as well as numerous galleries. The Institute for Contemporary Art is also on campus, as is the University Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology. Drama is well represented in the city and the Annenberg Center on campus produces both traditional and experimental theater. Philadelphia has always been the place to catch previews of next year's Broadway shows.

The last 25 years have seen a restaurant renaissance with most major ethnic cuisines now represented. Philadelphia also has a plethora of bookstores of all kinds, new and used, general and specialized, with several offering weekly readings by authors. Cafè society flourishes in numerous coffee houses and wine bars and the many galleries in the art district draw a lively mix of art-lovers to their opening receptions. The campus is well situated to afford access to these sources; the University is a modest walk or a brief bus ride from Center City where most of the cultural institutions are found.

Though some students live in Center City or the suburbs, many of our graduate students live in an area just to the west of campus known as West Philly or University City. The population of the area includes many students and faculty of the University. It is a pleasant and ethnically diverse place, containing several small and inexpensive restaurants, cinemas, bars, supermarkets, and several convenience stores.

Housing in West Philly is fairly easy to find; the University has an office that maintains listings of vacant apartments and offers advice on choosing an apartment. Apartment-hunting can usually be done in a few days and the Psychology Department graduate students can sometimes assist incoming students by providing a place to stay while hunting. Many of our students share apartments or houses with other students, and in that way are able to afford reasonably spacious, though not necessarily elegant, housing. Rent and utilities in such an arrangement comes to about $500 per month per person. Studio apartments are typically rented for $600 per month.

Students are selected for admission who show evidence of a high level of intellectual talent, a strong interest in psychology, and a commitment to scholarship and research. We can accommodate about ten new graduate students each year. Admission decisions take into account many factors, including the clarity of the candidate's statement of interest, its appropriateness to this program, evidence of research experience and accomplishment, letters of recommendation, test scores, grades, and selection of course work that is relevant to the student's plans. An outstanding record in one of these areas may compensate for poorer performance in another area. In general we look for students who are likely to become passionately committed to some intellectual or scientific problem or problems.

Most entering graduate students have some background in science, mathematics, and statistics, as well as some research experience and course work in experimental psychology. Although a substantial undergraduate exposure to psychology is desirable, it is not necessary. In particular, students with interdisciplinary interests might have a stronger background in the other field than in psychology. Students are admitted on the assumption that they will be able to meet all requirements for the Ph.D. Degree.

Of the 66 students receiving the Ph.D. from 1994 through 2004, 10% are in faculty positions, 9% are in research positions (government, industry, hospital, or university), 59% are receiving further training (postdoctoral, internship or residency), 6% are in clinical practice, 4% are in university administration or private consulting, 2% are in the private sector, and 10% are unemployed or unknown to us.

The Table of Recent Graduates provides information about recent graduates of the PhD program and what they are doing now.

The University of Pennsylvania values diversity and seeks talented students, faculty, and staff from diverse backgrounds. The University of Pennsylvania does not discriminate on the basis of race, sex, sexual orientation, religion, color, national or ethnic origin, age, disability, or status as a Vietnam Era Veteran or disabled veteran in the administration of educational policies, programs of activities, admission policies, scholarship and loan awards, athletic, or other University administered programs or employment. Questions or complaints regarding this policy should be directed to the Executive Director, Office of Affirmative Action & Equal Opportunities Programs, Suite 228, 3600 Chestnut St., Philadelphia, PA 19104-6016 or (215) 898-6993 (Voice) or (215) 898-7803 (TDD)

Graduate Program: Information for Applicants