Overview
Program of Study
The Department of Psychology offers the Master of Science (M.S.) in experimental psychology, with concentrations in general psychology and behavioral neuroscience. The M.S. degree program is designed specifically for students seeking to gain a solid foundation in empirical research for eventual entry into Ph.D. programs in clinical or counseling psychology, experimental psychology, or neuroscience. Graduates also go directly to related areas of employment as laboratory assistants, market researchers, science writers, or community college teachers.
The program consists of 36 credits, or twelve courses (two courses in research design and analysis, four semesters of independent research, and either six experimental psychology electives or six required neuroscience courses), to be completed in two years. The courses offered include biological bases of behavior, foundations of neuropsychology, developmental psychology, conditioning and behavior, and many others. Those in the general psychology concentration must consult an adviser on elective course selections.
For additional information about the program, including details about faculty research and graduate student research, students should visit http://www.shu.edu/academics/artsci/ms-psychology/index.cfm.
Research Facilities
The University libraries have notable resources, including extensive holdings of almost 523,000 book volumes, 1,127 current periodical subscriptions, back-files of more than 6,500 serial titles, electronic access to full text articles in 11,500 journals, a broad selection of indexing and abstracting services in both digital and print formats, various microform collections, music CDs, and audiovisual aids.
The Department of Psychology is housed in Jubilee Hall, one of the newest academic buildings at Seton Hall University. The department facilities include a conference room and two wireless classrooms with adjacent support areas for instructional equipment and media production. The department maintains a Behavioral Neuroscience Laboratory for surgery, histology, and computerized monitoring of rodent behaviors to conduct modern behavioral neuroscience research. Research space for Human Experimental Psychology includes eleven research cubicles and a three-room Perception Laboratory suite.
Financial Aid
Graduate assistantships, which include tuition benefits and stipend, are available on a competitive basis. The online application for graduate assistantships can be found at http://www.shu.edu/applying/graduate/grad-finaid.cfm. Students should contact the Department at psych@shu.edu for further information about graduate assistantships. Graduate students may also consult the Academic Resource Center (ARC) of the University for other funding opportunities and scholarships for which they might be eligible. They may also apply for Federal Work-Study programs (contact the Office of Financial Aid for more information).
Cost of Study
In 2009-10, tuition is $901 per credit. Full-time students pay $305 in University and technology fees; part-time students pay $185.
Living and Housing Costs
Housing and living costs in South Orange and the surrounding towns are comparable to most suburban cities, with studio and one-bedroom apartments renting for $750 to $1200 per month. Some students have also opted to share apartments with roommates.
Student Group
The M.S. in Experimental Psychology program enrolls about 10 to 12 new students each year. Overall, Seton Hall has approximately 4,500 graduate students.
Location
Seton Hall University is located in South Orange, New Jersey, only 14 miles by car, bus, or direct train to New York City. The University's proximity to New York allows students to take advantage of all the city has to offer, while still living in a suburban area.
The University and The Department
Seton Hall University's diverse academic program is characterized by a strong teaching faculty and a wide range of academic choices. At Seton Hall, students find people who are willing to listen, offer support, and help them get the most out of their education.
The Department of Psychology is a part of the College of Arts and Sciences, home to more than 4,000 students and faculty members engaged in one of the most rewarding of all human endeavors--the pursuit of knowledge. Rooted in tradition, yet looking to the future through innovative use of technology and a commitment to providing students with co-curricular and professional opportunities, the College of Arts and Sciences offers a rich array of graduate programs.
Applying
In addition to the general University requirements for admission to graduate studies, the Department of Psychology requires applicants to have a baccalaureate degree that reflects the completion of a minimum of 18 credits in psychology with at least a 3.0 grade point average. All applicants must have completed Introduction to Psychology, Psychological Statistics, and Research Methods courses. Students considering a concentration in behavioral neuroscience must have completed Physiological Psychology or the equivalent. Applicants should submit official transcripts of all previous academic work, official scores on the Graduate Record Examination (GRE), three letters of recommendation from individuals familiar with the applicant's academic and research ability, and a personal statement of 300 to 400 words that outlines the student's academic achievements, research interests, and career goals.
Applications are available online at http://www.shu.edu/applying/graduate/graduate-application-accounts.cfm. Applications completed before April 1 for fall admissions and before November 1 for spring admissions are given top priority. Applications after these dates are reviewed on a rolling basis through July 1. This process continues until no openings are left.
The Faculty and Their Research
Janine P. Buckner, Associate Professor and Director of Graduate Studies; Ph.D., Emory, 2000. Effects of gender, identity, and audience in autobiographical memory narratives; personal, social, and contextual factors shaping gender disparities in science fields.
Gregory Burton, Professor; Ph.D., Connecticut, 1990. Touch perception of and with tools.
Paige Fisher, Assistant Professor; Ph.D., Massachusetts Amherst, 2005. Anxiety and mood disorders in children.
Kelly Goedert, Assistant Professor; Ph.D., Virginia, 2001. Statistical, heuristic, and memory processes in causal reasoning from contingency information; characteristics of memory for motor skills and perceptual-motor adaptations.
John Hovancik, Associate Professor; Ph.D., Purdue, 1975. Computer applications in psychology.
Amy Silvestri Hunter, Associate Professor; Ph.D., Vermont, 1997. Interactions between sleep and learning in experimental animals, how REM sleep deprivation can impair memory for a previously learned event and the biochemical mechanisms that underlie this phenomenon.
Jeffrey Levy, Associate Professor; Ph.D., Adelphi, 1972. Teaching of psychology, outcomes assessment.
Marianne Lloyd, Assistant Professor; Ph.D., Binghamton, 2005. Memory illusions, metacognition, geography learning.
Susan A. Nolan, Associate Professor and Chair; Ph.D., Northwestern, 1998. Interpersonal dynamics of depression and anxiety, gender issues in the sciences, teaching of statistics.
Andrew Simon, Associate Professor; Ph.D., Psy.D., Rutgers. Organizational dynamics, with a focus on leadership and decision making and work-teams.
Susan Teague, Associate Professor; Ph.D., Georgia, 1987. Attitude change and persuasion processes, especially as related to promotion of preventive health behaviors; aggressive and violent behavior.
Michael Vigorito, Associate Professor; Ph.D., Massachusetts Amherst, 1988. Animal learning and motivation, behavioral pharmacology, technology-enhanced curriculum development.
Correspondence and Information
Seton Hall University
Dr. Janine P. Buckner, Director of Graduate Studies
Department of Psychology
College of Arts and Sciences
Jubilee Hall, Room 339
400 South Orange Avenue
South Orange, New Jersey 07079
Telephone: 973-761-9484
Fax: 973-275-5829
Email: Janine.Buckner@shu.edu
psych@shu.edu
