Our program has a central focus in training scholars and professors of cognitive neuroscience, a rapidly growing research area in psychology. Thus, our primary goal is to equip students with the skills necessary to function as academic and research psychologists.
We maintain a strong emphasis on learning basic neuroanatomy and physiology, cognitive neuroscience research methodologies (including MRI, TMS, EEG and other electrophysiological measures), and analytic skills and neural bases of psychology and psychopathology.
We have a strong developmental cognitive neuroscience representation, with significant overlap with the Developmental Science and Clinical Science in Child and Adolescent Psychology programs. Adult cognitive neuroscience and comparative research in avian species, non-human primates, rodents, and pigs are also represented. There is a strong representation in neuroinformatics research in collaboration with faculty in the Department of Physics.
Important Dates and Deadlines
Important Deadlines for Graduate Students are updated regularly and are posted here.
Important Spring 2025 Deadlines:
- Last day to add/drop classes: Monday, January 13, 2025
- Last day to apply for graduation: TBD (for awarding of Ph.D. Only) https://gradschool.fiu.edu/commencement/
- Last day to send Preliminary Approval of Dissertation and Request for Oral Defense to GPD for a defense on the last possible date (otherwise should send 5 weeks before proposed defense date): Friday, February 21, 2025
- Last day to submit petitions for Summer 2025 additional hours: Wednesday, March 5, 2025
- Doctoral Dissertation Proposal due to GPD for Spring 2026 graduation: Friday, March 14, 2025
- Last day to file master’s paperwork to GPD for spring posting: Friday, March 14, 2025
- Last day to Hold Defense for Spring 2025 Graduation: Friday, March 28, 2025
- Final Electronic Dissertation Approval due to GPD: Friday, April 4, 2025
- Establish Dissertation Committee no later than: Friday, April 20, 2025
- Program for Doctoral Degree and Application for Candidacy due to GPD: Thursday, May 1, 2025
- Last day to route annual evaluations to GPD: May 9, 2025
Allowable defense dates for Spring 2025: Friday, January 10, 2025 – Friday, April 25, 2025; Dates after March 28, 2025, will be summer graduation.
Petitions for outside employment during Spring 2025 are accepted on a rolling basis, however we encourage you to submit these before the beginning of Spring 2025.
Important Summer 2025 Deadlines:*
- Enroll by Sunday, May 4, 2025 to avoid a late enrollment fee
- Last day to route annual evaluations to GPD: May 9, 2025
- Last day to add/drop classes: Monday, May 12, 2025
- Last day to apply for graduation: TBD (for awarding of Ph.D. only)
- Last day to send Preliminary Approval of Dissertation and Request for Oral Defense to GPD for June 27, 2025 defense (otherwise should send 5 weeks before proposed defense date): Friday, May 23, 2025
- Doctoral Dissertation Proposal due to GPD for Summer 2026 graduation: Friday, June 13, 2025
- Last day to file master’s paperwork to GPD for summer posting: Friday, June 20, 2025
- Last day to Hold Defense for summer 2025 Graduation: Friday, June 27, 2025
- Final Electronic Dissertation Approval due to GPD: Wednesday, July 2, 2024
- Program for Doctoral Degree and Application for Candidacy due to GPD: Thursday, August 14, 2025
Petitions for outside employment during Summer 2025 are accepted on a rolling basis, however we encourage you to submit these before the beginning of Summer 2025.
*Not all programs allow for summer proposals and defenses. Please check with your Advisor and Program Director regarding scheduling during the summer. Please also be aware that most faculty are not on 12-month contracts, so their summer availability is likely more limited.
Please see this site for allowable summer defense dates: https://gradschool.fiu.edu/calendar-deadlines/#toggle-id-3
Curriculum
Cognitive Neuroscience Resources
- Admissions
- Team
- Student Timeline
- Program Milestones
- Qualifying Paper Requirements
- Graduate Catalog
- Psychology Graduate Student Resources
College and University Resources
- CASE Graduate Resources - thesis/dissertation defense dates, registration deadlines, travel grant applications and more
- Academic Calendar - dates for registration, class start, add/drop deadlines, exams and more
- Doctoral Annual Student Evaluation and Mentoring Plan - must be completed by the student and their major professor from the first year through passing the qualifying exam. Upon reaching candidacy, the student's dissertation committees must sign as well
- University Graduate School: Students - forms, deadlines, policies and more
Edward and Rita Girden Cognitive Neuroscience Scholarship
Enrolled Psychology students may apply to this scholarship for travel support to conferences to present their research. Students are eligible for up to $1,000 for domestic conferences, and $1,500 for international conferences. Two awards will be made per semester.
Eligibility
Eligible students:
- Are the presenting author at the proposed conference
- Must present on a topic in neuroscience, as determined by the review committee
- Must present at the Cognitive Neuroscience Colloquium Series
Application
- Submit the abstract you submitted to attend the conference. If you have not yet submitted a conference abstract, submit an abstract of up to 500 words (plus title and references) summarizing the project.
- Provide information about the conference, including the proposed cost of the flight, hotel, and registration. The scholarship will cover these costs up to the amounts listed above.
- Applications must be submitted to Dr. Aaron Mattfeld by Oct. 15 or Feb. 15. February submissions can cover conferences that occur in the summer session.