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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.

In addition, we have a strong developmental cognitive neuroscience representation, with significant overlap with the Clinical Science in Child and Adolescent Psychology program. 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.

 

2026–2027 Academic Year Deadlines
📘 Important Fall 2026 Deadlines
  • Classes Begin: August 24, 2026 [onestop.fiu.edu]
  • Last Day to Send Preliminary Approval of Dissertation & Request for Oral Defense to GPD:
    Five weeks before your defense date [gradschool.fiu.edu]
  • Last Day to Apply for Graduation (Ph.D. only):
    See https://onestop.fiu.edu/registration/graduation/applying-for-graduation/[onestop.fiu.edu]
  • Doctoral Dissertation Proposal Due to GPD (for Fall 2027 graduation): October 30, 2026
  • Last Day to File Master’s Paperwork to GPD (Fall posting): Friday, October 30, 2026
  • Last Day to Hold Defense for Fall 2026 Graduation: November 13, 2026 [gradschool.fiu.edu]
  • Allowable Defense Dates (Fall 2026):
    August 28 – December 11, 2026
    (Defenses after November 13, 2026 result in Spring graduation.) [gradschool.fiu.edu]
📗 Important Spring 2027 Deadlines
  • Classes Begin: January 11, 2027 [onestop.fiu.edu]
  • Last Day to Add/Drop Classes: January 14, 2027 [onestop.fiu.edu]
  • Last Day to Apply for Graduation (Ph.D. only):
    See https://onestop.fiu.edu/registration/graduation/applying-for-graduation/[onestop.fiu.edu]
  • Last Day to Submit Petitions for Summer 2027 Additional Hours: March 3, 2027
  • Doctoral Dissertation Proposal Due to GPD (for Spring 2028 graduation): March 12, 2027
  • Last Day to File Master’s Paperwork to GPD (Spring posting): March 12, 2027
  • Establish Dissertation Committee (my.fiu.edu): April 16, 2027 [gradschool.fiu.edu]
📙 Important Summer 2027 Deadlines*
  • Last Day to Submit Petitions for Summer 2027 Additional Hours: March 3, 2027
  • Classes Begin: May 10, 2027 [onestop.fiu.edu]
  • Last Day to Apply for Graduation (Ph.D. only):
    See https://onestop.fiu.edu/registration/graduation/applying-for-graduation/[onestop.fiu.edu]
  • Last Day to Send Preliminary Approval & Request for Oral Defense to GPD:
    Five weeks before your defense date [gradschool.fiu.edu]
  • Doctoral Dissertation Proposal Due to GPD (for Summer 2028 graduation): June 17, 2027
  • Last Day to File Master’s Paperwork to GPD (Summer posting): June 17, 2027
  • Final Electronic Dissertation Approval Due to GPD: July 9, 2027 [gradschool.fiu.edu]
  • Program for Doctoral Degree & Application for Candidacy Due: July 30, 2027 [gradschool.fiu.edu]
Outside Employment Petitions:
Accepted on a rolling basis during Summer 2027; early submission encouraged.
 

Please see this site for allowable summer defense dates: https://gradschool.fiu.edu/calendar-deadlines/#toggle-id-3

Curriculum

  • Courses

    Degree Requirements

    The Ph.D. in Cognitive Neuroscience requires a minimum of 75 semester credits of graduate work beyond the baccalaureate, including a master’s project and a dissertation based on the student’s original research. A maximum of 36 credits may be transferred from a completed master’s degree program with the approval of the program director. Cognitive Neuroscience doctoral students are required to complete the following minimum requirements. The remaining credits to complete the post-baccalaureate 75-credit requirement can be drawn from supervised research, directed individual study, dissertation research, electives, PSB ### Cognitive Neuroscience Internship, or the PSY 5938 Current Topics in Neuroscience Series.

    1. Common core courses in Statistics/Methodology (Minimum 9 credits)

      Students must take all three of the following 3-credit courses or a course approved by the program director:

      PSY 5939 Special Topics in Psychology (Quantitative Methods I)
      PSY 5939 Special Topics in Psychology (Quantitative Methods II)
      PSY 5246C Multivariate Analysis in Applied Psychological Research

    2. Content Courses (Minimum 6 credits)

      Students must take 2 courses drawn from the following 3-credit courses or a course approved by the program director:

      DEP 5058 Biological Basis of Behavior Development
      EXP 5667 Cognitive Neuroscience
      EXP 5527 Memory and Consciousness
      PSB 6247 Biological Bases of Behavior
      PSB 6215 Human Neuroanatomy
      CLP 6426 Neuropsychology
      PSB 6351 Cognitive Neuroimaging Methods
      PSB 5115 Introduction to Psychophysiology: Basics of Electroencephalography and Event-Related Potentials
      PSB 6035 Introduction to Computational Cognitive Neuroscience
      PSB 5247 Neurobiology of Learning and Memory
      PSB 5615 Visual and Visuospatial Cognitive Neuroscience
      DEP 5608 Theoretical Perspectives in Developmental Psychology
      PSY 5605 Proseminar: History and Systems of Psychology
      DEP 5099 Proseminar in Infancy, Childhood, and Adolescence
      DEP 5065 Cognitive Development
    3. Electives (Minimum 3 credits approved by the program director)Students may choose electives from the list of content courses provided above or identify electives outside of the department based on their research interest.

    4. Current Topics (Variable Credits) Students must take PSY 5938 Current Topics in Neuroscience Series (0-1) or Fall and Spring while enrolled in the Doctoral Program.

    5. Master’s Project (6 Credits PSY 5918 Supervised Research)
       
    6. Supervised research (Variable Credits) PSY 5918 Supervised Research
       
    7. Comprehensive exam ("Quals")
       
    8. PSY 7980 Ph.D. Dissertation (Minimum 15 credits)

    See Thesis Project and Dissertation below for information on these additional requirements.

    For more information, consult the Graduate Catalog.

  • Course Offerings by Semester

    Fall 2026

    • PSB 6351 Cognitive Neuroimaging Methods (Dr. Aaron Mattfeld)
    • PSB 5938 Current Topics in Neuroscience (Variable Credits) (Dr. George Buzzell)

    Spring 2027

    • TBD
  • Thesis Project and Dissertation
  • Research Experience

    Hands-on research experience is an essential part of the training, and students become involved in research early in their graduate training by participating in faculty research projects and carrying out individual research under the guidance of one or more faculty members. Students will receive guidance in every aspect of conducting research, including developing ideas; designing and conducting a study; and developing papers for dissemination, presentation at national conferences and publication in scientific journals. In addition, we emphasize development of students' grant-writing skills, a necessary component of a successful research career.

    Students benefit from our faculty’s diverse areas of interest and expertise, which converge to provide a well-rounded training program in cognitive neuroscience. Faculty employ “under-the-skin” electrophysiological and functional imaging methodologies on humans, with a special emphasis on understanding typical and atypical development. Faculty also conduct research on birds and non-human primates. Visit Team to meet our faculty.

    Our faculty's research labs and programs include:

Cognitive Neuroscience Resources

College and University Resources

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 $500 for domestic conferences, and $1,000 for international conferences. Two awards will be made per semester.

Eligibility

Eligible students:

  1. Are the presenting author at the proposed conference
  2. Must present on a topic in neuroscience, as determined by the review committee
  3. Must present at the Cognitive Neuroscience Colloquium Series

Application

  1. 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.
  2. 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.
  3. 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.