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Psychology, Experimental, M.A.

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A program designed for you

The Experimental Psychology Program is designed to improve your professional and academic competitiveness by expanding your knowledge and skills in research methods and statistical analysis, as well as core principles of psychology. Our goal is to foster the success of students from all backgrounds—regardless of race, ethnicity, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity or expression, age, ability, or culture—by giving them the best academic experience possible both inside and outside the classroom (Learn more about our diversity and inclusion initiatives in the Psychology Department).

During your course of study, you will work closely with outstanding faculty with a wide range of expertise to actively engage in research using state-of-the art facilities. You will have the opportunity to make significant research contributions to areas such as social psychology, learning, and developmental psychology, as well as cognitive neuroscience or psychopharmacology. We recommend looking at faculty interests to find someone you are interested in working with. Contact information is available on the Faculty Profiles page, and faculty strongly encourage potential candidates to reach out for more information about specific labs and research opportunities before applying to the program.

What goals can I achieve with an M.A. in Experimental Psychology?

  • Be successful in business, industry, or research-based workplaces. Our focus on research experience and statistical/analytical skills prepares our graduates to be highly competitive for a variety of positions in industry, government, or top-tier research institutions. Example positions include industry-based research and development, IRB professionals, policy development in science and technology, and lab management in medical or research settings.
  • Achieve certification as a Board-Certified Behavior Analyst. Students who specialize in Behavior Analysis are prepared to become a board-certified behavior analyst (BCBA), which in Tennessee (and 27 other states) allows them to be licensed as a behavior analyst (LBA). There is great demand for licensed behavior analysts in the workplace throughout the country, especially in implementing Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) therapy for individuals diagnosed with autism.
  • Go on to earn a Ph.D. in psychology or a related field. Students benefit from our curriculum and tailored research experience when applying to highly competitive PhD programs.

Why should I choose MTSU's Experimental Psychology Program?

Why should I choose MTSU's Experimental Psychology Program?

  • Focused on Affordability

o   Affordable tuition

o   Two-year program

o   Graduate assistantships available

  • Demonstrated Student Success

o   Receive individualized mentorship and actively engage in research with faculty mentors who are recognized experts in their field

o   Opportunities to travel to and share your findings at national professional conferences

o   Boost your competitiveness for Ph.D. programs and job markets with strong research and methodological skills

  • Excellent Location

o   Only 50 min from downtown Nashville

o   Middle Tennessee is home to several major corporate headquarters and a continuously growing economy which contributes to an ever-expanding job market with strong research and analytical needs

What We're Doing

’60 Minutes’ highlights Reeder’s PTSD work with veterans

’60 Minutes’ highlights Reeder’s PTSD work with veterans

Dr. Kevin Reeder (M.A., experimental psychology, 1996) was featured in a 60 Minutes report on innovative therapies being used to treat veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder. “The War Within” segment in November 2013 highlighted the PTSD program Reeder runs at the North Little Rock Veterans Affairs facility for veterans struggling with the aftermath of combat. “A big focus was how hard veterans worked at getting their lives back,” Reeder says. Methods at the Central Arkansas VA program are helping three out of four patients, who come from across the southern U.S. Prolonged exposure and other therapies used with victims of physical or sexual abuse are helping ease the similar symptoms of war veterans with anxiety disorder, Reeder says. One in five veterans of the Iraq and Afghanistan wars have been diagnosed with anxiety disorder. Reeder, whose late parents Glen and Ernestine N. Reeder taught at MTSU, joined the military mid-semester while at MTSU and served in Saudi Arabia during Operation Desert Storm.

Professor's book looks at 'Extraordinary Memories'

Professor's book looks at 'Extraordinary Memories'

Dr. Stephen R. Schmidt, "former" professor and coordinator of MTSU's experimental psych M.A. program, is considered one of a handful of experts of both distinctiveness and humor on memory. His book Extraordinary Memories for Exceptional Events (Psychology Press, 2012) examines how some occurrences are more memorable than others because they're emotional and/or unusual. The book summarizes theories and data that provide insight into these events that stand out in people's minds. Schmidt hopes the book helps people learn strategies to improve memory as well as understand their lives better. "Our lives are punctuated with these extraordinary memories," Schmidt says. "You think back on who you are and what you are, and it probably has a lot to do with these exceptional events you remember." Flashbulb memories, the influence of emotion on memory, and the bizarre imagery effect are among topics discussed. Critics have called it "a welcome contribution to the memory literature" and "invaluable for those involved in memory research."

Related Media

  • MTSU College of Graduate Studies

    MTSU College of Graduate Studies

  • MTSU | The University of Opportunities

    MTSU | The University of Opportunities

 
 
 

MTSU's experimental psychology master's program trains students for careers as a research psychologist and for preparation toward a doctorate degree. Some professional options are 

  • Community college psychology instructor
  • Data analyst
  • Research psychologist
  • Statistician 

Employers of MTSU alumni include

  • APPLE Psychological Consultants (Maryville, TN)
  • Lee University
  • North Arkansas Veterans Administration Medical Center
  • Oak Ridge National Laboratory
  • Vanderbilt University

Doctoral programs accepting recent graduates include

  • Mississippi State University
  • Texas A&M University
  • Tilburg University, The Netherlands
  • University of Alabama
  • University of Utah

Graduate

Department of Psychology programs lead to two graduate degrees:

A minor at the graduate level is also available.

Applicants to the Experimental Psychology program with an undergraduate GPA of 3.0 or higher, and a composite GRE score of 291 (current scale) or 900 (former scale) on the combined Verbal and Quantitative sections, will be considered for unconditional admission. Other students may be admitted conditionally. Admission to graduate study in experimental psychology is competitive.

Experimental students need to have a strong background in the core areas of experimental psychology. Some of this background can be completed at the undergraduate level, but students must also complete a core of graduate experimental courses.

Students also should enroll in at least one hour of research (PSY 6600) or thesis work (PSY 6640) each semester.

For complete curriculum details, click on the REQUIREMENTS button to the right.

Undergraduate

Three undergraduate majors lead to a Bachelor of Science (B.S.) in Psychology, Pre-Graduate Psychology, and Industrial-Organizational Psychology. The department also offers an online psychology degree in conjunction with the University College.

Undergraduates can earn a minor in one of five psychology fields: Psychology, Lifespan Development, Mental Health Services, Industrial-Organizational, and Neuroscience. The department participates in an interdisciplinary minor in Behavioral Research.

Psychology, Experimental Concentration, M.A.

Cyrille Magne, program coordinator
(615) 898-5599
Cyrille.Magne@mtsu.edu

The Department of Psychology offers programs which lead to two graduate degrees: the Master of Arts with a major in Psychology and concentrations in Clinical, Experimental, Industrial/Organizational, Pre-Specialist in Education: School Psychology, and Quantitative Psychology and the Specialist in Education with a major in Curriculum and Instruction and concentration in School Psychology. The department also offers a minor at the graduate level.

The goal of the Experimental Psychology program is to enhance professional and academic competitiveness by developing skills in statistical analysis and research methodologies, while also broadening knowledge of fundamental concepts in psychology. Students will actively participate in research using cutting-edge facilities while collaborating closely with outstanding faculty with expertise in social psychology, learning and memory, developmental psychology, cognitive psychology, neuroscience, and psychopharmacology. Students can also pursue a Behavior Analysis Specialization and enroll in courses to become board-certified behavior analysts. Prospective students are strongly encouraged to contact program faculty for more information about specific labs and research opportunities. We strive to foster student success from all backgrounds--regardless of race, ethnicity, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity or expression, age, ability, or culture by giving students the best academic experience possible both inside and outside the classroom.

Please see undergraduate catalog for information regarding undergraduate programs.

Admission Requirements

Admission to graduate study in experimental psychology is competitive and not automatic for students meeting minimal admission requirements. Students are selected from a pool of qualified applicants. Each year the number of students admitted to the program depends on the availability of adequate faculty supervision.

In order to be considered for admission, candidates must meet two standards: an undergraduate grade point average (GPA) of 3.00 or higher and a minimum score on the Graduate Record Exam (GRE). A minimum of 291 on the combined Verbal and Quantitative sections is expected for the Experimental concentration within the Master of Arts in Psychology.

Applications for Summer/Fall admission must be completed by March 1, and applications for Spring admission must be completed by October 1. Late applicants who meet the admission criteria may be considered on a case-by-case basis.

Students who do not meet admission requirements may be admitted as non-degree seeking to the Experimental concentration. Students admitted as non-degree seeking must maintain a 3.25 GPA in their first semester (9 hours minimum) of required graduate courses in the concentration area to be fully admitted.

Previous students seeking readmission to the Experimental program should contact the graduate program director and refer to the program handbook for readmission policy.

Experimental students need to have a strong background in the core areas of experimental psychology. Some of this background can be attained at the undergraduate level; however, students must also complete a core of graduate experimental courses. In addition, students are encouraged to become involved in research and to participate in research projects throughout their graduate enrollment. Toward this goal, the student should enroll in at least one hour of research (PSY 6600) or thesis work (PSY 6640) each semester.

Applicants must demonstrate knowledge of the core areas of psychology by completing the following courses at either the undergraduate or graduate level prior to entering the Experimental program or during enrollment in the program (relevant courses offered at MTSU are listed in parentheses):

  1. introductory/general psychology (PSY 1410);
  2. research methods (PSY 3070);
  3. social psychology or personality (PSY 2210, 3230/PSY 5230, 3590, PSY 6020, or PSY 6030);
  4. cognition or learning (PSY 4040, 4480/PSY 5480, or PSY 6190);
  5. developmental (PSY 2300, 4190, 4210/PSY 5210, 4610/PSY 5610, PSY 6120, PSY 6130, PSY 6410);
  6. brain and behavior or sensation and perception (PSY 2190, 4030/PSY 5030, 4240/PSY 5240, or 4780/ PSY 5780);
  7. statistics (PSY 3020).

Application Procedures

All application materials are to be submitted to the College of Graduate Studies.

Applicant must

  1. submit an application with the appropriate application fee (online at www.mtsu.edu/graduate/apply.php). Once this initial application has been accepted, the applicant will receive directions on how to enter the graduate portal to be able to submit other materials.
  2. submit official transcripts of all previous college work;
  3. submit three letters of reference;
  4. submit letter of intent stating career goals, relevant work/academic experience, and research interests;
  5. submit official scores on the Graduate Record Examination (GRE);
  6. submit a current resume or curriculum vitae.

NOTE: To be considered for a graduate assistantship, students must submit additional materials. Information about the application procedure is available at www.mtsu.edu/psychology/grad/assistantship.php.

Degree Requirements

The major in Psychology with a concentration in Experimental requires completion of 36 semester hours including at least 30 hours in graduate psychology courses. Only 30 percent of the total number of hours may be dually listed (5000-level meeting in conjunction with 4000- or 3000-level) courses.

Candidate must

  1. complete PSY 6280 and PSY 6290;
  2. successfully write and orally present a written thesis evaluated by a committee of psychology faculty in conjunction with PSY 6640;
  3. pass a written comprehensive examination prepared by the faculty in the student's concentration (may be taken no more than twice).

Curriculum

The following illustrates the coursework requirements.

Experimental, General Core Courses (27 hours)

  • PSY 5080 - Advanced Research Methods

    3credit hours

    Prerequisite: PSY 3070. Provides hands-on advanced psychological research experience. Students evaluate and critique their own and others' research projects. Research teams design, conduct, analyze, and present advanced experimental study and write final APA-style research reports of their projects. Thesis proposal draft also written.

  • PSY 5240 - Behavioral Neuroscience

    3credit hours

    The role of the brain in those areas which are typically considered by psychology, such as sensory and motor functions, motivation, higher mental functions, and mental disorders.

  • PSY 6810 - Literature Review and Reading in Psychology: Social  1 to 3 credit hours  
    OR(3 credit hours) OR  dotslash:(3 credit hours) OR title:OR 
    (3 credit hours) OR 

    PSY 6810 - Literature Review and Reading in Psychology: Social

    1 to 3credit hours

    Supervised literature review and/or readings on a topic of current importance in psychology. Topics and requirements obtained from individual faculty members. Specific courses may be repeated to a total of 6 credits.

  • PSY 6020 - Theories of Personality

    3credit hours

    Examines traditional schools of personality theory and current developments within each.

  • PSY 6120 - Developmental Psychology: Child  3 credit hours  
    OROR  dotslash:OR title:OR 
    OR 

    PSY 6120 - Developmental Psychology: Child

    3credit hours

    Reviews the major areas of child development. These areas include cognitive, emotional, and social development. Primary attention  will be devoted to the period of infancy through early adolescence. Covers both developmental theory and research.

  • PSY 6130 - Developmental Psychology: Adolescent  3 credit hours  
    OROR  dotslash:OR title:OR 
    OR 

    PSY 6130 - Developmental Psychology: Adolescent

    3credit hours

    Survey of research on adolescence from a biopsychosocial perspective. Student observation and study of developing adolescents from cognitive, biological, social, and psychological frameworks.

  • PSY 6190 - Advanced Cognitive Psychology

    3credit hours

    Topic-oriented overview of cognitive psychology. Models of attention, perception, memory, language, reasoning, problem solving, and decision making. Issues in cognitive development and cognitive neuropsychology.

  • PSY 6280 - Psychological Statistics: Regression

    3credit hours

    Prerequisite: PSY 3020 or equivalent or admission to Psychology graduate program. Corequisite: PSY 6281. Review of basic statistics; various correlation coefficients; multiple and partial correlation; simple and multiple regression. Laboratory included.

  • PSY 6290 - Psychological Statistics: ANOVA

    3credit hours

    Prerequisite: PSY 3020 or equivalent or admission to Psychology graduate program. Corequisite: PSY 6291. Review of basic statistics. Scientific quantification, research design, and statistical analysis from the perspective of analysis of variance: one-way, factorial, repeated measures, and mixed designs. Laboratory included.

  • PSY 6600 - Independent Research in Psychology: General and Experimental  1 to 9 credit hours  
    (3 hours total)(3 credit hours required)  dotslash:(3 credit hours required) title:(3 hours total) 
    (3 credit hours required) 

    PSY 6600 - Independent Research in Psychology: General and Experimental

    1 to 9credit hours

    Prerequisite: Permission of instructor. Individualized empirical research and library research approved by the instructor. (1-9 credits applicable to degree)

  • PSY 6640 - Thesis Research  1 to 6 credit hours  
    (3 hours total)(3 credit hours required)  dotslash:(3 credit hours required) title:(3 hours total) 
    (3 credit hours required) 

    PSY 6640 - Thesis Research

    1 to 6credit hours

    Selection of a research problem, review of pertinent literature, collection and analysis of data, and composition of thesis. Once enrolled, student should register for at least one credit hour of master's research each semester until completion. S/U grading.

Literature Review and Reading in Psychology (3 hours)

 

  • PSY 6590 - Literature Review and Reading in Psychology: General and Experimental

    1 to 3credit hours

    Supervised literature review and/or readings on a topic of current importance in psychology. Topics and requirements obtained from individual faculty members. Specific courses may be repeated to a total of 6 credits.

  • PSY 6660 - Literature Review and Reading in Psychology: Quantitative

    1 to 3credit hours

    Supervised literature review and/or readings on a topic of current importance in psychology. Topics and requirements obtained from individual faculty members. Specific courses may be repeated to a total of 6 credits.

  • PSY 6670 - Literature Review and Reading in Psychology: Behavioral Neuroscience

    1 to 3credit hours

    Supervised literature review and/or readings on a topic of current importance in psychology. Topics and requirements obtained from individual faculty members. Specific courses may be repeated to a total of 6 credits.

  • PSY 6680 - Literature Review and Reading in Psychology: Cognitive

    1 to 3credit hours

    Supervised literature review and/or readings on a topic of current importance in psychology. Topics and requirements obtained from individual faculty members. Specific courses may be repeated to a total of 6 credits.

  • PSY 6700 - Literature Review and Reading in Psychology: Developmental

    1 to 3credit hours

    Supervised literature review and/or readings on a topic of current importance in psychology. Topics and requirements obtained from individual faculty members. Specific courses may be repeated to a total of 6 credits.

  • PSY 6720 - Literature Review and Reading in Psychology: Learning

    1 to 3credit hours

    Supervised literature review and/or readings on a topic of current importance in psychology. Topics and requirements obtained from individual faculty members. Specific courses may be repeated to a total of 6 credits.

  • PSY 6730 - Literature Review and Reading in Psychology: Personality

    1 to 3credit hours

    Supervised literature review and/or readings on a topic of current importance in psychology. Topics and requirements obtained from individual faculty members. Specific courses may be repeated to a total of 6 credits.

  • PSY 6740 - Literature Review and Reading in Psychology: Reading

    1 to 3credit hours

    Supervised literature review and/or readings on a topic of current importance in psychology. Topics and requirements obtained from individual faculty members. Specific courses may be repeated to a total of 6 credits.

  • PSY 6790 - Literature Review and Reading in Psychology: Sensation and Perception

    1 to 3credit hours

    Supervised literature review and/or readings on a topic of current importance in psychology. Topics and requirements obtained from individual faculty members. Specific courses may be repeated to a total of 6 credits.

  • PSY 6810 - Literature Review and Reading in Psychology: Social

    1 to 3credit hours

    Supervised literature review and/or readings on a topic of current importance in psychology. Topics and requirements obtained from individual faculty members. Specific courses may be repeated to a total of 6 credits.

Electives (6 hours)

To be chosen with the approval of the student’s advisor.

Experimental, Behavior Analysis Specialization (37 hours)

  • PSY 5480 - Learning Theories  3 credit hours  

    PSY 5480 - Learning Theories

    3credit hours

    Research and experiments in learning and the related growth of the major theories of learning with emphasis on classical and instrumental conditioning and related topics.

  • PSY 6440 - Advanced Applied Behavioral Analysis

    3credit hours

    Prerequisite: PSY 4400 or permission of instructor. Intensive presentation of methods used in behavioral assessment and interventions. Application of various behavioral techniques.

  • PSY 6445 - Skills Assessment and Methods in Applied Behavior Analysis

    3credit hours

    Covers the application of behavior analysis to building new skills and improving and maintaining existing socially important behaviors. Includes content on assessment, intervention procedures, and quality assurance of behavior analytic programming.

  • PSY 6545 - Systems Level Behavior Analysis

    3credit hours

    Introduces the application of behavior analytic concepts and principles to problems of human behavior at the group and organizational level, specifically in the context of clinical service delivery.

  • PSY 6500 - Behavioral Methodology

    3credit hours

    Techniques for design and evaluation of clinical treatment and research. Includes single subject and group designs. Emphasis on direct observation and data collection procedures, reliability, social validity, and generalization.

  • PSY 6600 - Independent Research in Psychology: General and Experimental  1 to 9 credit hours  
    (3 credit hours required)(3 credit hours required)  dotslash:(3 credit hours required) title:(3 credit hours required) 
    (3 credit hours required) 

    PSY 6600 - Independent Research in Psychology: General and Experimental

    1 to 9credit hours

    Prerequisite: Permission of instructor. Individualized empirical research and library research approved by the instructor. (1-9 credits applicable to degree)

  • PSY 6640 - Thesis Research  1 to 6 credit hours  
    (3 credit hours required)(3 credit hours required)  dotslash:(3 credit hours required) title:(3 credit hours required) 
    (3 credit hours required) 

    PSY 6640 - Thesis Research

    1 to 6credit hours

    Selection of a research problem, review of pertinent literature, collection and analysis of data, and composition of thesis. Once enrolled, student should register for at least one credit hour of master's research each semester until completion. S/U grading.

  • PSY 6720 - Literature Review and Reading in Psychology: Learning  1 to 3 credit hours  
    (1 credit hour required)(1 credit hour required)  dotslash:(1 credit hour required) title:(1 credit hour required) 
    (1 credit hour required) 

    PSY 6720 - Literature Review and Reading in Psychology: Learning

    1 to 3credit hours

    Supervised literature review and/or readings on a topic of current importance in psychology. Topics and requirements obtained from individual faculty members. Specific courses may be repeated to a total of 6 credits.

  • PSY 6785 - Principles of Behavior Analysis

    3credit hours

    Reinforcement theory and practice in applied settings with an emphasis on basic and advanced issues and best practices in behavioral control using reinforcers, punishers, discrimination, avoidance, shaping of new behaviors, chaining, contingencies, maintenance, and transfer. Special topics include language learning and training and the moral and legal controls in behavioral analysis.

 

  • PSY 6280 - Psychological Statistics: Regression  3 credit hours  
    OROR  dotslash:OR title:OR 
    OR 

    PSY 6280 - Psychological Statistics: Regression

    3credit hours

    Prerequisite: PSY 3020 or equivalent or admission to Psychology graduate program. Corequisite: PSY 6281. Review of basic statistics; various correlation coefficients; multiple and partial correlation; simple and multiple regression. Laboratory included.

  • PSY 6290 - Psychological Statistics: ANOVA

    3credit hours

    Prerequisite: PSY 3020 or equivalent or admission to Psychology graduate program. Corequisite: PSY 6291. Review of basic statistics. Scientific quantification, research design, and statistical analysis from the perspective of analysis of variance: one-way, factorial, repeated measures, and mixed designs. Laboratory included.

 

  • PSY 5240 - Behavioral Neuroscience  3 credit hours  
    OROR  dotslash:OR title:OR 
    OR 

    PSY 5240 - Behavioral Neuroscience

    3credit hours

    The role of the brain in those areas which are typically considered by psychology, such as sensory and motor functions, motivation, higher mental functions, and mental disorders.

  • PSY 6020 - Theories of Personality  3 credit hours  
    OROR  dotslash:OR title:OR 
    OR 

    PSY 6020 - Theories of Personality

    3credit hours

    Examines traditional schools of personality theory and current developments within each.

  • PSY 6190 - Advanced Cognitive Psychology  3 credit hours  
    OR(3 credit hours required) OR  dotslash:(3 credit hours required) OR title:OR 
    (3 credit hours required) OR 

    PSY 6190 - Advanced Cognitive Psychology

    3credit hours

    Topic-oriented overview of cognitive psychology. Models of attention, perception, memory, language, reasoning, problem solving, and decision making. Issues in cognitive development and cognitive neuropsychology.

  • PSY 6810 - Literature Review and Reading in Psychology: Social  1 to 3 credit hours  
    (3 credit hours required)(3 credit hours required)  dotslash:(3 credit hours required) title:(3 credit hours required) 
    (3 credit hours required) 

    PSY 6810 - Literature Review and Reading in Psychology: Social

    1 to 3credit hours

    Supervised literature review and/or readings on a topic of current importance in psychology. Topics and requirements obtained from individual faculty members. Specific courses may be repeated to a total of 6 credits.

 

  • PSY 6120 - Developmental Psychology: Child  3 credit hours  
    OROR  dotslash:OR title:OR 
    OR 

    PSY 6120 - Developmental Psychology: Child

    3credit hours

    Reviews the major areas of child development. These areas include cognitive, emotional, and social development. Primary attention  will be devoted to the period of infancy through early adolescence. Covers both developmental theory and research.

  • PSY 6130 - Developmental Psychology: Adolescent  3 credit hours  
    OROR  dotslash:OR title:OR 
    OR 

    PSY 6130 - Developmental Psychology: Adolescent

    3credit hours

    Survey of research on adolescence from a biopsychosocial perspective. Student observation and study of developing adolescents from cognitive, biological, social, and psychological frameworks.

Program Notes

Students must be able to meet the demands required for professional work in psychology. Therefore, students may be subject to dismissal from the Psychology Department if they (a) commit a serious breach of ethics or gross professional negligence or (b) present evidence of impaired psychological functioning that would present a danger to themselves or others in a professional role. Students who are dismissed may reapply and will be considered for readmission on a competitive basis. Students who reapply may be asked to provide evidence of improved ability to meet performance requirements.

Dr. Stuart Bernstein

Professor

Dr. Michelle Boyer-Pennington

Professor

Dr. Thomas M. Brinthaupt

Professor

Dr. Teresa L. Davis

Professor

Dr. Jessica Gaby

Assistant Professor

Dr. Annie Galizio

Assistant Professor

Dr. Jay E Hinnenkamp

Assistant Professor

Dr. James R. Houston

Associate Professor

Dr. WIlliam Langston

Professor

Dr. Cyrille Magne

Professor

Dr. John Pennington

Professor

Dr. Tiffany D. Rogers

Assistant Professor

Dr. Greg W. Schmidt

Associate Professor

Dr. Megan Zeringue

Assistant Professor

Dr. Stuart Bernstein

Professor

Dr. Michelle Boyer-Pennington

Professor

Dr. Thomas M. Brinthaupt

Professor

Dr. Teresa L. Davis

Professor

Dr. Jessica Gaby

Assistant Professor

Dr. Annie Galizio

Assistant Professor

Dr. Jay E Hinnenkamp

Assistant Professor

Dr. James R. Houston

Associate Professor

Dr. WIlliam Langston

Professor

Dr. Cyrille Magne

Professor

Dr. John Pennington

Professor

Dr. Tiffany D. Rogers

Assistant Professor

Dr. Greg W. Schmidt

Associate Professor

Dr. Megan Zeringue

Assistant Professor

Our adjunct faculty bring outstanding professional experience to our programs. Many are industry leaders with decorated careers and honors. Importantly, they are innovative educators who offer hands-on learning to our students to prepare them to enter and thrive in a dynamic, and oftentimes emerging, industry and professional world. They inspire, instruct, and challenge our students toward academic and professional success.

Application Process

Applications will be evaluated until all available slots are filled. Graduate Record Exam (GRE) scores, current transcripts, and three letters of recommendation, and a personal statement of your goals as a student in experimental psychology are required in order to be considered for admission. 

  • Deadline for Fall admission: March 1
  • Deadline for Spring admission: Oct. 1

Admission to the College of Graduate Studies is a dual process: The applicant first has to be accepted by the College of Graduate Studies, and then has to be accepted by the graduate degree program of their choice. The first step in applying to graduate school at MTSU is to apply online. If you have problems, contact the graduate coordinator in the College of Graduate Studies who oversees the discipline in which you are interested. 

For further information about the experimental program, contact Dr. Cyrille Magne.

Information for Current Students

Lab Research Overview Area of Specialization

Olfaction and Taste (OAT) Lab

 

Director: Dr. Jessica Gaby

The OAT Lab focuses mainly on how olfactory information (smell) influences our daily lives. We are located in ACB 317. Our current projects include: the impact of olfactory information and body odor in the workplace; the impact of diet on human body odor; olfactory perception of household and social communication odors in cis and trans individuals; the impact of COVID and COVID safety protocols on our relationship to odors in our daily lives. The lab is strongly focused on undergraduate research (though we are always open to taking on grad students!), and Dr. Gaby mentors students in creating and executing their own research projects once they are fully trained.

Sensation and Perception

Translational, Experimental, and Applied Behavior Analysis (TEABA) Lab

 

Co-Directors: Ann Galizio & Jay Hinnenkamp

The TEABA lab adopts a three-pronged approach to studying behavior. First, we utilize highly controlled research with humans and rats to study and understand basic learning processes. Second, we also study these same learning processes in more naturalistic and clinical environments to extend our understanding of these concepts and their applicability to everyday behavior. Finally, we use the learning concepts and principles identified in basic and translational settings to address socially significant problems, such as the behavioral deficits associated with autism spectrum disorder. Our current research interests include social behavior, creativity, conditioned reinforcement, and choice.

Behavior Analysis

MTSU Cognitive Aging Lab

 

Director: Dr. James Houston

In our lab, we explore the way that we process information during the normal aging process. We have many avenues of research in our laboratory, with research projects commonly conducted in the areas of attention, perception, visual word recognition, and working memory. As an experimental psychology laboratory, the majority of our work comprises the assessment of performance in manual and computerized tasks. Along with behavioral measures of performance, we also commonly incorporate measures of neurophysiological activity through our electroencephalogram (EEG) suite. EEG allows for precise measures of underlying functional activity of the brain during engagement in cognitive tasks.

Neuroscience

Identity, Belief, Experience, and Personality (IBEP) Lab

 

Director: Dr. William Langston

We are interested in the development and maintenance of belief. The basic model is that beliefs form in one stage and that updating and maintenance of beliefs is a separate stage. Everyday interactions and feedback can lead to perfectly reasonable (albeit anomalous and contrary to reality) beliefs. If the sensory system delivers an experience, and some form of paranormal belief provides a reasonable explanation for that otherwise inexplicable experience, then belief is a perfectly reasonable response. What factors (environmental or endogenous) affect the formation of beliefs? What variables influence the updating of beliefs when new information is provided? Recent projects have been exploring the belief change stage, and my lab is working to evaluate people who have left a belief system to see how experience may play a role in that decision.

Cognition

Brain and Language Lab (BLL)

 

Director: Dr. Cyrille Magne

Our research program lies at the interface of Psychology, Neuroscience and Education. The BLL provides a collaborative environment in which undergraduate and graduate students work together to address basic questions regarding the relationship between prosody sensitivity (speech rhythm and intonation), musical aptitude and language skills, using behavioral, eye-tracking and neuroimaging methodologies.

Neuroscience

Lethal Use of Force Lab

 

Director: Dr. John Pennington

Promoting the well-being of citizens and police officers through practical, data-inspired interventions designed to reduce the use of lethal force in cases involving unarmed citizens. Each year our lab has approximately 3-4 undergraduate researchers, each exploring a different facet of lethal force. Much of this research is archival in nature -- we rely on internet accessible information provided by news media, law enforcement officials, and private citizens (e.g., cell phone videos). To date, these efforts have resulted in student URECA awards, conference presentations, and a recent publication.

Social Psychology

Social and Affective Neuroscience (SAN) Lab

 

Director: Dr. Tiffany Rogers

The SAN lab routinely trains undergraduate students to carry out experiments in mouse models to better understand the neural circuitry underlying social behaviors. We investigate topics such as social motivation and social reward and apply pharmacology and optogenetics to identify neurotransmitter systems involved in typical and aberrant social behavior.

Neuroscience

Online or Hybrid Programs at a Glance

This program is available .

For More Information or Explore Your Options​

Contact your department / program coordinator or advisor for more details about the program OR work one-on-one with your advisor to explore your options.

MTSU online logo

The Online Advantage​

With over 25 years of experience in online teaching and learning, MTSU Online offers students access to innovative, high-quality programs. Designed with students in mind, our courses allow maximum flexibility for those unable to participate in person. ​

Resources and services for online students are available from MTSU Online or contact us at distance@mtsu.edu.

Contact Information

Cyrille Magne
Cyrille.Magne@mtsu.edu
615 898-5599

Who is My Advisor?

Cyrille Magne
Cyrille.Magne@mtsu.edu
615 898-5599

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Mailing Address

Department of Psychology
Middle Tennessee State University
MTSU Box 87
1301 East Main Street
Murfreesboro, TN 37132

College of Graduate Studies
Middle Tennessee State University
MTSU Box 42
1301 East Main Street
Murfreesboro, TN 37132

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