Behavioral Science Ph.D. Program

The Behavioral Science PhD program will host virtual meetings for those of you who are interested in learning more about our program, research labs, and application requirements. 

If you are interested, please select the link and register in advance of this meeting. See dates/times below!

After registering, you will receive a confirmation email with information about joining the meeting. For other specific questions, you may contact the Behavioral Science Program Director, Dr. Joseph Rossi at jsrossi@uri.edu

Admission

Requirements

Students who have been involved in research activities and who wish to pursue further research training are highly regarded in the selection process. It is important for applicants to highlight evidence of previous research experiences as well as their training interests, career goals, teaching experiences, and other relevant life experiences in their Personal Statement, and research presentations, publications and teaching experiences should be included in the CV that is submitted as part of the application package. It should be noted that these are approximations and a range of factors are considered in our admissions process. Particularly, the specific nature of each applicant’s research interest is considered in admission decisions in order to maximize the fit between prospective students and the program and its faculty.

Transfer Credit

Students entering the Behavioral Science program who have done graduate work at another accredited college, university, or professional school may:

  • Transfer up to 30 credits if they have a Master’s degree in psychology; or,
  • Transfer as many as one-fifth of the credits required to complete their Master’s degree or doctoral program.

How to Apply

Complete an online application through the URI Graduate School. When completing the online application, you must indicate Behavioral Science (listed in the application as Psychology Behavioral Science). Admission to URI must be offered by the specific program to which you are applying and by the Graduate School.

The deadline for receipt of applications and all supporting material is December 1st, 2024

Application Materials

  1.  Application fee of $65, plus Centralized Application System (CAS) fees
  2.  Personal Statement(approximately 2 pages). Please include the information below:
    • Why are you interested in pursuing a Ph.D. in Behavioral science/experimental psychology
    • What research and quantitative interests do you wish to pursue?
    • What Behavioral Science or other training area (clinical) faculty members would you like to work with?
    • What research, quantitative and teaching experience do you have?
    • Briefly describe relevant service/extracurricular activities.
    • Describe how your professional interests fit with the Behavioral Science program and faculty foci and how your long-term goals and career objectives will be advanced by completion of the Behavioral Science Ph.D. degree.
  3. Official transcripts from every undergraduate and graduate institution you attended (submit online)
  4. Three letters of recommendation
    The Graduate School’s admissions criteria mentions having only two letters, but the Psychology Department requires an additional letter (submit online).
  5. A copy of your Curriculum Vitae/Resume
  6. TOEFL scores(for international applicants)
    The URI school code is 3919.  If you have already taken the test and have your scores, please note that it can take ETS up to four weeks to send score reports.  Please plan according to the program admission deadlines when requesting the report of your test scores.
  7. GREs and the Advanced Test in Psychology are not required.

Financial Aid

Departmental and university assistantships and fellowships, as well as loans, are available to help finance doctoral education.  Students seeking departmental funding typically receive two years of support in the form of teaching assistantships. Support beyond two years is available through a variety of mechanisms, including faculty grant support, assistantship positions from other University departments and offices, and external placements. Nearly all students are supported over the full course of their studies.  Program faculty will work with you to identify sources of support.

Important Dates

  • December 1, 2024: Deadline for receipt of application and all supporting materials
  • TBA: Notification of admissions recommendations to Graduate School
  • April 15 (approx.): Applicants’ final chance to notify program of intent to accept admission offer; final notification of wait-list applicants.
  • May 1 (approx.): Notification of departmental assistantships
  • We anticipate having the entering class established by May 1.