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Typical timeline to completion of the program

There are 5 basic tasks to accomplish in your research lab:

  1. Research and propose a project to your committee
  2. Collect data (usually PhD only)
  3. Write up the results of the project
  4. Defend the project to your committee
  5. Publish the project (hopefully at least 1 review and 1 empirical paper)

Year 1

    • December – get an A in Psychobiological Foundations and Stats 1 classes
    • January – get involved with the project of a senior student
    • March – get an A in Psychopharmacology and Stats 2 classes
    • May - get an A in Cognitive Foundations (PhD) and Stats 3 (PhD, although PsyD students are encouraged to take this)
    • May – co-author (or 1st author) on a Society for Neuroscience poster abstract

Year 2

    • October – discuss ideas for dissertation (PhD) or doctoral project (PsyD)
    • November – attend Society for Neuroscience conference
    • December – get an A in Research Methods class
    • January – assemble committee w/ 1 external member (PhD) or find 2nd reader (PsyD)
    • March – propose dissertation (PhD) / doctoral project (PsyD) - 3 months ahead of “official” June 30 deadline
    • May - get an A in Cognitive Foundations (PsyD)
    • May – 1st author on Society for Neuroscience abstract / PsyDs propose project (by 31st)

Year 3

    • May – 1st author on another Society for Neuroscience poster abstract
    • November – attend Society for Neuroscience conference
    • December - defend doctoral project (PsyD) / submit review paper to peer-reviewed journal

Year 4

    • May – 1st author on another Society for Neuroscience poster abstract
    • June - leave for internship (PsyD)
    • October – defend dissertation (PhD) - 12 months ahead of “official” deadline
    • November – attend Society for Neuroscience conference

Year 5

    • June – submit manuscript to peer-reviewed journal / leave for internship (PhD)
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