Photo by Vicki Gillis

Cognitive Psychology

Cognitive psychology is an active area of study at Colorado State University, as one of five doctoral programs offered by the Department of Psychology. We are committed to maintaining a nationally recognized program in cognitive psychology and training first-rate researchers and scholars in the science of the human mind. The research conducted by cognitive faculty members spans a variety of topics, with a focus on common interests in human learning and memory, perception, and performance.  Several faculty are also interested in cognitive aging.

A relatively small group of students participate in the Program (typically no more than 2-3 students per faculty member) so as to provide highly individualized graduate education, allow close collaboration with faculty, and promote frequent formal and informal interaction with faculty and peers. At the same time, the Program benefits from the facilities and resources of a large and thriving department at a Carnegie Foundation level-one research institute. There are, for example, opportunities for interdisciplinary education in other academic units, including the Department of Computer Science, College of Engineering, and Program in Molecular, Cellular and Integrative Neurosciences.

The Program is administered according to a mentorship model. New students are matched with a specific faculty member according to area of interest and by mutual consent of the student and faculty member. The faculty advisor serves as a mentor to the student, and with the student’s advisory committee, guides the student through the Program.