The Behavioral Science Program at the University of North Texas provides training for students interested in careers in behavioral research and teaching. Most students who are admitted aspire to a position in academics; however, opportunities for employment in private industry or research institutes also exist. The program offers students training in both basic and applied research. Focus is on high quality training with intensive student-faculty involvement in joint research. Students are expected to participate actively in research with faculty members throughout their tenure in the program. This emphasis on one-to-one training allows students to acquire research skills while working on projects leading to publication or grant application. Students will eventually develop advanced knowledge and research expertise in one or more specialty area(s).

Faculty Specialty Areas

 

Dr. Heidemarie Blumenthal's research includes etiology of anxiety and problematic substance use; co-occurring anxiety and alcohol use among adolescents; developmental psychopathology; how significant facets of adolescence (e.g., puberty) relate to the onset/maintenance of anxiety psychopathology and drinking behaviors; and advancing methodological rigor via a convergence of techniques (e.g., experimental psychopathology, multi-modal assessment). Teen ST.A.R. Laboratory website.

Dr. Adriel Boals' primary research interest is coping with stress and trauma, with an emphasis on autobiographical memory. This topic includes 1) understanding the etiology of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and Posttraumatic Growth (PTG), with an emphasis on cognitive and autobiographical memory processes 2) understanding the expressive writing intervention as a coping process, and 3) how we can gain insight into healthy coping strategies through narrative analyses. He endeavors to achieve a comprehensive view of coping with stress, which requires an integration of research from a variety of subdisciplines within psychology, including experimental, social, cognitive, clinical, and health psychology. Boals Laboratory website.

Dr. Rex Wright's research is concerned broadly with determinants and cardiovascular correlates of effort. Building on ideas of Jack Brehm, Paul Obrist and others, he has developed an analysis of motivation intensity that has wide-ranging implications, including ones for health and behavior, e.g., in educational and organizational settings. An abiding interest has been in the manner in which ability factors affect effort and associated cardiovascular responses, with a special focus on fatigue as an ability determinant. Very recent studies have concerned fatigue, cognitive impairment and gender influence on effort-related cardiovascular responses as well as determinants and cardiovascular correlates of self-regulatory restraint, that is, resistance against an urge to act in some fashion.

Philosophy and Objectives:

The Behavioral Science program at the University of North Texas immerses students in scientific inquiry to prepare them for prominent roles as researchers and teachers in universities and as research consultants in business and industry, counseling centers, hospitals, mental health centers, medical schools and rehabilitation services. Students participate in investigation from the beginning of their training in the university's laboratories and interdisciplinary research centers.

Opportunities for Graduate Students:

The Behavioral Science program provides specialized training in human research while remaining flexible to accommodate individual interests. All students are expected to acquire expertise in research methodology and statistical analysis and for this reason, all students must meet in addition to a departmental core requirement, a Behavioral Science core course requirement. Please see our Program Manual for additional information.

Application Process:

The deadline for applications is December 1st, although late applications can be considered in special cases.