Contact:
Michael Kerchner, Ph.D.
Department of Psychology
Washington College
300 Washington Avenue
Chestertown, MD 21620
Telephone: (410) 778-7730
FAX: (410) 778-7275
E-Mail: mkerchner2@washcoll.edu
WWW: http://psychology.washcoll.edu
Year Established: 1997
Total Number of Faculty: 5
Total Number of Students: 16
US Citizens: 100%
Female: 69%
U.S. Underrepresented Minorities: 6.25%
Native American 6.25%
Total Number of Graduates in the Last Five Years: 40
Average Number of Years to Complete Program: 4
Program Description: Founded in 1782, Washington College is the 10th oldest college in the United States. George Washington, for whom the College was named, was an early benefactor and member of the College's Board of Visitors and Governors. Unique among its colonial counterparts because of its secular mission, the College's original goal was to produce educated citizens for the new nation. Today, the College remains unique as one of the few nationally recognized selective liberal arts institutions with an enrollment of fewer than 1,500 students.
The current enrollment is about 1,150 men and women. Although most students come from the nation's Mid-Atlantic region, international students and students from other regions of the country are enrolled in numbers sufficient to add geographic diversity to the student body. Approximately 7% of the student body are members of an ethnic minority group.
The Behavioral Neuroscience Concentration is designed to provide students with a comprehensive introduction to the neurosciences as well as experience with a variety of standard research techniques used to examine the relationship between the brain and behavior. This concentration is recommended for students who are considering postgraduate careers in biopsychology, neuroscience, pharmaceutical research, and medicine. All graduates of the behavioral neuroscience concentration earn a B.S. degree.
Approximately $250,000 in grants from the National Science Foundation, private foundations and matching funds from the College have enabled significant upgrades to student-faculty research and teaching laboratories. The department maintains advanced laboratory facilities for pre-clinical behavioral psychopharmacology, topographic EEG, eye movements & pupilometry, histology and quantitative neuroanatomy. Stipends are available for up to three students each summer to enable collaborative research projects with members of the faculty.
The capstone experience includes a course in Neuroscience Research Methods and completion of a Senior Thesis. The methods course introduces students to novel and/or advanced research techniques in the neuroscience's and enables students to perfect specific research skills in preparation for a senior thesis. A new topic in neuroscience is examined each time the course is offered (e.g., comparative neuroanatomy, sexual differentiation, neural grafts, EEG/ERP and cognition, neurological assessment). The course includes an independent project that often serves as a pilot study for a senior thesis. During the senior year, each major must complete an independent research project in behavioral neuroscience for his or her senior thesis. Prior to graduation, most students in the concentration have made at least one research presentation at either a regional or national professional conference.
The average score of recent graduates on the ETS Standardized Achievement Test in Psychology has been at the 95th percentile and students have scored at the 98th percentile on the biopsychology sub-test of examination.
Admission Requirements: Washington College is nationally recognized as a selective liberal arts college. In general, accepted applicants have earned grades of 3.3 or better (on a 4.0 scale) and have scored between 1,000 and 1,300 on theirs SATs. Because applicants come from a wide range of public and independent school backgrounds, the College does not employ an admissions "formula" or minimum cut-off points for GPA, class rank, or SAT scores. All admissions decisions are made on an individual basis and in all cases the Admissions Committee considers the following criteria:
Secondary school environment
Courses taken
Grades earned
Counselor recommendation
Teacher recommendation
Activity profile
Personal statement/essay
Standardized test scores
Interviews and campus visits are strongly recommended but not required
How, or Where to Apply: Applications are available from and should be returned to:
Admissions Office
Washington College
300 Washington Avenue
Chestertown, MD 21620-1197
Phone: (410) 778-7700; (800) 422-1782
Fax: (410) 778-7287
Deadline: February 15; Application Fee: $40
Annual Tuition and Fees Costs: Annual Tuition $20,750; Annual Room and Board $5,740; Fees $550
Financial
Assistance Available: WC offers need-based aid and merit based scholarships
to qualified students. Approximately 85% of the students receive institutional
merit and/or need-based financial assistance. The Washington Scholars program
will award $10,000 a year for four years, regardless of financial need, to the
National Honor Society members admitted to Washington College. International
students who qualify for admission to Washington College are eligible for
$2,500-$10,000 Colin Ferguson Grants that are awarded on the basis of scholastic
achievement. Special interest scholarships include: Sophie Kerr Awards (English
majors), and
Types of
Assistance for Undergraduate Students:
Federal Pell and SEOG Grants
Federal Stafford, Perkins and PLUS (parent) Loans
Federal Work Study
State Scholarships and Grants
WC Academic Scholarships (no-need)
AMS Payment Plan
How to
Apply for Financial Aid:
Need-based
aid - Students/parents must complete the Washington College Institutional
Financial Aid Form and FAFSA by February 15. Also required are copies of the
parent and student federal tax returns for the most recent tax year. Students
are notified of aid decisions on a rolling basis
Scholarships
- The application for admissions is also the primary application for all forms
of Washington College academic scholarships.
Scholarship candidates must apply for admission by February 15.
To get more
information contact the:
Office of
Admissions and Student Financial Aid
Washington
College
300 Washington Avenue
Chestertown, MD 21620
Phone: (410) 778-7700; (800) 422-1782
Fax: (410) 778-7287
Or visit: http://www.washingtoncollege.edu:
Last
revised April, 2006
http://www.andp.org/programs/undergraduate/unitedstates/maryland/washing.htm
Directory of Neuroscience Training Programs
© 2007 Association of Neuroscience Departments and Programs
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