What Are The Best Sensation and Perception Programs in the Country?

Sensation and Perception is a popular sub-field within the broader field of psychology. In psychology, the field of sensation and perception include the ways in which our brain interprets senses, such as vision, auditory, vestibular, and pain senses. This area also includes the study of illusions such as motion aftereffect, color constancy, auditory illusions, and depth perception.

What is Sensation and Perception?

Sensation and perception are closely inter-related systems that occur in the brain. They play complimentary but different roles in how people and animals interpret the world around them. Sensation refers to the process of sensing our environment through touch, taste, sight, sound, and smell. This data is sent to the brain in the form of raw data where perception comes into play. Perception is the way we interpret these sensations and make sense of things that surround us.

What are the Best Sensation and Perception Degree Programs?

According to the Princeton Review’s Gourman Report list of the best Sensation and Perception Graduate Programs, there are ten educational leaders in this field.

#1 – Stanford University – Located in Stanford, California
#2 – University of Michigan – Located in Ann Arbor, Michigan
#3 – Duke University – Located in Durham, North Carolina
#4 – University of Pennsylvania – Located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
#5 – University of Minnesota – Twin Cities – Located in Minneapolis, Minnesota
#6 – Ohio State University – Located in Columbus, Ohio
#7 – University of Wisconsin – Located in Madison, Wisconsin
#8 – University of Washington – Located in Seattle, Washington
#9 – University of Texas – Located in Austin, Texas
#10 – Columbia University – Located in New York, New York

How Much Will a Graduate Degree in Sensation and Perception Cost?

The tuition rate for a graduate level degree in Sensation and Perception depends upon a number of relevant factors. These include the college or university you attend, the specialty area you pursue and the region of the country where you pursue your degree. One of the most relevant factors is the level of graduate training you plan to complete. A master’s degree in this field will cost considerably less than a doctoral degree. According to the American Psychological Association (APA) the median annual tuition for state residents enrolled in a public master’s degree program was $5,343 in 2008-2009, which was an increase from tuition data reported in 2007-2008 ($4,590). The annual tuition rates for nonresidents were approximately three times the resident amount, at $13,088. For students enrolled in doctoral programs the APA stated that the median annual tuition for state residents enrolled in a public doctoral departments was $7,104 in 2008-2009, which was an increase from tuition data reported in 2007-2008 ($6,819). Annual tuition rates for nonresidents were $16,966.

Choosing a top ranked graduate program in Sensation and Perception increases graduates opportunities upon graduation. These are ten of the best programs in the country. For more information on the best Sensation and Perception graduate programs check out the Princeton Review’s “Gourman Report of Graduate Programs” (8th edition).