Psychological & Brain Sciences

Excellence in Learning and Research

Graduate Program

Our graduate program offers students broad exposure to the major areas of psychology as well as basic training in statistics and research methods, and opportunities for students to explore their own interests across our areas of strength.

More about graduate studies

Excellence in Learning and Research

Research

The department has research programs in aging and development; clinical psychology; behavior, brain & cognition; social and personality psychology; and diversity science.

learn more about our research

Excellence in Learning and Research

Diversity Science

Diversity Science is not a separate area of graduate study in the Department, but provides an opportunity to apply work in all areas of psychological science to understanding the causes of bias and disparities and eventually to eliminate them. Diversity Science is the scientific study of the causes of racism, socioeconomic and health disparities, and bias.

learn about diversity science

About Our Department

The Department of Psychological & Brain Sciences at Washington University was established nearly 100 years ago and remains committed to excellence in the field. We currently support four primary research programs: aging and development; clinical psychology; behavior, brain & cognition; and social and personality psychology, with an additional emphasis on diversity science that cuts across all of these areas of specialization.

Our Community

The Psychological & Brain Sciences department has about 80 graduate students in residence and graduates approximately 150 undergraduate majors a year. Psychological & Brain Sciences is one of the most popular undergraduate majors at Washington University. We have two complementary majors in the department, and also participate in the Philosophy, Neuroscience and Psychology major. Although we specialize in the four areas of research described above, the department provides a full undergraduate program with courses in many other topics within Psychological & Brain Sciences. We also offer a lively rotation of workshops, seminars, talks, and other opportunities for interaction and engagement, providing opportunities to learn about the research happening across the department, while also bringing in noted experts from around the world.

Department Job Openings

The Department is growing vigorously, including hiring this year of a Director of Clinical Training, the Stuckenberg Chair in Human Development and Moral Values, and two positions in Clinical Science

To see the full list of job openings

Derek Isaacowitz starting Fall 2024

About Derek Isaacowitz

My lab investigates the links between attention and emotion throughout the adult lifespan. We are interested in how individuals of different ages, from the teens to the 90s, manage their own emotions and perceive emotions in others, and we try to understand the role of visual attention in producing age differences both in the regulation and perception of emotions.

To find out more about Dr. Derek Isaacowitz

Braver awarded MURI grant for attention control strategies research

A multi-institutional research project led by Todd Braver, professor of psychological and brain sciences, received an $8.8 million grant from the U.S. Department of Defense to study attention control and strategies to improve it.

Find out more

Outpatient Clinic

The Washington University Psychological Service Center is an outpatient mental health clinic within the Department of Psychological & Brain Sciences in the Office of Graduate Studies in Arts & Sciences. This treatment facility, which was established in 1972, provides training opportunities for advanced doctoral students in the clinical psychology program as well as low-cost treatment options for members of the St. Louis community. Confidential services are available to adolescents, adults, and couples in the greater St. Louis area.

Learn more about the Psychological Service Center