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.

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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.

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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.

Psychological & Brain Sciences named top 10 graduate program by U.S. News & World Report

U.S. News & World Report has named WashU’s Department of Psychological & Brain Sciences one of the top 10 psychology graduate programs in the nation — a significant milestone for the department and Arts & Sciences.

“Psychological and brain sciences has the distinct honor of being Arts & Sciences’ first PhD program to break the top 10 in the past two decades,” said Feng Sheng Hu, the Richard G. Engelsmann Dean of Arts & Sciences. “This is an incredible testament to the visionary leadership of department chairs past and present, the immense talent of our faculty, the dedication of our graduate students, and the groundbreaking research we are accomplishing together.”

To read more

Zacks installed as the Edgar James Swift Professor

Jeffrey M. Zacks installed as the Edgar James Swift Professor

At his February installation ceremony, the chair of the Department of Psychological & Brain Sciences and professor of radiology presented his lab’s recent work and discussed how people’s memories perform better when they break longer events into shorter pieces, known as segmentation. The way our brains process and organize information can tell us a lot about human development, he said, especially when it is affected by diseases. “I’m in this line of work because I’m captivated by the bare, bald facts of human experience,” Zacks said.

Eight brain science breakthroughs powered by WashU graduate students

Graduate students in WashU’s Department of Psychological & Brain Sciences have been at the forefront of some of the most significant research taking place in the field of psychology. Collaborating with the department’s talented faculty and researchers across WashU, these students have made discoveries with direct implications for human health and well-being.

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Department Job Openings

The Department is growing vigorously, including hiring this year for multiple positions in Memory & Cognition and Lifespan Development at the Assistant or Associate level.

To see the full list of job openings

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