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.

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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.

Three Arts & Sciences faculty among world’s most highly cited researchers

Deanna Barch, Richard Vierstra, and Li Yang, all professors in Arts & Sciences at Washington University in St. Louis, have been named to the Institute for Scientific Information’s list of Highly Cited Researchers for 2021.

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Graduate, Awards and Notables, Research

Poverty linked to childhood depression, changes in brain connectivity

Faculty, Awards and Notables, Research

Q & A with Andrew Butler, associate professor of Education and Psychological & Brain Sciences

Outpatient Clinic

The Washington University Psychological Service Center is an outpatient mental health clinic within the Department of Psychological & Brain Sciences in the Graduate School of Arts and 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