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Graduate Program

Although you declare your primary interest in one of these areas when applying to the graduate program, you are exposed to all areas through your courses, research collaboration, and departmental colloquia. The specific path you will take to that goal will depend in large part on your individual interests and the kinds of educational experiences you pursue.  Requirements for course-work are structured to give you a broad exposure to the major areas of psychology as well as basic training in statistics and research methods. Individual programs have additional emphases that reflect their training goals.

Cutting across these four primary research areas, a number of Psychology & Brain Sciences faculty are interested in Diversity Science.  This area focuses on research with and/or about underrepresented and understudied populations, including investigating the causes and consequences of bias, racism, prejudice, and socioeconomic disparities, as well as ways to overcome these challenges.

Areas of Specialization

Aging & Development

The Aging and Development Program trains psychologists at both the predoctoral and postdoctoral levels for careers in research and teaching. Focuses of our program include cognitive changes that accompany the normal aging process as well as pathological conditions, issues related to social psychology, health promotion and neuropsychology, and language and cognitive development in children. The program integration with the other areas of specialization in the Psychological & Brain Sciences department allows you to combine your training in this area with training in other areas of psychology.

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Interdisciplinary Opportunities

Admission, Financial Aid, & Fellowship Opportunities

We admit students for full-time study toward the PhD degree. A standalone master's degree program is not offered. To be admitted next fall, you need to submit your online application by December 1 to the the Office of Graduate Studies in Arts & Sciences.

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Research in 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. Research in Psychological & Brain Sciences includes research on early adversity, the development and expression of bias across the lifespan, intergroup relationships and conflict, and the mechanisms of disparities in health and well-being across the lifespan, as well as in access to health care and education.

learn more about diversity & diversity science at WashU
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Have more questions?

For questions about the Graduate Program, contact Julie Bugg.

Contact Jen Masterson