About Psychological & Brain Sciences in Washington University in St. Louis

Psychology aims to understand the experiential, social, biological, cognitive, and developmental factors of behavior to know why we do what we do, what influences our actions and thoughts, and how to modify our behavior. The Department of Psychological & Brain Sciences at Washington University is a multi-faceted program that provides the tools needed to critically evaluate information, theorize alternative hypotheses, extract the information that will be necessary to distinguish among alternative possibilities, and write proficiently. These tools are essential in developing an understanding of ourselves, but also in developing an understanding those who are different from us.

Undergraduates can choose between two majors, psychological and brain sciences or cognitive neuroscience. Within the psychological and brain sciences major, students can choose a supplemental concentration: cognition and children; reading, language, and language acquisition; cognitive neuroscience; lifespan development; personality and individual differences; or experimental psychopathology. Undergraduates can also choose to minor in psychological and brain sciences. The department offers a doctoral program which has four areas of specialization for admitted students, including aging and development; behavior, brain, and cognition; clinical psychology; and social and personality psychology.

The faculty consists of active teachers, researchers, and leaders in the fields, who have won numerous awards and recognition for their teaching and research. Faculty specialize in four main areas: aging and development; clinical psychology; behavior, brain, and cognition; and social/ personality. A number of faculty are also interested diversity science, which 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. Department faculty members collaborate with researchers in the School of Medicine, the Brown School of Social Work, the Olin Business School, the Law School, and departments within Arts & Sciences including education and sociology.

There are numerous and varied opportunities to become involved in research conducted within the department, which permit you to become intimately involved in ongoing psychological research and provides hands-on experience. One specific program called the Practicum in Applied Behavior Analysis offers an opportunity for you to be trained in applied-behavior-analytic techniques and to work with a child with autism spectrum disorder. Majors are also invited to join the honorary society, Psi Chi.

Academic qualification equivalents

• Applicants must have a bachelor’s degree 

English language requirements 

• IELTS : 7.0
• TOEFL IBT: 100
• PTE : 68