Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences

Psychological and Brain Sciences (MS, PhD)

Telephone: (302) 831-2271
Website: https://www.psych.udel.edu/graduate/for-prospective-students
Faculty Listing: https://www.psych.udel.edu/people/faculty

Program Overview

The Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences offers a doctoral degree program in Psychological and Brain Sciences, with specialization in the areas of social psychology, cognitive psychology, behavioral neuroscience, and clinical science. Students in the doctoral program can earn an optional Master’s Degree by submitting a thesis, but all students are required to continue for the doctorate. The objective of the program is to train researchers who will broaden the base of scientific knowledge upon which the discipline of psychology rests. Major emphasis is given to preparation for research. Other emphases include preparing students for teaching and for the practice of clinical psychology. The clinical training program is accredited by the American Psychological Association. The Clinical Science Ph.D. program is also accredited by the Psychological Clinical Science Accreditation System.

Research Facilities

The Psychology Department has excellent laboratory and computer facilities to support graduate training. The research space, much of it newly designed and renovated, allows for research in animal behavior, cognitive processing, child development, electrophysiology, pharmacological and physiological bases of animal behavior, psychophysiology, small group behavior, interpersonal communication, and psycholinguistics. All laboratories have several computers and terminals that link the Department to the University-wide computing system. The Department also has several small, general purpose laboratories, useful for performing animal surgeries, and histology. Training for clinical practice is provided in a separate facility containing several consultation rooms designed for supervision of testing and therapy.

Requirements for Admission

Students are admitted directly to the doctoral program. A combination of criteria is used in evaluating candidates for admission to graduate study in psychology: scores made on the Graduate Record Examination (optional to submit but not required), undergraduate grade-point average, research experience, personal statement, letters of recommendation, and in some cases, information gained from a personal interview. Undergraduate research experience is looked on very favorably. An undergraduate degree in psychology or neuroscience is not required for admission, but students may be required to make up deficiencies in their background by enrolling in appropriate undergraduate courses. Deadline for application is December 1.

Financial Aid

Financial aid is available in the form of teaching and research assistantships, fellowships, and tuition scholarships. Application materials are available from the chair of the Graduate Committee. Please refer to Graduate Fellowships and Assistantships for additional information.

Neuroscience: A 4+1 Bachelor + Master of Science in Neuroscience

Telephone: (302) 831-2271
Website: https://www.psych.udel.edu/graduate/areas-of-study/behavioral-neuroscience/opportunities-for-undergraduates/4+1-program-in-neuroscience
Faculty Listing: https://www.psych.udel.edu/people/faculty

The Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences offers a special 4+1 Bachelor + Master of Science in Neuroscience to highly qualified undergraduate students who are extant Neuroscience majors at the University of Delaware. This program allows exceptional students to accelerate their undergraduate studies in Neuroscience to also earn a Master’s Degree in Neuroscience (30 graduate credits) in 5 years of full-time study at the University of Delaware, with a savings of about 50% in expenses and time required for a traditional Master of Science Degree. Students would normally begin working in a research lab at least 1 year prior to applying. Applications are due December 1 of the applicant’s senior year. Upon being admitted to the program a student would then complete a graduate summer research internship (6 credits) and thesis proposal, complete a fifth-year curriculum of graduate studies in neuroscience, and submit their Master’s Thesis research and defend it orally.

Programs

Master’s

Clinical Psychological Science (MS)

Doctorate

Certificate

4+1

Neuroscience 4+1 (BS/MS)