Department of

Psychology and Neuroscience

This is a vibrant and busy department, with approximately 800 undergraduate majors, 60 doctoral students, 24 full-time faculty, and four full-time staff members. We offer a Bachelor of Science and Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology as well as a Bachelor of Science degree in Neuroscience. We offer doctoral degrees in Psychology (Ph.D.), with tracks in Behavioral Neuroscience, Social Psychology, and General Experimental Psychology, and an APA-Accredited Clinical Psychology (Psy.D.).

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Undergraduate Programs

Psychology and neuroscience are comprehensive and versatile majors, providing educational foundation for advanced study in any field.

Psychology

Psychology is the study of the mind and behavior. It seeks to understand the origins and processes of thought and emotion by drawing from biological, social, and cultural aspects of the human experience.

Neuroscience

Neuroscience is the study of the nervous system with a special focus on the brain. As a multidisciplinary field, neuroscience draws from biology, psychology, chemistry and other areas to develop a thorough understanding of the nervous system and related disorders. From molecules and genes to behavior and motor skills, neuroscience spans the full range of the nervous system.

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Graduate Programs

The department offers two doctoral degrees: Doctor of Psychology (Psy.D.) in Clinical Psychology and Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in Psychology.

Psy.D. in Clinical Psychology

The Psy.D. degree prepares students as practitioner-scientists in clinical psychology. The program is fully accredited by the American Psychological Association. Formal course work is integrated with practicum and research experiences to produce highly qualified practitioner-scientists in this area of specialization.

Ph.D. In Psychology

The Ph.D. program in psychology prepares students for university teaching/research, and applied positions in universities, hospitals, industry, or government. The program has three training tracks: Behavioral Neuroscience, Social Psychology, and General Experimental Psychology.

Psychology Clinic

The Baylor Psychology Clinic is a teaching clinic that provides assessment and therapy services to Waco and the surrounding areas.

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Psychology & Neuroscience News
Communities, Trauma and Resilience Aug. 27, 2019 Community. For Sara Dolan, a nationally-recognized Baylor professor, researcher and "Citizen Psychologist," it’s the place where her research finds its deepest meaning. When communities experience trauma, she partners with others to illuminate paths to recovery. Caregivers of People with Dementia Are Losing Sleep Aug. 23, 2019 WACO, Texas (Aug. 23, 2019) — Caregivers of people with dementia lose between 2.5 to 3.5 hours of sleep weekly due to difficulty falling asleep and maintaining sleep — a negative for themselves and potentially for those who receive their care, Baylor University sleep researchers say. Baylor Media and Public Relations: Psychological Stress Is Hard on the Body, but Coping Mechanisms Can Make for Healthier, Happier Lives Aug. 20, 2019 Aug. 19, 2019 Annie Ginty, Ph.D., assistant professor of psychology and neuroscience in Baylor’s College of Arts & Sciences, and a University of California-Irvine collaborator used a grant from AXA Research to produce three short videos to help students and the general public understand what stress is, what it does to our bodies and how to handle it. Ginty researches the relationship between biological responses to stress and adaptation during a stressful life transition. KWBU-FM (Waco/NPR): Baylor Connections: Dr. Sarah Schnitker, Associate Professor of Psychology and Neuroscience Aug. 2, 2019 Aug. 2, 2019 AUDIO: On the latest episode of Baylor Connections, host Derek Smith interviews Sarah Schnitker, Ph.D., associate professor of psychology and neuroscience, who was inspired to join the Baylor faculty last year by the Illuminate vision of a preeminent Christian research university. Earlier this year, she was awarded a $2.6 million grant from the John Templeton Foundation to galvanize widespread development of virtue interventions for adolescents. In this Baylor Connections, she shares what that looks like and examines how individuals can better develop virtues like patience in their own lives. Baylor Connections is a weekly radio program/podcast that introduces the people behind Baylor’s teaching, research and distinct role in higher education.
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Upcoming Events
Oct
1
2019
Dr. Chris Turck Lecture, Max Planck Institute of Psychiatry
Oct
1
2019
Beall Russell Lecture: Creativity in the Humanities
Oct
9
2019
Deadline for students to submit transcripts for inclusion in registration time-ticket assignment for Spring 2020.
Oct
11
2019
Psychology & Neuroscience Homecoming Reception More Events

Alumni Profiles

“Dr. Tom Carpenter completed his doctorate at Baylor in 2015 and immediately moved into a professorship at Seattle Pacific University. Tom credits the hard work of Baylor faculty in shaping his growth and success. 'Baylor is an unusual place. On one hand, most faculty are student centered, investing more time and care into their students than they might get at other institutions. On the other hand, faculty produce high-quality research at high rates. It's an impressive combination that provides a phenomenal opportunity to students.'”
Dr. Tom Carpenter
Dr. Tom Carpenter
Psychology, Ph.D. Program
“I graduated in 2011 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Neuroscience. Currently, I am the head of Biorepository at the START Cancer Center in San Antonio, TX. I have been involved in several projects that led to co-authorships, including research on various types of cancers, from breast cancer to chordoma, in a preclinical setting using Patient-Derived Xenograft (PDX) models. My time at Baylor has not only expanded my knowledge in Neuroscience, but has also encouraged me to apply my education in a dynamic way. I'm thankful and proud to call Baylor home!”
Melissa Rundle
Melissa Rundle
Neuroscience, Undergraduate Program
“I majored in neuroscience at Baylor (class of 1997) and from the first course I took, was hooked! I'm now an Associate Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at Vanderbilt University Medical Center, and spend my time trying to understand the relationships between brain and behavior in individuals with autism spectrum disorder, particularly with respect to sensory processing differences in autism. To do this, my lab uses tools like psychophysics, behavioral testing, fMRI, and EEG. To learn more about Dr. Cascio's research, visit www.casciolab.com.”
Dr. Carissa Cascio
Dr. Carissa Cascio
Neuroscience, Undergraduate Program


Would you like to be featured on Alumni Profiles? Please email Psychology_Neuroscience@baylor.edu for more information.