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
Baylor Psychologist Sara Dolan, Ph.D., Recognized by APA as ‘Citizen Psychologist’ Dec. 10, 2018 WACO, Texas (Dec. 10, 2018) – Sara Dolan, Ph.D., associate professor of psychology and neuroscience in Baylor University’s College of Arts & Sciences and director of the doctor of clinical psychology (Psy.D.) graduate program, has been recognized as one of 30 “Citizen Psychologists” by the president of the American Psychological Association. Better Sleep — Not ‘All-Nighters’ — Helps Students on Final Exams Dec. 3, 2018 WACO, Texas (Dec. 3, 2018) — Students given extra points if they met “The 8-hour Challenge” — averaging eight hours of sleep for five nights during final exams week — did better than those who snubbed (or flubbed) the incentive, according to Baylor University research. Baylor University Mourns Passing of Longtime Psychology Professor Jim Patton Nov. 1, 2018 WACO, Texas (Nov. 1, 2018) - It is with deep sadness that we share with you the passing of Jim H. Patton, Ph.D., professor of psychology, neuroscience and biomedical studies and the department’s graduate program director. Dr. Patton died last night at home. Services are pending at this time. Surveying Patients about Health Care Providers Is Likely of Little Use Jul. 16, 2018 WACO, Texas (July 16, 2018) — For anyone who has ever taken a survey after a medical appointment and wondered whether the effort was worthwhile, the answer is probably “No,” says a Baylor University psychologist. But a study of a new tool he developed suggests it works better than others.
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Upcoming Events
Feb
20
2019
Deadline for students to submit transcripts for inclusion in registration time-ticket assignment for Summer/Fall 2019.
Feb
26
2019
Mathematics Dept. invites all of Waco to attend dedication ceremony for the late Dr. Vivienne Malone-Mayes
Mar
4
2019
Biomedical Working Group
Mar
6
2019
Registration time-tickets viewable in BearWeb for Summer/Fall 2019. 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.