Psychology & Neuroscience

As Waco is currently under a shelter-in-place order, our faculty, staff, and students will be working remotely and may not be as responsive as they might other be. We have extensive FAQ sections for our undergraduate and graduate programs that should answer many of your questions. For the foreseeable future, email is likely to be the best way to reach our faculty and staff, but we ask your patience as we all work through these challenging circumstances together.

I am always available if I can help, at Charles_Weaver@baylor.edu

-CW

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.).

About the Department

Undergraduate Programs

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

Click here for an informational video for prospective undergraduate students.

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.

Undergraduates

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.

Graduate Studies

Psychology & Neuroscience News

Three Baylor Professors Designated Master Teachers Mar. 31, 2020 WACO, Texas (March 31, 2020) – Baylor University President Linda A. Livingstone, Ph.D., announced today that the designation of Master Teacher – the highest honor granted to Baylor faculty members for sustained excellence in teaching – has been conferred on Professor Robert F. Darden III, Dr. Anne-Marie Schultz and Dr. Charles A. Weaver III. What’s the connection between autism and epilepsy? This Baylor prof is digging in. Mar. 6, 2020 Autism researchers know they’re in it for the long run. Even as more attention has been focused on autism nationally, little is still known about the roots of the disorder. Frustrated families often end up sorting through a mix of rumor and speculation for guidance. Dr. Joaquin Lugo, BS ’99, is looking to change that. … Six simple life hacks from Baylor profs to make your life better in 2020 Jan. 3, 2020 Making a few small changes to your daily life could bring you a surprising amount of joy in the new year. Here are six suggestions from Baylor experts: 1. When it comes to vacation memories, focus before Facebook. Want to preserve your memories? Process the experience and save posting the photo for later, says Baylor … Baylor University Researcher Develops Questionnaire to Assess Patient Attitudes About Adherence to Medical Treatment Plans Dec. 9, 2019 WACO, Texas (Dec. 09, 2019) – Preventing serious medical conditions typically requires patients to follow treatment plans, which may involve taking medication, exercising or following a diet. Although the effectiveness of these plans often depends on patients adhering to their treatment plan, around 50 percent of patients fail to adequately use those plans, studies show.

Alumni Profiles

“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

Neuroscience, Undergraduate Program

“Roshini Kumar, MRC, LPC is a licensed professional counselor, clinical therapist and Baylor alum! She currently works in the outpatient psychology and cochlear implant clinics at Children's Health, and in her private practice clinic in Dallas, TX. She received her B.A. in psychology and studio art at Baylor University, while in the Baylor Interdisciplinary Core. Roshini went on to earn her M.R.C. (master's in rehabilitation counseling psychology) from UT Southwestern Medical Center, with an emphasis in psychosocial functioning of individuals with hearing loss and cochlear implants. She has been published in Ear and Hearing for her work with children with cochlear implants and has participated in media interviews to share psychological education and therapy tools for anxiety, depression, and ADHD. Roshini's future research interests examine the relationship between mood and exercise movement. Roshini credits Baylor University for introducing her to several facets of psychology that fuel her career passions today.”

Roshini Kumar

Psychology, Undergraduate Program

“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

Psychology, Ph.D. Program