Psychology & Neuroscience

Learn about our Ph.D. and Psy.D. Virtual Open House on Oct. 27th

As we continue to exercise caution during this time, some faculty may still be Working from Home. We encourage you to contact us via email with your questions.

Graduate Programs: Laura Sumrall@baylor.edu, Graduate Studies Coordinator
Undergraduate Advising, including questions about courses, waitlists or other issues:
- Psychology Majors - Dr. Tamara Lawrence@baylor.edu, Psychology Advisor
- Neuroscience Majors - Dr. Karenna Malavanti@baylor.edu, Neuroscience Advisor
Prospective undergraduate students - Dr. Hugh Riley@baylor.edu, Undergraduate Program Director
The Baylor Psychology Clinic (located at 801 Washington Ave.) Becky Charles@baylor.edu, Clinic Office Manager

The Psychology and Neuroscience Office, BSB B.309, is open Monday-Friday from 8am-12pm and 1 - 5 p.m.
One person at a time is allowed to enter the office and masks must be worn at all times.

I am always available if I can help: 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

Department's Commitment to Diversity, Equity and Inclusion

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

'Measuring the (Im)measurable:' Baylor Researchers Earn Grant to Test Spiritual Impact of Art Sep. 17, 2020 WACO, Texas (Sept. 17, 2020) – What takes place inside a person when they encounter beautiful pieces of art? While most people would acknowledge being moved by aesthetic and artistic beauty, the changes sparked by such an engagement seem beyond the realm of measurement. Two Baylor psychology and neuroscience researchers, however, are working to change that. Meet Baylor’s nationally recognized researcher on stress and health Sep. 4, 2020 It’s Dr. Annie Ginty’s job to study stress — a subject we can all relate to. In fact, when she tells people her area of expertise, they generally joke that they’d be excellent subjects for her research because of all of the pressures they face. More specifically, Ginty seeks to better understand the links between … People with Lower Biological Response to Standard Stress Task Showed More PTSD Symptoms After COVID-19 Crisis Began Aug. 30, 2020 WACO, Texas (Aug. 31, 2020) — People who did not have a large heart rate response to a stress task surprised researchers later — after the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic — when they showed more symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder related to the crisis than others who also did the stress task and COVID-19 stress ratings. Baylor Professors Receive Grant to Study Simulated Hippotherapy Treatment for Children with Autism Aug. 21, 2020 WACO, Texas (Aug. 21, 2020) - An interdisciplinary team of Baylor University scientists and engineers has been awarded a nearly $600,000 grant to study the effectiveness of a horseback-riding simulator as a treatment for children with autism.

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