“Psychological Sciences at Vanderbilt represents a diverse group of scholars in the Department of Psychology in the College Arts and Science, the Department of Psychology and Human Development in Peabody College, and faculty in allied disciplines across the university. Psychological Sciences combines breadth across the traditional domains of academic psychology with depth in specific programs of inquiry likely to contribute to solutions of major scientific, social, and psychological problems.
The graduate program in Psychological Sciences focuses on psychological theory and the development of original empirical research. Students are admitted to work toward the Ph.D. degree in the following areas:
- Clinical Science
- Cognition and Cognitive Neuroscience
- Developmental Science,
- Neuroscience
- Quantitative Methods.
Many of our faculty also participate in an Interdisciplinary Neuroscience Graduate Program at Vanderbilt.
The Department of Psychology and Human Development in Peabody College offer undergraduate majors in Child Development, Cognitive Studies, and Child Studies , as well as a Master of Education program in Child Studies. The Department of Psychology in the Colleges of Art and Science offers an undergraduate major in Psychology.
Recent News
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2012 Psychological Sciences Distinguished Alumnus Award goes to Mringanka Sur
1/23/2012— Mriganka Sur, Newton Professor of Neuroscience and Head of the Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences at MIT, is the 2012 winner of the Distinguished alumnus award. Dr Sur did his Ph.D. work in the laboratory of Jon Kaas, here at Vanderbilt. Mriganka will also double up as our Psychology Day speaker, April 24th! -
Congratulations to Thomas Armstrong
12/16/2011— Congratulations to Thomas Armstrong for receiving the Distinguished Student Research Award in Clinical Psychology by the Society of Clinical Psychology Division 12 of the American Psychological Association. The Distinguished Student Research Award honors a graduate student in clinical psychology who has made exemplary theoretical or empirical contributions to research in the field. -
Congratulations to Michael Mack, the 2011 winner of the Jum Nunnally Dissertation Award!
9/27/2011— The Jum Nunnally Dissertation Award recognizes a recent outstanding doctoral dissertation in the Department of Psychology. Michael Mack's thesis exemplifies excellence, hard work, and intellectual ingenuity, and is very deserving of this award. Jum Nunnally came to Vanderbilt in 1960. In 1961, he became the second chair of the department. He served as chair from 1961-1964 and again from 1967-1970. Under Jum’s leadership, the department grew substantially in stature, including significant increases in both the number and quality of the faculty. A memorial fund to support student awards was established in 1982 by his friends and family. Proceeds from this fund were used to establish the Jum Nunnally Dissertation Award in 2010, which was awarded to Jennifer Richler and Peiyan Wong. The recipient receives a certificate and a $500 award. -
David Zald awarded a Chancellor's Research Award
8/26/2011— David Zald and Bob Kessler from the Department of Radiology were awarded a Chancellor's Research Award today for their pioneering work on the linkage between personality and individual differences in dopaminergic function. This is highly important work that also involved very significant methodological innovations allowing successful imaging of the midbrain DA system. Congratulations to David and Bob and their other collaborators from the Psychological Sciences and Neuroscience programs, including current faculty (Stephen Benning, David Cole), current students (Michael Treadway), and former students (Josh Buckholtz). -
Rittle-Johnson wins Peabody Excellence in Research Award
5/11/2011—
Bethany Rittle-Johnson, Associate Professor of Psychology, was awarded the 2011 Peabody Award for Excellence in Research. Rittle-Johnson's research focuses on the psychological processes involved in the teaching and learning of mathematics in the classroom. In presenting the award, Dean Camilla Benbow noted that Rittle-Johnson's investigations of phenomena such as the researsal of knowledge and the bemefits of self-explanation have the potential to greatly impact mathematics instruction.
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Cognitive neuroscientist Isabel Gauthier enjoys the process of discovery
5/11/2011— Vanderbilt View highlights Professor Gauthier in a story entitled "Joy in the Journey" -
Awards to Graduate Students at Psychology Day
4/28/2011— Two awards were presented to graduate students in the Department of Psychology during the Psychology Day celebration on Thursday April 28. First, congratulations to Tom Armstrong and Rankin McGugin, co-winners of the Pat Burns Memorial Graduate Student Research Award, which recognizes outstanding achievement in research by a current graduate student in the Department of Psychology. Second, congratulations to Becky St. Clair, winner of the William F. Hodges Teaching Assistant Award, which recognizes outstanding work as a teaching assistant in the Department of Psychology.