Program Overview

Introduction to the UCLA Department of Psychology Graduate Research Program

The UCLA Psychology Department offers graduate Ph.D. training with area emphases in Behavioral Neuroscience, Clinical, Cognitive, Developmental, Health Psychology, Quantitative, Social, and Social and Affective Neuroscience Psychology. In all of these fields, the central objective is to train researchers dedicated to increasing the body of scientific knowledge upon which the discipline of psychology rests.

Program Overview

The program is designed to prepare psychologists to function effectively as researchers, college and university instructors, and professional research psychologists. Rigorous scientific training is the foundation of the UCLA Psychology Ph.D. program. As part of this training, the Department encourages student participation in the activities of a number of related departments, schools, or organized research units of the University.

Research Areas and Facilities

• Behavioral Neuroscience
• Clinical Psychology
• Cognitive Neuroscience
• Cognitive Psychology
• Computational Cognition
• Developmental Psychology
• Health Psychology
• Learning & Behavior
• Quantitative Psychology
• Social Psychology
• Social and Affective Neuroscience The Department has extensive research facilities, including the Brain Research Institute, the interdisciplinary Neuroscience and Cognitive programs, the Institute for Social Science Research, and the Neuropsychiatric Institute. Other departmental resources include the Psychology Clinic. Close working relations with local hospitals, clinics, and institutes provide a unique opportunity for year-round training and research.

Career Opportunities

Graduates are prepared for careers in both academic and applied settings, including positions at universities and colleges, research and governmental organizations, and business and industry.

University Context

The University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) is one of the ten campuses of the University of California, located in west Los Angeles, five miles from the Pacific Ocean. The campus is bordered on the north by the Santa Monica mountains and the new Getty Museum, and at its southern gate by Westwood Village, an entertainment magnet with theaters, restaurants, and the Armand Hammer Museum.

Location and Accessibility

The treasures of the Los Angeles County Museum of Art are a few miles to the east, as are the communities of Hollywood, Beverly Hills, and the downtown business and entertainment districts. UCLA’s exceptionally strong library system perfectly complements the Department’s scholarly activities.