Program Overview
Introduction to the Psychology Program
The Department of Psychology at Vanderbilt University comprises over two dozen faculty members actively engaged in advancing the scientific study of brain, behavior, and cognitive processes. The undergraduate program introduces students to the major areas of contemporary psychology, including clinical science, human cognition, developmental psychology, social psychology, and neuroscience.
Program Overview
The bachelor of arts in psychology offers a general program of study for students who desire a broad background in contemporary psychology. The Honors program provides greater concentration in psychological science. Beginning in Fall 2026, the department will also offer a bachelor of science degree, which will focus more on natural science and math requirements.
Courses
Psychology courses include broad introductory lectures, survey courses of the major areas in psychology, and more focused topics taught in both lecture and seminar formats. Recent examples include:
- General Psychology
- Abnormal Psychology
- Neuroscience
- Personality
- Emotion
- Perception
- Movement
- Mind and Brain
- Schizophrenia
- Depression
- Quantitative Methods
- The Visual System
- Human Sexuality
- Introduction to Clinical Psychology
- Industrial/Organizational Psychology
- Animal Behavior and Evolution
- Health Psychology
Honors Program
The Honors program in psychological sciences offers exceptional opportunities for involvement in the process of discovering and developing new knowledge. For juniors and seniors, the program includes special seminars and collaboration with a faculty mentor on an original research project. Students apply to the Honors program at the end of their sophomore year or middle of their junior year. Those who complete the program receive Honors or High Honors in psychology on their degree.
Recent Honors Theses
Examples of recent honors theses include:
- Kareena Gor, Does Teamwork Make the Dream Work? Investigating the relationship between social motivation, question-asking, and word learning
- Amy Stevens, Manipulating the Brain During Problem-Solving: Direct-Current Stimulation of the Prefrontal Cortex Prior to a Classic Problem-Solving Task
- Pax Poggi, Exploring the Relationship Between Higher-Order Neural Interactivity and Stimulus Complexity
- Taylor Boothby, Is What I Think Really What I Think?: Examining Implicit and Explicit Attitudes Toward Stuttering
- Tori Grice, The Role of Executive Function on Adolescent Affective Problems
- Quela Royster, Communication Differences in African American Mother-Child Dyads when Mothers have Varying Degrees of Depressive Symptomology
Special Opportunities
Directed Study and Independent Study
Directed study and independent study courses offer additional opportunities for gaining research experience by collaborating with faculty on contemporary research projects.
Internships
Students may earn psychology course credit for internships within the spectrum of psychological science, including but not limited to: neuroscience, clinical psychology, applied psychology, human development, and behavior and performance.
Psi Chi
The department houses a chapter of Psi Chi, the National Psychology Honor Society. Membership in Psi Chi is an earned honor that is for life. Psychology majors and minors can apply for membership after completing three semesters of college and at least nine hours of study in psychology, with a minimum GPA of 3.0 in psychology classes and a 3.0 GPA overall.
Combined BA/MA 4+1 Program
The department offers the opportunity for students to earn a bachelors degree (B.A.) and a masters degree (M.A.) in five years of study. This is a highly selective program with an intensive research emphasis. It is primarily intended for students who are considering a Ph.D. or M.D./Ph.D. in a research-oriented graduate program in psychology, psychiatry, cognitive science, neuroscience, learning sciences, or related disciplines.
After Vanderbilt
Psychology majors succeed in a variety of careers. Many continue their research training in psychology or neuroscience at leading graduate schools. Others pursue professional training in law, medicine, and business. Still, others gain employment in areas such as teaching, consulting, and social work. Recent career paths of graduates include:
- Lillian Zheng (BA 24) M.D. candidate, Duke University School of Medicine
- Shery Girgis (BA 23) J.D. candidate, Vanderbilt Law School
- Dylan Kistler (BA 22) District Behavior Specialist innovating social games for neurodiverse groups, Allen Independent School District, TX
- Sarah Lempres (BA 21) Ph.D. candidate in clinical psychology, Yale University
- Stella Cea (BA 20), M.S. clinical mental health counseling student at Johns Hopkins University School of Education
- Mara Davis (BA 15), Chief Compliance Officer at Altimeter Capital, New York City
- Alexander King (BA 15) Senior Financial Advisor, Merrill Lynch, New York City
Faculty
The psychology faculty have made path-breaking contributions to clinical science, cognitive science, and neuroscience. They embrace opportunities to share their knowledge and findings with students through teaching, research projects, and informal conversations. The faculty are proud of their dual excellence in teaching and scholarship and are especially proud of their history of engaging students in research.