Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences

The Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences offers three undergraduate degrees and a minor. These include programs of BA in Psychology, BS in Psychology, BS in Behavioral and Cognitive Neuroscience, and a minor in Psychology. All degree programs prepare students to pursue graduate study in related fields and to enter entry level positions for careers.

Psychology majors receive a rigorous program of undergraduate education and training that encourages critical thinking, lifelong learning, and the analysis and integration of information about individuals and groups of people. The curriculum leading to a degree in psychology provides students with an understanding of human behavior and the ability to use scientific methods to answer questions about human behavior. Students are prepared to enter a variety of graduate and professional programs in psychology and related fields (such as law, medical school), as well as to enter entry-level employment in a number of fields (such as business, human resources). BA/BS Degrees: Students majoring in psychology may earn either the Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science degree. The psychology course requirements for the two degrees are identical; they differ with respect to the requirements in other disciplines. For example, the BA degree requires courses in a foreign language and extra humanities hours, whereas the BS degree requires additional hours in the physical and biological sciences. The two degrees are offered to allow students to complete their non-psychology course of study in fields of greatest interest to them. Thus, students who have stronger interests in the natural and life sciences should pursue the BS degree, whereas those with stronger interests in foreign language and the humanities should pursue the BA degree. Both degrees provide students with the necessary curriculum requirements to pursue graduate study in psychology in most institutions, as well as other professional fields such as law. Students planning to apply to medical school or other physical health professional programs are advised to select the BS degree program.

Behavioral and Cognitive Neuroscience majors receive a rigorous program of undergraduate education and training in the life and physical sciences, with an emphasis on the study of how the nervous system impacts behavior and cognitive functions. This interdisciplinary field integrates several disciplines, including psychology, psychiatry, biology, chemistry, and physics. Because the study is interdisciplinary, the Neuroscience major involves multiple units, including the Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, the Department of Biology, and the School of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences in collaboration with the Department of Neuroscience and Experimental Therapeutics (NExT) in the School of Medicine in offering this degree, as well as the Texas A&M Institute for Neuroscience (TAMIN).  The concentration of this degree that focuses on Behavioral and Cognitive Neuroscience is housed within the Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences. Students will develop competency in foundational coursework in the life and physical sciences, including biology, chemistry, and physics. Based on their individual career aspirations and interests, students will complete coursework in neuroscience that involves psychological and biological processes, as well as translational issues relevant to medical science and/or pharmacology, neural engineering, and biochemistry. Nationwide, there is increasing interest in neuroscience programs and training. In part, this interest is driven by changes in the employment market that focus on technical and medical support jobs. Students completing a BS in Neuroscience will be well prepared for graduate study, as well as to enter entry-level healthcare and technical occupations.

Honors: Students who qualify for the University Honors Program should contact the Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences about the department’s own honors program which places an emphasis on small classes and independent research experience.

Minors: A non-psychology minor is optional for psychology majors.  A psychology minor is available for non-psychology majors. For more information about Psychology undergraduate programs, please visit the Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences website.

Albanese, Brian, Assistant Professor
Psychological & Brain Sciences
PHD, Florida State University, 2020

Alexander, Allison, Lecturer
Psychological & Brain Sciences
PHD, Texas A&M University, 2014

Alexander-Packard, Gerianne, Professor
Psychological & Brain Sciences
PHD, McGill University, 1991

Anderson, Brian A, Associate Professor
Psychological & Brain Sciences
PHD, John Hopkins University, 2014

Arthur Jr, Winfred E, Professor
Psychological & Brain Sciences
PHD, The University of Akron, 1988

Atoba, Olabisi, Instructional Associate Professor
Psychological & Brain Sciences
PHD, Texas A&M University, 2017

Bergman, Mindy E, Professor
Psychological & Brain Sciences
PHD, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 2001

Bernard, Jessica A, Associate Professor
Psychological & Brain Sciences
PHD, University of Michigan, 2012

Bolanos, Carlos A, Professor
Psychological & Brain Sciences
PHD, Northeastern University, 2000

Brooker, Rebecca J, Associate Professor
Psychological & Brain Sciences
PHD, Pennsylvania State University, 2011

Burte, Heather, Research Assistant Professor
Psychological & Brain Sciences
PHD, University of California-Santa Barbara, 2014

Dawson Mathur, Vani A, Assistant Professor
Psychological & Brain Sciences
PHD, Northwestern University, 2012

Dowd, Sara, Lecturer
Psychological & Brain Sciences
PHD, Texas A&M University, 2021

Edens, John F, Professor
Psychological & Brain Sciences
PHD, Texas A&M University, 1996

Edens, Pamela S, Instructional Associate Professor
Psychological & Brain Sciences
PHD, Texas A&M University, 1997

Eitan, Shoshana, Associate Professor
Psychological & Brain Sciences
PHD, Weizmann Institute of Science, 1997

Fields, Sherecce A, Professor
Psychological & Brain Sciences
PHD, University of South Florida, 2008

Gaylord Harden, Noni, Professor
Psychological & Brain Sciences
PHD, The University of Memphis, 2003

Grau, James W, Professor
Psychological & Brain Sciences
PHD, University of Pennsylvania, 1985

Heffer Jr, Robert W, Clinical Professor
Psychological & Brain Sciences
PHD, Louisiana State University and A&M College, 1988

Hicks, Joshua A, Professor
Psychological & Brain Sciences
PHD, University of Missouri at Columbia, 2009

Howard, Daniel, Professor
Psychological & Brain Sciences
PHD, Vanderbilt University, 1992

Hull, Rachel G, Senior Lecturer
Psychological & Brain Sciences
PHD, Texas A&M University, 2003

Jackson, Cheryl, Lecturer
Psychological & Brain Sciences
PHD, Kansas State University, 2007

Lench, Heather C, Professor
Psychological & Brain Sciences
PHD, University of California Irvine, 2007

Leunes, Arnold D, Senior Professor
Psychological & Brain Sciences
PHD, North Texas State College, 1969

MacNamara, Annmarie E, Associate Professor
Psychological & Brain Sciences
PHD, Stony Brook University, 2013

Maren, Stephen A, University Distinguished Professor
Psychological & Brain Sciences
PHD, University of Southern California, 1993

Meagher, Mary W, Professor
Psychological & Brain Sciences
PHD, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 1989

Midgette, Allegra, Assistant Professor
Psychological & Brain Sciences
PHD, University of California at Berkeley, 2019

Mochinushi, Yumiko, Instructional Assistant Professor
Psychological & Brain Sciences
PHD, Florida Institute of Technology, 2019

Morey, Leslie C, Professor
Psychological & Brain Sciences
PHD, University of Florida, 1981

Moscarello, Justin M, Assistant Professor
Psychological & Brain Sciences
PHD, University of California, Santa Barbara, 2010

Nagaya, Naomi, Research Assistant Professor
Psychological & Brain Sciences
PHD, University of Southern California, 1993

Orr, Joseph M, Associate Professor
Psychological & Brain Sciences
PHD, University of Michigan, 2011

Osborne, Laura, Lecturer
Psychological & Brain Sciences
PHD, Texas A&M University, 2019

Packard, Mark G, Professor
Psychological & Brain Sciences
PHD, McGill University, 1991

Payne, Stephanie C, Professor
Psychological & Brain Sciences
PHD, George Mason University, 2000

Rholes, William S, Professor
Psychological & Brain Sciences
PHD, Princeton University, 1978

Sabat, Isaac E, Associate Professor
Psychological & Brain Sciences
PHD, George Mason University, 2016

Schlegel, Rebecca J, Professor
Psychological & Brain Sciences
PHD, University of Missouri at Columbia, 2009

Schmeichel, Brandon J, Professor
Psychological & Brain Sciences
PHD, Florida State University, 2005

Sferra, Michale, Lecturer
Psychological & Brain Sciences
MS, Texas A&M University, 2016

Smallman, Rachel E, Associate Professor
Psychological & Brain Sciences
PHD, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 2010

Smith, Rachel J, Assistant Professor
Psychological & Brain Sciences
PHD, University of Pennsylvania, 2008

Smith, Steven M, Professor
Psychological & Brain Sciences
PHD, University of Wisconsin, Madison, 1979

Snyder, Douglas K, Professor
Psychological & Brain Sciences
PHD, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 1978

Thurston, Idia, Associate Professor
Psychological & Brain Sciences
PHD, University of South Florida, 2010

Vaid, Jyotsna, Professor
Psychological & Brain Sciences
PHD, McGill University, 1982

Vess, Matthew K, Associate Professor
Psychological & Brain Sciences
PHD, University of Missouri, 2010

Wellman, Paul J, Professor
Psychological & Brain Sciences
PHD, Iowa State University, 1980

Worthy, Darrell A, Associate Professor
Psychological & Brain Sciences
PHD, The University of Texas at Austin, 2010

Yamauchi, Takashi, Associate Professor
Psychological & Brain Sciences
PHD, Columbia University, 1997