The Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences offers graduate training leading to the Ph.D. degree. The program was started in 1968 and admits approximately 5-10 students per year. Research within the department is conducted in several areas, with four focus areas at the graduate level: behavioral neuroscience, cognitive neuroscience, cognitive sciences, and social/personality psychology. Because of its moderate size, the program emphasizes a close working relationship between faculty and students. Students are required to serve apprenticeships in teaching under the direction of faculty members.
Although there is a core curriculum that all students fulfill, the program is flexible. The program is designed to meet individual needs and is usually completed within 4-5 years. During the first year students take a year-long seminar taught by the entire faculty. This seminar explores the diverse areas of psychological and brain sciences represented in the department and provides a solid foundation for further study. First-year students also receive training in statistics. The second and third years include focused seminars and research. Students complete Specialist Examinations in their area before proceeding to their dissertation during the fourth year.
The Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences maintains close ties and affiliations with a number of other departments and programs, including the Dartmouth Medical School. Course work and research is often conducted in conjunction with these other programs.
