Bachelor of Science in Psychology

Psychology majors learn how biological, cognitive, social and cultural factors interact to determine humans’ amazing capacities for complex behavior, emotions and thinking.

Courses examine a wide array of topics, including brain mechanisms, memory and reasoning processes, child development, social interactions and mental health problems and their treatment.

The psychology program in the School of Behavioral and Brain Sciences approaches the field from both scientific and practical perspectives. Students learn valuable skills in critical thinking, writing, research design and data analysis. Students also gain hands-on experience through field placements, research in professors’ labs and individualized study with faculty in specialized topics.

Careers in Psychology

Majors in psychology have a broad number of career options. The major prepares students for graduate study to become psychologists, counselors, professors, researchers, physicians, lawyers, social workers and business professionals. Graduates directly entering the work force find careers in social services, education and business.

The University’s Career Center is an important resource for students pursuing their careers. Professional career counselors are available to help clarify career goals, provide strategies for mastering job interviews and writing professional cover letters and resumes and help students connect with campus recruiters.

Psychology at UT Dallas

UT Dallas offers two undergraduate degree plans in psychology: a Bachelor of Science and a Bachelor of Science with a premedical concentration.

  • The BS in psychology requires 120 hours to graduate: 42 from the University’s core curriculum, 42 hours of psychology courses and 36 hours of electives.
  • Premedical requirements are fulfilled by using elective hours to complete 31 additional hours of biology, chemistry and physics needed to apply to medical school.

The psychology minor requires 18 credit hours. The minor is well suited for students pursuing careers in social services, business, law, medicine and education.

Internships

Junior and senior psychology majors with at least a 2.5 GPA are eligible to receive college credit for a volunteer internship in the community.

Fast-Track

The Fast-Track program enables undergraduate students to take up to 15 hours of graduate courses that will count toward both a bachelor's degree and a master's degree in applied cognition and neuroscience, communication disorders, and human development and early childhood disorders. Students must have at least 90 credit hours and meet the graduate admission requirements to qualify.

The University of Texas at Dallas www.utdallas.edu/enroll

School of Behavioral and Brain Sciences

The School of Behavioral and Brain Sciences is focused on the intersection of mind, brain and behavior. Through the school’s research-intensive culture, our professors and students work together to unravel mysteries that will improve human lives. They accomplish this by translating the latest research into treatments and sharing this knowledge through community outreach.

Areas of study include:

  • Child learning and development
  • Cognition and neuroscience
  • Psychology
  • Speech-language pathology and communication disorders
  • Audiology

Degrees Offered

Bachelor of Science: Child learning and development*, cognitive science, neuroscience, psychology, speech-language pathology and audiology*

Master of Science: Applied cognition and neuroscience, communication disorders, human development and early childhood disorders, psychological sciences

Doctor of Philosophy: Cognition and neuroscience, communication sciences and disorders, psychological sciences

Doctor of Audiology: Audiology

*May be combined with a teacher certification degree plan

Research Centers

In addition to the many research opportunities in faculty labs, students can also gain valuable experience through the school’s four affiliated centers committed to research, treatment and outreach.

  • Callier Center for Communication Disorders — The center is a national leader in providing care for children and adults with a wide variety of speech, language and hearing disorders. Faculty members support the center’s clinical services by engaging in research to provide the latest information on causes, treatments and prevention of communication disorders.
  • The Center for BrainHealth — This center has a unique mission: to understand the brain's ability to restore or protect healthy function, to protect the brain from unnecessary mental decline and to heal the brain through treatments that regenerate function. To accomplish its mission, the Center for BrainHealth unites cutting-edge technologies in brain science with the intellectual talent of world-class scientists and clinicians, thereby advancing cognitive treatments and brain repair across diseases.
  • The Center for Vital Longevity — This research center is focused on understanding and expanding the capacity of the aging mind. Center researchers use cutting-edge brain imaging technologies and advances in cognitive science to understand how the brain changes from young to old adulthood, the consequences of neural aging for everyday function and what interventions show promise for slowing cognitive aging.
  • The Center for Children and Families — The center’s research, programs and community outreach activities are organized around parenting healthy families, strengthening interpersonal relationships and enhancing thinking and learning.

To learn more about the research centers affiliated with the School of Behavioral and Brain Sciences and to view a complete list of the school's research labs, visit

utdallas.edu/bbs/research

Additional Facts about BBS

  • BBS enrollment has increased by almost 50 percent during the last seven years.
  • The graduate programs in audiology and speech language pathology are both nationally-ranked in the top five percent, according to U.S. News & World Report.
  • The school is home to one of the state’s largest concentrations of child development experts.
  • Since September 2008, BBS faculty members have received close to $35 million in research funding.
  • BBS has more than 1,200 undergraduate students and more than 460 graduate students.

Contact Information

Melanie Spence, PhD
Associate Dean of Undergraduate Education

School of Behavioral and Brain Sciences
The University of Texas at Dallas
800 West Campbell Road GR41
Richardson, TX 75080-3021
Fax: (972)-883-2491
E-mail: bbs.undergraduate@utdallas.edu
Website: bbs.utdallas.edu

Office of Admission and Enrollment Services
800 West Campbell Road ROC 11
Richardson, TX 75080-3021
Phone: 972-883-2270 or 1-800-889-2443
E-mail: interest@utdallas.edu
Website: utdallas.edu/enroll