About Us
Welcome from the Chair
The Department of Psychology at the University of Delaware was founded in 1916, and psychology has been taught in Newark since 1888–1889. In 2014, we became the Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences. The change in name captures both the department’s commitment to the scientific study of the mind and the broad nature of research and training within the department that seeks to understand mind, brain, and behavior across multiple levels of analysis.
Our department is home to about 1,300 undergraduate majors and 300 minors. We offer majors in psychology (B.A.), psychology education (B.A.), and neuroscience (B.S.). Students may minor in psychology or neuroscience. Our students are supported by faculty and peer mentoring, a flourishing undergraduate research program, numerous study-abroad opportunities, and individualized field placement and internship possibilities.
Graduate training in the department is organized around four concentrations (behavioral neuroscience, cognitive psychology, clinical psychology, social psychology). Students from across the concentrations also participate in the University-wide interdisciplinary neuroscience graduate program.
Our groundbreaking research is supported by a state-of-the-art multimodal imaging center housing MRI scanners for work with humans and animals. We also greatly anticipate the opening of Building X — a new interdisciplinary science building that “will catalyze cutting-edge research related to human disease, developmental disorders, neuroscience and human behavior”— in fall 2024, and the development of a new clinic training mental health care clinic on the STAR campus.
We invite you to explore our website to learn more about our academic programs and research opportunities for undergraduate and graduate students. If you have questions please contact us or better yet schedule a campus visit. The University of Delaware is situated on a beautiful campus, in the lively college town of Newark, Delaware. We are within a one to two hour drive of Philadelphia, New York City, Baltimore and Washington D.C., and of course the beautiful beaches of the Delaware coast.
—Robert West, Ph.D., Chairperson and Professor, Department of Psychological & Brain Sciences, University of Delaware
Visitor Information
The University of Delaware campus is located in Newark, Delaware, which is about 20 minutes away from Wilmington, an hour from either Philadelphia or Baltimore, two hours from Washington D.C., and two and a half hours from New York City.
Our Commitment to Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
The Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences holds diversity, equity, and inclusion as important values. We view diversity broadly, including but not limited to an individual's race, age, ethnicity, gender identity, sexual orientation, socioeconomic status, disability status, beliefs, and culture, as well as how those identities intersect. Supporting diversity in our faculty, student body, and staff, as well as valuing and respecting diversity in our teaching, research, service, and clinical work, represent important priorities that contribute to the strength of the department. We encourage the open exchange of ideas from a variety of viewpoints in an environment of respect, collaboration, and fairness. We promote the principles of equity and inclusion within our department and beyond through recruitment and retention, graduate training, clinical work, research, service and teaching, as well as through open and productive dialogue.
The College’s Commitment to Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
Diversity, equity and inclusion are significant parts of the University of Delaware's College of Arts and Sciences's values and goals. The college's commitment to these values is not just evident in its student body but also its faculty, staff, and curriculum, ensuring a fully inclusive experience. Through this steadfast dedication to diversity and inclusivity, the college continues to enrich its educational offering, allowing each student to benefit from a wide array of viewpoints and experiences.
