Drexel’s Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences offers various psychology degrees to best meet the interests and career goals of our students. Our degree options include undergraduate, accelerated programs for qualified undergraduate students, a master’s degree, and doctorate programs, as well as minors in psychology and neuroscience. In Drexel's Department of Psychology, students across all levels of scholarship gain integrated knowledge from dedicated faculty and peer mentors while building skills and a valuable career network.
MAJORS
Drexel’s Bachelor of Science (BS) in Neuroscience is an interdisciplinary program for students interested in the biological bases of thought and behavior. This major is well-suited for students considering professional roles or research careers in medicine, neurobiology, neurology, animal science, neuroengineering neuroscience and other health-related fields.
This is a joint program between the Department of Biology and the Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences in the College of Arts and Sciences as well as the School of Biomedical Engineering, Science and Health Systems.
Students in the Bachelor of Science in Psychology program learn how to frame and find answers to important questions regarding human behavior, cognition and emotion, and how to apply their findings to improve lives. Students have the opportunity to conduct research alongside the department’s distinguished faculty, who lead innovative research and clinical projects in areas including health, forensic, cognitive, human experimental, neuro and clinical psychology.
Focus Areas
Mind, Brain and Behavior
This plan of study explores on how the mind and brain influence human behavior. Courses vary from an introduction to the biological structure of the mind and underlying brain systems, to an immersion in more formal study of the neural foundations of behavior.
Human Development
This plan of study focuses on issues affecting human development across the lifespan. Using a biological, cognitive and socio-emotional perspective, students gain a deep understanding of child, adolescent, and adult development.
Clinical and Health
This plan of study emphasizes the application of clinical psychology to health. Students explore health and well-being related to autism, disordered eating, obesity, coping with chronic illness, women’s health, and many other focus areas.
Top-Ranked Online Option
Drexel University’s Bachelor's Degree in Psychology online program is ranked among the top ten in the nation by U.S. News and World Report. Students gain the flexibility of convenient, fully online classes taught by distinguished faculty from the Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences. Learn about the online Bachelor's Degree in Psychology
ACCELERATED PROGRAMS
The accelerated Bachelor's and Master's (BS + MS) in Psychology program provides an opportunity for select undergraduate students to complete their undergraduate education and master’s curriculum in five years. Through this program, potential BS + MS students are identified when first admitted as undergraduate psychology majors. Following a review and streamlined admittance process, up to five students can be selected per program year. In the event that vacant spaces exist for students in any given program year, students may also be selected from undergraduate psychology majors in good standing who apply for the accelerated psychology degree program in their junior year of undergraduate study.
This “3 + 3” Bachelor’s/JD Dual Degree program combines the Bachelor of Science (BS) in Psychology within the College of Arts and Sciences with the Juris Doctorate (JD) in Law within Thomas Kline School of Law. Through this program, potential BS/JD students may be identified when first admitted as entering freshmen psychology majors. Finally, this is a “3 + 3” program allowing qualified students to earn their BS and JD degrees in six years.
MINORS
The minor in Psychology provides students with the skills to analyze individual psychological processes to better understand, explain and predict human behavior. Students must meet with a psychology faculty member to discuss the courses that best fit their major and interests. The minor may also be of interest to students who have an interest in a double major but are unable to satisfy all of the requirements in two major fields.
The minor in Neuroscience allows students from a vast array of disciplines the opportunity for formalized study in Neuroscience. This interdisciplinary minor integrates content from cellular, molecular, and systems neurobiology with neuropsychology, providing students with a strong foundation in basic principles of neurobiology and neuropsychology. This minor, a collaborative effort between the Department of Biology and the Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, is open to students in any major with an interest in studying neuroscience in order to gain a deeper understanding of the biological and cognitive principles underlying brain function.
GRADUATE PROGRAMS
The Master of Science in Psychology degree is ideal for students who wish to pursue advanced education in scientific psychology and research methods. This research-based program allows students to take their first step into graduate education and begin a path toward further educational and career opportunities. The curriculum trains students in a range of research experiences in neurocognitive and behavioral sciences.
Drexel University’s PhD in Clinical Psychology trains clinical psychologists in the scientist-practitioner model. This model places roughly equal emphasis on clinical research and the application of scientific principles, with an emphasis on the integration of psychological science and practice. Students receive a broad education that includes training in intervention and assessment, as well as an introduction to the science and practice of clinical psychology. The program is fully accredited by the American Psychological Association. The Drexel program offers three major areas of study: Clinical Child Psychology, Forensic Psychology, and Health Psychology.
Drexel University’s PhD in Applied Cognitive and Brain Sciences (ACBS) is a research-intensive program emphasizing psychological questions of real-world significance, grounded in fundamental issues and methods of basic science. The ACBS program was designed to be small to offer personal interaction with mentors. It emphasizes rigorous quantitative and methodological training to empower students to pursue research without technical limitations.
The Thomas R. Kline School of Law and the Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences in the College of Arts and Sciences offer a joint and integrated PhD + JD in Psychology and Law. The program aims to bridge the gap between law — which relies on rules concerning evidence, proof, and precedent in order to settle conflicts that require immediate resolution — and psychology, which views problems through an empirical lens, evaluating questions but rarely ending in a final verdict. Students gain an appreciation and competency in both traditions, mastering the methods, languages, and epistemologies of each.