Drexel’s nationally recognized Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences prepares leaders who advance the forefronts of scientific discovery and clinical care for complex mental health issues. We offer four graduate degrees that position students for excellent careers in psychological and brain sciences across a broad spectrum of sectors and settings. Scholars within each concentration receive a solid grounding in the theoretical and scientific foundations of psychology, and steadily build on their knowledge through rigorous instruction, faculty-mentored research, and hands-on clinical experience.
Visit our department
Degree Programs
Faculty Experts
Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences faculty are leading investigators and clinicians whose diverse body of work advances the forefront of psychological science and clinical practice. These highly sought-after experts are the recipients of numerous federal grant awards from the National Institutes of Health (NIH), the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) and the National Science Foundation (NSF); the U.S. Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP); as well as from prominent funders including the Pew Charitable Trusts, the W.K. Kellogg Foundation, the Stoneleigh Foundation and the U.S. Veteran's Administration – to name a few. Their research findings and scholarship frequently appear in top-tier, peer-reviewed publications.
Meet Our Faculty
Mentorship Model
Every graduate student is supported by the steady mentorship of one or two faculty members who serve as dedicated professional and academic advisors. Education and training is sequential and cumulative for our graduate students: Initially, more support and direction is provided to them with the expectation of increased autonomy and independence as each student's program of study progresses.
Research Areas and Labs
Graduate research is integral to building the intellectual life, growth and reach of the Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences. Students are assigned to faculty research labs where they receive dedicated mentorship and hands-on training. Graduate students often serve as co-authors on publications with their faculty mentors in distinguished, peer-reviewed journals.
Department faculty include world-class clinicians and scientists who lead exploration across six core areas of research in psychological and brain sciences. The department runs the Drexel Psychological Services Center, our clinical training facility that offers accessible, affordable and high-quality mental health services. Additionally, the department is home to the WELL Center, an interdisciplinary clinical research center dedicated to weight, eating and lifestyle science.
- Labs:
- Butryn Lab
- Forman Lab
- Juarascio Lab
Experiential Clinic
Doctoral students gain experiential training in a bright, welcoming atmosphere at the Drexel Psychological Services Center. Our training clinic offers accessible, affordable and high-quality mental health services for people of all ages in Philadelphia and the surrounding areas. Expertly-trained doctoral students —supervised by licensed professionals in Drexel's Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences— deliver evidence-based, scientifically informed treatments and engage in leading psychological research.
Visit the Clinic
Latest News
CoAS Students Recognized With Graduate College Awards
Drexel University Graduate College recently announced the recipients of the 2023 Graduate Excellence Awards. These awards recognize high-achieving graduate and professional students across disciplines in mentorship, scholarship, civic engagement, service, research and teaching assistance. Congratulations to the College of Arts and Sciences students who were honored with these awards!
Read More
Meet Keynote Commencement Speaker Elizabeth Lombardo, PhD '02
According to Dr. Elizabeth Lombardo, our mental health is our superpower. Lombardo will share her science-based knowledge and advice with the class of 2023 as the keynote speaker at the CoAS commencement ceremony on June 15. She speaks more about her career path and offers words of wisdom to graduates in this Q&A.
Read More
Psychology Professor's MommaConnect App will Support Women Struggling with Postpartum Depression
Associate Professor of Psychology Pamela A. Geller, PhD, and her team have been supporting new mothers with postpartum depression (PPD) since 2016 through their Mother Baby Connections program. Now, they're developing MommaConnect, a mobile app that would facilitate virtual treatment for those struggling with PPD.
Read More