Brandeis University's Graduate Psychology Program: Student Numbers Revealed

Brandeis University's Department of Psychology offers both master's and doctoral degrees in the field. The master's degree in general psychology can be completed in one or two years, with a curriculum that covers the scientific foundations of psychology, research methodology, and hands-on experience in conducting experiments and analysing data. The PhD program, on the other hand, is a competitive five-year course that fosters interdisciplinary research and training, encouraging students to develop specialisations while exploring various theoretical and methodological perspectives. While the exact number of students in the graduate psychology program at Brandeis University is not publicly available, the university does state that it has a favourable faculty-to-student ratio, indicating a commitment to providing personalised graduate training.

Master's Degree in General Psychology

Masters Degree in General Psychology

The Department of Psychology at Brandeis University offers a Master's Degree in General Psychology. The program provides a solid understanding of the scientific foundations of psychology, along with rigorous training and direct experience in conducting research, from experimental design to data collection and analysis. The program can be completed in one year of full-time study or extended over two years of part-time or full-time study.

Curriculum and Requirements:

To obtain the Master of Arts in Psychology degree, students must complete eight courses, including:

• PSYC 210a & 210b — Advanced Psychological Statistics (two semesters)
• PSYC 211a — Graduate Research Methods in Psychology
• PSYC 250b — Master’s Project Readings (a 4-credit course offered in the spring semester)

In addition, students must choose four elective courses in consultation with their faculty advisor, selecting from a range of topics such as Alzheimer's Disease Resilience & Risk Factors, Memory and the Brain, Stress, Physiology, and Health, Decision Neuroscience, and more.

A key component of the program is the Master's Thesis, which can be either an empirical research project or a literature review with a research proposal. This thesis serves as evidence of the student's independence and development as a researcher.

Career Outcomes:

Graduates of the Master's program at Brandeis University have pursued various career paths. Some have gone on to doctoral programs, while others have found success as research assistants, clinical research coordinators, education administrators, consultants, advisors, and project managers. The degree also prepares students for careers in marketing, finance, government, tutoring, and law.

Application Process:

The application process for the Master's program includes submitting an online application, transcripts, three letters of recommendation, a CV or resume, and a statement of purpose. The statement of purpose should include the applicant's reasons for undertaking graduate study, their qualifications for the program, and their academic and professional career goals.

The application deadline is May 15, with a review of applications beginning on February 1.

Student Experience:

The small size of the faculty at Brandeis University's Department of Psychology allows for meaningful and collaborative work between students and faculty. The program emphasizes hands-on research mentorship, with faculty members guiding students in original research and providing direct mentorship. The department covers a range of research topics, including clinical and cognitive neuroscience.

The flexibility of the program allows students to tailor their coursework and research topics to their interests and goals. Additionally, students can take advantage of the Boston Area Graduate Consortium and enroll in graduate courses at nearby universities, including Boston College, Boston University, and Tufts University.

PhD in Brain, Body, and Behavior

Brandeis University's Department of Psychology offers a PhD in Brain, Body, and Behavior Across the Lifespan. The program is highly competitive and aims to educate exceptional psychological scientists, thinkers, and teachers who will make significant contributions to their field. The Brain, Body, and Behavior program provides a unifying framework that encourages collaboration and the exchange of ideas across different disciplines.

The PhD program at Brandeis takes an interdisciplinary approach, allowing students to develop an area of research specialization while also gaining exposure to various theoretical and methodological perspectives. This includes not only insights from psychology but also from fields such as neuroscience, computer science, and biology. The university believes that considering body, brain, social, and developmental processes together is crucial for understanding human behavior.

The curriculum for the PhD in Brain, Body, and Behavior is flexible and can be customized by students to meet their specific needs and interests. Students have the freedom to work with their advisors to design a curriculum that best suits their research goals. The program is supported by a training grant from the National Institute of General Medical Sciences (T32-GM084907-09), which promotes interaction between psychological and biomedical domains. Completing the curriculum will require a strong background in basic science, preparing students for graduate-level coursework and research rotations in biomedical and integrative areas.

The PhD program at Brandeis emphasizes both intense research and a broad and deep understanding of the field. Students will focus on a specific area of research while also being part of a collaborative community of researchers. The dissertation advisors are leaders in their respective fields, ensuring that students receive guidance from experts. The program also boasts a favorable faculty-to-student ratio, allowing for close collaboration between students and faculty members.

The PhD in Brain, Body, and Behavior at Brandeis University is a rigorous and comprehensive program that prepares students for a range of careers, including academic and non-academic research, teaching, policy, healthcare, and other applied fields. The program's interdisciplinary focus and strong faculty support provide a solid foundation for students to become well-rounded psychological scientists and make meaningful contributions to their chosen areas of research.

Application Requirements

The Department of Psychology at Brandeis University offers a Master of Arts in Psychology and a PhD in Brain, Body, and Behavior Across the Lifespan. The application requirements for both programs are outlined below.

Master of Arts in Psychology

The Master's program in Psychology at Brandeis University offers a solid understanding of the scientific foundations of psychology, as well as rigorous training and direct experience in conducting research. The program can be completed in one or two years, with a focus on research mentorship and collaborative work.

The application requirements for the Master's program are as follows:

• Online application
• Transcripts from all universities and colleges attended, uploaded to the application
• Three letters of recommendation, submitted online
• A curriculum vitae (CV) or resume, including educational history, employment experience, and other relevant information
• Statement of purpose indicating reasons for undertaking graduate study. This should also include academic and professional career plans and how the degree can help attain these goals
• Graduate Record Exam (GRE) scores are optional and not required for full consideration of the application
• A supplemental essay of up to 250 words is optional but strongly encouraged, responding to a question about how the applicant's educational or professional experience has shaped their perspective on the university's values of inclusivity and justice

PhD in Brain, Body, and Behavior Across the Lifespan

The PhD program at Brandeis University is competitive and aims to educate exceptional psychological scientists, thinkers, and teachers. The program emphasizes intense research, breadth, and depth of knowledge, with a focus on interdisciplinary exchange and collaboration.

The application requirements for the PhD program are as follows:

• Online application
• Transcripts from all universities and colleges attended, uploaded to the application
• Three letters of recommendation, submitted online
• A curriculum vitae (CV) or resume, including educational history, employment experience, and other relevant information
• Statement of purpose indicating reasons for undertaking graduate study. This should also include research interests and how they complement those of the faculty, as well as objectives in undertaking this program
• Graduate Record Exam (GRE) scores are optional and not required for full consideration of the application
• A supplemental essay of up to 250 words is optional but strongly encouraged, responding to a question about how the applicant's educational or professional experience has shaped their perspective on the university's values of inclusivity and justice
• International applicants may be required to submit official results from an English language proficiency exam

Financial Aid and Scholarships

Brandeis University offers financial aid and scholarships to its graduate students enrolled in the psychology program. The financial aid and scholarships are available for both master's and doctoral students.

Financial Aid for Master's Students

Master's students can benefit from merit-based scholarships, need-based scholarships, and service-based scholarships. Many of the master's programs offer merit scholarships, which are awarded based on academic achievement and do not require a separate application. These scholarships are typically awarded at the time of admission and are available to both international students and U.S. citizens. Need-based scholarships are also available, with domestic students applying through the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and international applicants following the instructions in their award letter. Additionally, Brandeis University offers service-based scholarships to alumni and staff of certain Service Programs, such as the Peace Corps.

Financial Aid for Doctoral Students

Doctoral students at Brandeis University are supported with funding that includes a competitive fellowship, a full-tuition scholarship, and health insurance benefits for five years. The Graduate School of Arts and Sciences provides this support to all doctoral students who maintain satisfactory academic progress.

Scholarships for Master's Students

The DEIS Scholarship is a full-tuition scholarship offered to U.S. citizens and permanent residents from historically underrepresented backgrounds or those who actively support underrepresented communities. Eligible applicants pursuing a full-time master's degree in Biotechnology will be considered for this scholarship, which also includes a stipend and a full credit toward a Brandeis health insurance plan. Additionally, Brandeis University offers a $2,000 per year scholarship for members of the Institute for the Recruitment of Teachers (IRT) who are admitted to most GSAS master's programs. This scholarship is awarded at the time of admission and is available during the student's residency semesters.

Course Assistantships

Brandeis University occasionally offers Course Assistant positions to provide teaching experience and partial financial support to graduate students. These positions are available in several master's programs and can be a good option for students extending their program beyond one year. Both international and domestic applicants are considered for these assistantships, which are paid biweekly in the form of a stipend.

Faculty Research Areas

The PhD program in psychology at Brandeis University offers students the opportunity to work closely with faculty members who are leaders in their respective fields. The program emphasizes both intense research and a broad and deep understanding of psychology. The faculty members supervising PhD students in their labs include:

• Angela Gutchess, who studies the effects of age and culture on memory and social cognition in the Aging Culture and Cognition Lab.
• Hannah Snyder, who investigates executive function and developmental psychopathology in adolescence and emerging adulthood in the Cognition Psychopathology Environment (CoPE) Lab.
• Margie Lachman, who leads research on lifespan development and health at the Lifespan Developmental Psychology Laboratory.
• Paul Dizio and James Lackner, who together explore motor control and spatial orientation in the Ashton Graybiel Spatial Orientation Lab.
• Donald Katz, whose Katz Lab focuses on the neural dynamics of gustatory perception and learning.
• James Howard, who studies the neural investigation of reward, learning, and decision-making in The Howard Lab.
• Shantanu Jadhav, who investigates the neurophysiology of learning and decision-making in the Jadhav Lab.
• Anne Berry, who examines the relationships among neurochemistry, brain activity, and cognition in the Neurochemistry and Cognition Lab.
• Jennifer Gutsell, whose Social Interaction and Motivation (SIM) Lab focuses on social and affective neuroscience, cross-group resonance, emotion, and self-control.
• Robert Sekuler, who leads the Vision Lab, researching visual perception and visual cognitive processes.

The faculty members' research interests span a wide range, from human to animal model research, and they employ various methods such as EEG/ERPs, neuroimaging, laboratory tasks, electrophysiology, eye tracking, and more. This diversity of expertise allows PhD students at Brandeis University to gain exposure to different areas of psychology and conduct meaningful research under the mentorship of established scholars in their fields.

Frequently asked questions