The Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences offers three undergraduate degrees and a minor. These include Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Science in Psychological and Brain Sciences, Bachelor of Science in in Behavioral and Cognitive Neuroscience, and a minor in psychological and brain sciences. All degree programs prepare students to pursue graduate study in related fields and to enter entry level positions for careers.
Psychology majors receive a rigorous program of undergraduate education and training that encourages critical thinking, lifelong learning, and the analysis and integration of information about individuals and groups of people. The curriculum leading to a degree in psychology provides students with an understanding of human behavior and the ability to use scientific methods to answer questions about human behavior. Students are prepared to enter a variety of graduate and professional programs in psychology and related fields (such as law, medical school), as well as to enter entry-level employment in a number of fields (such as business, human resources).
Students majoring in psychology may earn either the Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science degree. The psychology course requirements for the two degrees are identical; they differ with respect to the requirements in other disciplines. For example, the Bachelor of Arts degree requires courses in a foreign language and extra humanities hours, whereas the Bachelor of Science degree requires additional hours in the physical and biological sciences. The two degrees are offered to allow students to complete their non-psychology course of study in fields of greatest interest to them. Thus, students who have stronger interests in the natural and life sciences should pursue the Bachelor of Science degree, whereas those with stronger interests in foreign language and the humanities should pursue the Bachelor of Arts degree. Both degrees provide students with the necessary curriculum requirements to pursue graduate study in psychology in most institutions, as well as other professional fields such as law. Students planning to apply to medical school or other physical health professional programs are advised to select the Bachelor of Science degree program.
Behavioral and cognitive neuroscience majors receive a rigorous program of undergraduate education and training in the life and physical sciences, with an emphasis on the study of how the nervous system impacts behavior and cognitive functions. This interdisciplinary field integrates several disciplines, including psychology, psychiatry, biology, chemistry and physics. Because the study is interdisciplinary, the neuroscience major involves multiple units, including the Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, the Department of Biology and the School of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences in collaboration with the Department of Neuroscience and Experimental Therapeutics (NExT) in the School of Medicine in offering this degree, as well as the Texas A&M Institute for Neuroscience (TAMIN). The concentration of this degree that focuses on Behavioral and Cognitive Neuroscience is housed within the Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences. Students will develop competency in foundational coursework in the life and physical sciences, including biology, chemistry and physics. Based on their individual career aspirations and interests, students will complete coursework in neuroscience that involves psychological and biological processes, as well as translational issues relevant to medical science and/or pharmacology, neural engineering and biochemistry. Nationwide, there is increasing interest in neuroscience programs and training. In part, this interest is driven by changes in the employment market that focus on technical and medical support jobs. Students completing a Bachelor of Science in Neuroscience will be well prepared for graduate study, as well as to enter entry-level healthcare and technical occupations.