About the Department of Psychology

Welcome to the University of Nevada, Reno Department of Psychology. The department is dedicated to excellence in teaching and research, as well as providing service to the community.

Providing high quality education is central to the psychology department's mission. The faculty are committed to research that makes a difference on a variety of levels. This research would not be possible without the support of its greatest asset - the students. Graduate and undergraduate students are an integral part of all of the work perform on campus. It is critical to the mission to continue to create a learning environment that supports the creative scientific inquiry of psychology students.

Psychology has a large undergraduate program, with students choosing a wide variety of career goals. There are many opportunities for students to be involved in faculty projects, and the staff and professors encourage this important form of faculty-student interaction. Even with a strong research focus, it is a goal to conduct research that will make a difference in the lives of those it serves.

The psychology department is part of the College of Science, the largest academic unit on campus and is housed in the Mack Social Science building. Students may major or minor in psychology. The undergraduate program requires that students take a broad range of courses in the core areas of the discipline. The program also encourages students to apply what they learn through research and applied practica. Many classes are small, and professors are accessible.

The department has many faculty with national and international reputations and has had an impact on the national scene. The American Psychological Society was founded in the department, for example. Each program area within the department has its own characteristics. Clinical psychology is noted for its contextual behavioral orientation and strong commitment to theoretically substantive research on serious applied issues. Cognitive and brain sciences has an illustrious history, and gained fame in the 1960's for training Washoe, a chimpanzee, to use sign language. The program now has a highly active and interconnected  group in cognitive neuroscience who are also a core part of UNR's undergraduate and graduate neuroscience programs,  and is home to the university's Center for Integrative Neuroscience, a $10 million NIH COBRE grant. Behavior analysis is known for its interest in behavioral philosophy and language research and its work with developmental disabilities and autism. Social psychology is known for its naturalistic approach and expertise in psychology and law.