Overview

Students conduct research in a state-of-the-art facility that includes extensive laboratory space and a research-dedicated MRI machine. Because of its moderate size, the program emphasizes a close working relationship between faculty and students. Annual stipends are provided to all PhD students in good standing and students are not charged tuition or fees. Graduates of the program have been very successful in obtaining academic positions, and the most recent National Research Council survey (2010) found our program ranked 2nd in the country in placing students in academic programs.

Although there is a core curriculum that all students fulfill, the program is flexible. The program is designed to meet individual needs and is usually completed within 4-5 years. 

During the first year students take Proseminar, which is taught by the entire faculty. This seminar explores the diverse areas of psychological and brain sciences represented in the department. First-year students also begin to take a series of Core Courses and conduct supervised research.

Second-year students receive training in statistics, enroll in focused seminars, carry out independent research and complete a Specialist Examination in their area before proceeding to their dissertation research in subsequent years of the program. Students serve as teaching assistants for four terms during their time in the program.

The Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences from from Dartmouth College maintains close ties and affiliations with a number of other departments and programs, including the Dartmouth Medical School and the Neuroscience Center at Dartmouth. Coursework and research is often conducted in conjunction with these other programs.