Psychology

The Department of Psychology, among the first departments established at the university, has a long-standing tradition of groundbreaking theoretical research that carries a powerful impact in the real world. Consistently ranked as one of the top psychology programs in the country, the department has been a leader in the field among American universities for decades—an extraordinary achievement honored by the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, D.C. in 2003.

By combining scientific rigor with real-world application, the department provides students with the tools to explore the complexities of human mind and behavior. Supported by state-of-the-art laboratories and dedicated research facilities, our faculty and students push the frontiers of cognitive, neurobiological, developmental, and social psychology.

Academic Programs and Psychological Training

The Department of Psychology offers comprehensive undergraduate and graduate pathways designed to develop critical thinking, scientific inquiry, and deep empirical knowledge:

• Undergraduate Courses: Offering a wide variety of courses designed for the general student body to introduce foundational concepts of mind, brain, and behavior.

• Bachelor of Arts (B.A.): A rigorous major program providing deep training in psychological science, including an option for students to pursue advanced research and graduate with honors.

• Undergraduate Minor: Enabling students majoring in other disciplines to build a structured foundation in psychology.

• Graduate Program (Ph.D.): A world-class doctoral program dedicated to advanced study, empirical research, and professional training, preparing students for leading careers in academia and research.

• Ph.D. Minor: Open to doctoral students currently enrolled in other Ph.D. programs at Stanford who wish to integrate psychological methodologies into their primary research.

Research Frontiers, Facilities, and Laboratories

Our research infrastructure supports advanced empirical investigation across the lifespan, combining laboratory observation with cutting-edge neuroimaging technologies:

• Stanford Center for Cognitive and Neurobiological Imaging (CNI): Supporting advanced cognitive science and neuroscience research through state-of-the-art neuroimaging facilities.

• Bing Nursery School: Located on campus at 850 Escondido Road, this distinguished school serves as a specialized laboratory for child observation, research in developmental psychology, and hands-on training in nursery school teaching. Constructed with funding from the National Science Foundation and a special grant from Mrs. Anna Bing Arnold and Dr. Peter Bing, it is a cornerstone of the department's developmental research.

• Computer-Equipped Laboratories: Maintaining numerous specialized, technology-driven labs across the department to support diverse computational and experimental research methodologies.