School of Behavioral and Brain Sciences
The School of Behavioral and Brain Sciences at The University of Texas at Dallas offers degrees in Child Learning and Development; Cognitive Science; Neuroscience; Psychology; and Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology. The Child Learning and Development program provides students a research-based approach to understanding child development as a preparation for careers as teachers, researchers, service providers, and policy makers. The Cognitive Science program provides a multidisciplinary approach to the study of the mind and behavior that incorporates methodology from the fields of philosophy, psychology, neuroscience, and computer science. The Neuroscience program provides students the opportunity to study the nervous system from a multidisciplinary approach that combines the study of brain structure, biochemistry, and physiology, and their links to behavior. The Psychology program provides basic training in the study of mind and behavior as preparation for graduate training in psychology, counseling and related fields, as well as providing courses that may be relevant to employment in human resources or research support positions. The Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology program offers study in the processes and disorders of speech, language and hearing. The program provides the foundation for graduate work leading to careers as a speech-language pathologist or audiologist. Students meeting BS degree and clinical practicum requirements are eligible for Texas state licensure as a speech-language pathology assistant.
The School of Behavioral and Brain Sciences (BBS) offers a number of services and programs for students. Academic Advising by a staff of professional advisors is available for all students, and students are encouraged to meet with their advisors on a regular basis. BBS sponsors events and workshops designed to inform students of research opportunities, career paths, and how to prepare for application to graduate and professional schools. BBS works closely with the UT Dallas Career Center to assist students with exploring careers, opportunities for co-op experiences, resume-writing workshops and practice in interview skills. BBS also offers PSY 3100 Careers in Psychology, a course that explores career and graduate school paths for students in the School of Behavioral and Brain Sciences. This course is offered in the spring and fall semesters and has limited enrollment. It is recommended that students take this course during the sophomore year or early in the junior year.
The school's Internship Placement Program is open to all students who have achieved junior or senior standing (more than 53 hours) and a minimum 2.500 GPA. Students earn course credit for working 8 hours per week at an approved community agency of their choice. The program has over 70 established placement sites. Students keep daily job diaries, attend one class meeting per month, and write brief papers relevant to their experiences.
The Honors Program of the School of Behavioral and Brain Sciences (BBS) provides enriching research and writing experiences in a mentoring environment with individual members of the faculty. These opportunities attempt to promote greater success in admission to top-ranked graduate schools and/or employment in chosen careers. The Program consists of the Honors Thesis Core, completed by all students in the Honors Program, and a Dean's Scholars' Tier that is completed in addition to the Thesis Core by a subset of students who wish to pursue doctoral-level professional careers and to serve the School of BBS. Students are eligible for admission to the Program after completing at least 12 graded hours at UT Dallas including 2 core courses in the student's major and achieving the GPA(s) required. Separate emails are sent notifying students when/how to apply during the fall semester for the Honors Program (Thesis Core) and during the spring semester for the Dean's Scholars' Tier, approximately 2-3 weeks before the application period begins.
To earn BBS School Honors, students must meet the following criteria: (1) at least 30 graded hours at UT Dallas, (2) at least 12 hours in BBS major core courses, (3) an overall UT Dallas GPA of at least 3.500 (Honors Thesis Core) and of at least 3.600 (Dean's Scholars' Tier), (4) successful completion of the Honors Seminar (offered in the spring semester) or approved substitute activities, and (5) completion of an Honors Thesis with a grade of at least B+. Students in the Dean's Scholars' Tier must meet these additional criteria: successful completion of (6) the Dean's Scholars' Seminar (offered in the fall semester) and (7) multiple service activities to the School. School Honors with Distinction may be achieved by students whose Theses are judged by a faculty committee to be of exemplary quality.
Faculty
Professors: Hervé Abdi, Peter F. Assmann, James C. Bartlett, Thomas Campbell, Sandra B. Chapman, Christine Dollaghan, W. Jay Dowling, Julia Evans, Richard M. Golden, John Hart Jr., Susan W. Jerger, William F. Katz, Michael P. Kilgard, Aage R. Møller, Bert S. Moore, Alice J. O'Toole, Margaret Tresch Owen, Denise C. Park, Karen J. Prager, Ross J. Roeser, Michael D. Rugg, John W. Santrock, Melanie J. Spence, Robert D. Stillman, Linda M. Thibodeau, Emily A. Tobey, Hanna K. Ulatowska, Marion K. Underwood, Anne van Kleeck
Professor and Dean Emeritus: J. Michael Coleman
Clinical Professor: John Stilwell
Associate Professors: Francesca Filbey, Shayla C. Holub, Daniel Krawczyk, Mandy J. Maguire, Christa K. McIntyre, Candice M. Mills, Robert L. Rennaker II, Pamela R. Rollins, Bart Rypma, Lucien (Tres) Thompson
Clinical Associate Professors: Jackie Clark, Carol Cokely, Kenneth C. Pugh, Phillip (Tres) Wilson
Assistant Professors: Robert Ackerman, Chandramallika Basak, Cindy M. De Frias, Kristen Kennedy, Sven Kröener, Jackie Nelson, Jonathan E. Ploski, Karen Rodrigue, Raúl Rojas, Noah J. Sasson, Andrea Warner-Czyz, Gagan Wig
Clinical Assistant Professors: Joanna Gentsch, Jeffrey S. Martin
Distinguished Scholar in Residence: James F. Jerger
Senior Lecturers: M. Matthew Housson, Karen Huxtable-Jester, Nancy Juhn, Van Miller, Jacoba (Tres) VanBeveren
Clinical Lecturers: Michelle Aldridge, Cherryl L. Bryant, Lucinda Dean, Diane Garst, Karen Kaplan, Helen Kenedi, Janice Lougeay, Felicity Sale