Department of Psychology // University of Notre Dame

Interdisciplinary Programs

Emerging Degree Programs

The Department of Psychology has been poised for several years to establish intellectual ties with the information and life sciences on campus and it has recently formalized a joint Ph.D. program with Engineering. In addition, the Graduate School is currently considering a joint proposal from Psychology, Engineering, Philosophy, and Biology for an interdisciplinary specialization in cognitive science.

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Multicultural Psychology

The Department has also been committed to expanding psychological science to minorities and other underrepresented populations through its emphasis on multicultural psychology. Each year, the Department supports 2-3 postdoctoral fellows who engage in research exploring the effects of culture on variety of interpersonal and intrapersonal psychological processes.

These scholars have been actively engaged with other centers and institutes outside the Department, such as the Center for Asian Studies, the Institute for Latino Studies, and the Department of Africana Studies. Departmental faculty have also contributed significantly to the University's mission to understand tensions between cultures through their participation in the Joan B. Kroc Institute for International Peace Studies.

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Psychology in Health and Education

Over the past two decades, Psychology has maintained a strong focus on the study of children and families, culminating in the recent development of the Center for Children and Families. There has also been a strong emphasis on aging which has led to significant interactions with the Leighton Center, an off-campus facility for elderly in the Michiana community.

In addition, research interests in health psychology and psychopathology across the lifespan have caused a number of collaborations with a variety of off-campus health facilities including Madison Center, Memorial Hospital, the Michiana Regional Autism Center, and St. Joseph Hospital.In many instances, these research-inspired collaborations have led to significant service and service-based learning opportunities for both our students and our faculty.

By maintaining an emphasis on educational psychology, our faculty have also contributed to the training of undergraduates enrolled in the ACE program and to the daily operation of the Institute for Educational Initiatives.