Dartmouth College

What you'll study

Because Dartmouth does not run a terminal taught Master’s in Psychology, there is no fixed MSc/MA curriculum at the College. Students seeking graduate study in psychology at Dartmouth most commonly join the PhD programme in Psychological and Brain Sciences, which is strongly research-focused and trains students in areas such as cognitive neuroscience, developmental psychology, social and personality processes, perception and attention, and computational approaches to behaviour. Alternatively, students may pursue Dartmouth’s Master of Arts in Liberal Studies or design an interdisciplinary graduate programme that allows coursework and supervised research in psychology-related topics.

Typical subject areas and modules you would encounter in a graduate psychology pathway at Dartmouth include:

• Research methods and statistics: advanced experimental design, multivariate statistics, Bayesian methods, and neuroimaging analysis.
• Neuroscience and cognition: cognitive neuroscience, systems neuroscience, perception, memory and attention, and computational modelling.
• Developmental and social psychology: developmental changes across the lifespan, social cognition, decision-making and personality processes.
• Specialised seminars and lab rotations: small-group seminars on current literature, hands-on lab work, and collaborative research projects under faculty supervision.
• Thesis / dissertation research: an extended original research project culminating in a written thesis for master-level research options or a dissertation and publications for PhD students.

Entry requirements

Entry depends on the pathway you choose. Dartmouth does not admit to a conventional taught Master’s in Psychology; these are the typical expectations for the graduate programmes that include psychology training:

• PhD in Psychological and Brain Sciences: a strong undergraduate degree in psychology, neuroscience, cognitive science, biology, or a related field; demonstrated research experience (laboratory work, honours thesis or publications); academic transcripts; letters of recommendation; a personal statement describing research interests and fit with faculty; and a curriculum vitae. Standardised tests are not always required—consult current department guidance.
• Master of Arts in Liberal Studies (with psychology-focused study): a bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution, academic transcripts, a personal statement outlining the proposed programme of study, and letters of recommendation. Applicants proposing significant empirical research should show prior research experience or arrangements to work with a faculty mentor.
• International applicants: must demonstrate English language proficiency where required and provide comparable academic documentation. Visa and funding arrangements may affect eligibility and planning.

Career prospects

Graduates who train at Dartmouth-level programmes in psychology typically follow careers in research, academia, health sciences and industry. Specific trajectories include:

• Academic and research careers: many PhD graduates continue as postdoctoral researchers and faculty in universities, or as research scientists in institutes focusing on cognitive neuroscience, developmental science or social-behavioural research.
• Clinical and applied roles: while Dartmouth’s PhD is research-oriented rather than a professional clinical master’s, graduates may pursue further clinical training (e.g. clinical psychology programmes, professional degrees) to work in clinical assessment, therapy or healthcare settings.
• Industry and government: roles in user experience and human factors, data science and analytics, AI/ML product research, policy research, and programme evaluation are common for people with strong quantitative and experimental training.
• Education and communication: science communication, programme coordination in education and nonprofit sectors, and roles in higher-education administration.

Why study at Dartmouth College

Dartmouth’s strengths lie in its small, research-intensive graduate environment and close faculty–student mentorship. The Psychological and Brain Sciences department emphasises collaborative lab work, access to advanced neuroimaging and behavioural facilities, and interdisciplinary interaction across neuroscience, computer science, engineering and the social sciences. Prospective students who value intensive research training, close supervision, and opportunities to devise novel experimental programmes will find Dartmouth’s graduate offerings compelling.

If your objective is a conventional taught Master’s in Psychology (for example, a terminal MSc or conversion course to clinical practice), consider programmes specifically designed for that purpose; if you are aiming for research-led graduate work, contact Dartmouth’s department directly to explore PhD admissions or ways to incorporate psychology-focused study within the College’s existing graduate degrees.