Psychological & Brain Sciences Student Life

As a Psychological and Brain Sciences student, your week blends coursework with experiences that build your future. Present your work at the fall Psychology Research Fair, pick up strategies for succeeding in the major at a MythBusters workshop or share your findings at the spring Undergraduate Arts & Research Symposium – all while sharpening your skills in data analysis, public speaking and critical thinking. Outside the classroom, join Psi Chi or become a Psychology Ambassador to build leadership and outreach experience, or attend a Grawemeyer Award talk to hear from the field’s leading voices. With close faculty mentorship and a supportive community, you’re guided every step of the way as you explore your interests and prepare for what’s next.

Beyond the Classroom

Turn your interest in psychology into real-world experience. From research and service to leadership and community-building, you’ll find opportunities to grow academically and professionally while connecting with peers and faculty.

  • Undergraduate Research Assistant (PSYC 491) Work directly in a faculty lab for course credit, gaining hands-on experience in study design, data collection and analysis while contributing to active research projects.

  • Psychology Honors Thesis Program Challenge yourself with a two-semester research experience: design and complete an original empirical study under close faculty mentorship.

  • Summer Research Opportunity Program (SROP) Spend 10 weeks in a paid summer research experience that introduces you to graduate-level study and strengthens your research and professional skills.

  • Psychology Living and Learning Community (LLC) Live and learn alongside other first-year psychology majors, taking courses together and building connections in and out of the classroom.

  • Resilient Families Project (RFP) Do meaningful community work through direct service, program development and research supporting individuals experiencing homelessness and recovery.

Academic Opportunities

UofL student sits in front of the Santiago Cathedral in Spain smiling and holding a map.
Education Abroad
See how culture shapes cognition, development and mental health. UofL's Study Abroad Office helps you find a program, plan your credits and fund your semester — and the cross-cultural perspective you gain travels with you.
Students walking on campus in the fall outside of Ekstrom Library
Research Opportunities
More than 20 faculty labs study everything from infant cognition to eating disorders to the neuroscience of attention. Undergraduates work alongside faculty as research assistants, and many co-author posters and publications before graduating.
Sasha Gorchanyuk, a senior communications major with a minor in film studies, discovered her passion for and talent in working with corporate partnerships through her internship with the Louisville Bats Minor League Baseball team.
Internships and Service Learning
Connect classroom learning to community impact. In PSYC 407, you'll complete 150 hours of supervised service at a local nonprofit while earning credit toward your major – and Cardinal Careers lists more approved placements.
Student biking past the Thinker in front of Grawemeyer Hall
The Grawemeyer Award in Psychology
UofL's Grawemeyer Award honors an idea that changed how we understand the mind, with a $100,000 prize. As a psychology student, you won't just read about the winners — you'll hear them speak on campus each spring.

I had the opportunity to be a research assistant in the Attention in Neurodevelopment Lab (AND), and it has truly been an incredible experience! Being part of a research lab has been one of the most impactful parts of my undergraduate experience. It taught me so much about research methods and criteria. The lab helped me grow professionally while improving my communication and interpersonal skills, and shaped who I am as a student and a person.

Kyla Vargason Psychological & Brain Sciences ‘26
headshot of psych student Kayla Vargason

Support Services

From day one to graduation, we've got your back. Embrace your potential with our support network.
  • Chart your path with confidence. Our advisors empower your journey, turning obstacles into opportunities!

  • Navigate your professional journey with confidence. We provide the tools and support to shape your future.

  • Your wellbeing is our priority. Discover a supportive community dedicated to your health and happiness.

background image

Transform Lives Through Scientific Understanding

Ready to turn your curiosity about behavior, cognition and mental health into professional impact? Explore Psychological and Brain Sciences at the University of Louisville — where rigorous scientific training, active research labs and direct pathways into clinical, research and applied psychology prepare you for careers that change lives.