加州大学圣地亚哥分校于1958年在斯克里普斯海洋研究所的核心周围正式成立。从那以后，它已成为美国主要的研究型大学之一。心理学系成立于1965年，并于1966年首次招收研究生。该系的博士课程目前有64名研究生。截至2013年6月30日，已授予369个博士学位。该系始终坚信，最好的心理学职业培训，甚至是临床心理学专业的培训，都是实验心理学的强大背景。<br> <br>学徒制/同事制，每个研究生都紧密合作在他或她的整个职业生涯中，有一位或多位教职顾问，使我们的系与众不同。我们的研究生从任期开始就积极从事研究工作
The Department of Psychology at the University of California, San Diego, provides advanced training in research in most aspects of experimental psychology. Modern laboratories and an attractive physical setting combine with a distinguished faculty, both within the Department of Psychology and in supporting disciplines, to provide research opportunities and training at the frontiers of psychological science. The graduate training program emphasizes and supports individual research, starting with the first year of study. The University of California, San Diego (UC San Diego) was officially established in 1960 around the nucleus of the Scripps Institution of Oceanography. UC San Diego has since become one of the major research universities in the world. In 1965 the Psychology Department was established with the appointment of George Mandler as founding chair and with the addition of the other two members of the initial Department - William J. McGill and Norman H. Anderson. The view of these founders was that psychology was displayed at its best as an empirical or lab science. Our forward-looking perspective and rich collaborative environment offers a unique opportunity for cutting-edge research that is changing the face of modern psychology.