文理学院的心理学系为范德比尔特大学的学生提供了在仅仅五年的学习中获得学士学位（BA）和硕士学位（MA）的机会。对于心理学，神经科学及相关领域的研究生来说，最重要的准备也许就是丰富的研究经验。除了拥有足够的成绩，GRE分数和推荐信外，被录取为顶级研究生课程的学生通常还具有一年或以上的研究经验。一些学生参加了荣誉计划。有些人曾担任本科生研究助理。有些人在申请研究生院之前已经担任了两年的全职研究助理。这个联合的BA / MA计划为获得顶尖研究生课程的学习经验和培训提供了另一种可能的途径。它还为已经参加荣誉课程或
The Department of Psychology in the College of Arts and Science offers the opportunity for students at Vanderbilt to earn a Bachelors degree (BA) and a Masters degree (MA) in just five years of study.<br>Perhaps the most important preparation for graduate school in psychology, neuroscience, and related areas is significant research experience. In addition to having sufficient grades, GRE scores, and letters of recommendation, students admitted to top graduate programs often have a<br>year or more of research experience. Some students have participated in an honors program. Some have worked as an undergraduate research assistant. Some have worked as a full time research assistant for a couple of years before applying to graduate school. This combined<br>BA/MA program provides another possible route for obtaining the research experience and<br>training necessary for admission to top graduate programs. It also offers opportunities for<br>additional research experience for undergraduates already enrolled in the honors program or who<br>are working as research assistants in laboratories. In addition, it offers a way for students earning<br>an undergraduate degree in a discipline other than psychology or neuroscience to be better<br>prepared for doctoral work in these disciplines.<br>This is a highly selective program with an intensive research emphasis. It is primarily intended<br>for students who are considering a PhD or MD-PhD in a research-oriented graduate program<br>in psychology, psychiatry, cognitive science, neuroscience, learning science, and related<br>disciplines. The program could also be appropriate for students interested in research-oriented<br>programs in marketing and managerial decision making offered by some business schools or<br>research-oriented programs in law and human behavior offered by some law schools. This<br>program offers no training in clinical practice whatsoever, although it would be excellent<br>preparation for students interested in doctoral programs in clinical science that follow what is<br>called a scientist-practitioner model.