The Department of Psychological Sciences represents the combined strengths of the fields of psychology and communication sciences. We offer two undergraduate majors: Psychology and Communication Sciences, as well as two minors: Psychology and Communication for Health Professionals. Students can tailor their experience to meet their own career and educational goals. This can be accomplished in many ways, including through independent studies and experiential learning opportunities with faculty, honors Capstone projects, and Pathways. Pathways provides student with guidance to structure coursework based on their specific career interests. Pathways include Clinical, Lifespan Development, Pre-Health, Neuroscience, and Research. Students may choose several Pathways that meet their needs.
We also provide graduate programs, including a masters in Communication Sciences, and three Ph.D. programs: Communication Sciences, Clinical Psychology, and Developmental, Cognitive, and Affective Sciences (DCAS). Our Ph.D. students conduct cutting edge research, learn effective and engaging pedagogical skills, and those in Clinical Psychology and Communication Sciences programs learn to provide empirically supported treatments in a variety of settings.
Department News and Highlights
Looking for parents of healthy children ages 7-17 for an online survey study
A research team at University Hospitals is currently looking for parents of healthy children ages 7-17 for an online survey study: Factors Associated with Behaviors and Emotion in Children with Cleft Lip and/or Palate during COVID-19. You may or may not qualify for the study, even if your child...
Sandra Russ named new conciliation counselor
Sandra Russ, Distinguished University Professor Emerita and the Louis D. Beaumont University Professor Emerita of Psychological Sciences, has been named Case Western Reserve University’s newest conciliation counselor. Her role was effective Jan. 1. Russ, a renowned clinical child psychologist, served as a professor in the Department of Psychological Sciences for...
Retired professor commits $1.5 million to advance research in child psychology
Growing up as an only child, Sandra Walker Russ made the most of her solitary hours. Through role playing, singing, reading and expressing herself artistically, the unstructured playtime she enjoyed in her early developmental years would later serve as the foundation for a career studying the connection between creative...
CWRU’s NSSLHA named chapter of the year
The Case Western Reserve chapter of the National Student Speech-Language-Hearing Association (NSSLHA) was awarded the 2022 Chapter of the Year by the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association and national NSSLHA organization. There are more than 340 chapters across the United States and the CWRU chapter was recognized for helping to increase awareness...
Family-based intervention lowers long-term suicide risk in youth
BETHESDA, Md. — Over the last 20 years, suicide rates have increased in the U.S. by 24%, with the largest increases occurring in females ages 10-14 and African American children aged 5-11. These statistics highlight the critical need for better ways to understand and prevent suicide in youth and...
Analysis of ‘growth mindset’ research suggests little to no positive effect on student performance
New research suggests the “growth mindset” strategy favored by some educators to improve student performance hasn’t lived up to its promise—resulting in time and effort dedicated to growth mindsets in the classroom without meaningful gains in grades or test scores. More than 30 years ago, noted psychologist Carol Dweck proposed...
Rana Damra participates in project that results in national recognition
When graduate student Rana Damra joined an interdisciplinary student research project she couldn’t have imagined her team would gain national recognition for their work. But they did, and it resulted in an invitation to present the research at the National Center for Interprofessional Practice and Education 2022 NEXUS Summit...
‘Seems like magic’: The healing powers of local superheroes
Fox 8 Cleveland: Elizabeth Short, professor of developmental psychology and the director of the Developmental Master's and Early Intervention Program at the College of Arts and Sciences, explained how healthcare providers can draw inspiration from comic book characters when healing children. “Thinking about something beyond yourself and not focusing...
Clinical Psychology PhD December 1, 2022.
Developmental Cognitive & Affective Sciences PhD Is NOT accepting applications for 2022-23
Developmental Psychology MA January 15, 2023. Apply now!
Communication Sciences MA January 15, 2023. Apply now!
Communication Sciences PhD April 1, 2023. Apply now!
Questions? We’d love to hear from you! psychsciences@case.edu