University launches behavioral sciences master’s program
UTHealth Houston has launched its first academic program in the newly established School of Behavioral Health Sciences: the Master of Science in Cognitive and Behavioral Sciences (MS CaBS). This milestone makes it the seventh school within UTHealth Houston to offer advanced training degrees and represents a pivotal step toward advancing research and education in behavioral health.
Designed as a full-time program, the MS CaBS offers an interdisciplinary curriculum at the intersection of psychology, psychiatry, neuroscience, computational science, biochemistry, and genetics. Its core mission is to explore how the central nervous system shapes human behavior throughout the lifespan — encompassing typical and atypical development, health and disease.
“This will be an important new program to help us build the multidisciplinary work force that will be needed by our state to conquer major mental health issues experienced by Texans,” said Jair C. Soares, MD, PhD, vice president for Behavioral Sciences and Pat R. Rutherford Jr., Chair in Psychiatry at the medical school, as well as founding dean of UTHealth Houston School of Behavioral Health Sciences and executive director of John S. Dunn Behavioral Sciences Center at UTHealth Houston.
Students in the program will receive advanced training in experimental design, physiological research methods, and cognitive neuroscience. The curriculum emphasizes hands-on research, with students paired with faculty mentors on active research projects and a culminating thesis.
The MS CaBS program stands out as the first of its kind to integrate such a broad range of disciplines to examine behavior from a cellular to societal level. Course topics include learning, memory, motivation, decision-making, emotion, and treatment outcomes, with a strong foundation in evidence-based methodology.
UTHealth Houston has assembled a distinguished faculty for the program, including:
- Tatiana Barichello, PhD – associate professor
- Gabriel R. Fries, PhD – assistant professor
- Charles Green, PhD – professor
- Deborah M. Little, PhD – professor and director, Research, Trauma and Resilience Center
- Consuelo Walss-Bass, PhD – professor, director of the Psychiatric Genetics Program and the UTHealth Houston Brain Collection
The program welcomes applicants with a bachelor’s degree in psychology, biology, neuroscience, or related fields. While prior research experience is encouraged, it is not required. Admission is holistic, taking into account academic achievement, personal statements, and commitment to advancing behavioral science. GRE scores are not required.
With a focus on research excellence, interdisciplinary collaboration, and real-world impact, the MS CaBS program aims to shape the next generation of scientists, clinicians, and leaders in behavioral health.
For more information, visit the UTHealth Houston School of Behavioral Health Sciences website.