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As the home of one of America's earliest psychology departments, the University of Chicago pioneered behaviorism research and empirical studies of sleep and dreams. Established in 1893 as the Laboratory of Psychology, UChicago's Psychology Department has maintained its position as a premier institution for psychological scholarship, research, and education for over a century. The department boasts an illustrious history with faculty and alumni including behaviorism founder John B. Watson, psychological measurement innovator L.L. Thurstone, and Nobel laureate Roger Sperry for his cerebral lateralization discoveries. Current research explores diverse areas such as primate behavior, auditory spatial awareness, and childhood language development through gestures. The Psychology BA program offers flexible requirements and extensive course options, enabling students to customize their studies based on individual interests and career aspirations. Specializations available include biopsychology, cognitive processes, child development, mental health studies, research methods, and social psychology. This program provides excellent preparation for graduate studies in psychology or related disciplines like sociology, anthropology, linguistics, and communication sciences.