UTHealth Houston School of Behavioral Health Sciences opens!
Photo by UTHealth Houston
An exciting new journey begins today with the official start of UTHealth Houston School of Behavioral Health Sciences, the university’s seventh school.
This milestone is poised to transform mental health care and lead behavioral health innovation across Texas, where the need could not be more urgent. Today, nearly 1 in 5 people live with a mental illness. At the same time, Texas faces a critical shortage of behavioral health professionals.
“We are excited to move to the next phase in the evolution of the School of Behavioral Health Sciences — the arrival of our first class of students, with many more to come.”
The inaugural class, which is pursuing a Master of Science in Cognitive and Behavioral Sciences, is leading the charge on this groundbreaking educational journey to bridge the gap between Texas’ needs and staffing shortages.
With five additional programs scheduled for the fall 2026 semester, UTHealth Houston will create a robust pipeline of behavioral health care providers.
A strong foundation to build on
“We are building on UTHealth Houston’s long history of innovation, collaboration, and service to the community,” said Jair C. Soares, MD, PhD, founding dean of the School of Behavioral Health Sciences; the Pat R. Rutherford, Jr. Chair in Psychiatry at McGovern Medical School at UTHealth Houston; and vice president of behavioral sciences at UTHealth Houston.
For decades, the university has led the way in education, research, and clinical care. Now, those strengths are being directed toward one of the greatest challenges facing Texas today, ensuring that every person has access to the mental and behavioral health support and care that they need.
Preparing for tomorrow’s workforce
Over the next decade, the School of Behavioral Health Sciences plans to launch more than 35 degree and certificate programs, with the following six programs planned for fall 2026:
- Master of Science in Clinical Psychology
- Doctor of Philosophy in Clinical Psychology
- Doctor of Psychology in Clinical Psychology
- Master of Science in Cognitive and Behavioral Sciences
- Master of Social Work in Clinical Social Work
- Doctor of Philosophy in Cognitive and Behavioral Sciences (pending)
This commitment goes beyond textbooks and lectures. With 12.5% of state behavioral health hospital beds currently closed because of staffing shortages, Texas urgently needs trained specialists. By preparing the next generation of behavioral health providers, UTHealth Houston is stepping up to meet that challenge head-on.
About the Master of Science in Cognitive and Behavioral Sciences
The Master of Science in Cognitive and Behavioral Sciences takes an interdisciplinary approach to understanding human behavior.
Students will explore how the central nervous system shapes behavior across one’s lifespan through health and illness, and in both typical and atypical development. By blending perspectives from multiple fields, the program offers a well-rounded education designed to prepare graduates for meaningful careers in research, clinical practice, technology, and beyond.