General Overview

The PSI is a doctoral program in Applied Psychology (Steinhardt). It was approved by New York State as a student training program in the spring of 1997. It is not an APA accredited program; because we do not train for licensing as a practitioner. 

The program focuses on training students to understand, study, and change the various contexts and social systems in which individuals develop and spend time. Contexts could include families, peer groups, schools, neighborhoods, cultural groups, or public policies. The program also trains students in empirical methods for designing and assessing intervention/prevention and health promotion efforts. Thus, the program maintains a heavy focus on conducting research in applied settings for the purposes of understanding and changing them. Program faculty study a broad range of issues including early childhood programs, school transitions, ethnic-racial identity development, homelessness, HIV-AIDs, welfare and work policy, and the like. Students complete a rigourous core curriculum, and are heavily engaged in research throughout the course of their training.

Core Ideas

• The program focuses on studying people in context
• The program focuses on changing settings and systems, and therefore on prevention, intervention, and health promotion
• The intent of the program is to produce psychologists who can carry out socially relevant research aimed at understanding and solving social problems in natural settings.
• Faculty study schools, neighborhoods, social service systems, local and state policy
• The program has a heavy emphasis on theory, research, and social action

What is the Psychology and Social Intervention program?

• A Ph.D. training program
• Core aim is to produce psychologists who can carry out socially relevant research aimed at understanding and solving social problems in natural settings.
• We study how features of schools, childcare programs, neighborhoods, policies, workplace, social service agencies, and the like influence individual well-being and behavior.

What similar program are there in the U.S.?

There are a number of related programs in disciplines such as Ecological Psychology, Human Development, Community Psychology, and other disciplines

Examples include:

• Ecological Psychology  |  Michigan State University
• Community and Prevention Research  |  University of Illinois, Chicago Circle
• Human Deveopment and Social Policy  |  Northwestern University
• Community-Clinical Psychology  |  University of Illinois, Urbana Champaign
• Community Psychology  |  Georgia State University
• Prevention Research Training Program  |  Arizona State University

Is there funding available for students who are admitted to the program?

Students will receive funding for four years of their training. Funding provides a stipend and covers tuition and benefits. Funding comes through student employment and Steinhardt fellowships.

How long does it take to complete the program?

Our program is designed so that students can complete core requirements within a 5 - 6 year period.

How many and which courses are required?

We have a structured curriculum which outlines a set of core courses and theory and methods related to our training goals as well as required departmental seminars and electives. This information is outlined in more detail on our website.

Is the program accredited?

This is a state approved Ph.D. program. The program is not accredited by the APA which means that students are not eligible for professional licensure as practicioners.

Can I be a part-time student?

This program is designed for full-time study.  We expect that all students will be engaged in full-time training and will be available to attend all of the required seminars and colloquia.

Who are the faculty in the program?

The program consists of core and affiliated faculty. Current core program faculty include J. Lawrence Aber, LaRue Allen, Diane Hughes, Edward Seidman, Pamela Morris, Elise Cappella and Erin Godfrey. Core and affiliate faculty, and their research interests, are listed on the program website.

Are students admitted to work with a specific faculty member or do they choose a mentor after being accepted to the program?

Students are accepted to the PSI program as a whole, not to apprentice solely with one individual faculty member. Decisions about which faculty members incoming students will work with in their first year are made at the time of matriculation.  we encourage students to work across at least two research labs over the course of their training.

Where can I find information on each Professor's specific research interests?

The research interests of the faculty members can be found via the web links to their faculty biography, which can be found on the Psychology and Social Intervention webpage (http://steinhardt.nyu.edu/appsych/phd/psychology_social_intervention).

How do I apply to the PSI program?

Applications are handled by Graduate Admissions at the Steinhardt School of Culture, Education, and Human Development. Contact information is:

Office of Graduate Admissions
NYU Steinhardt
82 Washington Square East, 3rd Floor
New York, NY 10003-6680
steinhardt.gradadmissions@nyu.edu
(212) 998-5030
(212) 995-4328 (fax)

Who should I contact for more information about the program?

Contact Pamela Morris, program co-director (212-998-5014), pamela.morris@nyu.edu