General Overview

The PSI is a new doctoral program in the Department of Applied Psychology (Steinhardt). It was approved by New York State as a doctoral training program in the spring of 2007. It is not an APA accredited program.

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 training students to conduct research in applied settings for the purposes of understanding and changing settings. 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 rigorous 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 programs are there in the U.S.?

There are a number of related programs in disciplines such as Ecological Psychology, Human Development, Community Psychology, among others.
Examples include:

• Ecological Psychology, Michigan State University
• Community and Prevention Research, University of Illinois, Chicago Circle
• Human Development 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?

Most students will receive funding for some (but not necessarily all) of their training. Funding provides a stipend and covers tuition and benefits. Funding comes through Research Assistantships (research position of faculty grants), Graduate Assistantships (funding from Department of Applied Psychology with assignments to various tasks), and dean's 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.

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 practitioners.

Can I be a part-time student?

This program is designed for full-time study. Although some advanced students might hold outside jobs, we expect that all students will be engaged in full-time training and will be available to attend all of the required seminars, colloquia, and research training activities.

What faculty are in the program?

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

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)

Whom should I contact for more information about the program?

Contact Jeremy Yancey, Program Assistant, preferably by email, at jeremy.yancey@nyu.edu or call 212-992-9400