The Undergraduate Program in Applied Psychology is designed to provide students with a comprehensive knowledge of the theory and practice of psychology, with an emphasis on the contexts that influence the behavior and development of children, adolescents, adults, parents, and families. Students apply the knowledge gained in lectures and readings through required field experiences in both research and real-world settings. Links between theory, research, and application are a recurrent theme throughout the program.

The Curriculum

The Steinhardt School's program in Applied Psychology requires a total of 128 credits. Students complete 60 credits of general liberal arts courses and 68 credits in psychology. Upon completion, students receive a B.S. in Applied Psychology.

All Applied Psychology majors are required to take Introduction to Psychology and Its Applications, Developmental Psychology, Cultures of Psychology, Statistics, and Research Methods I and II. Students then choose three electives from an array of psychology and counseling courses, including The Counseling Interview, Group Dynamics, Introduction to Personality, Social Psychology, Psychology of Human Learning, and Abnormal Psychology.

All students complete a three-semester sequence of fieldwork experiences and seminars Finally, four elective courses enable students to gain additional knowledge in a specific area of interest related to psychology.

Fieldwork

A key component of the Applied Psychology major is our sequence of fieldwork placements and seminars. These field experiences are closely supervised and take place in schools, social service agencies, psychiatric hospitals, legal clinics, and youth centers. Students with an interest in research are encouraged to satisfy their fieldwork requirement by joining a faculty member's research team. Research in the Department of Applied Psychology is conducted in diverse settings and covers a broad array of topics.

Honors Program

Students with a record of exceptional achievement may apply to our Honors Program. Eligible Juniors submit a proposal to conduct an independent research project on a topic of their choice under the close mentorship of an Applied Psychology faculty member.

Students interested in learning more about the Honors Program are invited to attend an Honors Program Information Session.

Graduate School Preparation

NYU's Applied Psychology major provides excellent preparation for graduate programs in applied psychology, psychology, and psychology-related areas as well as graduate programs in business and law. Students interested in counseling and guidance, school psychology, ecological and community psychology, human development, social work, and applications of psychology in community-based settings are best served by the Applied Psychology major in Steinhardt.

Undergraduate Research Conference

Each year the Undergraduate Program in Applied Psychology organizes a conference at which a select number of students with senior status present their independent research proposals and projects on a variety of topics as either poster or oral presentations.

Students interested in learning more about the Undergraduate Research Conference are invited to attend an Undergraduate Research Conference Information Session.

Funding Opportunities

Conference Funding

All students in the Applied Psychology Undergraduate Program who are in good academic standing are eligible to apply for funds for expenses related to attending professional conferences (i.e., conference registration fees; transportation; hotel).

Funds be awarded once a year, during the Spring semester, and can be requested in advance, for conferences students plan on attending during the year, or as reimbursement for conferences students attended.

Research Funding

All students in the Applied Psychology Undergraduate Program who are working on an independent research project under the guidance of a faculty mentor (e.g., honors project or senior thesis) and are in good academic standing are eligible to apply for funds for to help cover the cost of the research project.

Funds be awarded once a year, at the end of the Spring semester, and should be requested in advance, for projects that will be conducted during the following academic year.

APUG (Applied Psychology Undergraduate Club)

The APUG Club is an important part of the Applied Psychology Department and incorporates both educational and social events to engage and inform students about the department and the field.

Who's Who in the Applied Psychology Undergraduate Program