Bachelor of Science

Applied Psychology

How to Apply Info Sessions
Students in classroom
BS, Applied Psychology

About This Degree

Our undergraduate program in Applied Psychology develops your skills to bridge psychological theory, research, and practice. You will gain an understanding of various psychology subfields, including developmental, social, community, and counseling, as well as have opportunities to engage in research and practice with the department’s renowned faculty and in field placements across the city.
Official title
Bachelor of Science in Applied Psychology
Format
Full-time
Credits
128

Fall Start

Application deadlines

  • November 1 Early Decision 1
  • January 1 Early Decision 2
  • January 5 Regular Decision
  • March 1 Internal Transfer Applications
  • March 15 Transfer Applications

Students will learn to: 

  • Demonstrate a broad understanding of psychology as social and behavioral science, and explore its connections to other disciplines.
  • Demonstrate and apply basic research methods, critical thinking, and skeptical inquiry to address problems related to human behavior and mental processes.
  • Use effective written and oral communication skills to analyze, synthesize, and disseminate information.
  • Understand and apply cognitive, behavioral, and communication competencies in professional settings.

The undergraduate major in Applied Psychology combines a broad-based liberal arts component with required course work in research and in three critical areas of psychology – developmental/learning, social/community, counseling/clinical – in addition to an applied seminar sequence. Specialization electives allow you to focus on a specific area within psychology, or explore an area of interest in a related discipline, including public health.

A hallmark of our program is the Seminar in Applied Psychology sequence, through which you learn to connect and apply the knowledge gained in lectures and readings to research and community-based experiences. The Seminar sequence affords you the opportunity to explore clinical, community, educational, and research settings, helping you build a portfolio of valuable experiences.

Juniors with a record of exceptional achievement are encouraged to apply to our honors program and conduct a research project under the guidance of a faculty mentor.

Most careers in psychology require a master’s or doctoral degree, and our program prepares you for graduate study in all subfields of psychology and related disciplines, including education, social work, medicine, law, and business. At the same time, a bachelor’s in psychology is very versatile, and graduates of our program are well positioned for entry-level opportunities in social-service and community-service agencies, schools, hospitals, corporations, universities, and research agencies.

If you’re an international student, you may be able to work in the United States after graduation for an extended period of time. Most students on F-1 visas are eligible for Optional Practical Training (OPT) off-campus work authorization. F-1 students in our program may also be eligible for the STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, or Mathematics) OPT extension, allowing you to extend your time in the United States to pursue degree-related work experience. For more information on who can apply for this extension, visit NYU’s Office of Global Services: STEM OPT.

Program Features

fieldwork

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.
Student at desk

Honors

Applied Psychology students with a record of exceptional achievement are welcome to apply to our Honors Program. Seniors accepted to the program are required to conduct an independent research project on a topic of their choice under the close mentorship of an Applied Psychology faculty member.
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Study Away

Studying away brings your NYU Steinhardt education into a new global context, giving you the opportunity to experience your field from a different perspective, build connections across cultures, and make the world part of your classroom.
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Student Experience

Learn more about student life and APUG programming, as well as organizations like APUG Club, the Inside Scoop Peer Mentorship Program, and the Online Publication of Undergraduate Studies (OPUS).
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Alumni in Action

Applied Psychology alumni are employed across various industries, including education, public health and public policy, entertainment and media, technology, and nonprofit and social service organizations.
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Transfer FAQs

The protocols and process for transferring into the undergraduate program in Applied Psychology.

Questions 

Prospective students, if you have any additional questions about our degree, please feel free to contact us at undergraduate-appliedpsych@nyu.edu.

Current students, please visit the APUG Internal website for forms, policies, and procedures. 

Take the Next Step

Advance your personal and professional journey – apply to join our community of students.