The Hunter College Psychology Program provides a broad and integrative approach to understanding the complexities of behavior and mental processes, encompassing a wide array of specializations and research methods to equip students with a deep and versatile knowledge of the field.
Psychology is concerned with all aspects of the study of behavioral, developmental and cognitive processes, and employs a broad spectrum of approaches, from the social to the biological to understand them. The Hunter College Psychology Program reflects the diversity of psychology as a science and as a profession. Its course offerings span this spectrum from clinical, social, and developmental psychology to ethology (animal behavior), biopsychology, and behavioral neuroscience.
Dear Undergraduate Students:
On behalf of the faculty and staff, I welcome you to the Department of Psychology at Hunter College. We are looking forward to a meaningful and rewarding association with you during your time as a Psychology major. Psychology is an incredibly diverse field, and Hunter’s Psychology Department provides students with a wide variety of opportunities that reflect this rich scholastic diversity.
There are a few things that I encourage you to do early in your career as a Psychology major:
First, seek out Advising. At the beginning of your academic career (and sometimes even as an upper-class student), college can seem overwhelming. This is the time to ask questions. We encourage all of our majors to meet with one of our department’s excellent Academic Advisors early in their career to discuss the program, its many options and the resources that are available to our students (see Advising). Psychology’s Advising Office is here to help you.
Second, get involved the Psychology Department’s extracurricular activities. During the academic year our Advising Office offers numerous seminars and workshops aimed at fostering professional development, including advice and guidance for those interested in pursuing careers in Psychology-related fields, applying to graduate school, etc. You can also participate in the department’s “Psychology Collective”, which sponsors numerous activities and events for undergraduate Psychology majors throughout the academic year.
Third, get involved with research (see Research), especially if you intend to pursue graduate study. Psychology is a science that expands and grows through empirical research. If you intend to apply to graduate school in Psychology (or a related field) it's essential that you get involved in research early in your career. The Psychology Department offers several research-for-credit (or “Independent Study”) options, including PSYCH 201 and PSYCH 395. For our more advanced students, we also offer the “Psychology Honors” program (PSYCH 396 and PSYCH 398). At the end of every academic year, we host Hunter’s Annual Psychology Convention. It’s an excellent venue to showcase our students’ work and to network, and all are welcome!
Hunter College also sponsors numerous other initiatives, funding opportunities and training programs that can be combined with your activities as a Psychology Major. Please see the Undergraduate Research Conference website for additional information.
I wish you a wonderful and exciting year!
Jason Young, PhD, Chair of the Psychology Department
Although the Department of Psychology is large in terms of enrollment, students enjoy close interaction with faculty through comprehensive advisement, participation in departmental activities and committees, supervised field placements, and research opportunities guided by faculty mentors. These experiences are offered through independent study, honors programs, and initiatives such as BP-ENDURE and MARC programs that offer research training in preparation for PhD programs.
The department provides diverse applied research opportunities in areas including developmental, social, and abnormal psychology, as well as physiological psychology and animal behavior. Partnerships with mental health and community organizations allow students to integrate academic study with practical experience through field placements and applied research in personality, abnormal, and child psychology.
