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