Bachelor’s in Psychology Degree Programs in New York – CUNY Part II

Psychology is one of the most popular majors at colleges and universities throughout New York and the rest of the United States. This is in part due to the strong interest of students in joining a helping profession. Another reason this major is so popular is the curriculum’s flexibility. A psychology education is built upon a core liberal arts curriculum. Students enrolled in most general psychology undergraduate programs are exposed to a wide range of social science topics and liberal arts foundational courses. They also learn the basic tenets of research and many skills that can be universally applied.

While many students enter this  field with the intention of becoming a psychologist, others do not. A bachelor’s degree in psychology prepares students for admittance into graduate training in psychology or a related field. It gives them immediate entrance into an entry-level psychology position as well as a host of other fields of employment, including:

  • law
  • medicine
  • business
  • human resources
  • nursing
  • many more

Students in New York with an interest in a strong liberal arts curriculum will benefit from an undergraduate psychology degree.

City University of New York (CUNY) Lehman College

The School of Natural and Social Sciences

Lehman College was founded in 1931 as the Bronx campus of Hunter College. Lehman is a senior college of the City University of New York (CUNY) system, located in New York. Lehman became an independent college in CUNY in September 1967.

Lehman is a public coeducational liberal arts college offering more than 90 undergraduate and graduate degree programs. It’s comprised of the following schools:

  • Arts & Humanities
  • Education
  • Natural and Social Sciences
  • Continuing Education
  • Health Sciences
  • Human Services
  • Nursing

The School of Natural and Social Sciences is the largest school at Lehman College and offers 32 undergrad and graduate degrees, 23 minors and 3 certificate programs. The mission of the school is “preparing students to conquer the challenges of the global world and become future leaders.” In 2016, US News & World Report ranked CUNY-Lehman College as 116th for best Northern Regional Universities. The School of Natural and Social Sciences offers training in a wide range of areas with the option of a major or minor in psychology.

Bachelor of Arts in Psychology

The BA in Psychology provides students with a core understanding of psychology as a science and profession. The program studies psychological principles and techniques. It prepares students for careers in behavioral and social sciences as well other fields, including:

  • education
  • social work
  • medicine

Competencies for graduates of the psychology major include the following abilities:

  • Have core knowledge of major concepts, empirical findings, theoretical perspectives, and historical trends in psychology
  • Demonstrate understanding of basic research methods in psychology, including:
    • research design
    • data analysis
    • interpretation
  • Utilize critical thinking, skeptical inquiry, and the scientific approach to solve problems related to behavior and mental processes
  • Proper use of library/ database information, computers, and other technology

Graduates of the psychology major are prepared to enter graduate studies in psychology leading to careers in:

  • academia
  • scientific research
  • clinical psychology
  • school psychology
  • professional work in industry, government, and social agencies.

Accreditations
Commission on Higher Education of the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools (MSACS)

Contact
CUNY – Lehman College
Kevin Sailor – Gillet Hall, Room 113
250 Bedford Park Boulevard
West – Bronx, New York 10468
(718) 960 – 8000
E-Mail: psych@lehman.cuny.edu
Program Website

City University of New York CUNY – Medgar Evers College

The School of Liberal Arts and Education

Medger Evers College was founded in 1969 through the cooperation of educators and community leaders in central Brooklyn. The College was named after Medgar Wiley Evers, an African American civil rights leader who was assassinated in 1963.

The college offers undergraduate and graduate degrees through four schools:

  • the School of Business
  • the School of Professional and Community Development
  • the School of Liberal Arts and Education
  • the School of Science, Health, and Technology

The college has several external programs and associated centers including:

  • the Male Development and Empowerment Center
  • the Center for Women’s Development
  • the Center for Black Literature
  • the DuBois Bunche Center for Public Policy

Undergraduate enrollment is over 6,700 students. In 2016, US News & World Report ranked CUNY–Medgar Evers College as Tier 2 for Best Northern Regional Colleges. The School of Liberal Arts and Education has six academic departments including:

  • Education, Interdisciplinary Studies
  • English, Mass Communications
  • Psychology
  • Social and Behavioral Sciences
  • Philosophy & Religious Studies

The Social and Behavioral Sciences Department offers a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Psychology.

Bachelor of Arts in Psychology

The Department of Psychology offers a psychology major with curriculum based on the fundamental principles of general psychology. The school’s mission “to prepare students for graduate education in clinical and counseling, personality, social, developmental, educational, sport, community, school, biological, health, cognitive, environmental, forensic and industrial/organizational psychology”.

The psychology major also provides pre-professional training for students who want to enter careers in:

  • health care
  • education
  • urban affairs
  • government
  • industry

In addition to psychology coursework students can participate in fieldwork and research in a psychology laboratory. A required clinical practicum provides internships in mental health settings in the community.

Accreditations
Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE)

Contact
CUNY – Medgar Evers College
The School of Liberal Arts and Education
Department of Psychology
1650 Bedford Avenue
Brooklyn, New York 11225
(718) 270-4900
E-Mail: MECadmissions@MEC.cuny.edu
Program Website

CUNY – Queens College

The Division of Mathematics and Natural Sciences

Located in the New York City borough of Queens, Queens College is part of the City University of New York system. Founded in 1937, Queens offers more than 100 areas of study in:

  • the arts and humanities
  • education
  • mathematics and natural sciences
  • social sciences

Graduate programs include speech-language pathology and library and information studies. The majority of students at Queens College live off campus. Nearly 25% of students are 25 years and older. To accommodate the adult students, the college provides inexpensive day care services for students with children and the availability of Weekend College to earn a four-year undergraduate degree by only attending classes on Friday evenings, Saturdays and Sundays.

Undergraduate enrollment is more than 15,700 students. In 2016, US News & World Report ranked CUNY-Queens College as 47th for Northern Regional Universities. The Division of Mathematics and Natural Sciences includes the following departments:

  • Biology
  • Computer Sciences
  • Chemistry & Biochemistry
  • Family, Nutrition & Exercise Science
  • Earth & Environmental Sciences
  • Mathematics
  • Physics
  • Psychology

Bachelor of Arts in Psychology

The coursework for the BA in Psychology provides students with a core understanding of behavior– both normal and abnormal– to gain a foundation for careers in psychology. The psychology major prepares students for careers in settings including residential and treatment programs for the handicapped population and drug rehab facilities. A master’s degree is the minimal educational requirement for many professional positions.  At least 50 percent of the courses in the major  must be taken at Queens College.

Bachelor of Arts in Neuroscience and Psychology

The BA in Neuroscience and Psychology is an interdisciplinary research-based degree offered by the Psychology and Biology Departments. The neuroscience major is well suited for students interested in  research careers  in the area of neuroscience. Neuroscience majors are required to participate in research for a minimum of one year. The department recommends they spend as many years in a lab as is possible.  All neuroscience majors are required to submit a written thesis and present their research in a public forum. Competencies for graduates of the Neuroscience and Psychology Major will have the following abilities:

  • Have a foundation in the field of neuroscience
  • Have advanced lab skills beyond normal undergraduate experience
  • Understand the day to day conducting of scientific research and thinking
  • Read, comprehend, integrate and evaluate critical neuroscience related literature
  • Utilize literature in designing, conducting, analyzing, interpreting and reporting neuroscience experiments
  • Communicate effectively research findings orally in local, state and global settings

Accreditations
Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE)

Contact
CUNY – Queens College
The Division of Mathematics and Natural Sciences
The Psychology Department
65-30 Kissena Boulevard
Flushing, New York 11367
(718) 997-5000
E-Mail: QC_Psychology@qc.cuny.edu
Program Website

CUNY – York College

The Department of Behavioral Sciences

Founded in 1966 as Alpha College, York College is one of 11 senior colleges of the City University of New York. York was the first senior college founded under the CUNY system, which united several independent public colleges into a single public university system in 1961. It’s located in Jamaica Queens.

York offers bachelor’s degrees in:

  • the liberal arts and sciences
  • accounting and business
  • journalism
  • communications technology
  • biotechnology
  • computer science
  • social work
  • teacher education
  • aviation management
  • Nursing
  • Occupational Therapy

The student population of over 8,000 students at the college is diverse. Students come from 125 different countries and speak more than 80 languages. In 2016, US News & World Report ranked CUNY-York as Tier 2 for best Northern Regional Colleges. The School of Health Sciences and Professional Programs includes six academic departments including:

  • Health and Physical Education
  • Health Professions
  • Nursing
  • Occupational Therapy
  • Social Work
  • Teacher Education

Bachelor of Arts in Psychology

The BA in Psychology program provides a curriculum in the disciplines of psychology. Students acquire the knowledge, skills, and values necessary to prepare them for careers or graduate or professional schools. Competencies for graduates of the psychology major include the following abilities:

  • Demonstrate a core understanding of psychology’s:
    • major concepts
    • theoretical perspectives
    • empirical findings
    • historical trends
  • Comprehend and apply research methods in psychology including:
    • research design
    • data analysis
    • interpretation
  • Properly use critical and creative thinking, skeptical inquiry, and scientific approach in solving problems related to behavior and mental processes
  • Ability to assess evidence – tolerating ambiguity, acting ethically, and reflecting values that are the basics of psychology
  • Understand and effectively write in a variety of formats with a mastery of APA format
  • Use effective communication with others while understanding sources of potential interpersonal conflict
  • Ability to implement psychological knowledge, skills, and values in occupational pursuits in a variety of settings

Accreditations
Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools (MSCHE)

Contact
CUNY – York College
The Psychology Department
94-10 Guy R. Brewer Boulevard
Jamaica, New York 11451
(718) 262-2000
E-Mail: clark@york.cuny.edu
Program Website

These and the other undergraduate psychology programs offer students a flexible, full liberal arts education. Students graduating with a degree in psychology are prepared for many different graduate training and employment options. They can apply to a graduate programs in psychology, or a related social science field, as well as a number of other less closely related options, like business or education. Students can also enter the work force in psychology related positions like mental health technician or research assistant or a number of other fields like business and human resources. Most psychology majors in New York quickly find that their degree is a wide-ranging degree option that opens many different doors.

For More Bachelor’s Degrees in New York – A-C

For More Bachelor’s Degrees in New York – Ca-Co

For More Bachelor’s Degrees in New York – Co-Cu

For More Bachelor’s Degrees in New York – CUNY-Part-I