Psychology

The Ph.D. Program in Psychology encourages students to find creative solutions to critical issues through scholarship and service. The program readies students for meaningful careers in research, teaching, clinical practice, policy, and industry.

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Degree Offered

Ph.D. in Psychology

Full-time
10 Training Areas

Admissions Deadlines

December 1 for fall enrollment
(No spring enrollment)

Contact

Psychology

+1 212-817-8750 psychology@gc.cuny.edu

Please note: In accordance with CUNY's guidelines surrounding the coronavirus (COVID-19), the Psychology Executive Office will be working partially remote for the foreseeable future.

Please see the Graduate Center’s official Covid-19 information and safety guidance page for additional information and resources.

The Psychology program spans 10 distinct training areas. Each one allows students to focus on a specific area of interest. Students become part of an active and diverse community, participating in interdisciplinary research and programs. The program promotes human welfare and service to society while fostering student growth and development.

To contact us, visit our governance page for important contacts.

Training Areas

Behavioral and Cognitive Neuroscience (CUNY Neuroscience Collaborative)

Behavioral and Cognitive Neuroscience (CUNY Neuroscience Collaborative)

Clinical Psychology @ John Jay College of Criminal Justice

Clinical Psychology @ John Jay College of Criminal Justice

Clinical Psychology @ Queens College

Clinical Psychology @ Queens College

Cognitive and Comparative Psychology

Cognitive and Comparative Psychology

Critical Social/Personality and Environmental Psychology

Critical Social/Personality and Environmental Psychology (merger of Critical Social/Personality Psychology and Environmental Psychology)

Developmental Psychology

Developmental Psychology

Health Psychology & Clinical Science

Health Psychology & Clinical Science

Industrial/Organizational Psychology

Industrial/Organizational Psychology

Psychology & Law

Psychology & Law

Our Program

The Psychology curriculum includes 60-90 credits of coursework, a first and second examination, and completion of a dissertation that embodies original research. Each training area has its own program requirements. As a part of The Graduate Center, students take advantage of a variety of interdisciplinary concentrations, research centers and institutes, and other specialized programs throughout The Graduate Center that are relevant to psychology.

Curriculum

Our Faculty

Our faculty are top scholars in their fields of study, as well as journal editors and leaders of professional societies and organizations. The faculty work closely with students in courses, through research, and as advisers. Faculty and their labs are based on eight campuses throughout the CUNY system, with courses offered at The Graduate Center, as well as Baruch College, Brooklyn College, City College, Hunter College, John Jay College, Queens College, and the College of Staten Island.

Faculty

Student Support

Our students become thoughtful scholars and lifelong learners. The Psychology program and its Executive Office are committed to seeing students succeed and to creating avenues for professional development. They offer many means of support, including comprehensive forms and procedures and student resources.

Forms and Procedures

Ph.D. Program in Psychology event participants

Events and Accomplishments

Joining the Ph.D. Program in Psychology means becoming part of a vibrant community of ambitious scholars. Student leaders organize a series of cross-CUNY events with distinguished speakers, including the Teaching of Psychology conference and Psychology Student Research Day. Learn more about the activities and achievements of our students, faculty, and alumni in our program news.

News and Events

Feb 21, 2023

Congratulations to Melanie Fessinger, Society for Personality and Social Psychology Award for Outstanding Student Research

Melanie Fessinger, a dual specialization student in the Psychology and Law and Basic and Applied Social Psychology Ph.D. programs, has been awarded the Society for Personality and Social Psychology’s (SPSP) Outstanding Research Award, which recognizes rigorous and transparent research by graduate students pursuing dissertation or pre-dissertation research. Submissions are reviewed by fellow SPSP student members and university faculty. Melanie’s research examines factors influencing both suspects’ and observers’ judgments about the voluntariness of agreements to plead guilty to a crime. Melanie’s PhD advisor is Margaret Bull Kovera.

This is now the second year in a row that a BASP student has been honored with this award. Congratulations, Melanie! We are so proud of you.

Congratulations/Kudos

Dec 28, 2022

Dr. Lauren Kois is the recipient of the prestigious Saleem Shah early career award

Dr. Lauren Kois, who is a 2017 grad of the Clinical@JJ program is this recipient of the prestigious Saleem Shah early career award, which is cosponsored by the American Psychology-Law Society (APA Division 41) and the American Academy of Forensic Psychology.

Congratulations/Kudos

Sep 7, 2022

Dr. Colette Daiute named a Fulbright Specialist for 2022-2026

Congratulations Colette! Dr. Colette Daiute*, CSPEP and Developmental Psychology, has been named a Fulbright Specialist for 2022-2026 for her groundbreaking work with lawyers, asylum seekers and immigration/refugee activists at the University of Naples Law School Clinical Lawyering Project. Daiute’s participation will include working with lawyer/client team interviews and scholars across law, humanities, and social sciences at the University of Naples Federico II to improve the credible fear interview process, especially to highlight the perspectives of asylum-seeking clients.

*Professor Daiute is also on the faculties of the Ph.D. Programs in Educational Psychology, Urban Education, the Committee on Globalization and Social Change, the Interactive Technology and Pedagogy (ITP) Certificate program, and the MALS Childhood and Youth Students Concentration. She guides the new Ph.D. Program in Psychology Concentration on Qualitative Research Methods.

Congratulations/Kudos
Announcement

Jul 28, 2022

Professor Puleng Segalo awarded for popularizing science at University of South Africa

Professor Puleng Segalo, incumbent of the Chief Albert Luthuli Research Chair at Unisa, has received The World Academy of Sciences (TWAS) Regional Award 2021 for Public Understanding and Popularization of Science. The prestigious award is aimed at fulfilling the academy’s objective of recognizing, supporting, and promoting scientific capacity and excellence in the developing world.

Announcement

Psychology Spotlights

Our Sciences Spotlight series profiles students, faculty, and alumni associated with GC Sciences programs. Learn about our community:

Student: Donald Brown

Brown received an NSF doctoral dissertation research improvement grant to support him in completing his dissertation, which is currently entitled Social Identity, Scientific Practice, and the Production of Social Knowledge: An Ethnographic Investigation of Experimental Social Psychology.

Faculty: Danielle S. Berke

Berke was awarded two grants from the National Institutes of Health to study the impact of traumatic stress, violence and discrimination experiences on transgender and gender diverse New Yorkers and to deliver a tailored violence prevention program to these communities.