Psychology Certificate Program

College graduates who did not major in psychology but who want graduate school preparation in the field should follow the structured curriculum designed with the Department of Psychology. The course plan includes the same introductory, intermediate, and advanced psychology courses taken by Columbia 's undergraduate psychology majors and provides essential research experience necessary for research-oriented Ph.D. programs in psychology. Psychology courses and research experience also serve as valuable preparation for Psy.D. programs and graduate degree programs in education, management, public health, and social work.

The Psychology Certificate Program can be completed in two terms of full-time study, beginning in the fall and spring. However, most students enroll in the program to prepare for graduate school, which means completing at least two full terms of research prior to applying to graduate school. Most students complete the program in 16-18 months. After applying to graduate programs, many students continue to take seminars and engage in research during the spring and summer. It is advised that students spread out their coursework over at least three to four semesters beginning in the fall. Students who work full- or part-time may spread out their coursework over a longer period. In general, the psychology adviser will help students plan a curriculum that enables them to apply to graduate school in the fall following entry into the certificate program (or the subsequent fall for students who opt to spread their coursework out over a longer period of time).

Students who complete the curriculum with a grade of B or better in all courses will receive a Psychology certificate.

Curriculum

Students in the Psychology Certificate Program work with advisers to create a curriculum of at least 28 credits. Students must meet the following requirements:

• One introductory psychology course:
  PSYC W1001. The Science of Psychology.
• One laboratory course in experimental psychology (1400-level courses)
• One introductory course in statistics:
  PSYC W1610, Introduction to Statistics for Behavioral Scientists
  STAT W1001. Introduction to Statistical Reasoning.
  STAT W1111. Introduction to Statistics (without Calculus).
  STAT W1211. Introduction to Statistics (with Calculus).
• One course in each of three areas:
  Group 1 - Perception and cognition: 2200s, 3200s, or 4200s (also 1420, 1480, 1490)
  Group 2 - Psychobiology and neuroscience: 1010, 2400s, 3400s, or 4400s (also 1440)
  Group 3 - Social, personality, and abnormal psychology: 2600s, 3600s, or 4600s (also 1450)
• One advanced seminar of your choice (3000- or 4000-level courses)
• Two semesters of supervised research participation (May be accomplished with one semester of volunteer work in a lab plus one semester of PSYC 3950 Supervised Individual Research. Note that PSYC 3950 does not count toward the seminar requirement.)

Advising

All students are advised by the Office of Student Affairs and a faculty member in the Department of Psychology. The carefully structured support system offers the following guidance:

• Identification of appropriate courses and career options.
• Individualized planning for graduate school preparation.
• Advice on application procedures for graduate programs, and the types of programs for which each student's application is best suited.
• Matching those students interested in clinical or counseling graduate programs with appropriate volunteer public service activities.

Admissions
203 Lewisohn Hall
212-854-9666

Academic Adviser to Enrolled Students
Tom Harford
203 Lewisohn Hall
212-854-0419
th2207@columbia.edu

Faculty Adviser
Patricia G. Lindemann
Department of Psychology
354 Schermerhorn
212-854-8285
pgl2@columbia.edu

Admission

To apply to the psychology certificate program, follow the Postbaccalaureate Studies Program application instructions.

Applicants to the psychology certificate program have earlier application deadlines.