Psychology Schools in New York
Learn about psychology degrees in New York and find out how you can have a career in the Empire State.
Finding Psychology Schools in New York
By Kimberly Ross
Located in upstate New York, Cornell University ranked in the top 20 graduate psychology programs by U.S. News and World Report. If you are interested in working in research rather than a clinical setting, you will appreciate the research focus of its psychology department.
Additionally, the school offers the following concentrations:
- Behavioral and Evolutionary Neuroscience
- Perception, Cognition and Development
- Social and Personality Psychology
For a school where you can earn a clinical psychology degree in New York, consider Syracuse University. With one of the most popular majors in the undergraduate school of arts and sciences, its psychology department features the Allport Project, through which students can gain valuable training experience and research opportunities. The graduate psychology program is divided into four specialty areas: clinical psychology, experimental psychology, school psychology and social psychology. Syracuse University also offers a broad range of programs in counseling, marriage and family therapy, and social work.
New York Job Market
The salary you can expect with a psychology degree in New York varies widely, depending on whether you live in the city of New York or a more rural area. Here are the mean annual salaries* of psychology professions throughout the state:
| Psychology Career | Mean Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Psychologist | $90,590 |
| Counselor | $46,810 |
| Marriage and Family Therapist | $36,150 |
| Social Worker | $54,540 |
Licensure Requirements in New York
To become licensed after obtaining your psychology degree in New York, you will need to meet certain qualifications mandated by the state. Regardless of the license type, the state requires a passing score on the appropriate national examination for your field. Here are the additional requirements, broken down by type of license:
Psychologist
- A doctoral degree in psychology
- Completion of 3,500 hours of supervised work experience within two years, half of which can be completed during the degree program
Professional Counselor
- A master's degree in counseling
- Completion of a 3,000-hour work experience under supervision
Marriage and Family Therapist
- A master's degree in marriage and family therapy
- Supervised work experience that includes 1,500 hours of direct client contact
Social Worker
The state of New York issues two different licenses for social workers: Licensed Master Social Worker (LMSW) and Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW).
- A master's degree in social work (for LMSW or LCSW)
- Completion of three years of full-time clinical social work or six years of part-time clinical social work, which only includes experience in diagnosis, psychotherapy and assessment-based treatment plans (for LCSW)
Making the Most of Your Psychology Degree in New York
Becoming a member of a professional association, whether on the national or state level, will help you successfully navigate through the ups and downs of your psychology career. These associations not only help you find job opportunities, they also provide you with a support system of peers and mentors.
As you are working on a psychology degree in New York, here are some of the state and local professional organizations you might consider joining, depending on your area of expertise:
- Long Island Association for Marriage and Family Therapy
- National Association of Social Workers, New York State Chapter
- New York Art Therapy Association
- New York Association for Marriage and Family Therapy
- New York Counseling Association
- New York Psychological Association
*Salary data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). Salary may vary according to geographic location, years of experience and employer type.
Psychology Degrees USA
Did You Know?
Focus on New York City:
- In 1895, the country's first pizzeria was opened in New York City by Gennaro Lombardi.
- With 468 stations and 842 miles of track, the New York subway system is the largest mass transit system in the world. The musicians who perform in the subway system have to audition.
- New York City has over 4,000 street food vendors who sell items like hot dogs, pretzels and falafel.
- Every Valentine's Day, the Empire State Building hosts a wedding event for couples to get married at New York's famous landmark. Since the tradition started in 1994, over 220 couples have been married there.