Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) in Applied Psychology and Human Development
Do you want to enrich the lives of children and adults every day? Do you want to understand the interface between human development and health, between psychology and the workplace, and between knowledge and action? If so, then a degree in Applied Psychology and Human Development is your first step.听
By the Numbers
35%
of our students go directly into graduate training
CDEP Survey
58%
of our students go directly into employment
CDEP Survey
Curriculum
The Applied Psychology and Human Development program in the Lynch School of Education and Human Development is a top choice among Boston College undergraduates.听 Our focus is on meaningful learning in the classroom applied to real-world issues across local, national, and international contexts.
The program will help you:
- Understand the key tasks and processes underlying human development from infancy to adulthood
- Recognize how social and cultural contexts shape developmental and psychological processes
- Learn key research methods and statistical approaches used to study human development and psychology
- Gain skills in critically evaluating and translating scientific evidence from psychology and human development to real-world settings
- Develop a specialized understanding of a targeted focus area of study to prepare for a range of further education and career pathways
This program opens up a variety of future options in fields of human resources, counseling psychology, health, education, research, community programming, leadership, or policy and law. It will prepare you to contribute to society through service, action, and leadership.听 It also allows you to study key areas that are at the forefront of current social and educational challenges confronting society: health, human capital, advocacy and policy, and applications to learning.
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You'll develop a specialized understanding of a targeted focus area of study to prepare for a range of further education and career pathways, including:
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- Human Services and Health Sciences: Understand psychosocial challenges to healthy development across the lifespan, and learn about a range of individual and community-level strategies to prevent mental and physical illness and enhance psychosocial health and well-being.
- Organizational Studies and Human Capital:听Focus on the intersection of individuals and work/organizational contexts, with the goal of applying the science of psychology and human development to interpersonal relationships, organizational settings, and the workplace.
- Policy, Advocacy and Community Change:听Understand individual, community, and government roles in sustaining or challenging social and economic inequities affecting human development.听 Assess how psychological science informs policies and programs designed to address pervasive social problems.
- Science of Learning:听Understand cognitive, motivational, and affective processes that underlie learning and behavior across diverse contexts, and learn to translate this knowledge into educational and behavioral practice.
The Lynch School has a long history of national accreditation, which includes NCATE (National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education), TEAC (Teacher Education Accreditation Council), and CAEP (Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation). Most recently, the Lynch School was granted full and complete accreditation through CAEP, valid from Fall 2018 through Spring 2024. Boston College is currently the only CAEP accredited education preparation organization in Massachusetts.
Overview of the Program
There are three components to the APHD major:
1. Complete the six required core courses.
2. Select and complete one focus area.
3. Complete three major electives.
Core Courses
Required Courses
6 courses (18 credits)
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6
Core Courses
| Course | Course Title | Notes | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|
| APSY/EDUC1030 | Child Development | Recommended to take first semester in program | 3 |
| APSY/EDUC1031 | Family, School, and Society | Take first year in program | 3 |
APSY2041 OR APSY3244 | Adolescent Development OR Adult Development & Aging | 听 | 3 |
| APSY2216 | Applied Psychology Research Methods | 听 | 3 |
| APSY2217 | Statistics for Applied Psychology听 | Typically taken after APSY2216: Research Methods | 3 |
| APSY2152 | Applied Psychology Practicum: Pathways Work & Life | Jr. or Sr. standing | 3 |
Focus Areas
Focus Areas
3 courses (9 credits)
Students should select and declare a focus area听by the end of the second year in the program. Consult for course availability.
3
Courses
| Course | Course Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| APSY2241 | Mental Illness: Social and Clinical Perspectives | 3 |
| APSY3243 | Counseling Theories | 3 |
| APSY4151 | Health Psychology | 3 |
| Course | Course Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| MGMT1021 | Organizational Behavior | 3 |
| APSY2242 | Interpersonal Relations | 3 |
| APSY4211 | Psychology of Work | 3 |
| Course | Course Title | Notes | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|
| APSY2243 | Social Oppression and Transformation | 听 | 3 |
| APSY6348 | Prevention & Intervention Strategies for Children, Families & Communities | Spring semester only | 3 |
| APSY4397 | Social Issues and Social Policy | Fall semester only | 3 |
| Course | Course Title | Notes | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|
| APSY2032 | Cognition and Learning | 听 | 3 |
| APSY4233 | Motivation, Emotion, & Self-Regulated Learning | Fall semester only | 3 |
| APSY6421 | Translating Science of Learning into Practice | Spring semester only | 3 |
Applied Psychology and Human Development (APSY) Electives
Electives
3 courses (9 credits)
Students should听select 3 electives听from the options below. Electives听must听differ from your 6 major core requirements and from the 3 courses in your selected focus area's requirements. No more than two elective courses should be from outside LSEHD.
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| Course | Course Title/Notes | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Any Applied Psychology & Human Development (APSY) course | Listing of approved APSY courses can be found on the Program of Study form and in the Sample List of Electives table below | 3 |
| 2. Any Psychology (PSYC) or Sociology (SOCY) course | Review the for options | 3 |
| 3. Any of the following pre-approved electives. Additional courses may serve as electives upon approval from program director. | MGMT1021: Organizational Behavior
FORM2050: Transformative Teaching & Learning
ELHE7103: Education Law and Public Policy*
EDUC1044: Education and Development for Students with Disabilities
EDUC3308: Bilingualism in Schools and Communities
EDUC6495: Human Development and Disabilities
EDUC6496: Foundations of Autism Spectrum Disorder*
LREN7301: Principles of Fostering Learning* (2 cr)
LREN7302: Cognitive Task Analysis* (1 cr)
MESA6466: Program Evaluation
| 3 |
*Indicates graduate level course open to juniors/seniors with permission from course instructor.
Below is a sample list of electives available for undergraduate students that may be used to fulfill elective requirements. Please note, not all courses are available each semester. Please visit the for an up-to-date list of current offerings.听听
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| Course # | Course Name |
|---|---|
| APSY2032 | Cognition and Learning |
| APSY2240 | Personality Theories |
| APSY2241 | Mental Illness: Social and Clinical Perspectives |
| APSY2242 | Interpersonal Relations |
| APSY2243听 | Social Oppression and Transformation |
| APSY2295听 | Spirituality, Religion & College Student Experience |
| APSY3310听 | Contemporary Issues in Applied Psychology & Human Behavior |
| APSY3233听 | Motivation, Emotion, & Self-Regulated Learning |
| APSY3243听 | Counseling Theories |
| APSY3248听 | The Psychology of Gender Across the Lifespan |
| APSY3375听 | Educational Leadership in Higher Education |
| APSY3378听 | Inside-Out |
| APSY4151听 | Health Psychology |
| APSY4211听 | Psychology of Work |
| APSY4901听 | Readings and Research |
| APSY4961听 | Senior Thesis I |
| APSY4962听 | Senior Thesis II |
| APSY6420听 | Positive Youth Development |
| APSY6421听 | Translating Science of Learning into Practice听 |
| APSY6348听 | Prevention & Intervention Strategies for Children, Families & Communities |
| APSY6397听 | Social Issues and Social Policy |
| APSY6461 | Psychological Responses to Humanitarian Crises* |
Program Features
World-Renowned Faculty
Internationally recognized faculty in applied developmental, educational, and counseling psychology
Real-World Learning
A foundational six-course sequence in human development across the lifespan, the analytic tools central to social sciences, and the application of applied psychology to real-world settings
Purpose-driven Education
An integrated field placement and course that helps students identify their purpose, including future career and life aspirations
Flexibility
The flexibility to choose one of four focus areas: Human Services and Health Sciences; Organizational Studies and Human Capital; Policy, Advocacy and Community Change; or Science of Learning
Customization
A wide-ranging set of electives from within the program and across BC, so that each student can frame their major to meet their individual interests and career goals
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