Prospective Student FAQ's

Applying and Admissions
Test Questions
Prerequisites
Program Questions
I/O Program

Does my undergraduate major have to be psychology in order to apply to the program?

No, we accept students from all concentrations, however we do require students to complete two prerequisite courses prior to applying: Introduction to Psychology, and Statistics.

Is research/work experience in the psychology field required for application?

Neither research nor employment in the field of psychology is a required part of the application. However, experience in psychology absolutely makes an application more competitive for the I/O program.

Can I request to defer my acceptance?

For the General Psychololgy program, you may request a deferral for up to one year. Send deferral requests to gsas.admissions@nyu.edu.

No deferrals are granted in the I/O Psychology program.

What is the most important element of the application?

There is no specific part of the application that carries the most weight. Good grades and program fit as described in your statement of purpose are important in the admissions process. Any research or employment in the psychology field also improves an application. We consider all parts of your application.

Do early applications receive priority?

No. Applications received on or before the deadline are reviewed equally regardless of when they were submitted. The review process begins the day after the deadline when the pool is complete.

I wish to apply to the Forensic or Social and Consumer area of focus - what application do I fill out?

Complete the application for the General Psychology Master's Program. Within the application, you can choose your area of focus.

Can I take a campus tour?

New York University is currently hosting in-person guided tours for prospective graduate students. For more information and to register, please visit the Campus Tours page. If you would like to tour campus on your own, you may use the campus map as a guide. Please note that you are not able to enter most NYU buildings without an NYU ID card.

Can I sit in on a class?

Unfortunately, no. We have a small program that is quite interactive. We do not allow any visitors in courses as it can be disruptive to the learning process. As an alternative, we suggest that interested students attend one of our information sessions, which can provide you with more targeted information, and allow you to ask questions to the director of the program.

When will I receive a decision on my application?

Most decisions will be sent within 4 to 8 weeks of the application deadline. To prevent our emails going to a spam folder, Please be sure you have allowed emails from "Graduate Enrollment Services" <gsas.admissions@nyu.edu>

Can I apply with a 3 year bachelor's degree?

According to GSAS requirements, applicants from India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Myanmar, and Bangladesh must show completion of both the baccalaureate and master's examinations prior to registration in the Graduate School. Another option would be to complete a one year post bachelor’s diploma program. If you have further questions about this requirement, you may email gsas.admissions@nyu.edu.

Is the GRE Test required?

No, we do not require the GRE or GMAT test.

Where can I take my prerequisites?

Prerequisites may not be taken at NYU, however, you may take the prerequisites at any degree-awarding college or university. We do find online courses to be an acceptable and more accessible alternative. An online course must be affiliated with a non-profit degree-awarding college or university that has a physical campus. We do not accept Coursera courses. We recommend the following online courses:

Outlier.org:
Intro to Psychology

University of Texas Extension:
PSY 301: Introduction to Psychology
PSY 317: Statistical Methods in Psychology

University of Colorado at Boulder Online:
PSYC 1001: General Psychology
PSYC 2111: Statistics and Research Methods in Psychology

University of North Carolina Continuing Education:
PSYC 101: General Psychology

I didn't take Statistics for Behavioral Sciences, but I took another Statistics course. Will this satisfy the prerequisite?

Yes, we may approve alternative undergraduate-level statistics classes.

I didnt' take an Introductory Psychology course, but I took other Psychology courses. Will this satisfy the prerequisite?

We prefer that you took a class that covered the basics of psychology, but if you completed several more advanced psychology courses, covering a variety of areas, that would be acceptable. Reading extensively on your own is not considered an acceptable alternative to taking a formal course in General Psychology. If it has been a long time since you have taken any psychology courses, it would be a good idea to brush up with an online introductory course.

Will my AP Psychology or AP Statistics course fulfill the prerequisites?

Yes, if you scored a 4 or 5 on your AP test we will accept it.

How long does it take to complete this degree? Can I study part-time in the program?

Students vary on the amount of time they take to complete the degree. The master's program is a 36 credit program (12 courses).
Domestic students have a maximum of five years to complete the degree. Students who are attending the program full time (9 credits per semester) can complete it in two years. Classes are offered in the evening in fall and spring semesters, and in two 6 week summer sessions. Fall and spring courses meet once per week except Master's Statistics, which meets twice a week. This allows many students to work full- or part-time while completing the program.

Do you offer online classes or distance learning?

No, all of our courses are in person. We do not offer any online or distance courses.

Can I audit a class?

Unfortunately, we can allow only officially registered students to attend our classes. Our M.A. classes are fairly small, and we find it too disruptive to allow visitors to attend class. NYU permits auditing of an entire course but only if the student pays the full price of the course (you must still apply as a non-degree student).

I would like to review basic statistics and/or psychology material - is there a resource for me to do this?

Although this does NOT satisfy the pre-requisites for applicants, students can visit: http://www.onlinecourses.com/ for a free online course to review basic statistics and/or psychology. This is especially useful if you've been out of school for some time, and have already formally completed Statistics and/or Intro to Psychology with a B or better in both, but want to familiarize yourself with these areas before resuming your studies.

Can I speak to a current student or alumni of the program?

Due to the high volume of these requests, we are only able to set up a contact with a current student or alumni once you have applied to the program.

What is the tuition for the Master's program?

Visit the NYU Bursar webpage for current tuition and fees. The master's program is housed within the Graduate School of Arts and Science, and requires a total of 36 credit points for an average of 9 points per semester of study.

What kind of financial aid/scholarships are offered?

The department itself does not offer any financial aid. However, there are a few ways to ease the financial burden. We do offer paid teaching appointments to some master’s students. There are also research positions. Please note that these opportunities are very competitive, and not normally given to first-year master’s students. Usually the compensation from teaching can pay for about 1 course. If you have external funding through grants or foundations already, the graduate school does have matching grant system. For more information please see GSAS Financing Graduate Education.

Are teaching assistant positions available?

Teacher Assistant positions are generally awarded first to PhD students, then to advanced MA students. They are not offered to first year MA students, and they are by no means guaranteed, as there are fewer positions than there are students.

What housing options does the university offer?

Graduate housing is limited and not guaranteed. Many students find apartments in the area. Please visit General Graduate Housing Information for more.

Will I be a licensed counselor or therapist after completing the MA?

The General MA program is not an accredited clinical training program that leads to state-regulated licensure following completion of the MA degree (as would a Master of Social Work or Counseling Psychology MA degree). The NYU MA program does provide depth of academic training in clinical syndromes, assessment, and treatment models as well as opportunities for fieldwork and research in clinical subject areas. The program prepares students to apply to doctoral, Ph.D. clinical programs or other accredited clinical training programs. Students who need to attain a foundation of knowledge, fieldwork experience, and research skills in preparation for advanced training that is state accredited such as doctoral clinical psychology (Ph.D. or PsyD.), social work, counseling or school psychology programs are encouraged to apply to the NYU MA program with this understanding.

Are the Psychology Master's Programs STEM designated?

Yes, both programs are STEM designated, CIP code 42.279. NYU Programs on the US Government STEM-Designated Program List

Does the I/O Program have any connections to the MBA program?

We do not have a formalized joint degree with the business school (Stern), but students may take related electives there. Courses like “Managing Organizations”, or "Consumer Behavior" can be used as electives. Please note that Stern must approve all enrollments and space may be limited.

Is there a significant difference between the Psychology and I/O Psychology programs?

Yes. The two programs differ greatly in admissions criteria, course structure, and expected outcomes. The I/O program is much smaller and more selective. The applications are similar, but an extra case study is required for I/O admission.

Do students work or have internships while in the I/O program?

Many students enter the program as current members of the workforce and maintain their jobs. Other students find jobs or internships, usually part-time, while taking classes along the way. While it is strongly recommended to do so in order to gain valuable applied experience to supplement material learned in class, working or completing an internship is not mandatory.

What are I/O classes like?

While each class is unique, most classes strive to allow you to merge science and applied work. The structure of each class is designed to best facilitate comprehension and execution of the material. Class work includes casework, discussion, lectures, external projects, and individual and group presentations. Classes are small, usually 20 or fewer students.

What are I/O Comprehensive Exams like?

To complete the program, students must either take a comprehensive exam or write a thesis. The Comprehensive Exam is the most common choice of the MA I/O program students as the culmination of their work in the program, due to the applied focus of the program. The test requires answering three case-study type questions: one from the Industrial (I) branch, one from the Organizational (O) branch, and one from the Research Methods (R) branch. One hour is allotted for each question. Answers are rated by multiple faculty members based on comprehensiveness, use of I/O theory, and realistic applicability.

I just want to take a few I/O classes. Do I still need to apply?

There is no I/O non-degree status. To take I/O courses, you must be enrolled as a degree-seeking I/O student, meaning you must apply to the program.

Where can I find the I/O Case Study?

A different Case Study is assigned each application cycle. The case is posted approximately 6-8 weeks prior to the application deadline. Click here for more information.

What is the difference between I/O Psychology and Human Resources?

The simplest way to describe the main difference between the two is that I/O psychologists study the employee behavior to determine what benefits will make them as satisfied and productive as possible, whereas, human resources managers have the task of putting together, implementing and providing the benefits and packages to the employees. https://www.organizationalpsychologydegrees.com/faq/what-is-the-difference-between-industrial-organizational-psychology-and-human-resources/