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Studies & Degrees in Applied Psychology

Applied psychology uses the theories and research methods of psychology to deal with practical problems: mental health, learning difficulties, the organisation of work, rehabilitation, or the psychological side of a court case. It is a broad label. It covers clinical and counselling psychology, educational and school psychology, industrial and organisational psychology, health, forensic and sport psychology, among other areas.

A degree with this name teaches the same scientific base as any psychology degree and adds a clear link to practice. New York University describes its Bachelor of Science in Applied Psychology as a programme that develops the skills to bridge psychological theory, research and practice.

What students learn

The NYU degree combines a liberal arts component with research training and courses in three areas of psychology: developmental and learning, social and community, and counselling and clinical. A sequence of applied seminars takes students into clinical, community, educational and research settings.

At University College Cork (UCC) in Ireland the BA Applied Psychology ranges, in the university's words, from history to neuroscience, from culture to biology, and from professional skills to statistical and laboratory skills. The third year includes a research project, applied psychology seminars, psychological therapies and psychological measurement, with optional modules such as forensic psychology and health psychology.

Qualifications and levels

  • Bachelor's degrees. The UCC degree is a three-year, full-time BA (Hons) at Level 8 of the Irish qualifications framework. The NYU bachelor's has 128 credits. City University of Seattle teaches its BA in Applied Psychology online; it has 180 credit hours and can be completed in as little as three years. In Spain a bachelor's degree (grado) has 240 ECTS credits.
  • Accreditation. Professional bodies accredit degrees, and this matters for later training. The UCC degree is accredited by the Psychological Society of Ireland. In the United Kingdom, graduates of a degree or conversion course accredited by the British Psychological Society are eligible for its Graduate Basis for Chartered Membership.
  • Master's and doctoral degrees. Practice usually requires postgraduate study. In Spain, working as a general health psychologist (Psicólogo General Sanitario) requires the official Máster en Psicología General Sanitaria: 90 ECTS credits, at least 30 of them in supervised placements, open to holders of a psychology degree. In the United States, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, clinical and counselling psychologists typically need a Ph.D. or Psy.D., while industrial and organisational psychologists typically need a master's degree.
  • Continuing training for psychologists. Private centres also train practising psychologists. The Centro de Psicología Aaron Beck in Granada offers a distance Máster en Psicología Clínica en el Área de Adultos of 600 hours over 15 months and an on-site cognitive-behavioural master's programme of 700 hours (390 of theory and 310 of practice). Cinteco in Madrid lists courses, seminars, supervision for psychologists and a Máster en Psicología Clínica. Ask each centre what recognition its programme has.

Where to study

SpainExchange lists 24 active schools for applied psychology. Thirteen are in the United States, four in Spain, two in the United Kingdom and two in Ireland; India, Canada and Russia have one each. The list includes New York University, The Pennsylvania State University, the University of Pittsburgh, the Georgia Institute of Technology and City University of Seattle in the United States, the University of Kent in England, University College Cork in Ireland, the University of Calgary in Canada and the University of Calcutta in India. In Spain it includes the Universidad de Castilla-La Mancha, Cinteco in Madrid and the Centro de Psicología Aaron Beck in Granada.

Teaching is in English in the United States, the United Kingdom, Ireland and Canada, and in Spanish at the Spanish centres named here.

Careers

The route depends on the level reached. NYU states that most careers in psychology require a master's or doctoral degree, and that bachelor's graduates are placed for entry-level work in social-service and community-service agencies, schools, hospitals, corporations, universities and research agencies. UCC names clinical psychology, human resource management, advertising and marketing, social and health services, the criminal justice system and research among the destinations of its graduates.

The US Bureau of Labor Statistics describes several applied specialities. Industrial and organisational psychologists apply psychological principles to workplace problems, and school psychologists address educational, behavioural or developmental problems that affect learning. It projects overall employment of psychologists in the United States to grow 6 percent from 2025 to 2035.

Frequently asked questions

Can I work as a psychologist with a bachelor's degree in applied psychology?

Usually not on that degree alone. In the United States psychologists typically need at least a master's degree, and in most states practising or using the title "psychologist" requires a licence. In Spain, general health psychologists need the official 90-ECTS master's.

How long does an applied psychology degree take?

The BA at University College Cork takes three years. A Spanish bachelor's degree has 240 ECTS credits, and the Máster en Psicología General Sanitaria adds 90 ECTS credits.

Why does accreditation matter?

An accredited degree opens the door to professional training. Graduates of degrees accredited by the British Psychological Society are eligible for Graduate Basis for Chartered Membership, and the UCC degree is accredited by the Psychological Society of Ireland.

Can I study applied psychology online?

Yes. City University of Seattle teaches its BA in Applied Psychology online, and the Centro de Psicología Aaron Beck in Granada offers distance programmes for psychologists.