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.
35%
of our students go directly into graduate training
CDEP Survey
58%
of our students go directly into employment
CDEP Survey
The Applied Psychology and Human Development program in the Lynch School of Education and Human Development is a top choice among Boston College undergraduates. Our focus is on meaningful learning in the classroom applied to real-world issues across local, national, and international contexts.
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.
There are three components to the APHD major:
6 courses (18 credits)
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 | 3 | |
| APSY2216 | Applied Psychology Research Methods | 3 | |
| APSY2217 | Statistics for Applied Psychology | Typically taken after APSY2216: Research Methods | 3 |
| APSY2152 | Applied Psychology Practicum: Pathways Work & Life | Jr. or Sr. standing | 3 |
3 courses (9 credits)
Students should select and declare a focus area by the end of the second year in the program. Consult EagleApps Course Information & Schedule 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 | 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 | 3 | |
| APSY4233 | Motivation, Emotion, & Self-Regulated Learning | Fall semester only | 3 |
| APSY6421 | Translating Science of Learning into Practice | Spring semester only | 3 |
3 courses (9 credits)
Students should select 3 electives from the options below. Electives must 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.
| 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 EagleApps Course Schedule/Information 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 EagleApps Course Information and Schedule for an up-to-date list of current offerings.
| Course # | Course Name |
|---|---|
| APSY2032 | Cognition and Learning |
| APSY2240 | Personality Theories |
| APSY2241 | Mental Illness: Social and Clinical Perspectives |
| APSY2242 | Interpersonal Relations |
| APSY2243 | Social Oppression and Transformation |
| APSY2295 | Spirituality, Religion & College Student Experience |
| APSY3310 | Contemporary Issues in Applied Psychology & Human Behavior |
| APSY3233 | Motivation, Emotion, & Self-Regulated Learning |
| APSY3243 | Counseling Theories |
| APSY3248 | The Psychology of Gender Across the Lifespan |
| APSY3375 | Educational Leadership in Higher Education |
| APSY3378 | Inside-Out |
| APSY4151 | Health Psychology |
| APSY4211 | Psychology of Work |
| APSY4901 | Readings and Research |
| APSY4961 | Senior Thesis I |
| APSY4962 | Senior Thesis II |
| APSY6420 | Positive Youth Development |
| APSY6421 | Translating Science of Learning into Practice |
| APSY6348 | Prevention & Intervention Strategies for Children, Families & Communities |
| APSY6397 | Social Issues and Social Policy |
| APSY6461 | Psychological Responses to Humanitarian Crises* |
Internationally recognized faculty in applied developmental, educational, and counseling psychology
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
An integrated field placement and course that helps students identify their purpose, including future career and life aspirations
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
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
The Applied Psychology and Human Development major in the Lynch School of Education emphasizes state of the art connections between research, theory, and practice. Through practica and community involvement, students gain real-world experience and graduate prepared to apply what they learned in an array of community, education, business, and policy settings.
