We are excited to offer a Minor in Applied Psychology at UCSB. We hope that you will consider the numerous academic and career opportunities available related to this exciting field.

 

 

 

What is Applied Psychology?

Applied Psychology is the use of psychological methods and scientific knowledge to identify, understand, prevent, address, and resolve human challenges and problems, including mental health/psychiatric disorders, group disparities and inequities, developmental concerns and disabilities, and traumatic experiences. In addition to focusing on vulnerable populations, the field also focuses on positive aspects of the human experience, including personal strengths, resilience, and the ingredients needed to thrive as a human being.

What is the difference between Basic and Applied Psychology?

Basic Psychology research and knowledge pertains to our understanding of human cognition (mental processes), human behavior, social factors, development, and the interaction between these constructs. Basic psychology provides insight into our foundational knowledge of why humans think, perceive, and act the way they do. This is a primary focus of UCSB's Psychological and Brain Science Major.

Applied Psychology research and knowledge focuses on identifying and solving practical problems pertaining to the human experience. It most often focuses on supporting and providing therapeutic assistance to vulnerable populations. For example, applied psychology researchers might use scientific methods to help (a) understand and resolve challenges associated with a psychiatric or developmental disorder, (b) address inequities and discrimination related to being a member of a marginalized group, or (c) maximize a person's ability to overcome adversity and thrive. This is a primary focus of UCSB's Applied Psych Minor.

What is the Minor's mission?

Our mission is to provide UCSB undergraduates with high-quality courses that provide an overview of applied/health service psychology (e.g., counseling, clinical, & school psychology), and behavioral health and wellness research across home, community, and school settings.

Students often have opportunities to be involved in the Department of Counseling, Clinical, and School Psychology's current research areas of excellence, including autism intervention; school violence/safety; peer relationships and bullying; emotion regulation in young children; disaster mental health; therapeutic helping skills; positive psychology; multicultural counseling; gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender issues; and evaluation and improvement of community-based mental/behavioral health programs.

Our highly-respected department is at the cutting edge of research, practice, and training. Our commitment to you is to make the AP minor an educational option that will make you more aware of mental health and wellness issues and help you to explore research and related career options in applied psychology.

What careers are related to Applied Psychology?

There are a number of career options related to applied psychology:

Clinical Career: A clinical career refers to someone who works directly with people to help them identify, understand, prevent, address, and/or resolve their challenges or problems. Some example careers include working as a clinical, counseling, or school psychologist; a social worker; a marriage and family therapist (MFT); a drug/alcohol counselor, or a behavioral or psychological technician.

Research Career: A research career refers to someone who designs or helps conduct research related to the optimal ways to understand, prevent, identify, address, and resolve human challenges and problems. An applied psych researcher might help identify (a) how common a particular challenge or disorder is, (b) the risk factors associated with that challenge, (c) better ways to screen for, identify, or diagnose a particular problem, (d) new therapeutic methods for resolving or minimizing symptoms, or (e) optimal ways to train parents and professionals to help others. These careers include working as a research professor, professional researcher, or research associate/assistant at a university, hospital, government institution, private business, or nonprofit organization.

Other Careers: Because human challenges and problems cut across all professions, the knowledge and experiences gained by Applied Psych Minor students is relevant for individuals pursing careers in almost any field, including medicine/nursing, general/special education, speech/language pathology, disability services, politics, community advocacy work, and for-profit/non-profit business pursuits.

Requirements:

2024-2025 Requirements (20 Units Required)

Core Courses (Two courses required):

  • CNCSP 101 Introduction to Helping Skills: Theory, Research and Practice (4 Units)
  • CNCSP 102 Research in Applied Psychology (4 Units)

Elective Courses (Fill remaining units with elective courses):

  • CNCSP 104 Innovations in Health Equity Research: Participatory Action with Communities (4 units)
  • CNCSP 110 Intro to Educational & Vocational Guidance (4 units)
  • CNCSP 111 Identity and Pluralism (4 units)
  • CNCSP 112 Positive Psychology (4 units)
  • CNCSP 114 Psych of Gender (4 units)
  • CNCSP W 116 Bisexuality: From Margin to Center (4 units)
  • CNCSP 117 School-Based Mental Health (4 units)
  • CNCSP 118 The Psychology of Flourishing (4 units)
  • CNCSP 122 Disaster Mental Health
  • CNCSP 132 Spanish in the Helping Professions: Research and Practice (taught in Spanish)
  • CNCSP 197*, 199** or 199RA**
  • ED 111 Intro to Child and Adolescent Development (4 units)***
  • ED 125 Schooling in the U.S. [Particularly appropriate for those interested in school counseling/psychology]***
  • ED 190 Intro to Autism (Pre-req: Psych 1, minimum 3.0 GPA) (4 units)***
  • ED 199**** or 199RA****

*Students may apply a maximum of 8 units of CNCSP 197 toward the elective requirement, however, the two 4-unit CNCSP 197 courses must be on different topics taught by different instructors and not merely a repetition of the same 197 course by the same instructor.

**Students may apply only 4 units of 199 or 199RA toward the elective requirement. 199/199RA units must be taken for a Letter Grade to be considered.

***Both seniors and juniors enrolled in the Applied Psych minor must wait until Pass 2 to enroll in ED courses. ED W 125 is the online version of ED 125.

****Students must complete the ED 199/199RA-specific form to verify the independent study/research is relevant to the minor. There is a maximum of 4 units that can be applied to the student's minor and they must be taken for a Letter Grade to be considered.

If you have concerns about completing your elective units, please email education-sao@ucsb.edu(link sends e-mail)

Students are encouraged to enroll in classes early and/or to consider completing some courses in Summer Session as space is limited. There is a high possibility that you will not be able to complete the courses due to popularity and space availability.

 

Applied Psychology Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

1. When can I apply to the minor?

Applications are accepted the first week of fall, winter, and spring quarters.  Applications received after the posted deadline will be held until the next review.  The application review will begin after week 1 and depending on the number of applications received, may take up to week 6 to complete.  We no longer allow students to double minor in Applied Psychology and Education Studies.

 

 

 

 

 

 

2. It is my pass time but I cannot register for any CNCSP classes for my minor? 

Seniors in the Applied Psych minor have priority registration in pass 1.  Juniors in the Applied Psych minor can register in pass 2.  Students not in the minor have to wait until pass 3 to register for minor courses.

3. I want to register for a CNCSP class and it says I need an approval code.  

For most classes you do not need an approval code to register.  We restrict access so that seniors in the AP minor can register during pass 1, juniors in the AP minor can register during pass 2 and non-minor students have to wait until pass 3.  Some classes do require approval for enrollment.  For example:  CNCSP 132 Spanish in the Helping Professions requires instructor approval because degree of fluency needs to be assessed.  CNCSP 197 requires instructor approval and an add code, as this course includes a fieldwork commitment. 

4. Can I switch from Applied Psych to one of the other minors?

Students may not switch between minors.  A student admitted to the AP minor and wants to switch to the Education minor would have to formally apply to the Ed minor (submit the Ed minor application and go through the review process).  If they are admitted to Ed they would have to drop the AP minor.  The same process would be followed if the student was originally admitted to Ed and wanted to switch to AP.

5. I'm a senior, can I still apply to the minor?

At the time of application submission, students must have at least 3 remaining quarters at UCSB for the application to be considered.  


 

Contact

  • Student Affairs Office
    Education 4100 (4th floor lobby)
    For questions or advising please email:
    education-sao@ucsb.edu
  • Erika Felix, Faculty Advisor
    Education 2135
    805-893-5419
    efelix@ucsb.edu

 

Find out how to declare the minor.