CANTON -- SUNY Canton's newest Bachelor of Science degree announced Friday will prepare students for direct employment in human services fields and address the shortage of well-trained professional applicants for area organizations.

The college recently received approval from the State University of New York and the State Education Department to begin offering a new applied psychology program for the Fall 2012 semester.

"Psychology is one of the most popular majors for entering freshmen," said SUNY Canton President Joseph L. Kennedy. "We've created our own version of the popular program by designing a degree that allows students to graduate and immediately start their chosen careers. Adapting career-driven educational strategies are really what we do best at SUNY Canton."

The addition of this program will have an impact locally, concurrent with SUNY's system wide plans to target growth most needed most in regional economies and by providing a strong workforce.

"I thank both SUNY Administration and Sen. Patty Ritchie for backing this program," Kennedy added. "Their wisdom will help us supply a new contingent of professionals to address the shortage of qualified employees at our area agencies."

According to the U.S. Department of Labor Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment is projected to grow faster than the average for all occupations, and about 54 percent of jobs are in healthcare and social assistance industries.

The college has received letters of support expressing interest in hiring graduates from the program from area agencies including St. Lawrence NYSARC; United Helpers, Inc.; Cerebral Palsy of Northern New York; and area autism advocacy groups.

"We need employees with a solid educational background in applied behavioral analysis," said Daphne A. Pickert, the CEO and executive director of St. Lawrence NYSARC. "We are very grateful SUNY Canton will be able to provide graduates with those qualities."

Pickert was involved in developing the program with both Kennedy and SUNY Canton faculty members to ensure students would graduate with the most employable skills.

"Applied psychology will be the first degree with a technological application of the social sciences at SUNY Canton," said Carli C. Schiffner, SUNY Canton provost and vice president for academic affairs. "It will readily augment our current courses in law enforcement leadership, business, criminal investigation, nursing, and health services management, among other programs."

Students entering the program should have an interest in learning about how to work with people, including in special needs settings, according to Professor Emeritus John T. Nixon, Ph.D., the lead faculty member in the applied psychology program.

"We will emphasize the ability to understand the needs of clients and consumers in a variety of human services fields," Nixon said. "In these settings, employees need counseling skills and need to recognize intervention and adaptive strategies."

Courses in the program include developmental psychology, abnormal psychology, intervention strategies in human services, and professional ethics courses. "We are going to get students out into the field as quickly as possible through internships and in-class placements," Nixon said.

Internships with area social service agencies will be especially beneficial for students looking to gain employment locally. The College has seen numerous students hired through their credit-bearing internships with partnering agencies and companies in other four-year degree programs.

The program consists primarily of face-to-face courses, but students can fulfill some of their general education requirements through SUNY Canton OnLine.

Applied psychology joins the College's newest four-year programs including veterinary technology, sports management, health and fitness promotion, and several new offerings in the engineering technology curricula. The program is the sixth bachelor's degree available through the College's School of Business and Liberal Arts and the second Bachelor of Science degree at SUNY Canton.

More information about the new major is available at http://www.canton.edu/business/psyc/. To apply for the program, contact SUNY Canton Admissions by phone, 315-386-7123 (800-388-7123), or email admissions@canton.edu.