Course of Study and Curriculum

Candidates take approximately 50 seminars during their training, taught by faculty members of NYU School of Medicine who maintain active private practices (see faculty list). The curriculum consists of four years of required classes, taught on Saturday mornings from 8:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. during the academic year, September through May. Classes are held at Bellevue Hospital, NYU Medical Center (28th Street and First Avenue, Manhattan). During the first and second years, there may also be additional classes on Tuesday evenings, from 8:30 p.m. to 10:00 p.m., often in an instructor's office.

Our curriculum reflects an awareness of psychoanalysis as an evolving theory and practice. Contemporary theory is studied in light of its historical development. There is a balance of theoretical and clinical courses. A primary goal of the curriculum is to help candidates master contemporary psychoanalytic technique with analyzable patients. In keeping with the widening scope of analysis, we include theoretical and technical courses that address the psychoanalytic treatment of narcissistic and borderline pathology. Child development courses, including child and adolescent clinical analytic case material, are integrated into the adult curriculum.

The curriculum consists of five course sequences: theory; methodology/technique; development; continuous case seminars; and scholarly reading and writing. Other important courses are studied from an historical perspective as well as from a modern point of view: object relations; the analytic understanding of dreams and their clinical use (including new findings from neuroscience); questions of analyzability and the development of analytic cases; and the application of psychoanalytic concepts to the arts and sciences.

The Institute encourages communication between candidates and faculty about course content and the quality of teaching. A faculty member serves as a Curriculum Coordinator to each class and provides feedback from the candidates to the faculty.

The Institute’s educational activities have been planned and implemented in accordance with the Essentials Areas and Policies of the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) through the joint sponsorship of The American Psychoanalytic Association and The Psychoanalytic Institute.  The American Psychoanalytic Association is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) to provide continuing medical education for physicians and takes responsibility for the content, quality, and scientific integrity of this CME activity. The American Psychoanalytic Association designates this educational activity for 2 credit hours in category 1 credit towards the AMA Physician’s Recognition Award.  Each physician should claim only those hours of credit that he / she actually spent in the educational activity.  Disclosure information about relevant financial relationships is on record.  The Psychoanalytic Institute maintains responsibility for the program and its content and offers 2 credit hours for this activity.  Important Disclosure Information for All Learners: None of the planners and presenters of this CME program have any relevant financial relationships to disclose.