Graduate School Information

Each school will have different requirements and deadlines.  You will need to seek info from the various university websites and/or program advisors in order to learn more about the program and what will be required.

1. Requirements will vary but most will require:
2. Applications to both the University AND Department
3. Letters of Recommendation (either in letter or form format)
4. Graduate Record Exam (GRE) Scores
5. Official Transcripts
6. Statement of Purpose
7. Pre-requisites

Applications deadlines will vary.  Applications are often due between 8 to 5 months before the semester you are applying for (i.e. between January and April for Fall enrollment)

Yes.  Applying directly for a PhD program may be more competitive but may suit your overall educational and professional goals.  In preparation for this goal, you may want to obtain a high cumulative GPA, internship/volunteer experience, and research experience.  Always refer to the website or contact person at a particular school of interest, in order to acquire specific knowledge of what would make you more prepared and competitive during the application process.

Typically, graduate schools require a minimum of a 3.0 cumulative GPA for admission.  Please check with each university, as there may be exceptions made for students with a lower GPA.

The Psychology Advisement Office can provide you with some information on the overall process of applying to graduate school and help you with ways to start your search.

Faculty advisors are also available to discuss graduate school and the psychology profession.

Please note that we use a “mentor-match” model, in which each admitted student is matched with a faculty mentor. In your departmental application, you will be asked to rank up to 3 potential faculty mentors and to describe why you would like to work with them. Please carefully review program faculty bios (links below under “Program Faculty”) to assess your fit with potential mentors. Students may wish to contact potential faculty mentors in advance.

Deadline: Online applications for the Clinical Psychology and Psychological Science programs for the 2025-2026 academic year will be open October 1, 2024. Applications will be accepted until the deadline of January 15, 2025. Selected candidates will be invited for virtual, Zoom interviews, which are typically held in late February or early March.

Please Note:

• GRE Scores are not required by either program for admission
• Separate online applications must be submitted to both the University and the Psychology Department
• All application materials must be received by January 15th to ensure proper review and processing

In reviewing applications, we will consider the following qualities and characteristics:

• Persistence. The ability to learn new skills, show resilience and successfully complete the program’s coursework and thesis project.
• Investment. A demonstrated interest in psychological science and focus on doctoral studies or a career in psychological science.
• Intellectual Curiosity. The capacity to become an informed consumer of science, as demonstrated through critical reasoning and divergent thinking.
• Coachability. The capacity to receive feedback, think flexibly, and be open to experiences, ideas, and teamwork in diverse settings.
• Initiative. A demonstrated ability to be self-starting and to work cooperatively and learn independently while balancing competing obligations.

All three programs are looking for students who are interested in pursuing future doctoral studies. If you are interested in a future Clinical PhD, any of the three programs would be a good fit for you. If you're interested primarily in a PsyD, the Clinical Fieldwork track would be the best fit. If you're interested in a non-clinical Psychology PhD (e.g., social, developmental, cognitive, quantitative), the Psychological Science program would be the best fit. 

Students in all programs take univariate statistics and research methods. Psychological Science students take two additional advanced statistics courses (multivariate statistics and latent variable analysis), and Clinical Research students take one (of their choice). Psychological Science students take 2-4 of Social Psychology, Cognitive Psychology, Developmental Psychology, and Sensation/Perception, whereas Clinical Research and Clinical Fieldwork students take Clinical Assessment, Psychopathology, and Psychotherapy. However, students in each program may be able take courses in the other program as their electives with instructor permission.

Many mentors advise students in all three programs! Check the list of mentors to see in which programs the faculty with whom you're interested in working mentors students.

Students from all three programs have the opportunity to participate in teaching experiences. Students in either Clinical program have the opportunity to do fieldwork (students in the fieldwork track have more semesters of required fieldwork, but students in the research track can also choose to take extra semesters of fieldwork). Students in the Psychological Science program do not have the opportunity to do fieldwork. 

Students in the Psychological Science and Clinical Research programs generally spend extensive time working in their mentor's research lab, whereas Clinical Fieldwork students may or may not spend time on research, depending on whether their mentor maintains an active research lab (but are permitted to seek out additional research experiences if they have the time and motivation to do so). Thus, an important distinction between the programs rests on the ratio of their (finite) time a student chooses to prioritize across the research and fieldwork experiences. 

Students in the Psychological Science and Clinical Research programs complete a thesis project. Students in the Clinical Fieldwork track take comprehensive exams.