M.A. in Psychology Admission Requirements

Admission Deadlines

The best consideration deadline for Fall 2013 applications has passed. Applications are still being reviewed on a case-by-case basis. To ensure your application is reviewed for Fall 2013, all documents should be received as soon as possible. The best consideration admission deadline for complete application to the M.A. in Psychology program for Fall 2014 is December 31, 2013.

Program Admission Requirements

• A baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited institution

• Minimum GPA of 3.00 or better in the last two years (60 hours) of undergraduate work and a Graduate Record Examination (GRE) combined score of 1050 or higher including a score of 4 or higher in the Writing subsection if taken prior to August 2011 (minimum of 151 in verbal, 150 in quantitative and 4 in writing on the new GRE scale).*

• Prior undergraduate course work in Introduction to Psychology and Statistics are required. An undergraduate Research Methods course is preferred, but not required.

• A 1000-word statement of intent for seeking an M.A. in Psychology, including discussion of your academic background; the specific scholarly issues in which you have an interest, how your background has prepared you to excel in the Psychology M.A. program; and how you intend to apply your education when you complete our M.A. program. In addition, please indicate whether you have an interest in pursuing the thesis option, the non-thesis option, or have no preference.

Please note that the thesis option is only available to students pursuing full time study in this program (9 credit hours in Fall and Spring; 6 credit hours in Summer). The thesis track requires more work and is primarily for those wishing to pursue the Ph.D. Only the best students will be accepted into this track.

• Three (3) letters of recommendation from qualified people familiar with the nature of the work required of graduate students in the social sciences, and who can address your ability to excel in graduate work.

• Two (2) examples of professional or academic writing.

• One (1) official transcript from all institutions of higher learning where the applicant has earned a degree is required, but applicants may provide unofficial copies (photocopies or student-accessed transcripts) to expedite the application process.

*Standardized Tests

The GRE is required to complete application to this graduate program and be fully admitted to the program. Official scores must be submitted to directly from the testing agency to USF St. Petersburg institution code: 5828. However, applicants may provide unofficial copies of their test scores to expedite processing of their applications while awaiting the official scores. Any admission granted using unofficial scores will not be finalized until official scores from the testing agency are received. Students are encouraged to begin their application even if they do not have a score to submit.

Applicants whose native language is not English or who have not earned a degree in the United States must demonstrate proficiency in English by submitting TOEFL scores earned within two (2) years of the desired term of entry. A minimum total score of 79 on the internet-based test, 213 on the computer-based test, or 550 on the paper-based test is required for admission to a graduate program. Applications submitted with TOEFL scores that do not meet the minimum requirements will be denied. Information on the waiver of this requirement can be found at http://www1.usfsp.edu/spgrad/testscores.htm.

For a step-by-step application guide and to apply to the M.A. in Psychology, visit http://www.usfsp.edu/grad/admissions/application-procedures/.

Visit usfsp.edu/grad for the online application.