Graduate Admissions
MA in Psychological Sciences Admissions
| M.A. in Psychological Sciences Deadlines: | Fall | |
|---|---|---|
| Priority Deadline (for best consideration for admission and funding) |
February 1 | |
| Final University Domestic (US Citizen and Permanent Resident) Deadline | June 1 | |
| Final University International Deadline | June 1 | |
Applications are currently being reviewed. For best consideration to begin the Fall semester, please submit your application by February 1. While February 1 is our best consideration deadline, we will continue to review applications until the cohort fills or June 1, whichever comes first. Only applications submitted by February 1st are typically considered for graduate assistantship funding.
A step-by-step application guide is available at Graduate Admissions.
To ensure your application is reviewed for the Fall, all documents should be received as soon as possible. Visit Graduate Admissions for the online application.
Admissions Requirements
UNIVERSITY
Please see the USF Graduate Catalog section for instructions regarding Admissions to find University application requirements.
PSYCHOLOGY DEPARTMENT
Please see the admissions requirements for the M.A. in Psychological Sciences program.
- 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
- GRE scores (General Test) - Although all aspects of the applicant’s file are taken into consideration for admission decisions, GRE scores that are well below a competitive range will reduce chances of admission. The range overall for recently entering cohorts has been 148-164 (Verbal) and 146-163 (Quantitative).
- Prior undergraduate coursework in Introduction to Psychology, Statistics, and Research Methods
Application requirements
- GPA Worksheet - Please complete the GPA worksheet linked here to calculate your upper-level undergraduate GPA.
- Unofficial Transcripts - Please upload your unofficial transcripts from each post-secondary institution
attended. They are sufficient for departmental application review purposes and expedite
the review process.
- NOTE: Applicants who have attended USF must still complete the GPA worksheet and upload an unofficial USF transcript.
- GRE General Test Scores (these are required even for USF graduates)
- A 2-page maximum professional statement of intent for seeking an M.A. in Psychological
Sciences. This statement should
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Discuss your academic background, with specific focus on research and data-analytic experience. Be sure to describe specific skills or concepts you've learned, your role in any research-related work you've done, and how your background has prepared you to excel in a research-focused program.
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Your specific scholarly interests, including any faculty members you might particularly want to work with, and how you intend to apply your education when you complete our program.
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- Two (2) letters of recommendation (three preferred) 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. At least one (1) letter must
be from an academic reference.
- Please note: Once you enter your recommenders' contact information into the Application Portal, they will receive a direct link to submit their letters into your file.
- Two (2) samples of professional or academic writing; one (1) academic writing sample must be an APA-style paper (research paper strongly preferred).
- An academic vitae (also called a curriculum vitae or CV).
- Psychological Sciences Application Survey - we use this survey to pull key information about your application to help speed processing. Please be SURE to provide accurate information that matches your application materials.
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 campus 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 graduate admissions.
Thesis Option
Students are not accepted into a thesis or non-thesis track upon admission; rather students interested in conducting a thesis must make this decision and obtain agreement from a faculty member to chair their thesis by the end of their first semester in the Program. Given the intensity of completing an original research thesis within two years, only top students will typically pursue the thesis option.