Graduate Program Overview
Description of Programs
Students in our graduate program can choose from these three degree tracks:
- Counseling Psychology – Graduates can test to become licensed professional counselors or licensed psychological associates.
- Industrial-Organizational Psychology – Graduates work in the private and public sectors to maximize human efficiencies.
- Applied Psychology – Graduates frequently move to leadership positions within their organizations, applying psychological principles to the workplace. Students have the option of earning this degree online or in a traditional classroom setting.
All graduate students complete foundational courses in the basic subfields of psychology and then do extensive coursework and field training in their selected specialty area.
Counseling Psychology
The counseling track requires 48 credit hours (four semesters of full-time coursework). This includes a practicum, during which students have an opportunity to practice their counseling skills under supervision. Students who graduate from this track have the academic background required for licensure as licensed psychological associates or licensed professional counselors. To learn more, read this counseling program information.
Industrial-Organizational Psychology
The industrial-organizational track requires 42 credit hours and prepares students to work effectively in organizational settings, such as public and private agencies, governmental institutions, companies, corporations and foundations. The program emphasizes research and consulting skills, and students have the opportunity to practice solving research or work problems in a thesis course or practicum course. To learn more, visit the I/O Program site.
Applied Psychology
The applied psychology track requires 36 credit hours and exposes students to a broad cross-section of courses that cover the basic and applied areas of psychology. The program is available online or in traditional classes that meet regularly. Students use this track for a variety of purposes: to prepare for doctoral training or junior college teaching, to qualify for positions that require master’s-level training in psychology, to prepare for leadership positions in human service agencies, or to acquire skills in applying psychology to their current workplace positions. To learn more, read this applied psychology information.
Admission Requirements
To be considered for admission, individuals must submit a Graduate Application for Admission Form and supporting materials to the College of Graduate Studies. Admission requirements vary among the three psychology programs.
Counseling Psychology and Applied Psychology Programs
Students are welcome to apply for admission regardless of their undergraduate major. Those who have fewer than 18 credit hours of undergraduate psychology are required to complete a graduate leveling course that provides training in the foundational areas of psychology.
Students who have a cumulative undergraduate grade point average (GPA) of 3.0 or higher automatically qualify for admission, if space in the program allows. Students with a GPA below 3.0 may qualify for admission on the basis of the formula described below.
The admission formula incorporates undergraduate GPA (50 percent) and scores on the Graduate Record Exam (50 percent). It sets the minimum score as the equivalent of a 3.0 cumulative GPA (or 3.25 for the last 60 credit hours) and an average score of 450 on each section of the GRE. Being below the cutoff in one area can be offset by being above the cutoff in another area.
Formula: Multiply GPA by 200 and add the average score on the three GRE subtests.* Using the cumulative GPA, the minimum formula score must be 1050. Using the last 60 hours GPA, the minimum formula score is 1100.
*The GRE Analytical Writing subtest is scored on a scale of 1-6. This score is converted to the metric of the other subtests as follows: 1.0 – 2.0 = 300 2.5 = 320 3.0 = 350 3.5 = 400 4.0 = 460 4.5 = 540 5.0 = 620 5.5 = 700 6.0 = 760
Industrial-Organizational Psychology
Students must have an undergraduate cumulative GPA of 3.0 or a 3.25 GPA in psychology coursework, including repeated courses. Students must also submit their transcripts from all colleges attended and three letters of recommendation using the forms in the application packet. Other application information can be found on the College of Graduate Studies website.
GRE scores of 450 in verbal, 500 in quantitative and 3.5 in analytical writing are preferred minimums, although some exceptions can be made. In addition, it is preferred that no single score (verbal or quantitative) is lower than 400.
For more admission information, visit the I/O program site.
