Applying for graduate programs can be stressful, but do not worry, we're here to help! In addition to the books available in the lounge and the professors that can have 1:1 in person discussions, this site can give information on a variety of program types, examples, and requirements.
It is important to help yourself prepare as much as possible, and to make sure that a program is right for you. Remember, you're applying for acceptance, but they have to sell themselves to you as well! Doing your research, using available resources, and making sure that you are making the right decision for not only your future, but yourself as well are all important aspects of the graduate program search. If you decide to take a gap year, to not go on to further schooling, or to go into a different field than originally planned: that is okay!! We are here to help make sure you end up somewhere that works for you, where you will be most likely to succeed academically and personally.
There are a variety of different levels of schooling you can do for different fields in Psychology, and it can be hard to tell which one is the best for you. But what are your options?
Undergraduate Degrees: Getting your bachelors degree in Psychology requires only what you're doing now, getting your degree from an accredited undergraduate institution! Psychology is one of the most popular undergraduate majors out there, and there are a number of jobs that this degree opens doors to! Find a full article about your options according to the APA here!
Masters Degrees: A masters program is one type of secondary schooling that you can go into for Psychology! Masters programs can lead to doctorate education, or can be terminal, meaning a student is stopping at a masters. The goal of these programs is most often to become highly specialized in a particular area of psychology. These programs are usually somewhere from 2-4 years long. So how do you know if these programs are right for you? Read about the pros and cons of these programs here! And, read an article about possible careers available with a masters program from the APA here!
Doctor of Psychology (PsyD): A PsyD is great for students more interested in providing psychological services than in doing research! These programs most often still require a thesis or dissertation, and to use methodologies to demonstrate how psychological research is applied to human behavior. These programs require at least 3 full-time academic years and a 1-year internship. There are a variety of career options for one with a PsyD, which you can read about here!
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD): A PhD is great for students who are interested in pursuing a career in research! It is also the path that those interested in becoming college professors should take. These programs take somewhere from 5 to 7 years and include a dissertation capstone experience. You can read more about the pros and cons of these programs here!
Feeling confused as to whether a PhD or a PsyD is what you're looking for? Read the APA article about the differences between the two here!
There are a variety of sources to turn to when trying to find the program that's best for you, and there are a number of things to consider! Where do you want to live, how long do you want to be in school, what career are you pursuing, funding, and many more. There are two books that can be found in the psych lounge right now that have a list of schools, their available programs and requirements! Additionally, here are some more sources for you:
The Psychology Grad School Wiki page: As graduate positions become available, they are posted on this site! This includes the options listed earlier, and post-grad lab positions! As you find programs you're interested in, this is a great resource for finding out what openings there are!
The APA accredited program list: This PDF is the current list of all APA accredited programs by state, great for helping figure out if where you want to live and the program type you're interested in line up!
The APA accredited database: This link leads to the searchable database version of the accredited program list!
The Psychology Degree Guide: This database is a collection of programs of all types and areas of study! It also has information on what you can do with different degree types, and includes details about online programs!
Here are some additional articles, links, and considerations for your application and decision process:
Questions (and Answers) About Choosing a Graduate Program: Psi Chi article from the Winter 2019 magazine.
APA interview with a PhD level psychologist on what graduate programs look for in Clinical applicants.
APA article on factors to consider when choosing a graduate program.
Choosing a Psychology Graduate Program 101 from mastersinpsychologyguide.com.
How to Choose a Psychology Program from psychology.org, with a searchable database.
Psychology Today article about how to finance your graduate degree in Psychology.
Making Your Way Through Graduate School to Financial Security: Psi Chi article from the Winter 2019 magazine.
Website made by a graduate student that includes many links to other resources and opportunities
And of course, our departments professors are great options for gathering information of the variety of graduate programs available!