A major or its equivalent in undergraduate psychology is recommended, with a recommended minimum overall GPA of 3.3 and a GPA of 3.5 in the major. For the thesis-based option, applicants to the concentration in Experimental Psychology should have coursework in experimental psychology, and applicants to the concentration in Clinical Psychology should have completed abnormal psychology. Three letters of recommendation are required, and letter-writers should comment on the readiness of the applicant for a graduate program. A Psychological Science faculty member must be identified as the research mentor for the thesis option. Please see below for faculty currently accepting graduate students for faculty currently accepting graduate students. For the non-thesis option, before applying, potential applicants should contact the program director, Professor DonnaToufexis (donna.toufexis@uvm.edu), to discuss whether this option will meet the applicant's career goals.

With the online application program administered by the Graduate College, you set up an application account complete with a username and password of your choosing. Then you can complete the application over several sessions and check on the status of your supporting documentation at any time. Once the application is complete, it is sent to the Department of Psychological Science for consideration.

The Department of Psychological Science is committed to diversity among the student body in terms of age, disability, ethnicity, gender, gender identity, native language, national origin, race, religion, culture, sexual orientation, and social economic status. Prospective applicants who will enhance the diversity of our student body, including those from under-represented racial or ethnic groups and first-generation college students, are strongly encouraged to apply.

Deadline for Applying

  • December 1

Materials to Submit

Online Application: The Application, Statement of Purpose, Resident Status Application, and the Application Fee are all included in the Online Application. Although there is no required length for the Statement of Purpose, most Statements of Purpose are between 1-2 pages in length.

GRE Scores: We have eliminated the GRE from consideration for admission.  We will NOT accept or consider GRE scores for applications.  Applicants should NOT submit their GRE scores through ETS nor report their scores in the application portal or on their CVs or personal statements.

Curriculum Vitae (CV): It is highly recommended that you submit a curriculum vitae (CV). You can do so through the online application process.

Writing Sample: Although not required, applicants to the Master's Program are encouraged to submit a writing sample of a research project or paper on which you were the primary author.

TOEFL Scores: If your native or first language is not English, you must submit scores from the Test of English as a Foreign Language. Questions about the TOEFL examination may be directed to the TOEFL/TSE Services, Educational Testing Service, PO Box 6154, Princeton, NJ 08541-6154; telephone 609-771-7100.

Transcripts: Transcripts must be obtained from each of the post-secondary educational institutions you have attended. UVM students must request the Registrar to send their transcripts to the Graduate College Admissions Office. Unofficial transcripts uploaded by you are sufficient for the review process. However, acceptance into the program is contingent on the receipt of official transcripts.

Letters of Recommendation: Letters of Recommendation from three persons qualified to assess your potential for graduate work are required. Please use the portion of the online application for letters of recommendation, or point them to the printable page. References from college or university placement files are acceptable provided they are forwarded in an unopened envelope. Photocopied references are acceptable with original signatures only. Applicants are encouraged to work with their recommenders to ensure timely submission of letters of recommendation so that these letters are available during the review of applications.

How to Apply

Application Fee

The nonrefundable application fee is $65 US. Applications are not processed until the application fee is received.

Statement of Purpose

In your Statement of Purpose (sometimes called Personal Statement), please identify the names of at least one faculty (up to 3) member you wish to do research with. Particular attention is paid to the match between a student's interests and plans and the expertise of our Department. (See the above listing for faculty accepting students.)

Importance of Timely Submission

We do not normally review applications that do not contain all the information required and so it is advisable to submit all your materials on time.

On Campus Interview

During our application review process you may be invited to visit our campus for in-person interviews in February.

Full-time Program

There is no formal part-time program, and students who want to attend on a part-time basis will need to justify this in their application. The prerequisites for application and program requirements are the same whether students are attending on a full-time or part-time basis.

International Students

If you are an international student (not a U.S. resident or resident-alien) make sure you visit the Office of International Education for VISA requirements. This VISA process can take many months to complete, so be sure to allow yourself plenty of lead time when applying. Documents not issued in English must be accompanied by a notarized English translation.

Questions

For questions regarding the application process, contact the Graduate.Admissions@uvm.edu or by phone at 802-656-2699. For questions regarding requirements of the Psychological Science Department, please email Psychology@uvm.edu or call 802-656-2670. (Preferred method is via e-mail.)

Faculty Accepting Master’s Program Thesis-Option Students for Fall 2024

Faculty accepting Master's Program students for the thesis-based option in the Fall of 2024:

If you would like to pursue the exam-based option, please contact the Program Director, Donna Toufexis, donna.toufexis@uvm.edu.