Admission Requirements

Admission to the program is highly competitive. A candidate for admission must:

  1. Possess a baccalaureate degree
  2. Submit transcripts of undergraduate and all prior graduate work
  3. Have completed a minimum of 24 credits in undergraduate psychology, including courses in Introductory Psychology, Statistics and Experimental Psychology or Research Methods
  4. Submit scores from the GRE General Test and, for non-psychology majors, the GRE Subject (Psychology) Test. The GRE Subject (Psychology) Test is optional for candidates who either majored in psychology or completed a Master’s degree in Psychology
  5. Submit three to five letters of recommendation, one of which must be from an individual who addresses the applicant’s research potential
  6. Submit two papers from psychology courses or other relevant work samples — including a laboratory or research paper and a term paper
  7. Provide a clear, written statement of professional goals
  8. By appropriate record of achievement as well as one or more interviews, satisfy the department that his or her preparation indicates a high potential for successful advanced study in psychology Student attrition, due to personal or academic reasons, has been about 10 percent or less in recent years. The program encourages applications from minority students and students with disabilities. St. John’s campus and facilities are accessible to students with disabilities.

Students currently matriculated for a master’s degree at St. John’s who are interested in applying to the doctoral program must follow the procedure for new applicants. Applications for fall admission are due by January 15. There is no spring admission. Additional information regarding application procedures and program requirements is contained in the Graduate Bulletin online at the University Web site.

Costs for tuition and fees are listed in the Graduate Bulletin. Academic and financial advisement is available in the department and through the Office of Student Financial Services. The University Counseling Center is available to provide personal counseling services to all students in the University.