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How do I apply?

When can I apply?

 

I missed your application deadline, can I still take classes?

What is the minimum grade-point average (GPA)?

What is the minimum graduate record exam (GRE) score?

 

What information should I include in my personal statement?

 

Who should I ask to write letters of recommendation for me?

 

Is there a specific form for letters of recommendation?

 

Can I visit your program and talk to faculty and students?

 

Can I still apply if I do not have a degree (B.A., B.S., or M.A.) in Psychology?

 

I do not have a degree in Psychology and need to take leveling courses; can I take leveling courses before applying to one of your programs?

 

I do not have a degree in Psychology and need to take leveling courses; can I take leveling courses after being accepted into one of your programs?

Where can I take the GRE in El Paso?

 

How much is tuition?

 

Is there financial aid available?

 

How long does it take to get an M.A. Clinical in Psychology?

 

How many credit hours are required to get a M.A. Clinical in Psychology?

 

How long does it take to get a Ph.D. in Psychology?

 

How many credit hours are required to get a Ph.D. in Psychology?

 

Do you offer any distance learning courses?

How do I apply?  Δ

            Information about applying can be found here.

 

When can I apply?  Δ

 

Applications are accepted anytime, however, applications are reviewed only once a year and new students are accepted only for the fall semester. The application deadline is December 15th for the subsequent fall.

I missed your application deadline, can I still take classes?  Δ

 

You can take graduate classes in Psychology for one semester as a non-degree graduate student. There are potential costs, however, to doing this. First, as a non-degree graduate student you will not be eligible for financial aid. Second, even if you take and do well in graduate psychology courses as a non-degree student, there is no guarantee that you will be accepted into the graduate program. 

 

What is the minimum grade-point average (GPA)?  Δ

 

There is no minimum. The admissions committee reviews all materials and makes decisions based on an applicant’s entire packet. Nevertheless, because we cannot accept everyone who applies, GPA is one component of the application packet that helps us make difficult decisions about who should be accepted. For our Ph.D. program, the average GPA for people accepted the past two years was 3.67. For our M.A. program, the average GPA for people accepted the past two years was 3.36. Please keep in mind that these are averages, so some people had higher GPAs and others had lower GPAs.

 

 

What is the minimum graduate record exam (GRE) score?  Δ

 

There is no minimum. The admissions committee reviews all materials and makes decisions based on an applicant’s entire packet. Nevertheless, because we cannot accept everyone who applies, GRE is one component of the application packet that helps us make difficult decisions about who should be accepted. For our Ph.D. program, the average GRE scores for people accepted the past two years was 654 verbal and 636 quantitative. For our M.A. programs, the average GRE for people accepted the past two years was 465 verbal and 527 quantitative. Please keep in mind that these are averages, so some people had higher GRE scores and others had lower GRE scores.

 

 

What information should I include in my personal statement?  Δ

 

You should definitely discuss the concentration (e.g., Health; Legal; or Social, Cognitive, & Neuroscience) for which you are applying, what specific types of research you are interested in doing, and faculty members whose research interests you. Discuss anything else about your history such as previous research experience that might not be apparent in your other materials. It may also be useful to discuss your career plans.

 

 

Who should I ask to write letters of recommendation for me?  Δ

 

It is best to get letters from people who are familiar with you and who know what it takes to successfully complete a graduate degree in psychology. Thus, people with an advanced degree in psychology are typically the best sources for letters (given that they know you well enough to assess your potential for success in graduate school and believe you can be successful). People who have advanced degrees in disciplines other than psychology can also provide good letters.

 

 

Is there a specific form for letters of recommendation?  Δ

 

No. Please ask the people writing your letter to clearly indicate your name in their letters and send them directly to the graduate school. It is better if your application arrives before your letters of recommendation.

 

 

Can I visit your program and talk to faculty and students?  Δ

 

We make arrangements for Ph.D. students who have been accepted into our program to visit in the spring, usually in March. If you are interested in learning more about our program before you apply, you should contact faculty members whose research interests you. All of our faculty are happy to talk to prospective students and can make arrangements for you to visit and/or talk with others who can help answer your questions.

 

 

Can I still apply if I do not have a degree (B.A., B.S., or M.A.) in Psychology?  Δ

 

Yes. However, students without a Psychology degree are required to successfully complete leveling courses before they are fully admitted to the program. These leveling courses must include a course in psychological statistics and 12 hours of upper-division courses in psychology including a course in experimental psychology.

 

 

I do not have a degree in Psychology and need to take leveling courses; can I take leveling courses before applying to one of your programs?  Δ

 

Yes. However, always remember that we cannot accept all of the people who apply to the program and that taking and successfully completing leveling courses will not guarantee acceptance into one of our programs.

 

 

I do not have a degree in Psychology and need to take leveling courses; can I take leveling courses after being accepted into one of your programs?  Δ

 

Yes. You will be required to successfully complete all leveling courses before starting graduate coursework.

 

 

Where can I take the GRE in El Paso?  Δ

 

Information about the GRE can be found here.

 

 

How much is tuition?  Δ

 

Information on tuition and fees can be found here. All students who are employed by the university (all Ph.D. students and many M.A. students) are eligible to receive in state tuition. Ph.D. students also receive a $3000 tuition waiver each year which pays for a vast majority of the cost.

 

Is there financial aid available?  Δ

            Information regarding financial aid can be found here.

 

How long does it take to get an M.A. Clinical in Psychology?  Δ

 

The time varies considerably among individuals primarily due to differences in how long it takes people to conduct and write their Master’s Thesis. That being said, the majority of people complete their Thesis in 2 to 3 years.

 

 

How many credit hours are required to get a M.A. Clinical in Psychology?  Δ

 

45 credit hours.

 

 

How long does it take to get a Ph.D. in Psychology?  Δ

 

The time varies considerably among individuals primarily due to differences in how long it takes people to conduct and write their Thesis and\or Dissertation and whether or not the person had an M.A. before starting our Ph.D. program. That being said, people who enter with an M.A. typically finish in 2 ½ to 4 ½ years and people who enter the program without an M.A. typically finish in 4 ½ to 6 years.

 

 

How many credit hours are required to get a Ph.D. in Psychology?  Δ

 

78 credit hours.

 

 

Do you offer any distance learning courses?  Δ

 

No. A primary focus of all of our programs is teaching students how to do psychological research. This type of education requires extensive one-on-one collaboration with faculty and can only be done in person.