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APPLICATION INFORMATION
The deadline to apply for the program is March 15th, students are ONLY admitted in the fall semester. Applications will not be
accepted for summer or spring semesters.
Admission to the program is
determined by the program faculty and they reserve the right to request
personal interviews. It is the student’s
responsibility to begin the process early and follow up with the various
institutions and individuals who must submit supporting documentation.
Need an overall G.P.A. of 3.0 or
higher or an average G.P.A. of at least 3.0 in the last 60 hours of undergraduate course work.
Prerequisites
In addition to meeting university
admission criteria, applicants must have these or comparable
prerequisites. Need an overall G.P.A. of 3.0 or higher, no grade lower
than a “C” and no more than two grades of “C,” in undergraduate courses from a
regionally accredited college/university that are comparable to:
- Personality Theories (PSYC 2410),
- Cognitive Psychology (PSYC 3520) OR
- Principals of Learning and Behavior
(PSYC 3524),
-
Abnormal Psychology (PSYC 3430),
- Social Psychology (PSYC 2345),
- Child Development (PSYC 3201) OR
- Lifespan Development (PSYC 2201)
- Applied Research and Statistics (PSYC
4750) OR
- Research Methodology (PSYC 2150)
- Psychology Statistics (PSYC 3150)
Please
note, these courses are prerequisites and cannot be used to fulfill degree
requirements of the M.A. program and may be taken at another institution.
Special Admission Requirements
Applicants not meeting one of the above-noted
admission criteria are eligible to petition for conditional admission to the
program. Applicants choosing to petition should include a letter with the
supplementary admission materials. Faculty recommend letter, include discussion
of the factors contributing to the academic achievement and why those factors
could be judged by the faculty as successfully remediated. Faculty reserve the
right to require additional coursework (for example, PSYC 3120 or other
undergraduate psychology courses) as a condition of admission.
Demonstrate evidence of satisfactory
professional writing and analysis by one of the following: a grade of “B” or
higher in PSYC3120 (Thinking and Writing in Psychology) or its equivalent**. THIS SHOULD NOT TO BE CONSIDERED A PREREQUISITE?
THE GRADUATE APPLICATION PROCESS
IMPORTANT! Getting your application in early increases your chances of successfully proceeding
through the application process but waiting until the deadline decreases your
ability to submit any missing documents and, therefore, it may cause your application to be denied. Getting your application in early does not increase your admission chances; it does
ensure accuracy. COMPLETE means all required
documents were submitted, statement of character signed, required transcripts
have been received, statement of purpose included and three (3) reference forms
included.
STEP1:
Access the admission’s portal MA Psychology Program Application, create a profile and begin the
application process.
STEP2:
Read the information carefully and answer all questions.
STEP3:
Statement of Purpose - Provide a statement of the applicant’s purpose in seeking
a master’s degree in Psychology and his/her long-term goals (applicants should
be aware that faculty also evaluate this statement as a professional writing
sample).
STEP4:
Statement
of Character
– Need to read, answer all the questions, and sign. Answering yes to any of the questions on
this document requires a written explanation.
STEP5:
Official
undergraduate transcripts– An incomplete set of transcripts can result in your application being denied. Note if you attended GSU more than five (5)
years ago, it is necessary to submit new transcripts. GSU
official transcripts are not required!
STEP 6:
Personal Reference Forms (3)– Complete the information necessary to acquire the forms of references. You will need the email addresses of all
three individuals. Once the form(s) is
returned, it will be attached to your application.
Ask three professionals/professors
who can speak to the applicant’s academic and/or professional capabilities in
the field of Psychology to complete the reference forms. Letters of recommendation
do not replace the official forms.
STEP 7:International
Students Only
Office of International
Services–
Follow this link, and it will provide you with the necessary instructions to
make sure your application is processed correctly. This department also can provide any
necessary support.
- Copy of TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language)
results (if applicable)
STEP 8:
Once you have completed the application, submitted all
documents, and paid your fee, please send an email to Jeanetta G. Edwards -
Graduate Academic Advisor jedwards4@govst.edu assuring you received any updates
or notifications regarding the process.
Application Fee
The university requires a $50.00
application fee for all GSU graduate applications.
Admission
to Candidacy
Once a student has completed
PSYC6110, PSYC6160, PSYC6221, and PSYC6229 with a grade of “B-” or better they
are then allowed to apply for candidacy.
Note faculty will assess each student and complete an evaluation form in
each course that will be given to the Clinical Coordinator.
Student needs to review the
Important Dates to Remember as it provides deadlines for FA/SP/SU on when to
apply. The candidacy committee will
review the applications and the Clinical Coordinator will advise students of
their candidacy status within six weeks of application. Candidacy review is one
of several evaluative steps to help ensure program objectives are being
satisfied and student outcomes are being reached. Students should refer to the
Handbook for Graduate Students: Master of Arts in Psychology for further
details.
Degree
Requirements
Students must meet all university
requirements for an M.A. degree. In
addition, students must:
- Maintain a G.P.A. of 3.0 or higher,
with a grade of “C” or better in each course, and have no more than two courses
with a grade of “C”.
- Receive a passing score on the
program comprehensive examination.
- Receive positive endorsements from
the faculty.

Kristen Efantis, Clinical Psychology Program, Class of 2018
The feeling of community that my professors have created in their classrooms has been the most influential factor in creating the ideal environment to be challenged, to ask vital questions, to think deeply about people, and to become introspective about myself—all of which are paramount skills for any aspiring mental health practitioner. My GSU experience has empowered me to continue my learning by earning a doctoral degree so that I may continue to be challenged and to sharpen my skills, just as I have been at GSU.

Dr. Christienne Dyslin, M.A., Associate Professor
As a professor for the M.A. in Psychology program, one of my great joys has been having the opportunity to witness, and sometime actively participate in, our students’ intellectual and emotional development as they move through their academic journeys with us. It is always gratifying to hear from former students and learn how they are contributing to the betterment of society by serving in their roles as therapists, teachers, program directors, or going on to continue their graduate education in a doctoral program in clinical psychology.