Graduate school requirements for psychology include standard as well as distinct factors.
Many factors play a role in the decision to attend graduate school for psychology. Graduate school requirements for psychology are both similar and different from other majors, although they do vary by the institution. Most institutions have the same basic requirements for psychology graduate degrees, both for the master's and the doctorate. There are some standard requirements, such as getting good grades in classes and on exams. However, there are also distinct requirements particular to the psychology major, such as having an undergraduate degree in psychology and choosing a clear area of expertise.
Specialization
Choosing an area of specialization is required for psychology graduate study.
Psychology students are often required to choose the area of specialization, such as School Psychology or Clinical Psychology, before starting coursework in graduate school. This requirement allows acceptance into a particular program geared for completion of a degree specific to the desired area of expertise. Graduate schools require prospective students to choose their focus before attending to ensure a proper match, since the field of psychology has numerous options for specialization. Students consider areas of interest while taking a variety of classes in undergraduate school. An internship or job related to the specialization of interest provides real-life experience in the career, helping a student to choose an area of specialization with confidence.
Coursework
Requirements for admission to graduate school for psychology include taking it as a major at the undergraduate level.
According to the University of Minnesota and the Education Portal, psychology students pursuing graduate school need specific undergraduate coursework. Graduate schools typically require a Bachelor's Degree in psychology before admittance into a program, unlike other fields of study. For example, graduate programs for business accept students with degrees in unrelated fields such as communications, but most psychology graduate programs do not.
Grades
Research suggests that average grades and test scores are necessary for psychology graduate school programs.
The University of Scranton reports that good grades are an obvious requirement for admission to graduate school, but the same holds true for many fields of study. However, research published in 2010 in The Counseling Psychologist suggests that grade point averages around 3.57 are enough to gain admission into graduate school for psychology. The same study notes that average scores on the Graduate Record Examinations, 594 quantitative and 552 verbal, are also standard requirements across most institutions. Graduate schools that are especially competitive, have limited class sizes or offer accreditation upon graduation through fast-track doctoral programs tend to accept those with the best grades and scores first.
Program
Graduate schools for psychology require specifying the intended area of study before admission.
Unlike broader graduate programs, such as Elementary Education, psychology does not typically permit general study at the graduate level. Most graduate schools require that applicants reveal the intended focus as well as the desired work environment. For example, a focus on clinical psychology offers a wide variety of potential work environments, such as researching in a laboratory or office atmosphere to diagnosing and treating in a substance abuse rehabilitation center. Graduate schools provide limited programs that hone in on a particular area of psychology. Additionally, many colleges offer variants on the psychology program dependent upon whether the student plans to obtain a master's degree or a doctorate, as well as if licensure and accreditation is preferred before graduation. Students completing this requirement demonstrate a well-planned career path.
Tags: graduate school, Graduate schools, area specialization, graduate programs, graduate school psychology