Master of Science in Psychology

  

Department of Psychology 111 Pryale Hall (map) (248) 370-2300 • Fax (248) 370-4612 www.oakland.edu/psychology

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Director of Graduate Training:
Virgil Zeigler-Hill
212A Pryale Hall
(248) 370-2676
zeiglerh@oakland.edu

 

Program Description

The Master of Science in Psychology program will provide graduate students with the knowledge, skills, and experiences necessary to become successful producers of research, investigating the structures, processes, and products of the mind. Psychology is a broad discipline that interfaces with the biological and social sciences. This graduate program is organized around two concentrations that together comprehensively cover psychological science: (1) biological and basic processes, and (2) social and behavioral sciences. These concentrations represent two broad areas that focus on psychological phenomena from different orientations in moderately overlapping but distinguishable content areas. Graduate students will have broad exposure to both concentrations.

Admission Terms and Deadlines

Students enter the program in the fall semester. Applications received after the due date may be reviewed, depending on space availability. Before an applicant’s file can be reviewed for full program admission, all application documents must be received in Graduate Study and Lifelong Learning by the semester deadline listed below. Incomplete applications will not be sent to the department for admission review.

• January 15 for fall semester

Readmission and program transfer

Requests for readmission and program transfers must be completed and approved prior to the beginning of a semester.

International application deadlines

International applications are reviewed for fall. To ensure adequate time for review, international applications must be completed at least six months before the desired date of intended enrollment in the University. All international application materials must be submitted by May 1 for fall admission. International applicants are not eligible for Special Graduate classification.

Special Graduate classification

Applicants who are seeking a graduate degree or graduate certificate, but are unable to meet the deadline for filing all required application materials or credentials for graduate admission, may contact the department and request Special Graduate temporary admission.  The applicant must submit an Application for Admission to Graduate Study, plus a copy of a transcript providing evidence of a bachelor’s degree awarded and any specific evidence concerning their qualifications for graduate study as required by the department.  Up to 12 credits may be earned in the Special Graduate classification. Admission as a special graduate student in no way assures subsequent admission to a degree or graduate certificate program.

Students may request special graduate classification beginning  with the dates below.

• August 1 for fall semester
• December 1 for winter semester
• April 1 for summer semester

Note: Special Graduate classification will not be granted after the first week of classes in a semester.

Application Requirements

To be considered for graduate admission, applicants must submit all of the following University and Program application documents by the published application deadlines:

University graduate application requirements

• Application for Admission to Graduate Study     
• Official transcripts providing evidence of an earned baccalaureate degree from an accredited U.S. institution, OR a degree equivalent to a four-year U.S. baccalaureate degree from a college or university of government-recognized standing.
• Official transcripts for all post-secondary educational institutions from which the applicant earned a degree (beginning with the first baccalaureate) and for all enrollment in graduate-level coursework beyond the bachelor’s degree. International university transcripts must be evaluated by a professional credential evaluation service.
  • As part of the admission requirements, graduate programs may require official transcripts from post-secondary educational institutions from which the applicant earned an associate’s degree and all enrollment in coursework both pre- and post-bachelor’s degree.
• Two official and original Recommendation for Graduate Admission forms.
• Proof of English language proficiency

• International supplemental application and supporting documentation must be submitted before international applicants can be issued the Certification of Eligibility (I-20). This certificate is required to apply for a student visa from the U.S. embassy or consulate.

Program application requirements

• One additional Recommendation for Graduate Admission form.  All must be from faculty members who can evaluate the scholarly achievement and potential of the applicant
• An essay (i.e., statement of purpose) describing the applicant’s interest in the program, research interests, and career goals
• Scores from the Graduate Record Examination (GRE).

Admission review and assessment

Admission to graduate study at Oakland University is selective. In making admission recommendations to Graduate Study and Lifelong Learning, each department assesses the potential of applicants for success in the program by examining their undergraduate records, goal statement, letters of recommendation, prerequisite courses and any other admission requirements established by the academic department.

Transfer Credits

Official transcripts must be on file in Graduate Study and Lifelong Learning. The credits earned must be from a regionally accredited institution and must carry a grade of 3.0 (B) or above. Courses graded Pass/Fail or Credit/Non-Credit are not transferable. Only courses designated graduate may be transferred. The total number of credits transferred may not exceed 9, and no more than 1 credit will be awarded per week of instruction (i.e., a 4-credit course must meet a minimum of 14 hours per week for four weeks–a minimum total of 56 class hours or 47 clock hours of instruction.