Admissions & Aid

Frequently Asked Questions

• When are the application deadlines?

  Application deadlines for Fall 2025 consideration:
  *The PsyD, MAFP, MAIDP and MASPP programs only admit for the Fall term of each year.

  PsyD program:
  December 2, 2024

  MAFP, MAIDP and MASPP programs:
  January 8, 2025

  Online Application - Applicants are strongly encouraged to submit a complete application as soon as possible, but by the application deadline. It is the applicant's responsibility to make sure that all application materials are received by the Graduate School's Admissions Office by the final deadline.

  *International applicants are strongly encouraged to submit their application one month before the final application deadline, as the international student office will need time to process and evaluate documents.
  
  Contact Admissions with questions: gsppinfo@du.edu

• I haven't taken all of the required application prerequisite courses. What do I do?

  This response applies to the PsyD, MA-Forensic Psychology and MA-International Disaster Psychology: Trauma and Global Mental Health programs.

  If you have a bachelor’s degree with a major or minor in psychology or a master’s degree in psychology, you have met the four psychology course prerequisite. 

  If you do not have a degree in psychology, you will need to complete four psychology courses prior to enrolling if you are offered admission. You may indicate coursework is in progress on your application, but the courses must be completed by the time of enrollment. Please indicate your plan to complete the course prerequisites in your application.

  We recommend the following courses to provide a solid foundation: abnormal psychology, child development, personality theory, statistics, experimental psychology. 
  *Only four psychology labeled courses are required and these are just example classes that could be taken.  

  Appropriate classes should be taken at a regionally accredited institution (online or in-person) where a 'B' or better is earned.

  Completed pre-requisite courses will be officially evaluated during the application review process.  Additional, recent coursework may be required if outdated.

  
  You may also meet this psychology prerequisite by taking the optional GRE psychology subject test and attaining a score of 660 or higher.*

  *Please note this test is only offered three times per year. Please plan to take the exam prior to applying to our program.

   

• What is the status of my application? When will I know if I'm invited to interview?

  Due to significant concerns about applicant privacy, we do not give ANY application information over the telephone. When an application is received in the GSPP Admissions Office, a status email is sent to the applicant. Follow-up status emails are sent as necessary.

  To view outstanding documents (i.e. letters of recommendation, transcripts, etc.) and admission decisions, please check your Application Status Page by logging in with your email address and password.

  After reviewing your application and all supplemental documents, the department will invite qualified applicants to participate in an admissions interview. If selected, you will be notified via email.*

  *Please ensure that the email address you provided within your application is one that you check frequently.

   

• I completed the online application. Is there anything else I need to do?

  Yes. Make sure you have completed ALL the requirements for the application. Please check your Application Status Page by logging into your online application with your email address and password.

  Be sure to take careful note of the essay questions. We ask specific questions to which applicants must respond. We do not accept a statement of purpose in lieu of these essay responses.

• Late application documents

  You can submit your online application first and then continue to have your documents sent in.  Please strive to have a complete application as close to the admissions deadline as possible.  

• I submitted my application and need to update something. What should I do?

  Our application software prohibits updates or changes once you’ve submitted an application.

  If you need to add pertinent information or make changes to your application file, please contact us at gsppinfo@du.edu 

• Admissions Updates Timeline

  Applicants will be notified of their admissions status in January and early February.  If offered an interview, interviews will be held in February and/or early March.  We will notify applicants of their admission status update via email.

• Is an application interview required?

  A Zoom interview will be required to those invited to participate in the interview process.

   

• When will final decisions be made? Is there a required admissions deposit?

  We strive to make final offers of admission by the middle of March. All admissions decisions for Fall consideration will be made by April 1st. Admitted applicants have until April 15th to inform us of their admission decision and to submit the non-refundable $500 admission deposit to confirm their place in the program. The $500 admission deposit will be credited towards the student's first quarter's tuition.

• Is there an application fee waiver?

  We currently offer an application fee waiver for the following:

  • McNair Scholars

  • Returned Peace Corps Volunteers - the application fee wavier applies to the MA-International Disaster Psychology program only.

  Due to the competitive nature of our campus-based programs, we are unable to provide additional application fee waivers at this time. 

• I have a graduate degree already. Am I eligible to receive transfer credit?

  PsyD applicants who have an MA degree in clinical or counseling psychology from an accredited school may be eligible to receive up to 45 transfer credits toward the PsyD program. Applicants with graduate credit in psychology or a related field from an accredited school without a degree may be eligible to receive up to 15 transfer credits toward the PsyD program. If you are invited to an application interview, we will be happy to discuss your transfer credit options at that time.

  NOTE: No clinical field experience or practicum hours are eligible for transfer credit. Transfer credit is for academic classes only.

  Courses will be officially evaluated during the the first year of the program.  Coursework and/or earned degrees should be within 5 years old to receive transfer credit.

• How long do the programs take to complete?

  PsyD

  The PsyD program is designed to be completed within four to five calendar years. PsyD students attend full-time all four quarters of the year: fall, winter, spring and summer. Academic work is typically completed within the first three years of the program. Students usually begin full-year internships during the 4th or 5th year of the program.

  MA

  Our MA programs are designed to be completed in two calendar years.

  • The MA in Forensic Psychology program consists of fall, winter and spring quarters during the first and second years of enrollment.
  • The MA in International Disaster Psychology: Trauma and Global Mental Health program consists of fall, winter, spring and summer (with international field experience during the summer) quarters the first year, and fall, winter and spring quarters the second year.
  • The MA Sport and Performance Psychology program consists of fall, winter and spring quarters the first year and second years.