Applying for Graduate Admission

APPLICATIONS Now AVAILABLE!  All of the Department of Psychology's Graduate Programs are accepting applications through CSU's online application system

In addition to College of Graduate Studies requirements for admission, each of our graduate degree programs has its own admission criteria and requirements for documents, as well as its own annual deadline for applications.  These are presented below for each program and/or specialization. Typically, students are admitted only in the Fall of each academic year, with an application deadline during the preceding Spring term. 

When you are ready to apply, (1) submit your Application for Graduate Admission; then (2) gather and submit required documents. Documents can be submitted via document upload by using the link that appears within the online application. Please inform persons who are providing reference letters that they will receive an email notification and link that indicates to where letters should be submitted. Please do NOT mail applications and/or documents directly to the Department of Psychology or to Cleveland State University.  All application materials must be submitted online.  

Review of applications typically begins immediately after the application deadline. Some programs require interviews; for others, they are either not required, or optional (at discretion of Admissions Committee). If you have any questions about one of our Graduate Degree programs or specializations, you may contact the Director of the degree program/specialization.  If you have questions about the status of your application, please contact the respective director of the program to which you are applying.

Every effort is made to extend offers of admission to successful candidates as early as possible.  We will notify all applicants of admission decisions no later than April 15th. (In some cases, applicants will be placed on a waitlist, and notified if an opening in the program becomes available after April 15th.) Please note that CSU abides by the policy adopted by the American Psychological Association which stipulates that no school may require applicants to accept or reject an admission offer prior to April 15th of each year. 

Below are the specific application requirements for each of the following program areas:

Adult Development and Aging Ph.D.

Clinical Psychology M.A.

Industrial-Organizational Research M.A.

Psychological Science M.A.

School Psychology

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Adult Development and Aging Ph.D.

Director: Katherine S. Judge, Ph.D., Professor

An application for admission to the Adult Development and Aging Ph.D. program must include:

1. Application for Graduate Admission.
2. The requirement for GRE scores for Fall 2024 admission has been waived. Applicants should not submit official GRE scores as part of their admission application.
3. Transcripts of academic work and degree certificates from each college/university attended. For international students, you are required to order an evaluation of your foreign education credentials from one of our two approved servicers: Educational Credential Evaluators (ECE) or World Education Services (WES). Learn more here. 
4. Overall undergraduate GPA of 3.25 or greater is strongly preferred.
5. The Psychology major as an undergraduate is strongly recommended. However, applicants may still be considered if they have sufficient background in psychology or a closely related field. (We prefer students admitted to this program to have completed 30 semester credits in undergraduate psychology classes including coursework in General/Introductory Psychology, Statistics/Quantitative Methods in Psychology, and Experimental Psychology).
6. Proof of completion of a B.A. or B.S. degree in Psychology or a related discipline for admission to the M.A.-Ph.D. program. Admitted students must provide the Department of Psychology at either institution (CSU or UA) with an official transcript, showing proof of degree conferral from the student's institution or an official letter of completion from their university Registrar's office (if an official transcript is not yet available, and will substitute for such transcript for up to one semester of enrollment). Students who do not provide proof of degree conferral before Fall semester begins are not eligible to hold an assistantship/tuition scholarship at the Ph.D. level of funding.
7. Three (3) letters of recommendation from persons familiar with the applicant's academic work.
8. Write a brief personal statement stressing events or experiences that have contributed to your interest in psychological research in general, and in the area of Adult Development and Aging in particular (e.g., undergraduate courses or background; work experience, especially with development/aging-related tasks or occupations; personal philosophy). What experience, if any, have you had in conducting psychological research? (Please include information about participation as a research investigator, conference presenter, peer-reviewed publication author, or grant-writer.) What are your goals and particular interests as a researcher, and how do you anticipate that the CSU program will help you satisfy them? What topics or areas of research in Adult Development and Aging are you most interested in pursuing? What do you plan to do after receiving your degree? As part of your response, please also identify at least one faculty member and/or research area that best aligns with your interests/goals. 

Please do NOT mail applications and/or documents directly to the Department of Psychology or to Cleveland State University.  All application materials must be submitted online. 

Deadline for Admission Applications: January 15th

Interview Required? Optional (at discretion of Admissions Committee)

• Admission to the program will be determined by a joint committee consisting of program faculty from both Cleveland State University and The University of Akron. All applications to the Adult Development and Aging program will be evaluated on the above criteria, as well as:
  • The applicant's overall fit with the Adult Development and Aging program. Decisions about fit are based on information gleaned from an applicant's personal statement (indicating educational and research interests, career goals, and reasons for interest in Cleveland State University or The University of Akron), from letters of reference describing specific applicant skills and experiences, and, if applicable, from any additional contacts (e.g., telephone, email, site visits) with the applicant during the admission process.
  • Research and Practical Experience. Evidence of academic research and applied practical experience are important for addressing issues of long-term motivation to develop as a professional. Thus, applicants are encouraged to provide information describing any one or more of the following: (a) participation as an investigator on research projects, (b) conference presentations or published chapters or journal articles, (c) past experience in writing grant and fellowship applications, (d) experience in an applied setting involving adult development and aging-related tasks such as long-term care, occupational therapy, etc., and (e) other similar documentation of research and/or practical experience.

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Clinical Psychology M.A.

Director: Elizabeth Goncy, Ph.D., Associate Professor

An application for admission to the Clinical Psychology M.A. program must include:

1. Application for Graduate Admission.
2. The requirement for GRE scores for Fall 2024 admission has been waived, and applicants should not submit GRE scores.
3. Transcripts of academic work and degree certificates from each college/university attended. For international students, you are required to order an evaluation of your foreign education credentials from one of our two approved servicers: Educational Credential Evaluators (ECE) or World Education Services (WES). Learn more here. 
4. A strong undergraduate record (minimum 3.0 undergraduate GPA strongly preferred) with a firm foundation in the basic principles of psychology. Please contact the Clinical Program Director if you have questions concerning the suitability of your undergraduate psychology coursework.
5. Two (2) letters of recommendation.
6. Please provide a 1-3-page statement that addresses the following pieces in association to you as a future mental health professional in psychology:

   • Your reasons for pursuing a graduate degree in clinical psychology and this program in particular  

   • Research and applied experiences that provide evidence that you will be an effective mental health professional (e.g., work experience; most important learning in psychology; breadth of background; personal philosophy; experience working with diverse populations)  

   • Your goals and interests as a future mental health professional in psychology,   

   • Your diversity experience and interest as a future mental health professional   

   • Your research interests and their alignment with a current faculty member. Please include the name of at least one faculty member in the clinical psychology program whom you envision could be a good mentor.  
7. A curriculum vitae (CV).

8. In 200 words, please answer the following question:  What does diversity, equity, and inclusion mean to you and why is it important?  

Preparation beyond the minimum suggested above (including research and clinically-relevant experience) will likely strengthen applications.

Please do NOT mail applications and/or documents directly to the Department of Psychology or to Cleveland State University.  All application materials must be submitted online.  

Deadline for Admission Applications: February 1^st

Clinical Psychology M.A. Admission FAQ

Interview Required? Yes (by invitation only, from faculty members of the Clinical Psychology specialization committee)

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Industrial-Organizational Research M.A.

Director: Michael Horvath, Ph.D., Professor

The I-O program is not admitting students for Fall 2023. Please consider applying to our Psychological Science program if that would satisfy your needs and interests. Please visit this website in the Spring or Summer of 2023 for further information about I-O admissions.

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Psychological Science M.A.

Director:  Andrew Slifkin, Ph.D., Professor

An application for admission to the Psychological Science M.A. program must include:

1. Application for Graduate Admission.
2. The requirement for GRE scores for Fall 2024 admission has been waived. Applicants should not submit official GRE scores as part of their admission application.
3. Transcripts of academic work and degree certificates from each college/university attended. For international students, you are required to order an evaluation of your foreign education credentials from one of our two approved servicers: Educational Credential Evaluators (ECE) or World Education Services (WES). Learn more here. 
4. Two (2) letters of recommendation, preferably from individuals familiar with the applicant's academic abilities.
5. A personal statement.
   • Write a brief autobiographical sketch stressing events or experiences that have contributed to your interest in psychological research (e.g., undergraduate courses or background; work experience; personal philosophy). What experience, if any, have you had in conducting psychological research? What are your goals and particular interests as a researcher in psychology, and how do you anticipate that the CSU program will help you satisfy them? What area or areas of research are you most interested in pursuing? 
   • Applicants must identify at least one faculty member with whom they would be most interested in working and who may also serve as a potential thesis advisor. While applicants are encouraged to consider the core members of the Psychological Science Program as potential thesis advisors, other faculty in the Department of Psychology may be considered as well.

An applicant should have some academic preparation in psychology or a related discipline. Prospective applicants without such a background are encouraged to consult with the program director about their qualifications for admission to the program.

Please do NOT mail applications and/or documents directly to the Department of Psychology or to Cleveland State University.  All application materials must be submitted online.

Application deadline for Fall Admission:  February 10th.

Interview Required? No 

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School Psychology, M.A. & Psy.S Degrees

Director: Patrick Frato, Ed.S., NCSP, SP 597, Associate Lecturer 

An application for admission to the School Psychology M.A. program must include:

• M.A. Degree Phase (must be completed prior to Psy.S. Degree admission)
  1. Application for Graduate Admission.
  2. The requirement for GRE scores for Fall 2024 admission has been waived. Applicants should not submit official GRE scores as part of their admission application.
  3. Transcripts of academic work and degree certificates from each college/university attended. For international students, you are required to order an evaluation of your foreign education credentials from one of our two approved servicers: Educational Credential Evaluators (ECE) or World Education Services (WES). Learn more here. 
  4. Two (2) letters of reference.
  5. Write a statement describing personal factors and events that have contributed to your interest in School Psychology. Please address the following questions in your personal statement. Include these questions as headers in your personal statement. 
     1. What do you already know about the school psychology profession, and how does that knowledge relate to your interest in the CSU program? What draws you to school psychology as a profession broadly. 
     2. Describe your interests in working in particular settings; with particular student populations; or with an emphasis on specific skills or professional interests.
     3. Please describe an academic challenge you experienced and how you used internal and external support to turn the challenge into an accomplishment. We are particularly interested in accomplishments that required you to seek resources and/or assistance beyond your skills and motivation. 
     4. Finally, tell us how you plan to use your graduate education in School Psychology after graduation? 

Please do NOT mail applications and/or documents directly to the Department of Psychology or to Cleveland State University.  All application materials must be submitted online.  

Deadline for Admission Applications: January 10th

Interview Required? Yes, an interview is required.