Graduate Program in Research Psychology
Application and Admission
Admission to the general psychology program is contingent upon meeting all requirements of the ECU Graduate School and being recommended by the graduate admissions committee of the Department of Psychology. A completed application includes:
- Completed Graduate School application, including a Statement of Personal Goals in which the applicant identifies the one or two members of the research faculty which he or she wishes to work;
- Completed Department of Psychology Supplemental Application Form;
- Official GRE Verbal, Quantitative, and Analytical test scores;
- Official transcripts from all colleges or universities attended;
- Three letters of recommendation - at least two must be from professors; it is preferred (but not required) that at least one recommendation letter come from a psychology professor at the university where the applicant received his or her bachelors degree. Interviews are occasionally requested.
APPLICATION DEADLINE
- March 1st for all M.A. Programs.
A combination of GRE scores, grade point average, relevant research experience in the lab or field, demonstration of leadership, and references is used in making recommendations for admission.
Please refer to Dr. Wuensch's Q&A page for answers to common questions regarding the application process.
Only students who have a faculty sponsor will be considered for admission. That is, at least one current faculty member in the Department of Psychology at ECU must advise the program director that he or she is willing to sponsor the student. Faculty members who sponsor a student agree to include that student in one or more of their ongoing research projects while the student is enrolled in the program. The following faculty plan to sponsor students for the Fall 2011 academic year (click on a name to view a personal website):
Applicants should familiarize themselves with the research interests of our faculty and identify one or two faculty members who are doing research in an area of interest to the student. The application for admission should indicate the names of those two faculty members. Those two faculty members will be asked to review the credentials of the applicant and indicate whether or not they are willing to sponsor the applicant. It is strongly recommended that the applicant contact those faculty members and ask about sponsorship prior to making application for admission.
The Department of Psychology cannot promise that it will be able to provide assistantships to students in the research program, but those students may be able to obtain assistantships from other units of the university or from research grants awarded to the sponsoring faculty member.
Applicants should score above 1000 on the GRE (Verbal and Quantitative) and have above a 3.0 GPA, both overall and in their major area of concentration.
The admissions screening procedure begins March 15. All application materials should be submitted prior to that date. Final decisions generally are sent out in April.
For course sequencing, it is recommended that students begin graduate work in the fall semester. Admission for entrance at other times should be discussed with the program chair.
Refer to the The Graduate School to obtain the forms needed to apply for admission. You will also need to complete the Supplemental Application Form for Research Psychology.
