Frequently Asked Questions
- Preparation for Admission
- Application Process
- Graduate Record Exam (GRE) and Testing
- About the Program
Preparation for Admission
Are there any independent study courses for non-degree seeking students?
We do not have any independent study courses for non-degree seeking students.
I would like to prepare for graduate admission by auditing some of your graduate courses. Is this possible?
We do not allow auditing of our graduate courses by anyone not enrolled in a UC graduate program.
Do you offer a Master's in Psychology?
We do not offer a terminal Master's in our department. We offer a PhD in Psychology and Social Behavior with concentrations in Health Psychology, Developmental Psychology, Social/Personality Psychology, and Psychopathology and Behavior Disorder. However, students can obtain a Master's degree during their time in our doctoral program.
What is required for admission to your graduate program?
Our admissions process is a competitive one where we consider the applicant's record as a whole (grades, GREs, prior research experience, letters of recommendation), and whether or not we feel he/she is a good "fit" with our program and what we have to offer (we usually depend on the personal statement to assess that). The competitive applicant typically has approximately a 3.7 undergraduate GPA (usually with a major in psychology), GREs around 1350 combined verbal and quantitative scores, a great deal of research experience, and 3 strong letters of recommendation based on exposure to the applicant in a research or classroom setting. Although the profile that is described is the "typical" admit, not all students we have admitted over the years fit that exact profile. Thus, a strong record in one area may be able to compensate for weakness in another area. If an applicant looks promising, he or she will usually be invited for an interview, usually February or early March (the Spring prior to Fall admission).
Are students admitted to work with a specific faculty member?
No, we do not follow an apprenticeship model in our department. Although students are assigned a first year "advisor", there is no expectation that they will continue to work with that faculty member over time, or that they will work with a single faculty member while enrolled in our program. In fact, our best students usually conduct research with several faculty members during their graduate career.
I am in the process of applying to your graduate program and want to set up an interview or meeting with a faculty member and/or a graduate advisor.
You are welcome to speak to our Student Affairs Office about your admission to UCI. If your application looks promising, you will be invited to our campus for an interview -- that won't occur until sometime in February or early March (the Spring prior to Fall admission). At that time, you will have plenty of opportunity to meet with many faculty members and current graduate students in our program.
What are your prerequisite courses for admission to your graduate program?
We do not have any formal course prerequisites. Nonetheless, we certainly expect some familiarity with psychology so that we know that you have been exposed to the content of the field (and we know that you are clear what you are getting into!). Perhaps more importantly would be some research experience in psychology - that is very important to be competitive in the application process.
Do I have to have an undergraduate degree in Psychology to apply to your graduate program?
We have admitted non-psychology majors on a few previous occasions, although we do look for evidence of exposure to research methodology, critical thinking, and statistics. Also, see answer above.
I am interested in clinical psychology or counseling. Is your program for me?
No, we do not have a clinical psychology program at UCI nor do we have any clinical or counseling component to our graduate training. Our focus is completely research based, so if you are interested in any aspect of counseling or clinical work, the program at UCI will be unlikely to meet your needs.
Application Process
Is it possible to transfer in spring or summer quarters or just fall quarter? What are the deadlines?
We have a single admission date to our program. The application deadline is December 15th of the year prior to admission for fall quarter.
Can I apply to your program using a paper application form instead of the online forms?
There are no longer any paper application forms for admission to UCI. Please refer to the Office of Graduate Studies at http://www.rgs.uci.edu/grad/prospective/index.htm.
My application for admission was previously denied but I wish to re-apply. I had already submitted my official transcripts, official GRE and TOEFL score report and 3 letters of recommendation. Do I need to submit those documents again?
We do not keep admission materials, so if you were previously denied admission, you will need to submit all new materials and a new online application.
Do you have any suggestions/guidelines for the personal statement?
Please prepare a statement that describes your background, research experience, current and future research interests, future goals, and how you see yourself fitting in our department. You might seek to keep it under 3 pages, although there is no "formal" limit.
Your school's application provides students with a form for letter of recommendation writers. Do I have to use that form?
No -- separate letters are fine but we prefer the recommender (letter writer) also complete the "grid" on the back of the form and sign it. The student also needs to sign the release on the recommendation form. Letters of recommendation can also be submitted online. See http://www.rgs.uci.edu/grad/prospective/app_online.htm.
My school provides a Graduate Application letter service and they have their own forms for the letter of recommendation writers. I was told by the letter service that most schools have no problem with students using their forms.
See answer above.
I applied online, and found the website only allows you to type your statement of purpose and doesn't have any space for a resume. I have it in a Word file. May I send my statement of purpose and supplemental information to you via email or US mail?
It is fine to submit supplemental materials with your application. Forward any supplemental materials (including transcripts, letters of recommendation, and GRE scores) to:
Graduate Program
Department of Psychology and Social Behavior
3340 Social Ecology II
UC Irvine
Irvine, CA 92697-7085
Graduate Record Exam (GRE) and Testing
http://www.gre.org
I'd like to know your DEPARTMENT CODE to report my GRE scores.
The GRE code for UCI is R4859 and the GRE code for Social Ecology is 5101.
I am looking to take the GRE in the spring or early summer. Can I apply for that fall's admission?
If you were thinking of applying for a fall admission cycle, you would need to take the GREs far earlier than the prior spring or early summer. All materials and application must be submitted by our December 15th deadline (for fall admission the following year).
My scores from the GRE test may not be available by the December 15th deadline. Do you accept unofficial scores or official scores past the due date if everything else is complete?
We will accept unofficial scores until the "official" ones arrive (even if after the due date) -- please forward them as soon as they are available.
Do I need to take the psychology subject portion (Psychology Subject Exam) of the GRE along with the general exam?
While the general Graduate Record Exam (GRE) must be submitted to be considered for admission to our program, the Psychology subject portion of the GRE is not required.
I have taken the GRE more than once. Which scores will you use?
The formal application record reflects the most recent administration of the GRE. However, we typically look at all the scores provided, and take into account the highest total score obtained. If an applicant's most recent scores are not the strongest, he or she should be sure to provide us with copies of the results from earlier GRE exams.
Are International Students required to complete additional testing along with the GRE (Graduate Record Exam)?
All applicants whose native language is not English are required to submit test results of the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) examination. However, the TOEFL requirement will be automatically waived for applicants who have completed all their high school education in the US or received an advanced degree from a U.S. college or university. A score of 550 or better on the TOEFL is required for admission consideration. For additional information see: http://www.rgs.uci.edu/grad/prospective/toefl.htm
About the Program
Would you please let me know how your Psychopathology and Behavioral Disorders program is different from other clinical or counseling psychology programs?
Ours is not a clinical psychology graduate program -- we do not seek to train students in clinical or counseling psychology. Moreover, there is no clinical component to our graduate training -- it is purely research based. Because the American Psychological Association (APA) only accredits clinical, counseling, or school psychology programs, APA accreditation is not relevant for any of the graduate degree programs offered in our department.
I have previous Master's credit (Clinical). Would this count towards a Ph.D. in Psychology and Social Behavior?
Please be advised that we do not have a clinical psychology graduate program at UC Irvine. Thus, previously obtained clinically-oriented credits or course work would be unlikely to be applicable to our graduate degree requirements.
I want to become a Forensic Psychologist. Does your Ph.D. in Psychology and Social Behavior offer a program or specialization in Forensic Psychology?
Forensic Psychology is a recognized specialty area of Clinical Psychology. Although we do not have a clinical program in Psychology and Social Behavior, we offer a non-clinical specialization in Psychology and Law.
I have previous Master's credit (Master's degree in Psychology). Would this count towards a Ph.D. in Psychology and Social Behavior?
Students' work in master's programs are reviewed on a case-by-case basis. Sometimes, statistics and methods courses can be waived by petition if there's a great deal of overlap in content and one takes an exam to demonstrate mastery of the material. Information regarding other graduate courses can be submitted and will be reviewed by the Graduate Advisor for consideration.
Do you offer financial assistance to students accepted into your graduate program (i.e., assistantships, scholarships, or fellowships)?
All students who are admitted to our program are provided with financial assistance that is awarded on a case-by-case basis, either through teaching assistantships, research assistantships or fellowships. If you are admitted to our program, you would be provided with full financial assistance.
Is a practicum possible within the program?
Ours is not a clinical graduate program. However, we do have a one-quarter practicum placement (optional) for students who wish to be placed in an applied setting.
How many hours (or years usually) are needed for graduation?
A typical student completes our PhD program in 5 or 6 years -- shorter is possible, longer is discouraged.
Can your graduate program be completed on an evening/night or part-time basis?
Our Ph.D. Program is a full-time, day program. All of our graduate courses are offered between the hours of 9am-6pm.
Can I select the faculty member I wish to serve as my primary mentor during my graduate career?
If you are accepted into our graduate program, you will be assigned a faculty mentor based upon mutual interests and availability. But one of the advantages of our program is that we encourage our students to network with several faculty during their graduate career. This may mean that your initial faculty-student pairing may change as you move through the program.
