Frequently asked questions for the Master's Program
When should I apply?
Apply well in advance of the deadline. Review of applicants begins on March 1st and continues until the final deadline. There is a definite advantage to having a completed application on file early in the application period. One frequent problem is late-arriving GRE scores, so please plan to complete the GRE as early as possible. GRE scores are valid for five years.
Can I apply for spring admission?
There is no spring admission. Students are accepted only for the fall of each year.
How many students are accepted each year?
Approximately 10 students are accepted each year.
Do I have to take the GREs?
Yes. Official scores on the general aptitute component of the Graduate Record Examination
(GRE) are a very important part of your application and are required prior to consideration for the program.
Are there minimum GRE scores and GPAs?
GRE scores and grades are information critical to the evaluation process. We seldom accept an applicant with GRE scores (verbal + quantitative scores) lower than 900. Typical GRE scores of applicants who are accepted are in the 1000 - 1200 range. We look for overall undergraduate grade-point averages of at least 3.2. Some exceptions may be made in the case of lower grades early in an undergraduate career. The grades earned in quantitative methods (statistics), and experimental methods courses are especially important. We look for mostly A and B grades in psychology courses.
Do you accept students provisionally?
No.
However, students interested in eventually applying for admission to the MS program can register for most graduate courses by requesting permission of the course instructor. Twelve hours of graduate coursework (in Psychology, at ODU) taken before being admitted to the program can be applied toward the MS degree. Earning good grades in graduate courses before applying for admission to the program definitely improves your chance of being admitted. However, taking these courses does not guarantee admission to the program.
Can I take graduate hours elsewhere
and have them apply toward the Master of Science
in psychology?
It may be possible to take some graduate hours in psychology at another university and have them count toward the Master of Science in Psychology at Old Dominion University. Contact the graduate program director for the Master of Science in Psychology at Old Dominion University for additional information.
What type of financial aid is available?
In addition to the financial aid offered by the University, occasionally Master of Science students are awarded teaching assistantships through the Department of Psychology or may be funded through faculty research grants, other research assistantships at the university, or student jobs on campus. These awards are rarely made before the student has matriculated.
Can I attend the program while working full-time?
Full-time work during the first year of the MS program is difficult and we discourage that practice. In special cases students may be admitted on a part-time basis while maintaining a full-time job.
