Admission to our graduate programs is selective and is separate from admission to the Graduate School. To be considered for admission, students must formally apply to both the Graduate School and the Department of Psychological Science. Applications to the Graduate School are available from their office (765) 285-1286. If you request materials from our department, you will also receive a Graduate School application.

International students must apply through Ball State's Center for International Programs.

To consider your application for admission to our graduate programs, the department must have the following material:

1. The Standard Department Application form (choose either the Clinical or the Cognitive/Social form)
2. Transcripts of all undergraduate work and any previous graduate study
3. An official report of scores on the Graduate Record Examination, general test only (the Advanced Psychology test is not required)
4. Three letters of recommendation written by individuals who are familiar with your academic ability and performance, research, and clinical experience (if applicable)
5. A personal statement (limited to two double-spaced, typed pages) focusing on your reasons for applying to our program, your long-term career goals, your research experience and interests for the future, your clinical experience (if applicable), and any qualifications which are not obvious from your transcripts and other materials
6. A resume or vita outlining your education, honors and awards, research experience, work or internship experience, and other psychology-related experience

Send materials to:
Kerri Pickel, PhD
Director of Graduate Studies
Dept. of Psychological Science
Ball State University
Muncie, IN 47306
USA

The deadline for Fall Semester admission is March 1 of the previous spring. Late applications may be considered only if openings are available after consideration of all applications received by March 1. Occasionally there are openings in the Cognitive and Social Processes program for Spring Semester. In such cases, applications must be received no later than five weeks before the beginning of the spring term. Contact the Director of Graduate Studies for more informtion.

Admission Requirements

1. We do not use absolute cutoffs for GPA or GRE scores. Below are data submitted by applicants who were admitted to our M.A. programs during the past three years.

   Clinical Students (N = 22)	Mean	Standard Deviation
   Overall GPA	3.60	0.25
   GRE-V	470	67
   GRE-Q	580	89
   Analytic Writing	4.91	.60
   (Co)Presenter at Professional Conference	27%

   Cognitive/Social Students (N = 16)	Mean	Standard Deviation
   Overall GPA	3.43	0.36
   GRE-V	460	102
   GRE-Q	564	92
   Analytic Writing	4.43	.96
   (Co)Presenter at Professional Conference	25%

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2. Applicants must complete a B.A., B.S., or the equivalent before starting a graduate program. We prefer that applicants completed undergraduate coursework in psychology that includes at least experimental design methodology and statistics.
3. Positive letters of recommendation providing evidence that the applicant has the necessary skills to succeed.
4. A personal statement, a vita, and other materials that suggest our program would be a good fit for the applicant and that the applicant has the necessary skills to succeed.
5. An overall GPA of 2.75 on a 4.00 scale is required for admission to the Graduate School. Only rarely will that admission requirement be waived. Students must be admitted both to one of our departmental programs and to the Graduate School to enroll as a degree student in Psychological Science.

   We receive more qualified applicants than we can accept; meeting or exceeding the requirements above does not guarantee admission.

Admissions Information	Faculty Profiles
Positions Held by Our Graduates	Graduate Course Listing
Master's in Clinical Psychology	Master's in Cognitive and Social Processes
Meet Our Students	Frequently Asked Questions
Graduate Assistantships

Have questions? Need admissions materials?
Contact the Director of Graduate Studies:

Kerri Pickel, Ph.D.

(765) 285-1711

Graduate Programs in Psychological Science (home page)

Author | Last Modification: May 2005 | Technical comments to the Webmaster