Frequently Asked Questions Psychological Science Ball State University

These questions are answered below. For additional quesitions or more information, contact the Director of Graduate Studies:

1. What are the strengths of your program?
2. Do I need to have an undergraduate psychology background?
3. What are your admission requirements?
4. Is financial aid available?
5. How do I apply for a Graduate Assistantship?
6. Does your department have a Ph.D. program in psychology?
7. Can I pursue a doctorate with an M.A. from your department?
8. How do I find housing at Ball State?
9. Can I arrange to visit campus?
10. What is Muncie like?
11. Can I begin graduate studies during spring semester?
12. Can I be licensed with an M.A. in Clinical Psychology from Ball State?
13. Are there opportunities to work with faculty on research projects?
14. Are there funding opportunities for graduate student research?

What are the strengths of your program?

We recently surveyed our program graduates. The clinical students reported the following strengths of our program. (a) Challenging and clinically relevant courses; (b) Good camaraderie and collaboration among students; (c) Knowledgeable faculty; (d) Small class sizes; (e) Quality instruction in relevant psychotherapeutic assessment techniques; (f) Great opportunities for research/thesis experience (g) Good student-faculty interaction; (h) Variety and quality of practicum experience; (i) Availability of Graduate Assistantships (j) Not requiring a thesis (e.g., allows flexibility); (k) Balance of research and clinical training; (l) Teaches one how to seek out and apply research in a clinical setting; (m) Good library resources.

Do I need to have an undergraduate psychology background?

No. We have had many excellent students from backgrounds as diverse as architecture, accounting, engineering, and biology. We prefer that applicants completed courses in undergraduate statistics and psychology research methods. If you have not had these courses, you may need to take extra courses in those areas to prepare for the required courses. {Top of Page}

What are your admission requirements?

We do not have set admission requirements. We look at each applicant individually, considering GREs, GPA, experience, letters of reference, and statements of career goals. To find out more about the application process and to examine average scores for recently admitted students, see Admissions Information. {Top of Page}

Is financial aid available?

Graduate assistantships are one source of financial help. Student loans are also available; you can get information about them through the Financial Aid office (1-800-227-4017). Students interested in pursuing grants or fellowships for Graduate Study are encouraged to explore the Community of Scholars web page. This service provides detailed information about funds available for graduate students within disciplines. At Ball State University, this web page can only be accessed by an on-campus computer. Many colleges and universities subscribe to this service; contact your local research office or your college/university library. {Top of Page}

How do I apply for a Graduate Assistantship?

To apply for an assistantship in our department, simply check the box on our departmental application. We will notify you about the assistantship when we notify you about admission. If you are admitted to one of our programs but are not awarded an assistantship in our department, we will provide information about other opportunities on campus. {Top of Page}

Does your department have a Ph.D. program in psychology?

Our department does not offer a doctoral degree. We have two M.A. programs, a Master's in Clinical Psychology and a Master's in Cognitive and Social Processes. Psychology Ph.D. programs at Ball State are offered through the Department of Counseling Psychology and the Department of Educational Psychology . {Top of Page}

Can I pursue a doctorate with an M.A. from your department?

Our primary mission is to prepare students to enter doctoral programs, and most of our students go on to Ph.D. or Psy.D. programs after earning their Master's degree. In most cases, a significant number of our courses transfer to the new program. We have been very pleased with the success of our graduates. For information about them, see Positions Held by Our Graduates {Top of Page}

How do I find housing at Ball State?

There are many reasonably-priced housing opportunities on campus and in the area. The campus offers graduate dormitories (call 800-382-8540) and apartments . There are also reasonably priced off-campus apartments that are near the university. If you come for a campus visit, we can arrange for you to see some available options. We also send all admitted students information about housing. {Top of Page}

Can I arrange to visit campus?

You are welcome to visit campus at your convenience. Please contact us in advance to let us know you are coming. Both students and faculty can meet with you to talk about our program. Contact the Director of Graduate Studies: (765)285-1711, Kerri Pickel, Ph.D. {Top of Page}

What is Muncie like?

To get detailed information about the area, visit the Graduate School's community information page.{Top of Page}

Can I begin graduate studies during spring semester?

For our clinical program, we accept applications for fall semester only. These applications are due March 1. If there are openings, we accept applications for our M.A. in Cognitive and Social Processes up to five weeks before the beginning of either fall or spring semester. However, to receive an assistantship, you must apply by the March 1 deadline. {Top of Page}

Can I be licensed with an M.A. in Clinical Psychology from Ball State?

Licensing requirements vary by state, so we can not answer this question with certainty. In our program, you can select an option that will give you requirements that satisfy many of the general licensing requirements of most states. But you will probably need to take additional electives to meet the requirements. Most of the needed electives are offered in our department or in the Department of Counseling Psychology. We can put you in touch with agency of the state in which you plan to seek employment so that you can obtain accurate information about how to best pursue this option. Please note that students must take responsibility for choosing a course of study that is best suited to their career goals. {Top of Page}

Are there opportunities to work with faculty on research projects?

Our Graduate Faculty welcome the opportunity to do research with students. We recommend that all students get involved in research projects through a thesis, independent research project, collaboration with a faculty member, or assisting a faculty member with research either on a volunteer basis or as part of an assistantship assignment. For information about faculty research interests, see Faculty Profiles. {Top of Page}

Are there funding opportunities for graduate student research?

Research conducted with a faculty member is usually funded by our department. Funding for an independent project or your Master's Thesis is available from the Office of Academic Research and Sponsored Programs. That office also offers travel money for graduate students who are to present at a research or teaching conference. {Top of Page}

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)

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