General Information & Application Process

General Admissions Information New students are normally admitted only in the fall semester. The deadline for receipt of admissions materials is December 1st, for admission the following fall semester. Applications received by December 1st will receive a full review. Applications received after that date will be considered if openings are still available. A USM Graduate School Catalog and an Application for Admission can be obtained from the Graduate School website at www.usm.edu/graduate-school. You must create a personal account. At the Graduate School homepage click on "Apply" and then "Application for Graduate Admissions". Please note that the University is a fully online application process.  

Because we do not have a terminal master’s program, we do not admit students who desire a terminal master’s degree. Students with bachelor’s degrees are admitted with the expectation that they will continue through our Ph.D. program. A master's degree (with thesis) in psychology is required of all School Psychology graduate students. Students entering with a master's degree or higher from another institution must remediate any master's deficiencies (including a research project if the previous master's program did not include a thesis) before proceeding to doctoral study.

Students are admitted to graduate study based on an assessment of the likelihood that they will be able to attain the doctorate and make a contribution to the discipline. We seek to attract a geographically and culturally diverse student body interested in Scientist-Practitioner training. The School Psychology Admissions Committee is particularly interested in receiving applications from qualified students from underrepresented groups. We do not have automatic cut-off scores, but rather look for an overall record that suggests a good fit with the training program and a likelihood of success. Applicants are judged on the basis of prior academic record, GRE scores, letters of recommendation, evidence of creative scholarship, a self-statement of goals and career objectives, and a resume/vita.

Although an undergraduate major in psychology is not required, students should have completed appropriate undergraduate foundation courses in psychology (e.g., statistics, experimental, history and systems). Prospective students should specify School Psychology as their major on the University application form. Applicants need to submit at least three letters of recommendation regardless of their degree objective. In addition to the formal application materials, applicants should submit a personal goals statement discussing reasons for their interest in school psychology, their career goals and objectives, and what they expect to receive from their graduate training. Finally, applicants should submit a resume addressing the activity in which the applicant has been involved, relevant work experience, certification as a teacher or school psychologist, membership in professional organizations, and prior undergraduate or graduate thesis experience. Applicants are also encouraged to include any other information they think should be considered by the admission committee.

Following an initial review of applications, the School Psychology Program faculty select a subset of applicants (approximately 12-17) that we believe have the potential to be successful in the program based on a review of all of the above information. We then schedule and invite this group for a formal all-day on-campus Interview Day, typically in late January or early to mid-February. This process typically includes individual and/or small group (depending on numbers of interviewees) interviews with program faculty, and opportunities to interact with current students in the program and tour our facilities. Phone interviews are scheduled upon request to avoid any discrimination due to financial limitations or schedule constraints. If requested by the applicant, an in-person interview on a separate, alternate day may be scheduled based on availability of faculty. Contact the Program Director (contact information below) or our administrative assistant at 601-266-5255 for questions or other information. Admission decisions are made based on the results of this interview process and review of applications; approximately 5-7 students are admitted to the doctoral program annually.

Contact:

The Graduate School
McCain Library
118 College Drive #5024
Hattiesburg, MS 39406

(601) 266-4369

Fax: (601) 266-5138