MAFP Application

To apply to the MA - Forensic Psychology:

Basic Application Requirements for all MAFP applicants

  • Application Deadline: January 4, 2008
  • GRE Requirements: The GRE general exam is required; the GRE psychology subject test is optional. To schedule your test date, call 1-800-GRE-CALL, or visit the GRE website. The University requires that the GRE General exam has been taken within the last five years. The GRE psychology subject test is optional. Applicants should take General GRE no later than the December testing date of the academic year before potential enrollment in GSPP. Verbal GREs should be at least in the 500-600 range and either the Quantitative or Analytical GRE scores should be at least in the 500-600 range. However, the GRE is changing the analytical portion of the General GRE. We will accept the score of whichever version you take.
  • TOEFL Requirements (for international applicants only): 550 paper-based; 213 computer-based
  • Letters of Recommendation: at least three, in sealed envelopes. Please have your referee sign across the envelope flap.
  • Official Sealed Transcripts: two official copies required from all institutions where more than two credits were completed
  • Prerequisite Classes: If you were NOT a psychology major or minor, then you must complete at least four psychology classes at either the undergraduate- or graduate-level. The following courses are recommended:
    1. abnormal psychology,
    2. child psychology,
    3. experimental psychology (requires that the student complete the content portion of an experimental psychology class [e.g., learning, perception, cognition, motivation, physiology, which also requires the student to perform one or more direct experiments using the scientific method applied to some empirical question. This second requirement is often met by taking an experimental lab associated with the course),
    4. personality theory,
    5. statistics.

    These recommended classes can be completed by course work or by obtaining a score of at least 660 on the Psychology Subject Graduate Record Examination (GRE). Applicants offered admission should be aware that all psychology classes must be completed before registration in September. Additionally, it is highly recommended that applicants have completed coursework in learning theory and history and systems of psychology (the latter course must be completed prior to graduation from the GSPP).

  • GPA and Testing Requirements: The school expects an undergraduate grade point average (GPA) of at least 3.5 and a graduate GPA of 3.0. Higher scores may make an application more competitive. An applicant with grades or scores lower than these levels will be considered when there are other indications of intellectual and clinical qualifications. These issues should be addressed in the material submitted with the application.
  • Paid or Volunteer Clinical Experience: Having paid or volunteer experience providing services to clients having emotional, behavioral, or developmental disorders is an asset.

In reviewing applications, we are concerned with the quality of the whole application, evidence of academic ability, quality of work done in the human service role, how referees view the applicants potential to become a professional psychologist, and how the applicant presents him or herself in answering questions on the Personal Data Sheet. Our aim is to enroll people who have an appreciation of psychology as a scientifically based discipline and sufficient emotional and social maturity to function effectively in applied professional work. Even though we do not require an undergraduate major in psychology, we expect applicants to have knowledge of and curiosity about psychological theory and issues.