Frequently Asked Questions
Admission Questions
What can I do to improve my chances of being selected for your program?
Nearly all entering students have worked as research assistants. Many clinical applicants have also had experience in applied settings, usually as a volunteer. However, for all areas (Clinical, I/O and CNS) research experience is most important. Many entering students have presented their research at a conference and some have published their research. Only a small percentage of applicants are selected for the Clinical and I/O programs. Therefore it is recommended that applicants apply to several universities (10 or more would not be unreasonable for Clinical applicants). Following this strategy will increase your chances of acceptance into at least one graduate program. The APA website Students section (www.apa.org/students) contains resources for applying to graduate schools.
Can I apply if I just want a Master's degree?
No. You may not enter the program with the intention of obtaining only a master's degree. If you cannot commit to the Ph.D. program, you should investigate the large number of schools that offer a terminal master's program in Psychology.
Can I apply if I'm not scheduled to take the GRE before the deadline?
No. Your application cannot be processed without GRE scores and a hard copy of the GRE Score Report, which you should submit to the Psychology Department with your application packet. The GRE computer adaptive exam should be taken no later than the beginning of November or December. Scores from the written GRE exam take approximately six weeks to reach USF. If you take the written GRE exam, please plan your examination date for September or before. GREs taken after October will not reach the office by our deadlines of December 15th P(Clinical --Note will change to December 1 effective December 1, 2010 for the Fall 2011 application cycle) or January 15th (CNS and I/O).
Can I apply if I won't receive my bachelor's degree until after the deadline?
Yes. If you have one or two semesters before obtaining your bachelor's degree, you may apply as long as your upper-level GPA remains at least a 3.0. You will need to request additional official transcripts showing that your bachelor's degree was awarded before being officially accepted by the university.
Can I apply if my bachelor's degree is not in Psychology?
Yes. While most applicants have an undergraduate degree in Psychology, applicants who are particularly strong in related areas (e.g., research experiences, natural sciences, business for I/O applicants) are eligible for admission. Regardless, it is highly desirable for applicants to have at least a minimal background in Psychology and in research methods (e.g., Introductory Psychology, Experimental Design, Statistics).
Do I need to take the Psychology Subject section of the GRE test?
No, only the General GRE tests (Verbal, Quantitative and Analytical writing) are required. Of the three scores, the verbal and quantitative are generally the most important.
A person writing one of my recommendation letters will be away from the office and may not be able to send me the letter in time to include with my application packet. Can she/he send the letter directly to you?
We first suggest asking another person to provide a letter of recommendation. However, as long as all other application documents are received together in one packet before the deadline, we will accept one letter sent separately and received before the deadline if it is in a sealed, official letterhead envelope signed across the back flap.
Is there a university form that needs to accompany letters of recommendation?
The form is not required, but is preferred. The forms are available for your use at download.grad.usf.edu/admissions/Letter_of_Recommendation.pdf. Some faculty prefer that you sign the confidentiality waiver before they write your letter. We require that letters be sealed, that the recommenders use official letterhead, and that they sign across the back flap.
Is the Immunization form required with my application packet by the deadline?
No, the Immunization form is to alert you of the policy and is required only if admitted before registration.
Is there a form, other than the graduate application form, that I need to submit for USF fellowships or assistantships from the program?
No, the department will automatically nominate applicants meeting eligibility requirements for the various assistantships, USF fellowships and scholarships offered at the university for incoming students.
Program Questions
In what areas of research is your faculty currently involved?
You can find summaries of faculty members' work at our website: psychology.usf.edu/. If you want to learn even more about particular faculty members, you may email them at the address listed on their internet web pages.
What is the average number of years to complete the program?
The entire Ph.D. program usually takes approximately five to six years to complete. Clinical students must also complete a one-year internship. I/O students must complete the program in six years.
Would I be able to continue working full-time at my current job if I enter your program?
No.
I have already received a Master's degree from another institution. Would I be able to have it transferred towards the Ph.D. degree in your program?
Many students already have an M.A. and, understandably, would like to obtain full credit for their degree. It is sometimes possible to transfer credit for courses that are virtually identical to those offered by our department; however, no final decision about such courses can be made prior to your acceptance into the program. Each individual case must be evaluated by the program area after admission. Likewise, it is sometimes possible to obtain credit for a completed master's thesis if it is judged equivalent in quality to theses conducted by students in our program. After acceptance into the program, a faculty committee will review your thesis to determine whether it can be transferred.
What kind of housing is available for your graduate students?
The cost of living in Tampa is affordable compared with many large cities. Most one-bedroom apartments rent for approximately $600-700/month, and most two-bedroom apartments rent for $750-900/month. There are many nice apartment complexes close to campus and there is a campus shuttle (the Bull Runner) that services this area. There is also a graduate dorm on campus called Magnolia Housing, which is very close to the Psychology building (www.housing.usf.edu/hallsindex_magnolia.html).
Do you offer your program courses on-line?
No. Our courses are conducted in on-campus classrooms and labs.
Do you allow part-time students?
No. Students admitted to the graduate program are required to pursue their studies full time.
Do you offer a program in Forensic Psychology?
No. Although courses may include forensic psychology content, we do not have a specific concentration in forensic psychology. Please contact the Department of Mental Health Law & Policy, Louis de la Parte Florida Mental Health Institute of USF (mhlp.fmhi.usf.edu).
Are there other programs at USF that offer a Master's degree in Psychology and related disciplines?
At USF there are excellent programs in:
Other universities offer additional programs at the master's and doctoral levels.
Course Questions
Is it possible to take just a course or two at the graduate level, and how could I do that?
Perhaps, if the instructor permits you to do so as a non-degree seeking student. Our graduate-level courses are specifically designed for students already in our doctoral program. If you are a non-degree seeking student or in another graduate program, you must contact the instructor of the course and receive his/her permission. Then you must submit the online departmental Permission to Register form https://web1.cas.usf.edu/psy/class_permit/ and an appropriate department staff member will enter a permit into the USF system then contact you. You would also need to apply as a Non-Degree Seeking student through the Admission's Office and then register for the course (www.usf.edu/Admission/non-degree-seeking.asp).
What courses are you offering this semester?
You can search the university's online schedule of courses through the OASIS Schedule of Classes website at
www.registrar.usf.edu/ssearch/search.php.
- This is a real-time search providing the most up-to-date information.
- Results are sorted by Department, Subject, Course and Section.
Degree Questions
What career, job, and salary options will be available to me after receiving a B.A./B.S., M.A. or Ph.D. degree?
Research resources are available at The Salary and Labor Market Trends section of the USF Career Center website www.career.usf.edu. The American Psychological Association (APA) Research website also contains information at research.apa.org/ and www.apa.org/students/.
What is the difference between a Ph.D. and a Psy.D.?
In Clinical Psychology, the two most common doctoral degrees are the Ph.D. degree and the Psy.D. degree. The Ph.D. is the oldest doctorate and is generally regarded as a research degree. Though many professional psychology programs award it, they typically emphasize research training and the integration of research with applied or practical training. The Psy.D. degree, first awarded in the late 1960's and increasingly popular among professional schools, is a professional degree in psychology (similar to the M.D. in medicine). Programs awarding the Psy.D. degree place major emphasis on preparing their graduates for professional practice as practitioner-scholars and less emphasis on research training. Presently about 75% of the doctoral degree programs in Clinical Psychology award the Ph.D. degree.
Do I need a license to practice psychology?
Requirements for license to practice in the mental health field are not standardized across states. In most states, however, you need some type of license or certificate to practice psychology. The Association of State and Provincial Psychology Boards (ASPPB) has a website that provides information at www.asppb.org. The Florida Board of Psychology website provides licensure information at www.doh.state.fl.us/mqa/psychology/psy_lic_req.html, and licensure exam information at www.doh.state.fl.us/mqa/Exam/home.htm. To search the Florida Statutes and Constitution for job licensure requirements, go to www.flsenate.gov./Statutes.