General Questions about our Graduate Programs
Do you offer any master’s degree programs?
No. None of the graduate programs in the department of psychology offer a terminal master’s degree. Students enrolled in our doctoral programs complete a master’s thesis as part of their degree requirements for the doctorate.
Do any of your programs begin in the spring semester?
No. All of our graduate programs have a fall semester start date. Applications are received during the fall semester (deadline of December 1st), and interviews are conducted during the early spring semester (typically January or February). Applicants who are subsequently offered a position in one of our graduate programs will start their program that subsequent fall semester (early to mid August).
Do you offer online or remote programs?
No. None of our graduate programs can be completed online or remotely. The majority of activities required for our programs are conducted in-person.
Can your programs be completed part-time?
No. Graduate students must be enrolled full-time in order to qualify for a waiver of university tuition. Also, students awarded an assistantship conduct ~20 hours of work per week, and this work is in addition to that required for degree requirements (e.g. coursework, thesis/dissertation projects).
How are graduate students funded?
Graduate students typically earn a stipend through an assistantship focused on teaching (Graduate Teaching Assistantship, GTA), research (Graduate Research Assistantship, GRA), or service (Graduate Service Assistantship, GSA). Some students may earn their stipend through a fellowship, such as those offered through the college or university (see below). The stipend amount and contract periods differ depending on which assistantship or fellowship you hold.
What does graduate student funding cover?
When awarded, funding typically covers university tuition and a stipend that is paid out over 9 to 12 months. Funding does not cover college tuition, university fees, or student health insurance. The costs of tuition and fees for a given academic year can be found here: WVU Tuition and Fees. Go to WVU Morgantown On-Campus Programs -> Eberly College of Arts & Sciences -> Costs per Semester. In this table, costs are listed for those students who are, versus who are not, residents of West Virigina.
Do you offer any fellowships?
WVU offers several fellowships to graduate students, which are described here: WVU Graduate Education and Life Fellowships. The admissions committee for each program area chooses which of their applicants to nominate for most of these fellowships (i.e. applicants cannot apply directly). The fellowships for which students can apply directly are the Hazel Ruby McQuain and the Southern Regional Education Board.
Questions about Graduate Admissions
Do you offer waivers for graduate application fees?
No. The Psychology Department does not offer fee waivers for individuals applying to our graduate programs. The WVU Office of Graduate Admissions offers waivers for individuals who meet certain criteria, the details of which can be found here: Application FAQs | Graduate Admissions | West Virginia University (wvu.edu)
Is a major in psychology required to apply?
No. A bachelor’s degree in psychology is not required to apply for our graduate programs. As applications are evaluated holistically, a background in psychology or another related field is an example of just one of the metrics by which applicants are evaluated. Recommended courses that would prepare you for one of our graduate programs include Introductory Psychology, Research Methods, Statistics, and research-oriented courses. There also may be other courses specific to your program of interest that are recommended. For more information, please reach out to the coordinator of the program that you are interested in applying to:
- Behavior Analysis: Michael.Perone@mail.wvu.edu
- Behavioral Neuroscience: Melissa.Blank@mail.wvu.edu
- Clinical: Barry.Edelstein@mail.wvu.edu
- Lifespan Developmental: Jonell.Strough@mail.wvu.edu
Do I need research or clinical experience to apply?
No. Previous research and/or clinical experience is not required to apply for our graduate programs. As applications are evaluated holistically, previous research and/or clinical experience are examples of just one of the metrics by which applicants are evaluated.
Are there requirements for the personal statement?
No. While there are no specific requirements for the personal statement, we do encourage applicants to describe the following: a) r eason(s) why you are interested in the chosen program area, b) any relevant background or experiences (e.g. specific training or coursework, research or employment experiences), and c) departmental faculty members conducting research of interest to you.
Can you review my application if some components are missing?
No. The college does not release applications to our department until they are fully complete. Therefore, it is important to request your transcripts and letters of recommendation well in advance of the application deadline (December 1st). Delays in submitting all components of your application by the deadline may prevent it from being reviewed. You are strongly encouraged to regularly check on the status of your application until it is evident that all components have been submitted. Questions about your application status should be directed to the WVU Graduate Admissions Office at GraduateAdmissions@mail.wvu.edu.
Are there specific admissions requirements for international students?
Yes. The requirements for international students can be found here: International Graduate Students. Given the additional steps that may be required for international students to obtain approved documents (e.g. transcripts in English) and meet admissions criteria (e.g. English language proficiency tests), we strongly recommend that you begin the application process well in advance of the deadline (December 1st). Delays in submitting the appropriate documents or demonstrating that you meet the admissions criteria may prevent your application from being reviewed by the committee.
What is the timeline for admissions decisions?
The admissions committee begins reviewing applications soon after the application deadline (December 1st). Applicants who are invited for an interview should hear from us by the end of December. After interviews are completed (typically late January or early February), those who are offered a position may hear from us at any point up until early April.
Can I appeal an admission decision?
No. There is no process for appealing decisions about admission. Decisions made by the program area admissions committees are final.
Still have questions?
If you have additional questions about our graduate programs or admissions criteria, please contact Graduate Director Melissa Blank at Melissa.Blank@mail.wvu.edu or Assistant Director of Graduate Training Brennan Armshaw at Brennan.Armshaw@mail.wvu.edu.