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Psychology > Graduate Programs > Frequently Asked Questions (Graduate Program)

Freqently Asked Questions & Answers

Answers:

Q: Can I get a brochure about the psychology graduate programs mailed to me?
A: We no longer mail brochures, partly to save resources and partly because all our information is online. For the Department of Psychology see www.psychology.hawaii.edu, and please check out our Graduate Application Guide. For the University's Graduate Division see www.hawaii.edu/graduate
Q: What degree programs do you offer?
A: Graduate students typically register for the degree of MA, then progress to the PhD upon satisfactory completion. We expect all students to continue to PhD, and thus we do NOT offer any terminal (stand-alone) MA degrees in any field.
Q: How can I find out about the research done in the department and faculty interests?
A: The most accurate and up-to-date information is to be found on the Department's website, www.psychology.hawaii.edu
Q: Do you have any programs in counseling psychology, forensic psychology, marriage and family therapy, or similar?
A: The clinical studies program is an APA-accredited doctoral training program, which confers license eligibility in clinical psychology upon completion. We have no other professional training programs.
Q: I heard that there is a graduate concentration in Marine Mammal Behavior, but I canít find details of it on the web. Does it still exist?
A: This concentration will not accept any graduate students for Fall 2007.
Q: I already have my MA. Can I apply to your program?
A: If your MA is in psychology, you may apply to the PhD program. If your MA did not require a research thesis, we will require you to undertake an equivalent piece of work before advancing to doctoral candidacy. If your MA did require a research thesis, ensure that you include details of your MA requirements with your application. If your MA is in a field other than psychology, you should apply to the MA program.
Q: What materials are required for the application?
A: Please see our Graduate Application Guide
Q: When is the deadline for receipt of application materials?
A: January 1, for admission the subsequent Fall semester.
Q: Do you have any Spring or Summer admissions for graduate students?
A: No.
Q: Will I need to attend an interview?
A: We do not generally conduct face-to-face interviews. Informal phone interviews are sometimes conducted, especially for entry to our clinical studies program.
Q: What GRE scores do you require?
A: There is no absolute threshold for GRE scores, but successful applicants typically have a score of 1200 or above for verbal and quantitative scales combined, and 5.0 or above for the analytic scale.
Q: Is the GRE psychology subject test required?
A: No.
Q: I am an international student. What are the English language requirements?
A: See the following website: http://www.hawaii.edu/graduate/international/html/eli.htm
Q: What if I have a baccalaureate degree and majored in a field other than psychology?
A: Applicants should keep in mind that they will be competing for admission with students who tend to have a solid undergraduate background in psychology. Thus, it is recommended that you complete some undergraduate courses in psychology prior to applying for graduate study. As a general rule, between 20 and 30 credits would be appropriate. Examples of suitable undergraduate psychology classes are: introductory psychology, research methods, statistics, physiological psychology (or biological basis of behavior), learning or behavioral psychology, cognitive psychology, social psychology, abnormal psychology, developmental psychology, and personality.
Q: If I get accepted, can I defer my admission to the psychology program?
A: No. The University does not permit deferred entry: your offer is only good for the specified semester. If you wish to enter in a subsequent year, you are required to re-apply.
Q: What if I'm admitted to the psychology program and have already taken courses similar to those required in this program?
A: Students who have completed graduate coursework elsewhere that is similar to Departmental requirements may petition, after enrollment, to have certain requirements waived.
Q: What financial aid packages are available to graduate students in your Department?
A: Each year, the Department has a certain number of Graduate Teaching Assistantships available. These pay tuition and a modest stipend. There are also Tuition Waiver and Pacific Asian Scholarship awards available on a regular basis, which pay specified dollar amounts towards tuition. The Department automatically considers all applicants for the financial aid it has available. For other information on financial aid, see http://www.hawaii.edu/graduate/financial/html/tuition.htm
Q: When will I get a decision about my application?
A: We hope to let you have an informal decision by late February. Formal notification from the University will arrive up to one month later.
Q: Can I take graduate courses in psychology without being admitted to the program? (Unclassified Graduate Status)
A: Baccalaureate graduates who wish to enroll in classes at the University of Hawaii, but either missed the deadline for graduate admission or applied but were not accepted into our program, may apply for admission as an unclassified graduate student. (Note: International students without visas who have not been formally accepted as graduate students cannot apply for unclassified graduate student status.) This allows the student to enroll in classes without having been officially accepted into a graduate program of study. A total of 12 credits earned while an unclassified graduate may be applied toward your degree should you later be accepted into the graduate program. Enrollment as an unclassified graduate student does not guarantee admission into the graduate program in psychology (i.e., less than 5% of unclassified graduate students are eventually admitted as regular graduate students). Unclassified students must apply according to regular procedures if they wish to be considered for regular admission to the graduate program.
Q: Whom should I contact if I have questions?
A: Please make sure that you have carefully read these FAQs, and examined the information provided both in our Graduate Application Guide and on the Graduate Division's web page (www.hawaii.edu/graduate). All inquiries from prospective students or individuals who are considering applying for graduate study in the Department of Psychology should be direced to gradpsy@hawaii.edu. Please note that because of the volume of inquiries, a response may not be provided for several days.