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ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS

Students are accepted to graduate study in psychology as either graduate degree students or as graduate non-degree students. Graduate non-degree students in psychology do not seek a master's degree at Francis Marion University but typically already have an advanced degree and wish to take courses only for professional growth, certification upgrade, or recertification.

GRADUATE DEGREE STATUS

To be considered for admission as a graduate degree student, an applicant must complete the following steps:

1.       Submit a graduate application for admission and pay the non-refundable graduate application fee.

2.       Submit official transcript(s) of all undergraduate and graduate work. Applicants must have earned an undergraduate degree from a regionally accredited institution as evidenced by the official transcript(s). The record should show promise of success as a graduate student, which requires maintenance of a minimum 3.0 or higher grade point average throughout tenure within the program. Therefore, it is recommended that applicants have a 3.0 or higher grade point average in all undergraduate and graduate coursework completed at the time of application.  

Transcripts also are examined for relevance of undergraduate preparation for graduate education in psychology. All applicants must have completed an introductory or general psychology course, as well as a course in behavioral statistics. 

3.         Submit scores on the Graduate Record Examination taken within the last five years. Only the General Test is required; the Psychology Subject Test is not required. A combined Verbal and Quantitative score of 850 or higher is recommended.

4.         Submit two letters of recommendation from former professors or professional associates/supervisors who can attest to the academic potential of the applicant. Letters from faculty members in academic settings are preferred.

5.         Submit a personal statement, 500 to 750 words in length, indicating one’s interests in clinical/counseling or school psychology, career goals, and reasons for seeking admission to the Master of Science in Applied Psychology program.

All of the above materials must be submitted in one packet to:
 Graduate Office
 Francis Marion University
 Post Office Box 100547
 Florence, SC 29501-0547

Completed applications are reviewed for merit by the Psychology Department faculty.  Determination of merit is based upon consideration of all components of the application packet. In the admissions decision process, consideration is given to both the merit of each application received and to the number of slots available in the program at the time of application. Favorably reviewed applications are submitted to the FMU Graduate Council for review. Offers for admission are given to those applicants who show the most promise of success in graduate studies.

To be guaranteed timely consideration for acceptance into the Master of Science program in Applied Psychology, all of the above materials should be submitted by:

 Fall Admission: March 15

 Spring Admission: October 15

Application materials received after the application deadlines may still be considered for admission contingent upon the availability of positions within the program. It is the applicant’s responsibility to gather all materials to complete his/her application. Only completed applications (with all required materials) will be reviewed for possible admission.

GRADUATE NON-DEGREE STATUS

To be considered for admission as a graduate non-degree student, one must complete the following steps:

1.       Submit a graduate application for admission and pay the non-refundable graduate application fee.

2.       Submit official transcript(s) of all undergraduate and graduate work.

3.       Provide the Department with a written statement specifying the course(s) for which admission is being sought and why. Unless part of a program of study previously approved, step 3 must be repeated for each course.

A graduate non-degree student who wishes to become a graduate degree student may apply toward the degree program only 12 hours of graduate work taken as a graduate non-degree student. The written recommendation of the student's adviser and the department chairperson that these hours conform to an approved sequence in the student's designated program must be obtained.