All applicants must meet the admission requirements for graduate study at Montclair State University, as well as adhere to the application guidelines of The Graduate School (TGS). Please refer to the TGS website for all application requirements and instructions.
Most supplemental items can be uploaded through the TGS submission portal once you have filed your online application and application fee. Supplemental items needing to be sent via postal mail (e.g., transcripts) should be sent directly to TGS at: The Graduate School, Montclair State University, 1 Normal Avenue, Montclair, NJ 07043. Any questions about how to submit an application should be directed to TGS via phone (973-655-5147) or email (graduate.school@montclair.edu).
In addition, the Psychology Department and its individual graduate programs have specific requirements and procedures that all applicants should review when preparing their applications.
PhD in Clinical Psychology
Admissions information regarding the PhD Program in Clinical Psychology can be found here.
MA in Clinical Psychology, School Psychology Certification Program
The deadline for admissions to the MA in Clinical Psychology and School Psychology Certification programs is March 15th. We only admit applicants for enrollment starting in the fall semester. We strongly encourage applicants to enroll full-time but consider part-time applicants on a case-by-case basis. To submit your application, please follow these steps:
- Complete the online application on The Graduate School website, including the $60 application fee (non-refundable).
- Upload or send the following required supplemental items:
- Official undergraduate and graduate transcripts (if applicable)
- Curriculum vitae
- GRE General Test scores (not required for applicants with a master’s degree)
- International students only: TOEFL scores are required if prior degree was earned from an institution where English is not the language of instruction
- Two letters of recommendation, preferably from faculty familiar with your work
- Personal statement
- Articulate clearly, concisely, and in specific terms your relevant academic, research, and psychology-related experiences and interests, as well as your long-term career goals.
- You may also highlight any additional strengths that will make you an excellent candidate for our program, as well as explain any areas of relative weakness in your application (e.g., if your GPA or GRE scores are below recommended minimums).
Typical criteria required for admission to the MA and Certification programs are listed below:
- A bachelor’s degree in psychology
- For students with non-psychology undergraduate degrees, we require a minimum of 12 undergraduate credits in psychology or a closely related field, including a course in statistics and an experimental/research methodology course
- If you do not have the required number of psychology credits, TGS will review your transcript and advise you on how to fulfill the undergraduate requirements. These courses can be taken at Montclair State or another university. You may also email the DCT or Program Director at gradclinical@montclair.edu to review your transcript to determine what courses may be needed.
- For School Psychology Certification applicants: If you do not hold an advanced degree (e.g., master’s or doctoral degree), you must also apply for the MA program in Clinical Psychology (concentration in Child/Adolescent Psychology).
- Minimum undergraduate GPA of 3.0*
- *Note: applicants with a GPA between 2.7 and 3.0 will be considered for admission, though 3.0 and above is recommended. Applicants with a GPA below 2.7 will not be considered for admission.
- Minimum GRE General Test scores*
- Verbal: 21st percentile
- Quantitative: 22nd percentile
- Prospective students must be evaluated positively by faculty on their potential for clinical placement and written communication
- An admissions interview with program faculty
*Note: Applicants who do not meet our GPA and GRE criteria will be considered for admission if other aspects of their application indicate strong potential for success in the program.
Admissions Interviews
All applicants must complete an admissions interview with program faculty. The psychology department holds several interview days throughout the year for the MA in Clinical Psychology and School Psychology Certification programs.
Candidates invited to interview for the MA or Certification program are asked to sign up for an interview date online or, if needed, to request alternative arrangements by contacting program staff at gradclinical@montclair.edu. Candidates who are unable to attend an interview due to travel limitations (e.g., if an international student or residing out of state) may request to have a Skype interview. This request may be made on the Qualtrics form or by sending an email to gradclinical@montclair.edu.
After signing up for an interview date, candidates will receive a follow-up email on behalf of the DCT from gradclinical@montclair.edu confirming the interview date and providing additional information. Admissions interviews provide the admissions committee with the opportunity to learn about each candidate’s background, interests, and goals, as well as assess each candidate’s readiness for graduate study. In addition, candidates who attend an interview day have the opportunity to learn about the program and receive a sample program of study (i.e. course sequence), meet program faculty, current students, and other prospective students, tour the Center for Clinical Services and ask questions about the program.
MA in Psychological Sciences, MA in Industrial & Organizational Psychology
Applicants must have:
- A bachelor’s degree in psychology
- For applicants who were not psychology majors, a minimum of 12 undergraduate credits in psychology, including a course in statistics and a laboratory experimental course, are required. Please note: an introductory course in psychology does not count toward the minimum credit requirement, though it might be needed as a pre-requisite to other psychology courses.
- The undergraduate requirements can be taken here at Montclair State or another university. Please be sure to check with the Graduate Programs Coordinator to be certain the courses taken elsewhere fulfill the undergraduate credit requirements.
- Acceptable scores on the GRE (the Psychology Subject Test is not required)
- At least two letters of recommendation
- Letters from academia are strongly suggested
- Personal letters of reference are discouraged
Application Deadlines and Admissions Procedures
The deadline for admissions to the MA in Industrial/Organizational is March 15th. We only admit applicants for enrollment starting in the fall semester. The deadline for admissions to the MA in Psychological Sciences is April 1st. We only admit applicants for enrollment starting in the fall semester.
- Interested candidates should adhere to the application guidelines of The Graduate School. Upon receiving required application materials, The Graduate School will review applications and forward them to the Department of Psychology.
- The Department of Psychology then reviews the applications
- The Department of Psychology then notifies The Graduate School of its recommendation for admission.
- The Graduate School notifies prospective candidates of their status via e-mail and postal letter.
Accepted candidates are asked to contact their program director or the Graduate Programs Coordinator to schedule a time to create a work program. The work program is an outline of the courses required for the degree and explains which courses students will complete each semester they are in the program. By following their work program, students will be on-track to graduate in a timely manner.