Applications for all graduate programs in Psychology must be submitted by January 15.
Application materials are available for submission on-line at https://app.applyyourself.com/?id=tulane-g. To be considered for admission, all of the following documents must be received by the School of Science and Engineering by January 15:
Undergraduate majors in psychology who have satisfactorily completed courses in general psychology, statistics, and research methods are preferred. Applicants to the School Psychology Program should, in addition, have taken psychological testing. Exceptions may be made for outstanding students in other disciplines. In most instances, minimum criteria for consideration for financial aid are an overall undergraduate GPA of 3.2, a major GPA of 3.4, and GRE total (Verbal and Quantitative) of 1100; as indicated below in the profile of our current students, most admitted candidates exceed these minimum qualifications. Evidence of research experience in psychology is highly desirable. The primary concern in selection is that the applicant show scientific and professional promise as well as evidence of successful graduate performance. Students are accepted only for full-time graduate study.
Tulane University is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity institution, and consequently its policy of nondiscrimination includes recruitment, employment, retention, and promotion of the most qualified students, faculty, and staff, regardless of an individual's race, sex, color, religion, national/ethnic origin, age, citizenship, marital status, sexual orientation, handicap, or veteran status. Tulane University does not discriminate in its provision of services and benefits and in its treatment of students, patients, and employees. This commitment is made by the University as required by federal, state, and local laws and regulations, including the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Title IX of the Higher Education Act Amendments of 1972, and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. Inquiries regarding this policy should be referred to the Affirmative Action Office.
Students beginning graduate study in the past five years have had an average (Verbal and Quantitative) GRE of 1212. The average undergraduate Grade Point Average for these students is 3.49.
There are 34 full-time Ph.D. students in the Department of Psychology in 2006–2007. Of these students approximately 85% are women (75% in Psychological Science and 94% in School Psychology) and 32% are members of ethnic/racial minorities (38% in Psychological Science and 33% in School Psychology). Approximately 12% are from counties outside the United States.
Approximately 17% of the students who entered the graduate program in the past five years had received a Master's degree from another institution before coming to Tulane University.
Individuals earning the Ph.D. in all areas of psychology at Tulane are trained for positions in research and teaching in institutions of higher learning, as well as applied settings. About 76% of the Psychological Sciences Ph.D.s took postdocs or tenure-track positions upon graduation, 15% took other positions in academia, and 8% took research positions outside academia. About 95% of the School Psychology Ph.D.s are employed in medical school or professional school psychology positions.
Recent post-doctoral positions include University of Arizona, University of Washington, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, the Pennsylvania State University, and Purdue University. Recent tenure-track faculty positions include George Mason University, Rice University, University of Louisville, Syracuse University, Fresno State University, and Loyola University.
The degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Psychology is awarded for superior scholarly achievements and demonstrated scientific research ability, not simply for accumulation of course credits. Qualified students are invited to work toward the Ph.D. after fulfilling all of the requirements for the M.S. degree.
The Master of Science in Psychology requires a minimum of 24 hours of coursework. The student must complete three of the following core courses: 700, 701, 702, 703, 704, 705, 706, 707, 708, 709, 710 (Psychology Courses). Core courses and Psychology 611 should be completed within two years of first registration in the psychology graduate program. Any student with prior graduate training may, with the permission of the professor teaching a required course in that area, petition the faculty that he/she be considered to have satisfied the requirement in that area. The seminar on Professional Issues (Psychology 723) must be completed by the end of the second year.
The student must present an acceptable thesis to the faculty of the Department of Psychology and successfully defend his/her thesis in an oral examination. Following defense of the thesis, the Department faculty will decide whether or not the student is to be invited to continue work toward the Ph.D.
The minimum additional requirements for the Ph.D. degree include:
The requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Psychology with a specialization in School Psychology are similar to those noted above except that students complete a minimum of 62 didactic hours, 24 practicum hours, and a one-year pre-doctoral clinical internship.
Tuition and fees for each semester are due at the time of registration. Changes in charges for tuition and fees probably will continue to occur, depending on the costs incurred by the University in providing quality education. Information on tuition and fees appears on the School of Science and Engineering Website; tuition for students supported on research or teaching assistantships or fellowships is waived during the first five years of study. All of our current full-time Ph.D. students in their first five years of study hold tuition waivers.
Applicants may request consideration for financial support when they apply for admission. Doctoral level students can be considered for any of the following mechanisms of annual financial support:
Full time teaching assistantships are available to the majority of entering students for the first five years of study. A full teaching assistantship involves teaching duties of 12-15 hours per week, including instruction of laboratory sections or assisting in lecture courses. Such a position includes full tuition remission and a modest stipend. Current stipends are $16,000 for 9 months. Stipend rates increase periodically in response to changes in cost of living.
Selected students may be funded by research assistantships from internal or extramural grant sources. Research assistantships carry both a tuition waiver and stipend commensurate with the level of a teaching assistantship.
Graduate student fellowships of $15,000 have been awarded to outstanding applicants beginning study in the falls of 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1997, 1998, 2003. These fellowships are renewable for up to four years and are provided by grants from the Louisiana Board of Regents Support Fund. The fellowships also include complete remission of tuition.
Additional annual summer support is available in the form of research and teaching awards. Research awards of $2000 are granted to up to seven students yearly. These grants are intended to help students make progress on their research during the summer. These awards are made possible by our long-time benefactor, Mr. Robert E. Flowerree. The William P. Dunlap Memorial Award supports one additional summer research project that focuses on statistics and psychometrics. Selected students may apply for summer research stipends through extramural research grants. In addition, several teaching assistantships are available during the summer sessions that range from $1300 to $2100 each.
Additional funding is available for advanced doctoral students through a myriad of fellowship opportunities, dissertation research awards, and through adjunct teaching positions. Students who do not receive other aid may be eligible for graduate work-study positions within the Department. Information concerning long-term loans may be obtained through Tulane University's Office of Financial Aid.
The Department of Psychology occupies space in Percival Stern Hall (Science Center), where our main office (Phone: 504/865-5331) is located, as well as in Newcomb Hall and Tulane University Uptown Square. Laboratories for student and faculty research are maintained in the various specialty areas. Many laboratory rooms are both temperature-and-light-controlled. Some are electronically shielded, sound deadened, and have one-way vision mirrors and intercommunication systems. The Department has extensive computer facilities for use in faculty and student research, document preparation, and internet use. A computer classroom with internet access was added several years ago. The Newcomb Children's Center(nursery school and child-care center), the Hebert facilities at Riverside for natural observation of animals, the laboratories at the Tulane National Primate Research Center, and the Audubon Zoological Gardens are available as research sites for members of the Department. There are also opportunities for research in organizations in the New Orleans area and in public and private schools in the city and surrounding parishes.
Tulane Technology Services provides microcomputing and mainframe support, volume discounts on licensed software and hardware purchases, email, web, and storage facilities, as well as tutorials and courses in computer use, access to the network facilities, mainframe computational support, and wireless web and off-campus dial-in service. PsycLit, Medline, and many other databases are accessible on-line through the Tulane University library catalogs. Tulane University libraries have more than 2 million volumes, plus 11,000 current serial subscriptions, and approximately 1,200,000 microforms. The Howard-Tilton Memorial Library, which is across the street from Stern Hall, houses nearly all of the relevant journals and volumes of current interest to psychology.
Students typically find accommodations near the campus or in suburban areas of New Orleans. It is recommended that students visit the campus during the summer to secure housing. Meals can be obtained on a contract basis at Bruff Commons or on a cash basis at facilities located in the Pavilion.
Various resources are available for student support and recreation. Tutoring for coursework can usually be arranged within the Department. Counseling is available through the Tulane University Educational Resources and Counseling Center or at the Tulane Medical Center. The campus and the New Orleans area offer rich cultural and recreational resources for students. The University Center contains a food court, a bookstore, and areas for reading, hobbies, etc. Films, major dramatic productions, art exhibits and a variety of musical events are provided as part of campus life. The Reily Student Recreation Center offers a swimming pool, weight rooms and other fitness facilities, intramural sport programs, and a variety of courses in fitness and athletic skills. In the larger community, students can enjoy the New Orleans Museum of Art, the Opera Guild, as well as ballet, theater, art galleries, and a wide variety of musical and other cultural events.
A. Only the GRE general test is required. However, if you were not a psychology major or if you attended a university or college that is not well known, a high score on the psychology area subject test may help verify your preparation for the Ph.D. curriculum.
A. No. Only about 17% of out entering students previously have earned a graduate degree.
A. Average GRE and grade point averages of entering students may be found here. Letters of recommendation that support strong potential for graduate study and undergraduate research experience also are typical of our new students.
A. It depends. Faculty who teach similar courses will examine your syllabi and make a recommendation to our Graduate Training Committee. If you receive an offer of admission, you are welcome to ascertain what will transfer prior to making a decision about entering our programs
A. No. You may wish to examine the APA publication Graduate Study in Psychology to find universities that offer these degree programs. Our School Psychology Program has a strong emphasis on developmental psychopathology (child and adolescent mental health) with a training and research focus on assessment and clinical intervention.
A. No. Students are admitted to the Ph.D. program, and earn a master's degree en route.
A. Some courses, especially those with practica, are restricted to students in our programs. But many are open to students with the appropriate background. If you are interested in taking a graduate course, you probably should contact the instructor in advance to be sure that you have the background and that the course meets your needs.
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