Be sure to check specific requirements for the program you wish to apply to. Some of the graduate programs in Psychology have additional required application materials beyond the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences Application and its requirements.

  • M.A. in Human Factors **Not accepting applications for the 2024-2025 Academic Year

     



  • M.A. in Psychological Science

    Candidates for admission to the master's, doctoral, and joint-degree graduate programs offered by the Department of Psychology are invited to contact the department.

    Apply for Graduate Programs

    Application Requirements for Master's Degrees

    Minimum Required Documents for Master’s Degrees 

    • A completed Catholic University online application (No fee is required.)
    • Official transcripts from all post-secondary institutions (Unofficial transcripts can be used for the admissions review.) 
    • English Proficiency test scores (International students only)

    Official transcripts and English proficiency scores must be submitted for full admittance to the University.  Your official copies should be sent from the institution to em-operations@cua.edu

    Recommended Documents for Master’s Degrees

    • Resume or curriculum vitae
    • One letter of recommendation 
    • A professional goal statement 

    Applications for the master's degree programs in psychology are reviewed on a rolling basis. 


  • Ph.D. in Social Cognitive Affective & Neuroscience (SCAN) program

    Your completed application must be submitted by February 1 to be considered. Online Application for Graduate Admission 

    Your application to the Social Cognitive Affective & Neuroscience (SCAN) PhD program should include the following:

    1. Transcripts of all undergraduate and graduate work. Note: Either unofficial transcripts or official transcripts can be submitted for application review. Official transcripts will be required prior to enrollment if accepted.

    2. Statement of purpose. This is sometimes known as a “Personal Statement.” It’s an approximately two-page (double-spaced; one page if single-spaced) statement about your qualifications for the program, including information on your research experience, your areas of particular interest within applied experimental psychology or human factors, your goals after obtaining your degree, and any other important information you would like for us to know about you.

    3. Curriculum Vitae or resume. Upload your CV or resume in the "Activities" section of the online application. Please do not enter each Activity separately; instead, upload your CV or resume.

    4. Three letters of recommendation from individuals who know you well and are able to describe your academic and/or research performance. If you have professional experience, one of the letters could be about your job performance. As part of the online application, you'll enter the email address and daytime phone number of each person. CUA will contact each recommender with a weblink for completing the recommendation form and uploading his or her letter.

    5. Submission of GRE General Test scores is OPTIONAL. Applications without GRE scores will be given equal consideration. If applicants have GRE scores, they may submit scores and they will be considered by the admissions committee. The Subject Test in Psychology is also not required. GRE scores should be sent directly to the Office of Graduate Admissions from the testing service and cannot be attached to the online application. Catholic University's test code is 5104.  
    Please contact the (interim) program director, Dr. Elise Cardinale with questions (cardinale@cua.edu).

  • Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology

    Your completed application must be submitted by December 1 to be considered. Online Application for Graduate Admission           

    Your application to the Clinical Psychology Ph.D. program should include the following:
    1. Transcripts of all undergraduate and graduate work. Note: Unofficial transcripts are required for application review. A pdf scan of an official transcript is preferred, which you will be asked to upload as part of the online application. Official transcripts will be required prior to enrollment, if accepted into the program.
    2. Updated information for applying for the Fall 2024 cohort: Our program has made the GRE optional for admission to the fall 2024 class. Applications without GRE scores will be given equal consideration. If applicants have GRE scores for either the General Test or the Subject Test, they may submit scores and they will be considered by the admissions committee. If submitting GRE scores, they must be sent directly to the Catholic University Office of Graduate Admission from the testing service and cannot be attached to the online application. Catholic University's test code is 5104. The online application will also ask you to self-report your GRE scores.

    3. Curriculum Vitae (CV): You will be asked to upload a copy of your CV in the “Resume” section of the online application. The next section of the application, Activities, asks for information that you would have already included in your CV, and can be ignored.

    4. Three letters of recommendation from individuals who know you well and are able to describe with specificity your academic, research, clinical, and/or work performance, as well as your potential in the field of clinical psychology. Note: in the online application, you will be providing the name, email address, daytime phone number, title, and agency affiliation for those writing your letters of recommendation. Catholic University will email these individuals and provide a link for each of them to complete a recommendation form and upload their letter.

    5. Personal statement: a two-to-three-page, single-spaced, statement about why you are qualified for the program. Include information on your research and clinical experience, areas you would like to do research on in graduate school, your goals after obtaining your doctorate, faculty with whom you would like to work, and other important information you would like the review committee to know about you. Note: You will upload your personal statement essay in the “Statement of Purpose” section of the online application.

    6. Clinical Psychology Interest Form Note: Download this document from the embedded link or click on the link in the final section of the online application (Clinical Psychology Interest Form). Complete and save this form on your computer, then upload and attach it to the application. You may type your name at the bottom of the form where it asks for your signature. Note: The Interest Form has been updated for applicants to the Fall 2024 cohort.

     If you would like to submit an additional form after you have submitted your application, please DO NOT use the online system. Instead, send the additional form in an email to cua-gradadmissions@cua.edu. The subject line should read "clinical psychology applicant," and in the text of the email, please include your full name and the 7-digit student ID number that was emailed to you when you submitted your application online.

    Application Fee

    The University charges an application fee. Applicants with serious financial difficulties, applicants who may contribute to individual and cultural differences and diversity, and other applicants may seek to have the application fee waived. To request an application fee waiver, please email the Director of Clinical Training and explain the basis for your request.

    Interviews

    We plan to contact applicants with invitations to interview by January 18. Interviews are likely to be held on January 25 and February 1.

    Additional Information
    As a member of the Council of University Directors of Clinical Training (CUDCP), the Clinical Psychology program at Catholic University adheres to CUDCP’s policies and guidelines for graduate school admissions, offers, and acceptance. For additional information about these policies, please visit this page. More information about clinical psychology and application tips also can be found at clinicalpsychgradschool.org, offered by CUDCP.  

  • Ph.D. in Developmental Psychology

    Your completed application must be submitted by February 1 to be considered. Online Application for Graduate Admission 

    Your application to the Developmental Psychology PhD program should include the following:

    1. Ttranscripts of all undergraduate and graduate work. Note: Either unofficial transcripts or official transcripts can be submitted for application review. Official transcripts will be required prior to enrollment if accepted. If you receive an error message that a transcript's file size is too large, please contact the Graduate Admissions office (202-319-5057) for possible solutions.

    2. Statement of purpose: This is sometimes known as a “Personal Statement.” It’s an approximately two-page (double-spaced; one page if single-spaced) statement about your qualifications for the program, including information on your research experience, your areas of particular interest within human developmental psychology, your goals after obtaining your doctorate, and any other important information you would like for us to know about you.  

    3. Curriculum Vitae or resume. Note: If submitting online, upload in the Employment Information section.

    4. Three letters of recommendation, along with the Recommendation Rating Form, from individuals who know you well and are able to describe your academic and/or research performance. If you have professional experience, one of the letters could be about your job performance. Note: If you submit your application online, online completion of the recommendation forms and uploaded letters are required. If submitting via mail, give a paper copy of the Recommendation Rating Form to each referee. 

    5. Submission of GRE General Test scores is OPTIONAL. Applications without GRE scores will be given equal consideration. If applicants have GRE scores, they may submit scores and they will be considered by the admissions committee. The Subject Test in Psychology is also not required. GRE scores should be sent directly to the Office of Graduate Admissions from the testing service and cannot be attached to the online application. Catholic University's test code is 5104.  
    Please contact the program director, Dr. Marcie Goeke-Morey with questions (goekemorey@cua.edu).