MPS Program Requirements | PSYC | Psychology Department

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What does the program require?

Admission to University of Maryland graduate programs is highly competitive and space is limited. Admitted students will have a bachelor’s degree with a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher and will answer an essay question (the prompt is provided below) . Students will also be asked to submit a resume or CV and two letters of recommendation. This program does not require that students have a background in psychology or have taken the GRE.

A select number of students will be asked to complete interviews as part of the application process. An invitation to complete an interview does not guarantee admission.

What should my essay/professional statement include?

The goal of this essay is to get to know you as an individual and as a potential graduate student. We encourage applicants with a wide range of backgrounds and life experiences to apply. The University of Maryland, a public institution, is committed to supporting the diversity of the graduate student body and promoting equal opportunity in higher education. This commitment to diversity furthers the educational mission to serve the increasingly diverse population and educational needs of Maryland and the nation. Both the Dean of the Graduate School and the University of Maryland affirm that diversity is critical to promoting lively intellectual exchange and the variety of ideas and perspectives essential to advancing higher education and research. Our graduate students contribute to the global pool of future scholars and academic leaders, thus high value is placed on achieving a diverse graduate student body to support the University of Maryland's academic excellence. We invite you to include in this statement how you may contribute to the diversification of graduate education and the University of Maryland community.

The admissions committee is interested in your academic, professional and personal background and goals. Your essay should be no more than 2,000 words and include the following points as appropriate:

• Your preparation and motivation for graduate study, including the academic, work, and/or research experiences that prepare you for this graduate program (for example: coursework, employment, exhibitions, fieldwork, foreign language proficiency, independent study, internships, laboratory activities, presentations, publications, teaching, and travel or study abroad) and motivation or passion for graduate study.

• Your research and clinical interests, disciplinary subfields, area/s of specialization, and professional objectives.

• Your fit with the MPS Program in Clinical Psychological Science, including how your preparation, experiences, and interests match the specific resources and characteristics of the program.

• Any educational, familial, cultural, economic, and social experiences or challenges; community service and outreach activities; residency and citizenship; first-generation college status; hurdles you have overcome; opportunities relevant to your academic journey; how your life experiences will contribute to the social, intellectual, or cultural diversity within a campus community and your chosen field; leadership and/or community-building experiences; and how you might serve educationally underrepresented and underserved segments of society with your graduate education.

If I enroll, where do I send my official transcripts?

Transcripts can be mailed to:

University of Maryland
Enrollment Service Operations
Application for Graduate Admission
Room 0130 Mitchell Building
College Park, Maryland 20742

For the expedited submission of official transcripts, students should bring official/sealed envelopes in person to the Graduate front desk which is located in:

University of Maryland
The Graduate School
2123 Lee Building
7809 Regents Drive
College Park, Maryland 20742

Do I need to go to the University for my classes?

Yes. Classes are taught in-person on Tuesdays and Thursday evenings to accommodate students’ work schedules.

Will I get to do therapy as part of my course work?

No. This program does not provide direct training in therapy. While students will have an excellent overview of specific therapeutic interventions, providing therapy to clients in the community is outside the scope of the program. If students are interested in opportunities to gain experience in clinical settings, they may work with program advisors to find clinical experiences in the community.