Graduate Programs

  

The Department of Psychology at the University of Dayton offers two graduate programs leading to the Master of Arts:

In all programs, emphasis is on integrating theory and research with appropriate applied experience and on competence in the development of relevant and original research. This is the product of individual supervision and a low student-to-faculty ratio. The aims of the graduate programs are to prepare the student for: (a) further graduate studies at the Ph.D. level, and/or (b) work at the M.A. level.

Students are encouraged to participate in research projects with faculty in areas of mutual interest. Academic advisors and the Department chairperson direct students to faculty members who share their specific research interests. Our model of research training advocates that students take appropriate coursework in research methodology and then work collaboratively with individual faculty on specific projects. All students are required to complete a masters thesis, which is typically an empirical study.

Graduate teaching and research assistantships are available on a competitive basis. Graduate assistantships include a stipend and full tuition remission. The Department of Psychology also offers a limited number of traineeships to students in the Clinical Psychology program. The traineeship placements are at local mental health agencies and vary in number and stipend from year to year depending upon the budgets and needs of the agencies participating in the traineeship program.

The Financial Aid Office at the University of Dayton has funds available for graduate students in the form of loans and work/study programs. Students applying for aid through this office should obtain the application forms and return them to the Financial Aid Office at the earliest possible date. Summer financial support is also available in the form of a competitive Summer Fellowship Program administered by the Office for Graduate Studies. The summer fellowships provide income for students wishing to devote their summers to research associated with their theses or independent projects.

How To Apply
Applications to each of the graduate programs require the following:
  1. a completed application form:
  2. scores from the Graduate Record Examination, including both the General and the Subject test in Psychology;
  3. transcripts of all prior schooling at the college level,  and
  4. three or more letters of reference, at least two of which should be from present or former professors familiar with your academic work.
Individuals can apply on-line for free (there is a $50 US fee for international applicants.)  
                        or                  
They can  request a copy of a Graduate Bulletin and Application package from, and submit the paper application, along with the required fee, to: Graduate Applications & Records, The University of Dayton, St. Mary's Hall, Room 117, Dayton, OH 45469-1619.
The application deadline is MARCH 1 for full consideration for financial aid. However, applications received after this date may be considered.

We invite inquiries about our programs and are happy to personally meet with prospective applicants to discuss their plans for graduate education. E-mail addresses to contact the respective program director/coordinator can be found on the pages describing the individual programs.

If you have general questions about graduate programs in Psychology, you may want to check out some of these informative websites.

This page was last updated July 18, 2008

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