Admission into DePaul's Community Psychology MA/PhD program is very competitive. We typically admit about three students per year, and these students are fully funded with tuition waivers and stipends and serve as research and teaching assistantships in return. The Community Program has a mentorship model, so fit with
faculty interests is important; however students often have the opportunity to work closely with more than one faculty member. The Community Psychology MA is a non-terminal degree earned only by students who have been admitted to the PhD program. Students cannot be admitted for the MA program alone.
We are planning to review applications for admission to the Community Psychology Ph.D. Programs in fall 2024 contingent on funding. Therefore, our admissions process is very different this year, so please read carefully. We have applied for a training grant and will only accept students for Fall, 2024 if this grant is funded. You may apply as soon as the portal accepts applications if you choose, but the deadline is delayed until April 10th, and your application will only be reviewed if initial reviews suggest the grant will be funded. You may wait to apply in April, when there will be more clarity regarding funding. Due to the uncertainty of funding this year, all application fees for our program will be waived for domestic students. We are unable to waive the application fee for international applications because the university will still be providing a credential evaluation.
Typically, our programs accept students with a wide range of interests, including those who are interested in applied careers (e.g., evaluation, consultation). However, this grant focuses on training researchers from underrepresented backgrounds, with interests in health disparities, prevention, and advanced research methods. So, please make sure this is a good fit with your interests and background and speak to these focal areas in your application.
Please provide your contact information here if you would like to receive communication about the status of the grant and application process. We will also update the website when we have additional information. We recognize this is unusual, and yet we are excited about the resources and training opportunities that this grant could bring to students and our program.
We do plan to admit students to the Community Psychology Ph.D. program via university funding for fall 2025.
If you have further questions, please contact Laura Griggs, Graduate Program Coordinator at lgriggs@depaul.edu, or Megan Greeson, Ph.D., Program Director at mgreeson@depaul.edu.
Please read through
the general instructions before filling out the
online application. When filling out the online application select the Psychology Graduate Programs application, not the College of Science and Health application.
International Admission
Students educated outside the United States must present proof of English proficiency. The program requires a minimum TOEFL score of 96 on the TOEFL iBT, or a minimum IELTS score of 7.0, or a minimum Duolingo score of 125.
For additional information for international students please visit our
International Student Admission Process page.
Application Evaluation
Community faculty evaluate all application materials carefully and emphasizes the following criteria:
1. Completeness of Credentials: Faculty will only review complete applications submitted before the December 5 deadline. The review process begins shortly after this date, and interviews with a group of selected applicants will take place on campus in February. Applicants will be notified if they qualify for an interview. In-person interviews are strongly preferred; however, phone/Skype interviews can be arranged if necessary.
2. Graduate Record Examination (GRE) Scores and Grade Point Average (GPA): For students applying for fall 2024 admission, the GRE is optional. Students who do not submit a GRE will not be penalized. If you choose to submit a GRE score, please submit your scores directly through ETS. A GPA of 3.5 or higher is advised. If an applicant is particularly strong in one area but not another, these criteria are not followed rigidly.
3. Undergraduate Preparation. Students are expected to have had courses in statistics, psychological research methods, and other areas of psychology to permit advanced study in this field. The minimum requirement for admission is 32 quarter hours (24 semester hours) in psychology. Although not required, history & systems, social and community psychology, and math courses are viewed positively. In addition, applied and research experience will be an important consideration in the selection process. Download and fill out the
Course History List form.
4. Three Letters of Recommendation. Students should have at least 3 letters of recommendation. Selected recommenders are encouraged to address the applicant’s academic abilities, potential for conducting research, and ability to work with others.
5. Personal Statement: No specific prompt is provided in order to allow applicants the freedom to express themselves as they deem appropriate. Applicants are encouraged to highlight their research interests and name faculty with whom they would like to work. A guideline of two to three pages is advised.
6. Match to the Program: As the DePaul Community program is highly specialized, the match of a student's career goals and experiences to the program objectives is also a significant consideration in the admission evaluation process.
7. Diversity. Community faculty encourage applications from students from marginalized and/or minoritized backgrounds (broadly defined). We are committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion in recruiting, training, and retaining our graduate students.
8. Disabled Students: Community faculty encourage applications from students with disabilities.
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If you need assistance to complete your application and/or have questions, contact the CSH Graduate Admission office at
(773) 325-7315 or
graddepaul@depaul.edu.