Northern Illinois University
Department of Psychology
College of Liberal Arts and Sciences

To apply for admission to our program in developmental psychology, please ensure that the following steps are completed and submitted by January 15.

Admission Steps

1. NIU Graduate School online application and fee: Complete the NIU Graduate School online application and pay the applicable fee.
2. Letters of recommendation: Submit three letters of recommendation.
3. Statement of career goals: Provide a statement outlining your career goals.
4. GRE scores: Not required for Dec. 2023 applications. The GRE psychology subject test is also not required.
5. Transcripts: Include transcripts of all undergraduate and graduate coursework. Both unofficial and official transcripts are accepted during the application process. Official transcripts will be required once you are admitted to our program.

Please use the following address for mailing transcripts by regular post:

If you are using a courier service (e.g., Fed Ex, UPS), please use the following address:

Admission Consideration Criteria

For the strongest consideration for admittance, candidates should:

• Complete and submit their application by January 15. Early application is highly encouraged.
• Possess a B.A. or B.S. in psychology, although other related majors may also be considered.
• Maintain a strong undergraduate GPA, typically above 3.30.
• Obtain strong letters of recommendation from university faculty.
• Demonstrate relevant research experience.

Please note that the Department of Psychology only admits full-time students.

Admission decisions are based on the overall strength of the application, including undergraduate GPA, the statement of career goals, letters of recommendation, and research experience. Applicants whose research interests and career goals align well with the developmental psychology program's training will be stronger candidates for admission. Additionally, applicants with a GPA above 3.30 are typically more competitive.

Prospective applicants are encouraged to familiarize themselves with the research programs of developmental faculty members. Typically, the primary advisor for graduate students in developmental psychology will be one of the core faculty members in the developmental psychology program. Therefore, the degree of alignment between faculty research programs and graduate students' research interests is an important consideration. Clear and focused personal statements that describe applicants' research interests and career goals are central components of the admissions process.