Psychology Graduate Programs

Our graduate training programs integrate basic and applied aspects of psychology. You will gain an understanding of the theoretical content of their area of study, as well as the research skills needed to become competent and creative investigators.

Students who focus on clinical, school, or industrial/organizational psychology complete practicum training to develop their skills in those areas. If the focus is on school psychology, you can pursue certification as a school psychologist at the same time.

Approximately 100 students enroll in our graduate training programs each year. This includes about 25 students who are completing an internship or a doctoral dissertation while working off campus.

Degree Programs Offered

The Department of Psychology offers six areas of study: clinical, cognitive, developmental, neuroscience and behavior, school, and social-industrial/organizational. All six areas offer a Ph.D. degree. School psychology also offers a specialist in school psychology (SSP) degree. During the process of completing either the Ph.D. or SSP, students earn the M.A. However, none of the six areas of study offers a training program that is designed or intended to conclude with the M.A. Some refer to that type of program as a terminal M.A. program. In our department, only applicants who are qualified and intend to pursue the Ph.D. or SSP are considered during the graduate admissions review process.

Areas of Study

Enrollment Requirement

All students must be enrolled full-time (at least 12 credit hours per semester) throughout their graduate training program. We do not offer a part-time option. All classes take place on the DeKalb campus. We do not offer online or night classes.

Graduate Assistantships

In general, the Department of Psychology offers graduate assistantships to all students in good academic standing. These assignments are guaranteed only for a Ph.D. student’s first year in the program, but we have a longstanding record of funding students for the duration of their on-campus training years. The support is usually in the form of a research or teaching assistantship, which includes a partial tuition waiver. We consider these experiences to be a critical component of doctoral training and our students’ development into early career professionals.

Admission Requirements

Students seeking admission to either the Ph.D. program or the SSP program must meet all requirements for admission to the Graduate School. Applications are considered on an individual basis by the Graduate Admissions Committee within each area of study. In addition to the application requirements and the policies set by the Graduate School, applicants must meet the following program requirements:

Baccalaureate degree in psychology or related field
Statement of preparation for graduate school and professional interests
Curriculum vitae (or résumé)
Three letters of recommendation

Following the initial review, the top-ranked candidates will be invited for a required interview as part of the admission process. In considering applicants for admission to its graduate training programs, the Department of Psychology uses a holistic approach in that all of the required elements are reviewed and considered. An attempt is made to select the best applicants on a combination of these indices, recognizing that no index is absolute. Applicants are directed to consult the department’s graduate website for detailed guidance regarding each application element and the application deadline.

Application Deadlines

Applications are accepted for fall admission only. All application materials must be received by the relevant deadline below to ensure priority consideration.

Program	Application Deadline (admission for the following fall semester)
Clinical psychology	Dec. 1
Cognitive and instructional psychology	Feb. 1
Developmental psychology	Jan. 15
Neuroscience and behavior	Dec. 1
School psychology	Dec. 1
Social-industrial/organizational psychology	Jan. 15

Important Notes Regarding Graduate Applications for Fall 2027

If you are applying to begin one of our six graduate programs in fall 2027, please note the following:

The graduate record exam (GRE) is not required.
Some programs will hold virtual interviews with their top-ranked candidates. Please visit their webpage for more information on how your program of interest will proceed.
We are committed to communicating clearly with you. If you have any questions, we recommend emailing the director of your program of interest. You can find their name and email address on the left side of the program page.

Contact Us

Department of Psychology
Psychology/Computer Science Building 400
815-753-0372

Kevin Wu, Ph.D
Director of graduate studies
kevinwu@niu.edu

Kathi West
Graduate studies assistant
kwest1@niu.edu

Admission questions:
clinicalpsychologyadmissions@niu.edu