PhD Program Admission Info

A complete application means you have submitted: 

• A completed application form using the online system
• Three (3) letters of recommendation.
• Transcripts from all undergraduate institutions attended and of any previous graduate work completed [Note: Unofficial transcripts are accepted for admission consideration; enrollment at the University is contingent upon official transcripts]
• The Graduate Record Examination is not required.
• Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) scores, or the equivalent, for applicants whose native language is not English.
• Commitment to diversity statement
• Statement of experiences and interests ("personal statement")

If you are applying to the Ph.D. program in School Psychology, additional data and admission information can be found on the program page here. 

Students who completed an undergraduate major in psychology and who have satisfactorily completed courses in general psychology, statistics, and research methods are preferred. Applicants to the School Psychology Program should, in addition, have taken psychological testing. Exceptions may be made for outstanding students in other disciplines. 

In most instances, minimum criteria for consideration for financial aid are an overall undergraduate GPA of 3.2, as well as a major GPA of 3.4; as indicated in the profile of our current students (see stats by scrolling down the page), most admitted candidates exceed these minimum qualifications. Evidence of research experience in psychology is highly desirable. The primary concern in selection is that the applicant show scientific and professional promise as well as evidence of successful graduate performance. Students are accepted only for full-time graduate study.

Tulane University is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity institution, and consequently its policy of nondiscrimination includes recruitment, employment, retention, and promotion of the most qualified students, faculty, and staff, regardless of an individual's race, sex, color, religion, national/ethnic origin, age, citizenship, marital status, sexual orientation, handicap, or veteran status. Tulane University does not discriminate in its provision of services and benefits and in its treatment of students, patients, and employees. This commitment is made by the University as required by federal, state, and local laws and regulations, including the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Title IX of the Higher Education Act Amendments of 1972, and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. Inquiries regarding this policy should be referred to the Affirmative Action Office.

The degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Psychology is awarded for superior scholarly achievements and demonstrated scientific research ability, not simply for accumulation of course credits. Qualified students are invited to work toward the Ph.D. after fulfilling all of the requirements for the M.S. degree.

The Master of Science in Psychology requires a minimum of 24 hours of coursework. The student must complete three of the following core courses: 7000, 7010, 7020, 7030, 7040, 7050, 7060, 7070, 7080, 7090 (Psychology Courses). Core courses and Psychology 6110 should be completed within two years of first registration in the psychology graduate program. Any student with prior graduate training may, with the permission of the professor teaching a required course in that area, petition the faculty that he/she be considered to have satisfied the requirement in that area. The seminar on Professional Issues (Psychology 7230) must be completed by the end of the second year.

The student must present an acceptable thesis to the faculty of the Department of Psychology and successfully defend the thesis in an oral examination. Following defense of the thesis, the Department faculty will decide whether or not the student is to be invited to continue work toward the Ph.D.

The minimum additional requirements for the Ph.D. degree include:

• A total of 48 hours of graduate course credits.
• Completion of a Master's thesis in psychology including the production of at least one empirical study.
• Satisfactory performance of a comprehensive preliminary examination.
• Proposal and completion of an original dissertation research project.
• Successful defense of the written doctoral dissertation through an oral examination.

The requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Psychology with a specialization in School Psychology are similar to those noted above except that students complete a minimum of 62 didactic hours, 24 practicum hours, and a one-year pre-doctoral clinical internship. Please review the School Psychology program page for further information.

Applicants may request consideration for financial support when they apply for admission. Doctoral level students can be considered for any of the following mechanisms of annual financial support:

• Full time teaching assistantships 
  • Available to the majority of entering students for the first five years of study. 
  • A full teaching assistantship involves teaching duties of 12-15 hours per week, including instruction of laboratory sections or assisting in lecture courses. 
  • Such a position includes full tuition remission and a modest stipend.  
  • Stipends for 2024-2025 are $27,100 for 9 months. Stipend rates increase periodically in response to changes in cost of living. 
  • For students who adopt the university health insurance plan, the School or Department provide partial support (currently 50%) for the individual's own coverage.
• Research Assistantships
  • Selected students may be funded by research assistantships from internal or extramural grant sources. 
  • Research assistantships carry both a tuition waiver and stipend commensurate with the level of a teaching assistantship.
• Additional annual summer support is available in the form of research and teaching awards. 

Research awards of $2500 are granted to all PhD students during their first four years in the program. These grants are intended to help students make progress on their research during the summer. These awards are made possible by our long-time benefactor, Mr. Robert E. Flowerree.  Selected students may receive additional summer research stipends through extramural research grants. In addition, several teaching assistantships are available during the summer sessions that range from $1500 to $2800 each.

Additional funding is available for advanced doctoral students through myriad of fellowship opportunities, dissertation research awards, and through adjunct teaching positions. Students who do not receive other aid may be eligible for graduate work-study positions within the Department. Information concerning long-term loans may be obtained through Tulane University's Office of Financial Aid.

Information on tuition and fees can be found on the Tulane Students Accounts Receivables Website; tuition for students supported on research or teaching assistantships or fellowships is waived during the first five years of study. All of our current full-time Ph.D. students in their first five years of study hold tuition waivers. Although PhD students studying fulltime receive a tuition waiver, they are responsible for student fees. 

A: No GRE test is required. However, if you were not a psychology major or if you attended a university or college that is not well known, a high score on the psychology area subject test may help verify your preparation for the Ph.D. curriculum.

A: No. Students do not need a master's degree to be admitted into the PhD program. 

A: It depends. Faculty who teach similar courses will examine your syllabi and make a recommendation to our Graduate Training Committee. If you receive an offer of admission, you are welcome to ascertain what will transfer prior to making a decision about entering our programs.

A: No. You may wish to examine the APA publication Graduate Study in Psychology to find universities that offer these degree programs. Our School Psychology Program has a strong emphasis on developmental psychopathology (child and adolescent mental health) with a training and research focus on assessment and clinical intervention.

A: No. Students are admitted to the Ph.D. program, and earn a master's degree en route.

A: Some courses, especially those with practica, are restricted to students in our programs. But many are open to students with the appropriate background. If you are interested in taking a graduate course, you probably should contact the instructor in advance to be sure that you have the background and that the course meets your needs. For information on reduced tuition for non-degree students, see the School of Science and Engineering's website.