Skip to Main Content
The Graduate School
oneColumn

Psychological Science (MS)

Overview

The Master of Science (MS) in Psychological Science is a broad based, research-oriented program intended to equip students with the critical skills and knowledge necessary for continued occupational and educational advancement in the field of psychology. The program consists of course work designed around a core curriculum of statistics, research design, substantive areas of psychology and a research based thesis. Students completing the program are qualified: to go on to further graduate work at universities offering a PhD in Psychology; to find employment in jobs requiring masters level expertise in applied psychology; and/or to work as evaluation research specialists in government or community agencies.

Program Contact

Dr. Dan Richard

Graduate Program Director
Associate Professor

Building 51, Room 3205
(904) 620-1446


Program At-a-Glance

Delivery: Standard (in-person)
Credit hours: 36

Graduate Cost Calculator

Application Deadlines

Fall April 15

The review process begins in February. Students are encouraged to submit applications early as this is a limited-access program.

Apply Now

New to UNF or not, apply today!

 

Admission Requirements

The below Program Requirements, University Requirements, and International Applicant Requirements*, if applicable, must be submitted no later than the deadline posted above. Incomplete applications or those with required materials post-marked after the deadline are subject to cancellation. Once an application has been canceled, the decision cannot be reversed.

*International students must be fully admitted to a full-time, on-campus, in-person, degree-seeking program at the University of North Florida. Please contact the International Center for more information.

  • Specific Requirements
    • Resume or curriculum vitae
      • 2 pages in length
    • Letter of intent
      • Not to exceed 500 words
      • Describe reasons for seeking a graduate degree in Psychology and career goals that would be supported by enrolling in the MSPS program
      • Summarize research skills and any other experiences (e.g. volunteer work) that are relevant to particular area(s) of interest in psychology
      • Identify at least 2 faculty members with whom you would like to work with, and discuss how career goals fit with their research interest; students will only be accepted to the program if faculty members are accepting students for the following year, so check the MSPS graduate program website or email faculty directly to inquire if they are taking graduate student mentees
    • Writing Sample
      • Ideally a single-authored, APA formatted paper from a Research Methods or equivalent class
      • Describe in cover letter why this writing sample best represents your writing skills and experience
    • Two letters of recommendation
      • Must be from faculty and/or employers who can speak to the suitability of the applicant for graduate study and the profession of psychology
      • Successful applicants typically have at least one letter from a faculty with whom they directly worked with in a research setting
    • GRE test scores
      • Optional and can be included if a student feels this enhances their
        application and reflects their qualifications for matriculating into the program
      • Taken within the last 5 years
  • Program Prerequisites

    Applicants are not required to have been psychology majors, but it is expected they have completed at least 12 semester hours in psychology undergraduate coursework, including:

    • Statistics or Research Methods
    • Experimental psychology course or advanced course in applying research methods
    • Two of the following courses:
      • Personality
      • Behavioral Neuroscience
      • Lifespan Development
      • Social Psychology
      • Cognition
    Applicants must have maintained a 3.0 GPA or higher across these courses. Applicants may file a written request to the department to consider equivalent coursework.
  • Application and Application Fee

    All applicants are required to use our online system to create an account and submit an application. The application opens approximately one year in advance and is only good for the term and program in which it is submitted. Applicants who have submitted their application and wish to change their admission term or major/concentration may submit a new application and associated application fee. If you would like to cancel an open application, please contact us.

    A $30 (USD) application fee is required regardless of previous enrollment. The application fee is non-refundable and cannot be waived. Undergraduate application fees cannot be used for a graduate application, and vise versa. The application fee must be submitted prior to the review of an application.
  • College Transcripts

    All applicants must provide transcripts from a U.S. institution accredited by an accepted institutional accreditor or its equivalent from a non-US institution that awarded the bachelor’s degree and master’s degree, if applicable, and transcripts from institutions where any post-baccalaureate and/or graduate credits were earned.

    All international transcripts will require a course-by-course evaluation by an approved third-party credential evaluation agency unless a graduate program has established an alternative credential evaluation procedure that is approved by the graduate school. To be accepted, the evaluation must be:

    1. Translated to English and be the U.S. equivalent
    2. Evaluated course-by-course
    3. Include the overall academic GPA
    4. Be from an approved third-party accredited evaluation service. Recommended evaluation agencies: 
    Important Notes
    • The UNF Graduate School cannot request transcripts on an applicants behalf.
    • Unofficial transcript copies are accepted for admissions but must clearly state the institution name, student name, course information, terms, grades, and credits. Degree audits are not accepted. Admitted students will be prompted to provide official transcripts. 
    • If currently enrolled in courses, an incomplete transcript must be submitted before the posted deadline. 
    • Applicants who also have to apply through systems such as ATCAS or PTCAS, must submit separate transcripts to UNF. 
    • When requesting college transcripts, please verify with your institution(s) whether or not they are able to submit electronic transcripts in the proper EDI format. Institutions can submit transcripts via e-mail to graduateschool@unf.edu from an approved vendor such as ScriptSafe, Credentials, or Parchment. 
    • Former or current UNF students should not request UNF transcripts. After application submission, the UNF requirement will be updated to a "waived" status.
    • If prompted to submit official transcripts they must meet the following requirements to be considered official:
      • Must be less than one year old from the date of printing
      • Must be submitted in a sealed envelope from your institution, or emailed through official electronic means.
  • Where do I send transcripts and test scores?
    Mail
    UNF Graduate School
    1 UNF Drive
    Jacksonville, FL 32224

     

    Email
    graduateschool@unf.edu

     

    Test Score Institutional Codes
    GRE: institutional code 5490
    GMAT: institutional code CF3QB51
  • Deadlines and Documents

    The immigration processing deadline is for international students who are required to submit documents for immigration processing. While these deadlines are not mandatory, it is encouraged to submit all documents for immigration by the dates below to ensure timely visa processing. Please direct questions to the International Center.

    Fall...........May 1
    Spring......October 1
    Summer...February 1

    According to U.S. immigration regulations, F-1/J-1 students cannot pursue online degree programs, part-time enrollment, or certificate programs. Therefore, the University of North Florida is not allowed to issue F-1/J-1 student immigration documents to these applicants. Immigration documents can only be issued for students who are fully admitted to a full-time, on-campus, in-person, degree-seeking program. Please contact the International Center for more information.

    Programs on the list of F-1 Non-Qualifying Degree Programs are not eligible for F-1 status. Therefore, students admitted to a program on that list will not be issued a Form I-20. This list is subject to change. Please contact the International Center for more information.

    If you have a scholarship which requires you to be enrolled in face-to-face (in-person) classes each semester, contact the Graduate Program Director for more information regarding availability of face-to-face (in-person) classes.

    UNF International Center
    1 UNF Drive 
    Jacksonville , FL 32224-2659 

    intlctr@unf.edu

    Telephone: (904) 620-2657 
    Fax: (904) 620-3925
  • English Language Proficiency

    All applicants, except those from countries where English is the only official language, are required to show proof of satisfactory evidence that the applicant's competency in English is adequate. Applicants whose native language is not English must meet one of the following requirements of English Language Proficiency:

    • Indicators of Required English Language Proficiency for Foreign Applicants
    • The Duolingo English Test is an acceptable indicator of English proficiency. An overall score of 110 is recommended for admission. Individual programs may require higher scores and all sub scores will be considered.
    • Minimum score on the GRE Verbal Test based on a specific program’s GRE minimum scores will also satisfy the English language proficiency requirement.
  • Affidavit of Financial Support and Bank Certification

    The Affidavit is a legal document which is signed by the sponsor (the person who will be providing the funds) stating the amount of funds that she/he will provide for the educational expenses of the student applicant and then certified by a bank official that the sponsor does have that amount of funds in their account. This form represents an obligation on the part of the sponsor to provide the required amount of funds as indicated on the form. Please review the Estimated Costs of Attendance for International Students to determine the amount of funds needed to be written on the Affidavit.

    All documentation and immigration inquiries should be sent to the UNF International Center.
  • Immunization Documentation Form and Health Insurance

    All students at UNF are required to demonstrate that they either have been vaccinated or have immunity against measles and rubella. If students wish to resolve this requirement before they arrive, they will need to have their physician complete and then sign and stamp the Immunization Documentation Form. Students may obtain the needed immunizations once they arrive in Florida. In no case may students register for or attend classes until they have met this requirement.

    The State of Florida requires proof of medical insurance which meets a minimum standard as a prerequisite to registration. Health insurance coverage can be purchased through the UNF Student Health Services upon arrival. If a student wishes to request that UNF accept a different insurance policy, the insurance company must fax a completed, signed, and stamped UNF Student Health Services International Student Health Insurance Evaluation Form indicating that the alternate insurance policy meets all minimal requirements as outlined. Students may not register for classes until the health insurance requirement is met. 

    Please send all documentation or direct health inquiries to Student Health Services.

Graduate Cost Calculator

Use this calculator to estimate the cost of tuition and fees for a graduate program.
This is only an estimation. Additional fees may apply.

Directions

  1. Select the appropriate rate and residency classification. Please note:
    • The exclusive tuition rate is only available to eligible students.
    • Residency classification is not guaranteed. Supporting documentation is requested after students are admitted from applicants who indicated they would like to apply for Florida residency for tuition purposes on their admissions application.
  2. Type the number of credit hours you would like to calculate. Most graduate courses are 3 credit hours. The total number of program credits is listed above under Program At-a-Glance.

Return to Top