The psychology department within the graduate school offers admission to Ph.D. programs in the following specialty areas: clinical, developmental, experimental, neuropsychology, personality, and social.

The clinical psychology program at Howard University is a full time, five year program of study that merges traditional and cutting edge psychological paradigms in order to prepare students for careers in research, teaching, and practice. Culmination of the program awards students the Masters of Science and the Doctorate of Philosophy degrees. The Howard program offers a rigorous series of required courses and practicum experiences, combined with the opportunity to individualize training in either an adult or child-adolescent clinical track. The adult track emphasizes the development of skills in the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of adult psychological distress. We stress a systemic framework that integrates social and biopsychological perspectives with individual and cultural differences. The child-adolescent track is guided by a developmental model that respects the complex interactions between the child, family, community, church, and wider social systems.

The social psychology program welcomes applicants to its doctoral program. Applicants should follow the general admissions requirements (and international applicant requirements if applicable), but not the special admission requirements below. Statements of faculty research interest can be found at the social psychology website.

A cumulative grade point average of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale is preferred, and a cumulative grade point average of 3.0 in major course work is required. Each graduate department may have additional “special admission requirements” which are noted on this page.

• Download and complete the paper application (HTML) | (Acrobat)

• The non-refundable $45 application fee (Waivers accepted for FAMU Feeder Program and McNair Scholars)

• Official transcripts must be submitted directly from the Registrar’s Office from ALL colleges and universities attended

• GRE Scores (Only official score reports are accepted within 5 years of the test date) www.gre.org

• Statement of Academic and Research Interest

• Autobiographical Sketch (Personal biography)

• Resume

• Three letters of recommendation Word

• For Clinical psychology applicants: A Clinical Supplementary Application Summary Form should be sent to the Director of Clinical Training at the dept. Click here to get the application summary form.

For International Applicants

In addition to the requirements listed above you must meet the following:

• Official transcripts, certificates and/or mark/grade sheets must be sent directly from the college or university to the Office of Graduate Recruitment and Admissions, and must show proof of degree(s) earned, courses taken and marks/grades received. Also, ALL transcripts must be evaluated by World Education Services (www.wes.org) or AACRAO (www.aacrao.org) and be forwarded to Graduate Recruitment and Admissions.
• TOEFL Scores (Minimum computer-based score of 213 is required and only official score reports are accepted within 2 years of the test date) www.toelf.org

The application deadline for the Clinical Psychology program is January 15th. The departmental admission committee will only review complete applications, that include official GRE results. In addition, a cumulative GPA of 3.0 is required for consideration. Candidates will be contacted for an interview early March. Offers of admission will be mailed soon thereafter.

The application deadline for all other program in the Department of Psychology is February 15th.

Beginning students are expected to have majored in psychology in undergraduate work, but this requirement may be waived for students with strong backgrounds in relevant fields.

Students can be admitted to the program with a bachelor's or master's degree.

• For Master of Science:
  
  • Students must complete 36 credit hours. Students entering with a bachelor's degree must take 12 credits during the first semester, including PSYC-201 and PSYC-207 and 12 credits during the second semester, including PSYC-208 and three electives.
    
• For Doctor of Philosophy: 
  
  • Students must take 72 credits beyond the bachelor's degree. They must select a major and minor field and plan a specific program in consultation with their advisers. Students must also pass a comprehensive examination and submit and orally defend a dissertation. Candidates for the Ph.D. degree must obtain the equivalent of 42 semester hours of credit beyond the M.S. degree or 78 hours beyond the baccalaureate degree with a grade point average of 3.0 or better, pass qualifying examinations, and complete and defend a dissertation. The dissertation must advance knowledge in the research area and must be of publishable quality.

-- accredited by American Psychological Association (Contact Info of the Committee on Accreditation:, APA Office of Program Consultation and Accreditation, 750 First Street, NE , Washington , DC 20002 . Phone: 202-336-5979.)