MA in Psychology
Concentrations
Become a Mason Graduate Student
All applicants for graduate study at George Mason University must meet the admission standards specified in the Admission chapter of the University Catalog.
You are responsible for submitting all required application materials by the posted deadline. Review your program's Admissions Requirements and Deadlines before you begin your application. You can also visit our Grad Admissions page for helpful hints on how best to prepare your transcripts and other Admissions materials.
Step 1: Complete and submit the online Graduate Admissions application. George Mason University requires all graduate applicants to upload all possible required supplementary materials, such as unofficial transcripts, goals statement and writing sample, at the same time you submit your application. Online applications require a non-refundable $75 application processing fee.
Step 2: Within a few days of submitting your online application, you will receive an email with your Mason G number (G#). This is a tracking number provided to all applicants that allows us to match your supporting documentation to your completed application.
Step 3: Check your application status and requirements checklist in your application portal. Initial processing takes 3 to 5 business days from the date of submission. You can use your application log-in and password to access your information throughout the application process. Graduate Admissions may send updates or notify you of issues with your application through your admissions portal, so it is best to log in periodically to monitor your application status.
Step 4: For newly admitted students, refer to the CHSS New Graduate Student webpage for tips on confirming enrollment, submitting official transcripts, registering for class and more.
Please see each concentration below for the concentration specific requirements:
- Applied Developmental
- Cognitive and Behavioral Neuroscience
- Human Factors/Applied Cognition
- Industrial-Organizational Psychology
Application Deadlines and Decision Timelines
New students are admitted for fall semester only. All applicants are strongly advised to submit applications and all supporting documents by the programs' posted deadline dates. Deadlines vary by concentration. Each graduate concentration expects to make initial admission decisions by the dates posted below. However, decisions will continue through April 30 as applicants are selected from the waitlist and the programs reach capacity.
- Applied Developmental Psychology*: January 15
Initial decisions typically made by March 1 after open house event in February.
- Biopsychology (Cognitive and Behavioral Neuroscience)*: February 1
Initial decisions typically made by March 1.
- Human Factors/Applied Cognition*: February 1
Initial decisions typically made by February 15.
- Industrial/Organizational Psychology: February 1
Initial decisions typically made by March 10.
*Applications for the applied developmental psychology, cognitive and behavioral neuroscience, and human factors/applied cognition concentrations received after the deadline may be considered on a space-available basis.
Additional Information
Most graduate programs in Psychology require full time study. Part time study might be possible for certain MA programs if the student has a flexible work schedule. Most required classes are offered during the day. Please contact your program director or potential faculty advisors about the possibility of part-time study.
With the exception of the Human Factors/Applied Cognition concentration, applicants to the MA in psychology must have 15 credits in psychology including a general/introductory course, a course in statistics, and a laboratory course in psychology. Human Factors/Applied Cognition applicants are required to have 6 credits of psychology undergraduate coursework including statistics and research methods.
The Goals Statement (uploaded as part of your online application) should be 2-4 pages in total. Rather than being a traditional essay, the goals statement should address the following topics:
(A) Please describe your educational, research, clinical, employment (e.g., work or internship), and/or community service experiences that have prepared you for graduate school and/or the specific degree program being pursued (e.g., by providing you with relevant knowledge and/or technical or professional skills). Please feel free to describe both paid and unpaid experiences.
(B) In brief, please describe your long-term career/professional goals, and please explain how the specific degree program for which you are applying would facilitate those goals.
(C) Please describe any major adversities or disadvantages (e.g., financial, cultural, and experiential obstacles) you are currently facing or have previously overcome that can attest to your perseverance in the face of challenges and/or your ability to contribute to the learning environment at Mason. Optionally, please also feel free to address any areas that may otherwise be viewed as limitations when your application is being evaluated (e.g., low grades in specific courses).
(D) Of the tenure-line faculty members in the program (go here (https://psychology.gmu.edu/people/tenure_line_faculty) and then choose the specific discipline/program to which you are applying), please list the names of two or three faculty members you would be interested in having as a faculty advisor (i.e., mentor). Please explain why each of these faculty members would be a good fit with your goals/interests. If you list only one faculty member, please be aware that any given faculty member may not be accepting new students in a particular year.
(E) Optional: If you have any additional reasons for seeking this degree and/or for choosing Mason as the location to complete this degree, please share them with us briefly.
Please respond to all required questions, and please ensure that your response to any single question does not take up the majority of your goals statement.
For those programs that require the GRE or the GRE is optional, the submitted GRE scores should be from tests taken within the past five years and before the application deadline. Applicants should take the GRE by October because applications cannot be processed until these scores are received. The general test is required, but scores for the Advanced Test in Psychology may also be submitted.
Additional Requirements for
English Proficiency Requirements
All Mason students must have a full command of academic English to be successful in their studies. For this reason, Mason requires applicants to demonstrate English proficiency for admission consideration, regardless of citizenship. Click here to view the requirements.
International Transcript Requirements
All transcripts from colleges or universities outside the United States must be translated into English, if applicable, and submitted for evaluation to the Mason Office of Admissions. Mason will provide evaluation service free of charge for all international transcripts, however, some programs may request an outside evaluation be completed. Because of volume, more time may be needed to process applications requiring a Mason evaluation. You should submit your application 6 weeks prior to the deadline if you plan to utilize Mason’s free evaluation service. For expedited service, students may submit their documents to any NACES member organization at their own expense. If you decide to use an external evaluation service or if your program requires an outside evaluation, GPA and Degree equivalences must be included with your course-by-course evaluation. Mason evaluations are used for internal purposes and are not released to applicants. For information on international transcript requirements, go here.
Applicants intending to transfer courses from an international transcript into a degree program will require a course-by-course evaluation. The international transcript evaluation service offered by George Mason University's Evaluation Office does not include course-by-course evaluations; these must be performed by a NACES member organization.
International student visa questions should be directed to the Office of International Programs and Services.
You have the option to take graduate courses in non-degree status. To apply, you must complete an online application for your intended start term and include transcripts as well as a resume. You will also be required to indicate on the application which courses you plan to take for approval during the application review process. Credits earned in non-degree status may potentially transfer to a degree program at a later date so long as it meets the program requirements and the program director approves the transfer. For information on transfer credit policies, please refer to the University Catalog.
Non-Degree Requirements
| College Transcripts | Goals Statement | GRE | Portfolio | Recommendation Letters | Resume | Writing Sample |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Required | Required |
Application deadlines for graduate non-degree coursework differ from program deadlines. For additional information on the non-degree application process and deadlines please refer to Applying for Non-Degree Graduate Study.