Navigating the UCF Psychology Graduate Program Requirements

The University of Central Florida (UCF) Psychology Department offers a range of graduate programs, each with specific requirements and focuses. This article provides a comprehensive overview of these programs, their requirements, and other essential information for prospective students. The UCF Psychology Department coordinates the admission process with the UCF Graduate Studies office.

General Admission Requirements

For information on general UCF graduate admission requirements that apply to all prospective students, please visit the Admissions section of the Graduate Catalog. Applicants must apply online. Meeting minimum UCF admission criteria does not guarantee program admission.

Standardized Tests

If the GRE or GMAT is required, the specific test will be explicitly stated in the “Admissions Requirements” section of the program. The Graduate Record Examination (GRE) is required of all applicants for some programs. To be considered for acceptance as a regular graduate student, successful applicants are expected to have a minimum cumulative GRE score of about 1100 on the combined verbal-quantitative sections.

Transcripts and Credentials

Applicants applying to this program who have attended a college/university outside the United States must provide a course-by-course credential evaluation with GPA calculation. They also need to provide one official transcript and official certification of degree, with date awarded. Additional courses may be required to correct deficiencies.

English Language Proficiency

Applicants applying to this program who have attended a college/university outside the United States must provide one official transcript and official certification of degree, with date awarded. A minimum TOEFL iBT score of 91; 7.0 IELTS; or 125 Duolingo is required for applicants whose native language is not English or who have not earned a degree from a U.S. institution or English instruction institution.

Master's Programs

The Department of Psychology offers Master’s degrees in Clinical and Industrial/Organizational Psychology.

Master of Arts in Clinical Psychology (M.A.)

The Master of Arts degree program in clinical psychology is offered at the Sanford/Lake Mary campus. The Master of Arts Clinical Psychology Program is a terminal master's program offered at the UCF Sanford/Lake Mary Campus.

Program Focus: The program is designed to provide psychological training and preparation for students desiring to deliver clinical services through community agencies. The primary areas of emphasis include assessment or evaluation skills and intervention or psychotherapy skills, and the program curriculum is consistent with the educational criteria for licensure as a mental health counselor in the state of Florida.

Tracks: The program consists of two tracks:

Applied Pre-Licensure/Non-Thesis Track: The Applied Pre-Licensure/Non-Thesis Track is designed for students interested in delivering clinical services in a variety of settings including community agencies and private practice. After completing the program and after two years of postgraduate supervised clinical experience, graduates are eligible to become Licensed Mental Health Counselors (LMHCs) in the state of Florida. This track is for students primarily interested in clinical practice at the Master's level upon graduation; however, some students in this track have applied to and gained admission into doctoral programs after graduation.
Research/Thesis Track: The Research/Thesis Track is designed for students who wish to focus on clinical research and/or are interested in pursuing entry into a doctoral program following the completion of their Master's degree.

Admission Requirements:

A baccalaureate or higher degree in Psychology or a related area, prior to the start of the term for which the student is admitted, from a regionally accredited institution or from a recognized foreign institution.
A minimum of 15 semester hours of undergraduate psychology courses are required as a prerequisite for applicants with a degree in a field other than psychology. Completion of courses in abnormal psychology (psychopathology) and research methods and/or statistics is strongly recommended.
Based on the policies set by the College of Graduate Studies at UCF, the minimum GPA is 3.0 out of 4.0 for the last 60 hours of your degree work.

Program Details:

Location: In general, the program classes are offered in person, at the UCF Sanford/Lake Mary campus. Students in the pre-licensure track will complete all face-to-face courses on the Sanford/Lake Mary campus.
Duration: Full-time students complete the program in two calendar years (e.g., August 2021 - August 2023).
Credit Hours: For the pre-licensure track, the total number of credit hours (coursework, practicum, and internship) is 61.

Additional Information for Pre-Licensure Track:

This track includes a full course load (9-12 credits/per semester) for two years.
Students in this track complete a practicum (10-15 hours/week in the first summer in the program) and internship (20 hours/week in the fall, spring, and summer semesters in the second year in the program). In total, the practicum and internship experiences combine to form a 1000-hour clinical work experience.
During the summer of the first year in the program, students on the pre-licensure track complete a 150-hour practicum experience at a site selected by the student in collaboration with their faculty advisor and the program Practicum/Internship coordinator.

Additional Information for Research/Thesis Track:

Students in the thesis track have a reduced course load relative to the pre-licensure track, which allows more time for engagement in research. The tradeoff is that students in this track will not be eligible for licensure at the master’s level when they graduate.
Research is not required as part of the pre-licensure track; however, students in the pre-licensure track are often engaged in collaborative research with faculty.

Master of Science in Industrial and Organizational Psychology (M.S.)

The M.S. degree in Industrial /Organizational Psychology is focused on the application of psychological principles to organizations. The M.S. degree program in Industrial/Organizational Psychology is a four-semester program for full-time students. Both thesis and non-thesis options are offered.

Program Focus: Major areas of emphasis include selection and training of employees; applied theories of organizational behavior including models of motivation, job satisfaction, and productivity; test theory and construction; assessment center technology; statistics and experimental design and a variety of current topics.

Admission Statistics: Generally the program receives 120-130 applicants. On average, we accept 16-18 applicants annually.

Admission Requirements: To improve your chances of being accepted make sure you provide evidence of academic ability, motivated performance, knowledge of the field, and possession of core skills through a careful review of transcripts, GRE scores, letters of reference, goal statements and resumes or vitae.

Doctoral Programs (Ph.D.)

The Department of Psychology offers three highly competitive doctoral programs (Ph.D.) in Applied Experimental and Human Factors, Clinical, and Industrial/Organizational Psychology.

Ph.D. in Applied Experimental and Human Factors Psychology

The Human Factors and Cognitive Psychology Ph.D. track seeks to develop the capacity to design, conduct, and apply human factors and cognitive psychology research in a variety of professional settings. It is patterned on the scientist-practitioner model of the American Psychological Association (APA) and adheres to guidelines established by the committee for Education and Training of APA’s Division 21 (Applied Experimental and Engineering Psychology).

Program Focus: A variety of research, consulting, and internship arrangements are included in the track. Students receive training in the content and techniques of human factors and cognitive psychology-including statistical and quantitative procedures, experimental design, survey methods, computer techniques, and other research methodologies.

Admission Requirements: Applicants must provide: a completed UCF graduate degree program application form, evidence of successful completion of undergraduate courses in statistics and in the general area of experimental psychology, official GRE scores, completed transcripts showing a baccalaureate degree and grades for all undergraduate and graduate work, a resume and written statement outlining the student’s academic and professional goals, and three letters of reference (at least two by college or university professors who are acquainted with applicant).

Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology

The Psychology Department offers a PhD in Clinical Psychology, educating students in both the science and the practice of clinical psychology. The Clinical Psychology track in the Psychology PhD Program emphasizes the scientist-practitioner model of training as promulgated by the American Psychological Association (APA). The doctoral program in Clinical Psychology is accredited by the American Psychological Association.

Program Mission: The PhD Program in Clinical Psychology at the University of Central Florida educates graduate students "to generate and integrate scientific and professional knowledge, attitudes, and skills to further psychological science, professional practice, and human welfare. Graduates are capable of functioning as a scientist and a practitioner and may function as either or both, consistent with the highest standards in psychology" (National Conference on the Education and Training of Scientist- Practitioners for the Professional Practice of Psychology, 1990).

Program Characteristics: The program is a generalist program with a strong emphasis on assessment and treatment in adults. We do not have any formal tracks within the program (e.g., child, neuropsychology). Our program welcomes students, faculty, and staff from different backgrounds. In addition, we infuse the latest empirical knowledge on individual differences in demographics and life experiences into our curriculum and clinical/research experiences.

Program Goals:The PhD program aspires to achieve excellence in research and clinical training and to contribute to and perpetuate science and practice in the field of Clinical Psychology through faculty and graduate student involvement in scholarly and professional activities.

Community Partnerships: Consistent with the mission of a major metropolitan university, the Clinical Psychology PhD program at UCF takes advantage of and builds upon community partnerships. Our partnerships with public and private health service delivery resources in the Central Florida area provides externship training sites and research opportunities.

Program Structure: The Clinical Psychology track in the Psychology PhD Program is designed to be a full-time program, with some summer enrollment expected. There is a total of 87 semester hours of courses, practica, and research requirements. The program typically takes 6 years to complete, which includes an off-site predoctoral internship in the last year. The entire program requires full time, in-person, attendance.

Credit Hours: Total Credit Hours Required: 87 Credit Hours Minimum beyond the Bachelor's Degree. 36 Credit Hours Minimum beyond the Master's Degree.

Admission Requirements: At UCF, the applicant’s fit with the goals of the program are a critical component. To be considered for admission, the program requires having some hands-on research experience outside of a course (e.g., as a research assistant/coordinator) preferably in a topic area which overlaps one of our faculty members who you would like to work with on research (ideally at least a year or two of this experience acquired by time of application).

Ph.D. in Industrial and Organizational Psychology

The Ph.D. track in Industrial and Organizational Psychology provides students with training that is consistent with the scientist-practitioner model.

Program Focus: As a result of this training students will be prepared to pursue rewarding careers in either academia (university-based teaching and research) or industry (e.g., consulting).

Additional Information

Financial Aid

Students admitted to the Clinical Psychology Ph.D. program receive a full tuition waiver, a stipend, and health insurance, but are still responsible for paying student fees. Financial Aid for applied masters programs is limited.

Accreditation

The entire university is regionally accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges & Schools (SACS). The Applied Experimental and Human Factors Psychology program is nationally accredited by the Human Factors and Ergonomics Society, and the Clinical Psychology program is nationally accredited by the American Psychological Association. The Clinical Psychology Ph.D. Program in the Department of Psychology received initial accreditation by the American Psychological Association (APA) in 2003, for a period of five years. The program then was re-accredited in 2008, 2013, and 2024, and remains accredited with the next re-accreditation process scheduled for 2033.

Research Opportunities

Graduate students have many opportunities for research here at UCF. Faculty members who do funded research enlist graduate assistants to help them out. Also, students work and do internships at many labs and companies that are affiliated with the school.

Career Prospects

This program prepares students for state-regulated professional licensure or certification. Graduates of the Clinical Psychology Ph.D. Faculty adhere to the belief that research activities are an integral part of being a Clinical Psychologist. Consistent with this belief, the majority of our graduates seek academic- and research-oriented positions after they complete our program. The Master of Arts Clinical Psychology Program is a terminal master's program offered at the UCF Sanford/Lake Mary Campus. This track is for students primarily interested in clinical practice at the Master's level upon graduation.

Diversity and Inclusion

Our program welcomes the inclusion of students, faculty, and staff from different backgrounds (e.g., racial, ethnic, sexual orientation). In addition, we infuse the latest empirical knowledge about individual differences in demographics and life experiences into our curriculum and clinical/research experiences. UCF is an equal opportunity employer and educational provider. As set forth in the Nondiscrimination Policy (No. 2-004) and Title IX Grievance Policy (No. 2-012), the University prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, ethnicity, national origin, religion, nonreligion, age, genetic information, sex (including pregnancy, parental status, gender identity or expression, and sexual orientation), marital status, physical or mental disability (including learning disabilities, intellectual disabilities, and past or present history of mental illness), veteran’s status (as protected under the Vietnam Era Veterans’ Readjustment Assistant Act), or membership in any other protected classes as set forth in state or federal law in all its programs and activities.

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