Do I Need a Degree in Psychology to Apply to Graduate School?

While an undergraduate degree in psychology can be helpful when entering a graduate-level program in psychology or counseling, we know that is not always the case. Your life and career goals might have changed since you earned your undergraduate degree or maybe you're looking for a psychology background to advance your current role, leadership skills, or understanding of your organization and its people. Whatever the case may be, don't be discouraged! Read on for frequently asked questions about admission requirements and prerequisites for our programs.

When you should complete prerequisite courses:

The PsyD in Clinical Psychology program at William James College is the only program that requires prerequisite courses. Before you enroll in the program, you must complete courses in General Psychology and Abnormal Psychology as well as two of the following:

• Behavioral Statistics
• Developmental Psychology
• Personality Theories
• Physiological Psychology
• Reserach Methods in Psychology
• Social Psychology
• Tests and Measurements

If you have not completed the required coursework in your undergraduate career, you will need to take the courses at another institution before enrolling at William James; however, those who hold master’s degrees in psychology are exempt from the prerequisite requirements.

When you should have a background or experiences in behavioral health or related fields:

Some programs at William James College, such as the Master of Arts in Clinical Mental Health Counseling program or the MA/CAGS in School Psychology, don’t have required prerequisite courses, but recommend having basic coursework and/or a background in psychology, behavioral health, education, or related fields. These experiences can help your application stand out and help prepare you for the challenges and workload of a master’s degree in psychology or counseling.

If you don’t have these experiences already, don't worry! You can find internships, volunteer opportunities, or academic work to bolster your resume (such as our Behavioral Health Service Corps, a year-long service learning program). Or, you can consider the ways your current job, education, or other experiences have prepared you for this new endeavor and share these thoughts on your Change of Career Statement with your application. Whatever your background, don't be discouraged from applying just based on your current experiences! You can always reach out to our admissions team to discuss your resume and application in more detail.

When you can apply with any educational or career background:

Many of our graduate programs do not have any prerequisites or preferred career background. For example, our Master of Arts in Applied Behavior Analysis and Master of Arts in Organizational Psychology only require a bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution. Plus, our Master of Arts in Psychology program is specifically designed to give you a well-rounded psychology background to apply to a wide range of career paths.

If you already have a master’s degree from an accredited institution, consider our PsyD in Leadership Psychology which teaches skills in leadership and performance that can be applied to any field.

 

Our admissions team is here to help you find the right path for your education and career. If you have any questions about which program could be a good fit, if you meet prerequisite requirements, or if you should complete the Change of Career Statement, don’t hesitate to reach out to info@williamjames.edu. You can also schedule a 1/1 phone consultation with an admissions counselor via their online calendars.

• Tags:
• Admissions Blog
• Around Campus