Graduate Program
The Department of Psychology offers graduate study leading to
the M.A. degree in Psychological Sciences (including social,
cognitive, and biological psychology) and in Developmental Psychology,
and to the Ph.D. degree in Psychological Sciences, Developmental
Psychology, and Clinical Psychology. We believe that a quality graduate education involves close
working relationships between faculty and individual students.
A high faculty-to-student ratio and small class size characterize
our graduate programs. In addition, each student works with
at least one faculty member as a means of gaining valuable teaching,
research and professional experience. There are many opportunities
for individualized study and experience in research directed
readings, and supervised teaching. A committee, representing
the student’s interests, assists in planning an appropriate
graduate program for each student.
All applications are due by December 31st.
Psychological
Sciences
The goal of the Psychological Sciences and Developmental program
is to prepare students for careers in research and university
teaching. All students focus on one of the specialty programs
listed below. Students also become familiar with areas of general
psychology outside of their specialty, and with statistics and
experimental design. Competence is assessed by performance in
courses, research projects, and a comprehensive examination.
The comprehensive exam is given at the end of the second year
of graduate study or at the end of the first year for students
entering with a Master’s degree from another university.
The department offers the following programs within Psychological
Sciences program:
Social Psychology The concentration in Social
Psychology aims to foster a solid understanding of theory and
research in social psychology, including implications of how
research may be applied to solve practical problems. Students
are trained principally for academic/research careers.
The social concentration operates on an apprenticeship model
where students work closely with faculty members on theory-driven
research. Students are trained to think conceptually and to
acquire proficiency in research methodology, statistics, scholarly
writing, oral presentation, and teaching. Students are expected
to be continually involved in research during their tenure in
the department as they hone their own, independent interests.
Faculty research interests include stereotyping and prejudice,
self, identity, social cognition, political psychology, ideology,
and social psychophysiology. Students are encouraged to explore
the intersection of social psychology with other areas (Faculty:
Eidelman, McCoy)
Cognitive and Biological Psychology This concentration
offers training in several areas of cognitive and biological
psychology, including perception, creativity, decision making,
aging, and behavioral neuroscience. Students develop strong
research skills while conducting research in at least one participating
laboratory. Students work closely with a research advisor and
applicants should contact potential faculty mentors early in
the application process. (Faculty: Cobo-Lewis, Elias, Ell, Farthing,
Fremouw, M. Hayes, Robbins, Rosenwasser, Smith).
Research Facilities
The Department of Psychology occupies the third floor of Little
Hall, with additional research space in North and South Stevens
Halls. The Department also operates its own laboratory preschool,
the Child Study Center, which offers the opportunity for applied
experience and research with a population of three-to-five-year-old
children. The Department’s Psychological Services Center
serves as the community mental health facility for Orono and
surrounding communities. Additional research and applied experiences
are possible in the Department of Behavioral and Developmental
Pediatrics at the Eastern Maine Medical Center. Good relations
exist with the local public schools for research opportunities.
Admissions Requirements
We are looking for well-qualified students who have a broad
undergraduate background as well as psychology courses, laboratory
courses in experimental psychology, a good science, math and
computer background, and a course or more in statistics. All
of the following documents and information must be received
before an applicant can be considered for admission: 1) University
application form, 2) Departmental application, 3) GRE scores
– verbal, quantitative and analytical,
4) Three letters of reference, preferably from those who are
familiar with your work in psychology, 5) Transcripts of all
previous college education.
We look for a GPA above 3.5 and Verbal and Quantitative
scores above 500. We are flexible about these scores, but the
overall picture from GPA, GRE, letters of reference and personal
statement needs to be convincing. The clinical program is more
competitive, so your scores need to meet these requirements
for consideration. Research experience and publications help.
Department application forms can be obtained from and returned
to:
The Graduate School
University of Maine
5782 Winslow Hall
Orono, ME 04469-5782
Email: Graduate@maine.edu
Graduate applications can be downloaded from
the graduate school website. The separate application
for the Psychology Department can be downloaded
from the department’s website. Applicants need both application
forms.
Applications from students who have already earned a Master’s
degree or who have completed some graduate work are welcome.
In addition to the other admissions requirements, applicants
who already have well-defined interests may also choose to write
directly to a faculty member with whom they would particularly
like to work. Such a letter might introduce the applicant, and
it should include any pertinent information that is not included
in the Department and University Application Form. This additional
information may help in assessing a student’s possible
research interests and in matching her or him to a faculty advisor
who has similar interests. (See the listing of the faculty and
their interests.)
Financial Assistance
Financial assistance is available to students in the form of
tuition scholarships and departmental assistantships. There
are no assistantship application forms. Applicants who wish
to be considered for assistantships should indicate this on
the departmental application form. The Department makes every
effort to secure funding for its graduate students in the form
of graduate assistantships and stipends from certain off-campus
practicum placements. Such funding, when available, typically
applies to no more than four years of graduate training.
While we have been successful in supporting most of our students
financially in recent years, no guarantees can be made because
our resources are not always completely in place at the time
that our student selection decisions are made. Applicants need
to be prepared to underwrite some of their educational and living
costs. When funding is available, it generally covers the academic
year from September to May.
The American Psychological Association has a Minority Fellowship
Program for which eligible individuals may compete; details
are available from the Director of Clinical Training and from
the APA.
