Common questions
What programs and degrees are offered at Duke?
Duke offers doctoral-level programs in Clinical, Cognition/Cognitive Neuroscience, Developmental, Integrative Systems and Neuroscience, and Social Psychology. Duke does not offer a terminal masters program, though each student will earn a masters degree en route to the Ph.D. Duke's clinical program is based on the Boulder (scientist-practitioner) model, and is intended for students with an interest in research.
How do I apply to a graduate program?
See "How to Apply" on our Graduate page for complete instructions and on-line application.
Applicants to the JD/MA Program should apply directly to the Law School. In your application indicate an interest in the JD/MA Program in Psychology. Consult the following web page for how to apply information:
http://www.law.duke.edu/admis/apply/jd
Can I have a hard copy of departmental information?
No, we have no other materials to be forwarded. All of our information is on-line within our web site.
Does Duke require any specific undergraduate courses?
Duke does not require applicants to hold undergraduate degrees in psychology. We do, however, recommend that students take certain courses prior to applying to our program. These include a research design course, a statistics course, and a course that covers the models of psychology (for example, a class on personality, cognitive development, perception, drugs & behavior).
What are the average GRE scores of admitted students?
Applicants' GRE scores (Verbal, Quantitative separately) range from 160 to 165, and their grades are usually quite high (above 3.5 GPA). The Clinical Program web page lists average GRE scores of admitted students for the past seven years. More generally, Duke evaluates applicants on their potential for serious scholarship and their commitment to having an impact on the field of psychology. We also look for applicants with research experience and students who have shown an ability to think analytically. Finally, students are selected for the compatibility of their interests with one or more faculty research mentors.
Can I apply to more than one Program area?
No, it is better to apply for one or the other. Once admitted, you are encouraged to work in various areas and to explore other opportunities of study. Collaborative work is encouraged throughout the University.
Is an interview mandatory?
Yes, interviews are held in early spring semester and decisions are made shortly following the interview times.
Is there a separate application for psychology?
No, once your application is complete, the Graduate School will forward your application to the department.
Do I mail all of my application material to the Graduate School?
Yes, all materials and parts of the application must go through the Graduate School first.
Can the application fee be waived?
No, the fee is set at $85.00.
Can I submit more than three letters of recommendation?
Yes. You can have 4 letters and under specific situations 5 will be reviewed.
If my recommenders do not want to use the on-line application portion, can their letters be submitted by mail?
Yes, their letter must be in a sealed envelope and signed across the back.
Can I send in all of my letters at one time?
Yes.
Is there a recommendation form to be attached to the actual letter?
No, the rating form is only used when recommendation letters are submitted on-line. There is not a downloadable form to be obtained from either the department or the Graduate School
What is the school's institutional code for having GRE scores sent to Duke?
The institution code for Duke University Graduate School is 5156 for both the GRE and TOEFL. No departmental code is necessary.
Can you attend part-time?
No, admissions requires full-time residency and there are no classes offered on-line.
Do I need to take the GRE subject test?
For clinical, if you were not a psychology undergraduate major, it is recommended that you take the GRE subject test. For psychology majors, it is not necessary to take the subject test. Many times, the scores for the subject test are received after the 12/1 deadline, those scores are added to your application package when received. Please be sure they are received by mid-January for admissions decisions will be begin then. No area within Psychology and Neuroscience requires the subject test.
Is the deadline a post-mark deadline or must my application be received by that deadline?
Since all applications are completed on-line the deadline for submission of an electronic application and supporting documents to the Graduate School is December 1 (clinical); and December 8 is the priority deadline for submission of applications for admission and award to all programs for the fall semester (for the other four training areas).
Do I need research experience? Do I need more experience than my senior year thesis paper?
Duke University is a research based program and all applicants admitted to the 5 areas of study are all well trained in research.
Which faculty members are taking students this year?
Unfortunately, until application and interview time the department is uncertain as to which faculty members will take students. We strongly encourage you to contact the faculty in whose work you are interested to make sure he or she plans to recruit new students.
I already have a master's degree. Can I transfer any of my credits?
Students with masters degrees may be exempt from some classes, but are still responsible for writing a major area paper (MAP). Faculty members will consult with these students and decisions will be made on a case-by-case basis.
Do graduate students receive funding from Duke?
Yes, all graduate students in the department are guaranteed at least four years of funding. The funding includes tuition scholarship and a monthly stipend for the academic year. Most students work up to 20 hours per week as a research assistant or in teaching assistant positions, though some students secure funding through fellowships.
What types of interactions can you expect to have with faculty?
The weekly meetings of the area groups (see Events) have been a good way to become familiar with what various faculty in the department are doing. The faculty also try to have a variety of departmental social events so that you can talk informally about science and life.
What is the level of support by the faculty in your research and programs?
You will receive support from both advisor and members of your committee. Many avenues for interaction, from formal talks and classes to informal meetings and e-mail conversations take place.
What kinds of laboratory equipment you have access to for your research?
Graduate students do have access to all of the laboratory equipment they need, including state of the art fMRI machines, EEG equipment, and all sorts of animal research tools.
What are your teaching duties and how time-consuming are they?
All graduate students will hold TA positions during their time here. After you complete your MA degree, you can also teach classes during the summer. The amount of time is dependent on the class itself and the instructor, but officially, students are limited to no more than 19 hours per week. Some TA positions will run discussion sections for lecture classes.
When do classes begin?
August 29, 2016. The week prior to classes is typically filled with orientation events, some of which have mandatory attendance policy.
Do you have forensic psychology or counseling psychology?
We do not have either of those programs.