The following information is a general plan for your academic career. It includes a schedule and procedure for applying to graduate school. This link will take you to more information about graduate schools. If you plan to enter the workforce rather than apply to graduate school, please go to the Recommended Semester Plan for Workforce-Oriented Students. If you are in the Honors College, please also refer to the Recommended Semester Planning for Honors students. We strongly recommend you follow one of these plans.

First Semester (Fall Freshman)

Work on your General Education Basic required courses, including Math. Plan to finish your English, Math, Communications, and Computer requirements in your first year. It would be nice to have PSY 121 this semester. Talk with your advisor frequently. Complete your Freshman Seminar.

Second Semester (Spring Freshman)

Continue to work on your General Education courses, including Math if it is not yet completed. Take one or two Psychology courses, possibly PSY 200 (Statistics) and PSY 150 (Introduction to the Psychology Major). It is greatly to your benefit to get PSY 200 and 201 (Experimental) completed early. PSY 150 provides you with information about careers and specialty areas in psychology. Talk with your advisor frequently.

Third Semester (Fall Sophomore)

Apply to the degree program this semester if you have 30 hours completed, have your Basic Required classes finished, and have decided on a minor. Go to Hill 313 before Early Registration begins to start the degree application.

Continue to work on your General Education courses. Take some electives in order to explore a possible minor or just for interest. Take one or two Psychology courses, including PSY 201 if you have met the prerequisites. It would be greatly to your advantage at least to have PSY 200 completed by the end of this semester. Talk to faculty members about their research interests to see if they need help. Many graduate schools like to see applicants who have significant involvement in research. Consult frequently with your advisor.

Fourth Semester (Spring Sophomore)

Apply to the degree program if you have not already done so. You MUST apply before completing 60 credits!

Finish your General Education courses. Complete PSY 201 by the end of this semester. Take something that may count towards a minor.Start working with some faculty member on his or her research. Talk with the faculty members about this. Consult frequently with your advisor.

Fifth Semester (Fall Junior)

Now is the best time to take PSY 490 (Preparation for Graduate School). This is also a very good time to take PSY 410 (Research in Psychology). Many graduate schools especially like to see applicants who have independent research experience. PSY 410 is a great way to get this experience. Taking PSY 410 now also gives you the opportunity to submit your research to conventions or even for publication before you apply to graduate schools. This makes admissions committees at graduate schools drool! Take one or two other Psychology courses. Continue to work on your minor. If possible, take a course as an elective for interest. Take your Writing II course now, if possible. Talk with faculty members about different graduate schools. Browse through the catalogs and information available in the Graduate School Resource Center files in Hill 313. You can also find information about different graduate programs on the Web. Finally, talk with your advisor.

Make yourself more marketable! Prepare for subsequent semesters by getting some Psychology-related experience as a volunteer or as PSY 499. Familiarize yourself with undergraduate courses required or recommended by your preferred graduate programs. Be sure to include these courses in your education if they are not already there. You will want these courses on your transcripts before you apply to the graduate programs. PLAN CAREFULLY. Remember, not all courses are offered both Fall and Spring semesters.

Sixth Semester (Spring Junior)

Take courses for your minor and a Capstone course. Also take one or two Psychology courses. This would be a good time to take PSY 527(Multivariate methods for the Behavioral Sciences). This second course in statistics will help you in your own research and will demonstrate to graduate programs that you have a better statistics background than most applicants. Possibly take the Graduate Record Exam (GRE). You can repeat the GRE if you do not like your scores. If possible, take an elective for breadth of knowledge or interest. Some graduate programs also want other tests, such as the Miller's Analogies Test. Check with the programs in which you are interested and be certain to take all of the required tests. Take your Writing II course now, if you still need it. Start gathering more information about graduate schools. Talk with your advisor.

Seventh Semester (Fall Senior)

Complete your minor and major requirements during this semester, if possible. If you have not had PSY 490 (Preparation for Graduate School) or PSY 410 (Research in Psychology), then take them now. Take something for breadth of knowledge or interest. If you have not completed the GRE's by now, do so this semester. Contact graduate schools for information and start the application process. Line up letters of recommendation as soon as possible. Take your Capstone course now, if you still need it. See your advisor to be sure that you are meeting your requirements for graduation.

Eighth Semester (Spring Senior)

Finish any remaining requirements. Take PSY 527(Multivariate methods for the Behavioral Sciences) if you haven't yet. Take some courses for breadth of knowledge or for interest. If you have applied to graduate programs, plan to visit the programs that are your top choices. Spring Break is a good time to do these visits. Talk with your advisor about how to prepare for these visits. In April, most graduate schools send their letters of acceptance and offers of financial aid. Be prepared to make your decisions. You usually have about 2 weeks to decide before an offer is removed. Once you accept an offer of financial aid, you are bound by APA ethical standards not to accept another offer. Relax a bit and look forward to graduation.