On the Graduate School application, indicate Psychological and Brain Sciences as the department to which you are applying. On that application, you can also specify a particular sub-field or area of specialization. If you are interested in the Psychology of Peace and Violence Program, indicate the Program for your area of specialization. If you are interested in the Social Psychology program, indicate that for your area of specialization. Do not apply to both sub-fields. It is also useful to let your recommenders know the program to which you are applying so that they can provide the most relevant and therefore most valuable information about you.
No. The Psychology of Peace and Violence Program is a specialization within the more general social psychology graduate program. If you are not granted admission to the Psychology of Peace and Violence program, you will not be considered further for admission to the social psychology program.
Yes. Internal and external applicants will be given equal consideration.
No. In the past, the social psychology program required the GRE, but that has been changed. Submitting GRE scores as part of the application is now considered optional.
There are no explicit language requirements for admission to the Program, although it should be noted that all coursework and program requirements are to be completed in English.
The TOEFL requirement can be waived if an applicant has an undergraduate or master’s degree from a U.S.-based institution of higher education, or two years of continuous enrollment in a U.S.-based college or university.
Only if relevant. If you have a master's degree in a field closely related to psychology and you have completed a master's thesis on a topic related to the content of the Psychology of Peace and Violence Program, you will not be required to complete a master’s thesis on the path to the Ph.D. degree. Acceptance of a prior master’s thesis, as well as prior graduate-level coursework, requires specific approval and is handled on a case-by-case basis.
At present, the transfer of graduate credits is handled on a case-by-case basis, involving faculty review of transcripts and syllabi for prior graduate coursework completed.
No, the Program only accepts new students for the Fall semester each year.
Prospective students are encouraged to contact individual faculty who are open to accepting new students, as listed on the webpage of the social psychology program.
No. All students enrolled in the Program are full-time students.
No. It is a policy and requirement of the broader social psychology program that graduate students who are enrolled must be in residence at UMass Amherst and participate fully in program activities until completion of their Ph.D. training, unless they are away temporarily for research purposes, on internship, or on official leave (e.g., parental, leave, medical leave, etc.).
No.
Yes. Students are able to take additional courses beyond those offered within the Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, yet any such plans should first be discussed with their faculty advisor(s).
At present we have no set policy for the transfer of graduate credits. However, student can request that relevant courses in psychology be used to fulfill "breadth requirements" of the Psychology Department.
Yes. The Program’s core courses are open to all UMass graduate students, provided that they have some background in related social science theory and research methods.
Yes, student-driven research projects are regularly supervised by faculty, and students also regularly collaborate with faculty on their ongoing projects.
Students are not required to have an undergraduate degree in psychology prior to enrolling in the Program, but they must have some reasonable background, such as a few prior courses in psychology, or at least some background in psychology along with other relevant social science courses.
Graduates from our Program will be able to hold a variety of positions. Since our Program is part of the larger social psychology program, they will have the knowledge and skills to hold a faculty position in social psychology, and through their research and teaching they will hopefully continue to expand the boundaries of existing social psychology theory and research. Program graduates may also pursue faculty positions in allied disciplines and interdisciplinary programs, such as in the areas of conflict resolution, peace studies, and public policy. Graduates may also chose to work in a range of applied settings; for example, graduates would be prepared to work for international organizations involved in violence prevention and peacebuilding, like the U.S. Institute of Peace, or other non-governmental organizations and agencies working toward similar goals. Many graduates from our program will also be well-equipped with the knowledge and skills necessary to implement interventions and evaluate programs designed to reduce conflict and promote peace.