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At this time, we are a full-time, face-to-face program with our classes scheduled during traditional University time slots. 

No, as APA provides accreditation for doctoral programs only. UMD’s NorthCentral accreditation makes Clinical/Counseling students eligible to work toward MN Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) license.

Although we do not offer part-time enrollment, students seeking continued education credits or students wishing to take a few courses might seek program permissions to register for MAPS courses through the non-degree seeking student status. This status allows students to take up to 10 course credits total. This possibility is most appropriate for most 5000 level courses, though 8000 level courses may be considered in some cases. Clinical counseling assessment, practicum, and internship courses are not available for non-degree seeking students. Prerequisite courses and other considerations are reviewed prior to application for non-degree seeking status. If you are interested in this option, please contact the Director of Graduate Studies for more information.

Students might consider enrolling in one of our I/O 5000 level grad courses as a non-degree seeking student first. After enrolling as a non-degree seeking student, you'd have to reach out to the instructors for a permission number to register. 

No. For Fall 2025 admissions the GRE is not required.

No. We currently do not require the Psychology subject test.

Yes. Simply complete the application for one of the tracks and state in your personal statement which additional track you would like to simultaneously apply for and contact the Graduate Program Coordinator to ensure faculty from both tracks have access to your materials.

No. Although UMD is part of the UMN system, the application process is separate for each program and there is no mechanism for programs to transfer applicant materials to another program. Applicants who wish to apply to more than one program within the UMN system need to complete a separate application for each program.

MAPS Clinical Counseling graduates are eligible to become a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) in Minnesota through the Minnesota Board of Behavioral Health and Therapy.

The curriculum of this program is designed to also meet licensure requirements for the Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor (LPCC) title in the state of Minnesota. This professional license allows graduates to provide diagnostic assessments and psychotherapy/counseling services at the Master's level. Upon graduation from our program, Clinical Counseling graduates have all of the required coursework and practicum requirements met for this licensure. However, an additional 4,000 hours supervised experience and 10 course credits would be required post-graduate by the MN board to be qualified as LPCC. Graduates who wish to pursue this licensure make their own post-graduation arrangements for these requirements.

Licensure requirements and reciprocity vary from state-to-state, so we strongly recommend that you check with the licensing board within the state you are interested in practicing regarding the specific details.

Our program is listed in the system as:

• Psychological Science - Clinical Counseling - Duluth MA
• Psychological Science - Experimental - Duluth MA
• Psychological Science - Industrial Organizational - Duluth MA

Following review and approval, a maximum of 9 graduate-level credits may be transferred from another institution. Once accepted, an official transcript and syllabi for all courses being considered for transfer will be required. Some clinical counseling courses (e.g., applied clinical skills courses, such as assessment and therapy sequences or practicum) are not accepted for transfer.

No. Once admitted, each graduate student is paired with a 2^nd year student to serve as a peer mentor. Peer mentors offer guidance for your transition, including potential housing options.

Please see our tuition page.

Please see the International Applicant section of our application instructions.

No. We only admit students to begin in the fall due to course sequencing. 

General Program Questions

If you are a prospective student with questions about the psychology masters program related to the curriculum, transfer credits, degree requirements, eligibility, etc., please contact the Director of Graduate Studies, Dr. Catherine Reich, [email protected]

General Application Questions

If you are a prospective student with questions about the psychology masters program related to the application submission process and/or the Graduate Application System (known as SLATE), please contact the Graduate Program Coordinator, Becky Blackwood, [email protected]

International Student Questions

If you still have questions about the application process for international students reviewing the international applications section on our website, please contact the UMD Graduate School office: [email protected] 

Students applying to graduate research programs in the UMN system such as our Psychology Masters program are eligible for the Diversity of Views and Experiences (DOVE) Fellowship. The purpose is "to promote a diversity of views, experiences, and ideas in the pursuit of research, scholarship, and creative excellence." In February we will nominate two applicants for this fellowship. If selected, the recipient would receive a $25,000 stipend, free tuition for the first academic year (max 14 credits per semester), subsidized health insurance through the Graduate Assistant Health Plan for up to one calendar year, eligibility for resident tuition rates in the second year, among other benefits. See the DOVE website for eligibility criteria, including the DOVE nominee prompt to accompany your application materials.

Funding opportunities sponsored from the UMD Graduate School are not yet known for incoming students, but historically we nominated several applicants annually for the Diversity Summer Fellowship which provides a small stipend to support student involvement in research over the summer.

Hispanic Scholarship Fund

Scholarships for Native Students (e.g., Native Forward STEM Scholarship)

Neuroscience Scholars Program (for groups underrepresented in the biomedical, behavioral, clinical, and social sciences)

Society for Neuroscience Latin American Training Program

International Student Fellowship

Graduate School Fellowships for New Americans

McNair Scholars The Graduate School offers an application fee waiver program for students who participated in the TRIO McNair. The deadline to request a fee waiver is December 6, 2024.

UMD students can connect to over 260 student-sponsored organizations through Bulldog Connect. Some student groups related to culture include:

• Access for All (disability awareness)
• Asian/Pacific American Association
• Black Men Serving Excellence
• Black Student Association
• Chabad at UMD
• Chi Alpha Campus Ministries
• Hillel
• Hmong Living in Unity and Balance
• Indigenous Student Association
• International Club
• Latinx/Chicanx Student Association
• Muslim Student Association
• Open Arms of Christ (LGBTQ+ faith group)
• Oromo Student Association
• Pride in STEM
• Queer and Allied Student Union
• South Asian Student Organization

Community of Scholars Program is a UMN system-wide program that "focuses on the unique needs and experiences of domestic BIPOC graduate students, inclusive of their intersectional identities, in relation to their historical and present-day exclusion and marginalization in the U.S. institutions of higher education."

Office of Diversity and Inclusion - Duluth Campus
The Office of Diversity & Inclusion collaborates with campus and community partners to implement programs and services that support the University's commitment to inclusivity, equity, and social justice.

International Student Services (ISS)
This office is dedicated to serving UMD's international community. Their primary mission is to assist international students in successfully accomplishing their academic and personal goals.

Disability Resources
The Disability Resources Office promotes an equitable & inclusive learning environment by providing accommodations, empowering students to become self-advocates, and by educating the campus community.

Multicultural Center
The Multicultural Center at UMD offers a number of Programs and Services and ways for students to get involved. It is both a place to gather and a forum for the educational, political, social, and cultural issues that are important to students, faculty, staff, and the greater community.

Sexuality & Gender Equity Initiatives

Women's Resource Action Center

Some in-person and remote events at University of Minnesota Twin Cities campus are also available to UMD students:

• 9 Student-run Cultural Centers
• 200+ Cultural Student Groups
• 5 Cultural Living Learning Communities

The deadline to submit your application for the MAPS program is February 1^st for admission consideration for Fall 2025. Pending available space, applications submitted after the deadline may be considered. 

_{McNair Scholars only - the deadline to request a fee waiver is December 1, 2025}

• Required

  • bachelor's degree from an accredited U.S. institution (international applicants see section below)
  • completion of psychology statistics and research methods coursework
  • documentation of English language proficiency for any non-native speaker of English
  • completion of an Abnormal Psychology or Psychopathology course - Clinical Counseling Psychology applicants only

• Preferred

  • minimum undergraduate GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale
  • a degree in psychology
  • completion of an Introductory Industrial-Organizational Psychology course - Industrial-Organizational Psychology applicants only
• Clinical Counseling applicants please note, per University policy, criminal background checks will be required before enrolling in internships.

• Applicants with a bachelor's degree from outside of the United States should check that their degree is recognized by the University of Minnesota system as equivalent to a bachelor's degree in the United States. Evaluations from World Evaluation Services (WES) do not change these standards and the MAPS Program can not make exceptions.
• For non-native speakers of English, there are additional tests to document your English language proficiency. Learn more about testing option and exemptions on UMN Graduate School's English language proficiency webpage. Minimum scores for the MAPS Program are the same as the UMN Graduate School's minimums.
• If your transcript is not in English, please up load an English translation.
• Additional information about the application process, visa requirements, and other information related to international applicants is available here. If you still have questions about the application process for international students, please contact the graduate school at [email protected].

All application materials should be submitted directly into the Graduate Application System.

• Program Selection - select either:  

  • Psychological Science - Clinical Counseling - Duluth MA
  • Psychological Science - Experimental - Duluth MA
  • Psychological Science - Industrial Organizational - Duluth MA

• Term Selection - 

  • Please select "Fall" of the year you wish to begin. Students are only accepted for Fall admission.

• Transcript

  • Unofficial transcripts or academic records for each institution attended, including partial or incomplete transcripts.
  • There is no need for official transcripts for the initial review of your application. Once admitted, students will receive instructions from the Graduate School on where to send official transcripts.

• Forms

  • Complete biographical information (e.g., contact information), personal background (e.g., residency, military service), employment history in the Graduate Application System.

• Personal Statement (essay format, 1,000 word limit) including:

  • Why you are specifically interested in our MAPS Program and your preferred track.
  • Your long-term professional goals, the routes by which you hope to achieve them, and your reasons for setting these objectives.
  • Your specific research and/or professional interests and how you became interested in this field or research.
  • Activities or experiences that have contributed toward your interest in, preparation for, and/or understanding of this field or research area.
  • Qualities (e.g., takes initiative, scientific curiosity, self-guided inquiry, openness to supervision) or skills you have acquired so far that might help you succeed in the field of psychology (e.g., writing skills, quantitative and data analysis skills, critical thinking skills, problem-solving skills, helping skills) as well as thrive in a rigorous graduate program. Note: applicants switching from another discipline are encouraged to reflect on potentially transferable skills when possible.
  • MAPS faculty with whom you would like to work, and an explanation for why you want to work with the particular faculty member(s) you indicate.
  • For Clinical Counseling applicants only: your likely preference for Plan B vs. Plan C option. Both options are welcome and accepted.

• Diversity Statement

  • Supporting the development of a diverse student body is central to the University of Minnesota's mission. This mission is enacted by the inclusion of academically excellent students with diverse backgrounds, experiences, and/or students who participate in efforts aligned with values related to diversity, equity, and inclusion. Please address each of the following (numbering your answers is helpful):
    1. Lived experiences - Please describe the distinctive characteristics and/or life experiences that you would bring to the MAPS program. How might your lived experiences contribute to the education and enhanced perspective of the UMD community and in the MAPS program? How have you embodied diversity, equity, and inclusion values in your education or life so far? (max 150 words)
    2. Academic and career goals - Please describe your goals around diversity, equity, inclusion, justice, and belonging in your research/scholarship and academic/professional future (max 150 words)
    3. Support - What would you want from a graduate program that would support diversity, equity, and inclusion for you as a learner? (max 50 words)

• Work Sample

  • Please include a writing sample that demonstrates your ability to succeed in the MAPS Program. Our admissions committee will assess your skills in writing, research, and potential for success in our program. A sample of writing you completed independently is preferred. If submitting a sample that was co-authored, please specify this and which sections of the paper represent your independent contribution. Possibilities include (but are not limited to): a capstone project, an independent research paper or proposal, a published article, a grant proposal.

• Three letters of recommendation

  • Each letter should speak to your potential as a graduate student and professional in psychology.
  • Letters must be submitted electronically (do not mail paper copies). Once you are logged into the online application system, you will be asked to provide the names of your letter-writers and their contact information. Your letter-writers will then be emailed a link to an online rating form that they need to complete and electronically submit.
  • You may also let your letter-writers know we request a letter with a narrative statement to upload in addition to an online form.
  • You can check the progress of your application periodically online to ensure all materials are received before the deadline.

• Curriculum vita (CV)

• Extenuating Circumstances Statement (optional)

  • You may upload a statement if there is something you want to clarify. You can skip this section if there is nothing you want to clarify or explain.

• Application Fee

  • After you have completed the online application, click the "submit" button and follow the credit/debit card payment instructions. After you pay, you will be returned to the online application, where you will click "submit" again. This completes your submission.
  • Qualifying McNair Scholars can request a waiver of the application fee by completing the waiver request form prior to December 1, 2025.

Your application will not be reviewed until all of the required materials are submitted successfully. Incomplete applications will not be considered for admission.

• Members of the admissions committees (Clinical Counseling, Experimental, and Industrial Organizational) first review applications. After the application deadline, faculty meet to discuss initial impressions of applicants based on application materials and share rubric ratings.
• The top pool of applicants will be invited to a semi-structured virtual interview (using the Zoom platform). Interview invitations are extended by email to the address you provided on the application.
• Offers of admission are not typically extended until late February or later. If at any point you are holding an offer for admission and need to know the status of your application with the MAPS Program, please reach out to the Director of Graduate Studies.
• Applicants holding offers of admission are asked to respond to the offer no later than April 15^th.