Frequently Asked Questions
Q) Does the Department of Psychology Offer a Clinical or Counseling Degree?
A) No. The Department offers a Graduate Program in Developmental Science that leads to a PhD in Psychology. This degree will not train one to offer counseling services.
Q) Is your PhD program American Psychological Association (APA) accredited?
A) No. Based on the APA's criteria for accreditation, currently only doctoral programs in (a) clinical, counseling, or school psychology and (b) combinations of more than one of those areas can become accredited. The Department's PhD program is not a clinical, counseling, or school psychology-based program.
Q) Does the Department of Psychology offer a part-time, on-line, or off-site program?
A) No. The Department of Psychology does not offer a part-time, online, or off-site PhD Program. The program is full-time and on-site only.
Q) Does the Department of Psychology offer a Masters Degree?
A) The Department does not offer a terminal masters degree; only students intending to complete the PhD program of study should apply. PhD students may, however, apply for and receive a Masters in Passing upon completion of the necessary coursework and program requirements. Additionally, the Department does offer a dual degree - a doctorate (PhD) in Psychology through the Department of Psychology and a Master of Public Policy (MPP) through the Georgetown Public Policy Institute.
Q) Can I apply for admission to begin the program in the spring or summer?
A) No. The program accepts applicants for admission to the Fall semester.
Q) What is the difference between the Psychology department's Lifespan Cognitive Neuroscience (LCN) program and the Interdisciplinary Program in Neuroscience (IPN)?
A) There are notable similarities and differences across the programs. Please view this document, prepared by Professor Darlene Howard, which explains these similarities and differences in detail.
Q) Is summer funding guaranteed?
A) No. Unfortunately the Department cannot guarantee summer funding each year. Summer funding is arranged through the student's mentor, whereas the academic year stipend is issued through the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences. Faculty mentors do put forth great efforts to arrange summer funding for their graduate students.Q) Will I have the opportunity to travel to and present my work at conferences?
A) Yes. The academic community in the Psychology Department is highly supportive of graduate student research, and students are encouraged to showcase their work at conferences relevant to their field. The Department allocates a sum of money toward graduate student conference travel each year for this purpose.
Q) Will I have the opportunity to seek summer internships?
A) Yes. Washington, DC is rich with internship opportunities in both scientific and policy settings. Because the nature of this program is highly applied, internships where students can develop and apply their skills are encouraged. Some of our current students have interned in child advocacy nonprofits, medical research centers, and federal law enforcement agencies. Summer internships can also be a source of summer funding.
Q) Can I take classes at other universities?
A) Yes. Though both the HDPP and LCN coursework requirements are quite rigorous, both concentrations provide for electives that can be taken at other universities upon approval of the Directors of Graduate Studies and the student's faculty mentor.
Q) Will I have the opportunity to collaborate with other faculty/labs?
A) Yes. The Department fosters collaborative relationships within the Department, with other departments at Georgetown, and with researchers at other universities. Our program was founded on the very idea of interdisciplinary scholarship, as evidenced by the program's ties with the Georgetown Public Policy Institute and the Interdisciplinary Program in Neuroscience.
Q) What is the graduate student community like at Georgetown?
A) Ours is a comparatively small program, which allows close relationships with faculty and a cohesive student community. The faculty operate under the philosophy that graduate school should be a positive, productive experience and they want students to succeed; close contact with faculty allows faculty to monitor student progress as well as provide constant support. Additionally, students gather weekly with the Co-Directors of the Graduate Program for a brown bag lunch, at which students present research findings to their peers and discuss program-related issues.
Q) What is it like being a graduate student in Washington, DC?
A) It's fun! DC is a culturally rich and diverse city. Whether you're interested in the arts, entertainment, dining, sports or nightlife, DC offers an array of options. We encourage you to email current graduate students with questions about the program as well as life in DC; see the "Meet our Students" page for student email addresses.
Q) May students seek and receive grants to fund their work?
A) Yes. While students do receive teaching stipends for serving as teaching assistants, all students are openly invited and encouraged to seek specialized funding to support their research. Georgetown Psychology students have been highly successful in receiving competitive, multi-year grants from organizations such as the National Institute on Aging and the Administration for Children and Families. Our students have also won highly competitive University and Dissertation Fellowships from the Georgetown Graduate School of Arts and Sciences.
Q) Will I gain teaching experience while at Georgetown?
A) Yes. Training students to become successful teachers is an integral part of the graduate program. Students serve as teaching assistants for various undergraduate psychology courses at both the introductory and seminar levels. Additionally, each student designs and teaches his or her own undergraduate upper-level seminar in the fourth year of the program. Our students' seminars have been very popular and focus on a range of topics, from Adolescent Development and Law to the Aging Mind and Brain.
