North Dakota State University

Due Date

Applications are due February 1st but may be accepted after the deadline depending on space availability. Applicants will be considered for entry into the program in the fall; no applicants are considered for spring admission. The program is designed for students who plan to attend on a full-time basis. A masters degree is not necessary for admission into the program.

Application Components

 Applications must be submitted online and include the following components:

• Online application form
• Personal statement
• Curriculum vitae or resume
• Thesis or writing sample
• 3 letters of recommendation (recommenders should be identified in the online application and then will be contacted electronically to complete the form/letter)
• GRE scores
• TOEFL scores for those whose native language is not English
• Official transcript from all previous colleges/universities

NOTE: A key component for acceptance into our program is a match between your interests and those of a core faculty member(s). Thus, it would be helpful to indicate your research interests and the faculty member(s) you would like to work within your personal statement. For more information on current research projects and core faculty members, click here.

Click here to be linked to the Graduate School application procedure

Admission Criteria

Criteria for admission include but are not limited to:

• Cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher
• Well-written personal statement with research interests that match with the department
• GRE verbal and quantitative scores of at least 600 each (preferred)
• Previous research knowledge and experience (preferred)
• For those entering with a Bachelor's degree: 
  • Bachelor's degree from an accredited educational institution in child development, developmental psychology, human development, developmental science, psychology, or other related area
  • At least one course in statics and one course in research methods (preferred)
• For those entering with a Master's degree: 
  • Master's degree from an accredited educational institution in child development, developmental psychology, human development, developmental science, psychology, or other related area
  • At least one course in statistics and one course in research methods, with grades of a least a B
  • Completion of an empirical Master's thesis (this document must be sent along with your application)
• For non-native English speakers: 
  • Subscores on the TOEFL at a least 24 for speaking and 21 for writing

Some Helpful Tips

Writing a Personal Statement

Letters of Recommendation

For more information on financial opportunities, click here
Review Graduate School information, click here
For additional questions, please contact our Graduate Coordinator, joel.hektner@ndsu.edu