Admission Process
Steps in the Admission Process
You can download all the forms you need from this page. But if you would like to have a complete application packet sent to you by US Mail, write, phone (423-425-4268), or email Dr. Michael Biderman, The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, 615 McCallie Avenue, Department 2803 (Psychology), Chattanooga, TN 37403.
I. Work through the application process for the UTC Graduate School:
- A. Go to the online application system: http://www.utc.edu/apply/
- B. I/O Supplemental Application Form (A Word document)
- C. To be considered for a Graduate Assistantship, complete the application form found here:
http://www.utc.edu/Administration/GraduateSchool/AssistanshipsAndScholarships.php
- D. Recommendation Form. (A Word document) Print three copies. Fill out the top of each.
You will need Adobe Acrobat Reader to download some of these forms. You can get it here for free: Download
Adobe Acrobat Reader 
II. Distribute Recommendation Forms to three people.
Give a copy of the Recommendation Form to three persons who know your work. These persons can be professors, persons for whom you've worked, or other persons who are familiar with you. At least one of them should be someone from whom you have had one or more college level courses. Have those persons return the Recommendation Form to you in a sealed envelope.
III. Prepare a Personal Statement.
Follow the guidelines under Admissions Criteria.
IV. Read this letter and respond to our internet-based student personality survey (optional).
As we continue to improve our ability to select the highest qualified and best-fitting applicants to our program, we ask that you please complete this survey. Please note, however, that doing so (or choosing not to do so) will in no way affect our decision making about your application.
V. Submit the online application and mail any additional forms to the address below.
VI. Contact the Records Office(s) of all colleges or universities you have attended .
Have your transcripts mailed to the same address as your application packet (above).
VII. Arrange to take the Graduate Record Exam general test.
- We do not require the Psychology Advanced Test.
- Have your scores on the GRE sent to UTC -- UTC's GRE-code number is 1831.
All admission-related materials should be mailed to:
The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga
Graduate School, Department 5305
615 McCallie Avenue
Chattanooga, TN 37403-2598
Checking on your Application
You should allow sufficient time before the admissions deadline for your materials to arrive at UTC, your transcripts to be printed and sent, and your GRE scores to be transmitted. If you wish to check on the status of your application, please contact the Program Liaison for Psychology. That person is Amber Beason (phone: 423-425-5686).
Provisional Admission
Applicants who meet the Graduate Division's minimum standards are typically admitted as Provisional graduate students. This provisional status does not assure admission as a Degree student into the I-O program . Normally, students applying to the psychology M.S. programs will not be allowed to take courses while they are on provisional status. Provisional status is merely an indication that the student has met the Graduate School's standards for graduate students. The decision on admission to the program is a separate decision made by the Department of Psychology and the I-O program faculty.
Under some circumstances, students may want to take courses while under Provision status. Provisional students may take up to nine (9) hours of graduate course work for which they have (1) met all prerequisites and (2) obtained approval from the department chair and/or the program coordinator. If a student is subsequently admitted as a Degree student, these courses can be applied to the student's graduate program of study, contingent on the adviser's approval. However, successful performance in these classes does not assure admission as a Degree student. More information on admission standards and procedures for the Graduate Division can be found in the Graduate Catalog.
Admission to the I-O program
On or soon after March 15 for Fall applications, or December 15 for Spring applications, completed applications are reviewed by a committee of the Department of Psychology, and applicants whose undergraduate GPA, GRE scores, letters of recommendation, and personal statement indicate that they can successfully complete and make a positive contribution to the program and to the field are accepted as Degree students. If there are more qualified applicants than there are available openings in the program, only the top applicants will be accepted as Degree students at this time. Letters are sent to those accepted, with a deadline for responding. Typically, the deadline is the first of May although it can be extended if absolutely necessary at a student's request. After the first deadline, any remaining openings will be offered to remaining qualified applicants. This second round of applicants may include those whose applications became complete after the March 15 deadline. Occasionally, highly qualified applicants have been accepted as late as July when unexpected openings have arisen. When program capacity is near its limit, however, only students with the highest qualifications will be considered. Exceptionally well qualified students may be admitted for the Spring semester, although course sequencing makes it unlikely that a student entering in the Spring will be able to graduate in fewer than five semesters.
