G R A D U A T E
S T U D I E S
Science Driving Solutions grads.soceco.uci.edu
5
YEARS OF GUARANTEED FUNDING FOR ADMITTED PHD STUDENTS
WHAT WE OFFER D O C T O R A L
P R O G R A M S
CRIMINOLOGY, LAW & SOCIETY (CLS) PSYCHOLOGICAL SCIENCE (PS) SOCIAL ECOLOGY - CORE (SE-CORE) URBAN & ENVIRONMENTAL PLANNING AND POLICY (UEPP)
M A S T E R ' S
P R O G R A M S
APPLICATION OPENS SEPTEMBER 2019 FOR FALL 2020 ADMISSION
PUBLIC POLICY (MPP) URBAN & REGIONAL PLANNING (MURP) CRIMINOLOGY, LAW & SOCIETY (MAS - ONLINE) LEGAL & FORENSIC PSYCHOLOGY (MLFP - ONLINE)
ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS Minimum 3.0 undergraduate GPA Completion of bachelor's degree
APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS Statement of Purpose Personal History Statement GRE (required for most programs) TOEFL/IELTS (if applicable) Three Letters of Recommendation Unofficial Transcripts Application Fee (fee waivers available): $120 domestic applicants $140 International applicants
FALL 2020 DEADLINES DECEMBER 1: PhD PS JANUARY 2: PhD SE Core JANUARY 2: PhD UEPP JANUARY 3: PhD CLS JANUARY 10: MPP JANUARY 15: MURP MARCH 1: MLFP MARCH 1: MAS
LAW & SOCIETY
PHD CLS
ABOUT CRIMINOLOGY, Recently ranked #3 in the nation by U.S. News and World Report, the Criminology, Law and Society PhD program focuses on the causes,
manifestations and consequences of crime; the impacts of crime on society; social regulation;
the civil justice system; the social and cultural contexts of law; and the interactive effects of law and society. With high caliber faculty and
interdisciplinary perspective, the program aims to develop students' theoretical and
methodological sophistication to prepare them for faculty positions at major universities and colleges or for research, training, and administrative work in the justice system.
ABOUT PSYCHOLOGICAL
SP DHP
SCIENCE The Psychological Science PhD program provides students with a strong foundation in theory, research methods and advanced statistics, as well as in classic and contemporary issues in psychology. Students can specialize in one of four core areas: health psychology, developmental psychology, social/personality psychology, and affective science. A concentration in psychology and law can also be paired with one of these specializations. Students will be trained to investigate the antecedents and developmental course of adaptive or maladaptive behavior in diverse sociocultural contexts and to apply basic research social interventions, programs, and policies that promote health and well-being.
ABOUT URBAN & & POLICY The Urban & Environmental Planning & Policy PhD program trains scholars in the analysis of
PHD UEPP
ENVIRONMENTAL PLANNING
social problems related to the build, natural and institutional environments. Today's complex urban, social and environmental issues can be best understood by researchers who can work across disciplinary boundaries, and can take research into action. The department's internationally prominent research and teaching strengths focus on design, governance and management in relation to planning and policy topics including community development, environmental sustainability, housing, transportation and water.
PHD SE CORE
ABOUT SOCIAL ECOLOGY - CORE The Core PhD program in Social Ecology allows students to develop a tailored course of graduate study that draws upon the knowledge of several prestigious academic disciplines. This is a small, distinguished program intended for genuinely interdisciplinary doctoral students. The emphases of this training program are in keeping with the academic mission of the School, namely, a focus on an ecological approach to research and policy, an interdisciplinary approach to research and community intervention, and the application of theory and research to community problem solving.
ABOUT THE MASTER OF PUBLIC POLICY The Master of Public Policy (MPP) program
experts and practitioners to meet the unique challenges of the 21st century. The MPP program prepares graduates for careers analyzing, developing, and advocating for
MPP
educates the next generation of public policy
policy solutions. Under the mentorship of topnotch faculty – who are themselves important voices in the local, national and international policy community – graduates of the program hone their basic and applied research skills, sharpen their the ability to communicate effectively in the policy world, and tackle some of the most pressing problems in society.
ABOUT THE MASTER OF URBAN & REGIONAL PLANNING The Master of Urban and Regional Planning
MURP
(MURP) program is a two-year professional degree program, fully accredited by the Planning Accreditation Board (PAB), with an “exemplary record” of curriculum, teaching, and services in the most recent accreditation review (2013-2014). UCI’s MURP is consistently ranked as one of the nation’s top professional planning programs. It provides students with a rigorous intellectual foundation and critical analytical skills that prepare them for a professional career in urban and regional planning and related fields.
ABOUT THE MASTER OF ADVANCED STUDY
MAS
The Online Master of Advanced Study (MAS) in Criminology, Law and Society prepares graduates for leadership positions in a range of fields such as corrections, law enforcement, social
services, probation/parole, and a variety of public administrative roles. Students graduating from this program are positioned for career advancement as well as further academic endeavors.
ABOUT LEGAL & FORENSIC PSYCHOLOGY The Online Master of Legal and Forensic Psychology (MLFP) program focuses on the
MLFP
intersection of psychology and legal issues, with an emphasis on the use of psychological principles, theories and research to better understand legal processes and systems. One of the strengths of the program is it promotes an interdisciplinary environment devoted to advancing scholarship, testing theories and engaging in public service. Specifically, the program works collaboratively with the Center for Psychology and Law, offering students insightful events and educational opportunities.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
VISIT US ONLINE
GRADS.SOCECO.UCI.EDU
DO I NEED A SPECIFIC UNDERGRADUATE MAJOR TO APPLY? We welcome applicants from all educational backgrounds and encourage students with a variety of interests to apply. With that said, admission to our MS and PhD programs is competitive, so we recommend that applicants have some background in social science statistics and research methods. Refer to specific department websites for additional information.
WHAT WILL MAKE ME A COMPETITIVE APPLICANT? We consider an applicant's record as a whole (grades, exam scores, letters of recommendation), but a competitive PhD applicant typically has a 3.7 undergraduate GPA, GREs around 320 combined verbal and quantitative scores, a great deal of research experience, and 3 strong letters of recommendation. A competitive MS applicant typically has a minimum 3.0 undergraduate GPA, GREs around 300 combined (for departments requiring the GRE), and 3 strong letters of recommendation. Note that an exceptional record in one area may be able to compensate for weakness in another area.
IS THE GRE REQUIRED? CAN I SUBMIT THE LSAT/GMAT INSTEAD? The majority of our programs require the general GRE test (subject tests are not required), with the exception of the Master of Advanced Study in Criminology, Law & Society (MAS) and the Master of Legal and Forensic Psychology (MLFP). Also, the GRE is not required for the Master of Urban and Regional Planning (MURP) for domestic applicants with at least a 3.3 undergraduate GPA. Note that we cannot accept a different exam in place of the GRE.
ARE THERE ADDITIONAL TESTING REQUIREMENTS FOR INTERNATIONAL APPLICANTS? If English is the primary or dominant language of your country, as recognized by UCI, not just the medium of education at your school, you will not be required to take the TOEFL or IELTS test for admissions purposes. Also, for admission purposes, if you completed your ENTIRE degree in the US, with no credit transferred from a school in a country where English is not the primary or dominant language, you do not need to take an English proficiency test. If the above do not apply to you, then you must submit a TOEFL or IELTS score for admission consideration. The minimum score for admission consideration on the TOEFL iBT is 80 and 550 for the paper-based test. If you opt to take the IELTS, an overall minimum score of 7 is required for admission, with a score of no less than 6 on any individual module. Note that these scores are minimums for admission consideration and do not reflect the required minimum scores to become eligible for a Teaching Assistantship.
IS A WRITING SAMPLE REQUIRED? A writing sample is not required, but all applicants are required to submit a Statement of Purpose and a Personal History Statement. These statements should be no more than 1200 words (each, for a maximum of 2400 words combined). Refer to individual department websites for specific instructions. Applicants to the MLFP and MPP programs are required to submit a resume. All supplemental documents can be uploaded using the application portal.
DO YOU OFFER ANY FELLOWSHIPS OR SCHOLARSHIPS? At minimum, admitted PhD students receive a Teaching Assistantship or Graduate Student Research Assistantship, which includes tuition remission, most fees, and a stipend. Exceptional students receive 1-2 year fellowships, which includes full financial support. Admitted on-campus master's students are typically offered merit scholarships.
I HAVE MORE QUESTIONS! CAN I SPEAK TO SOMEONE AT THE SCHOOL OF SOCIAL ECOLOGY? Absolutely! Email seambassador@uci.edu to ask additional questions or call 949-824-1874 to speak to an admissions representative. You are welcome to visit our website for further information about our programs: grads.soceco.uci.edu