Non-Degree and Transient Admission
Ordinarily, it is not possible to take Psychology graduate courses without being enrolled in a degree program. There are two exceptions:
- Students who are enrolled in a graduate degree program elsewhere may wish to take a course at Georgia State University, in which case they would apply for transient status. Or,
- Persons who already have a PhD may wish to take a course at Georgia State that relates to the academic or professional backgrounds, in which case they would apply for non-degree status.
Either is possible, at the option of the department and if there is space in the class. First, obtain written permission from the instructor(s) of the course(s) you wish to take and then from co-Director of Graduate Studies, Kevin Swartout (kswartout@gsu.edu). Second, complete the College of Arts and Sciences Online Application for Graduate Studies and pay the $50.00 processing fee (see How To Apply). Submit these items, along with two official transcripts from each school attended, to the Office of Graduate Studies. The deadlines are August 1, for fall semester, December 1, for spring semester, and June 1, for summer semester.
The Department of Psychology has the following policy regarding non-degree student applicants: Students may take no more than 6 semester hours of graduate level coursework in the non-degree status without petitioning the department for an exception. Students enrolled with the non-degree status in a psychology graduate course may not at the same time be applicants to a graduate degree program in the department. They also may not apply for admission to a graduate degree program in the department for one year following the semester in which the last graduate course was taken.
Note: Students interested in taking undergraduate, but not graduate, courses should apply through the Georgia State Admissions Office for post-baccalaureate status.
