GRE Requirements by Area of Specialization
As you prepare to apply, make sure you know whether the GRE General Test is optional or required for the area of specialization you are applying to. The requirements listed below are specific to Fall 2025 and are subject to change for future admissions cycles. Areas review their requirements annually in spring.
Guidance on taking the GRE and submitting your scores is available from the Graduate School. Educational Testing Services (ETS), which administers the GRE, has a Fee Reduction Program that some U.S. citizens and resident aliens may be eligible for based on demonstrated financial need, unemployment, or participation in national programs that work with underrepresented groups.
In September 2023, the GRE General Test transitioned to a shorter format. The Department of Psychology will consider scores from the longer and shorter versions of the test as equivalent. Individuals who took the longer test do not need to re-test, provided scores are not more than five years old. Learn more about the GRE General Test format.
| Area | Is GRE General test required | Is GRE General test considered if submitted? | Is GRE Psychology Subject test required? | Is GRE Psychology Subject test considered if submitted? |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cognitive and Brain Sciences (CAB) | Yes | Yes | No | Yes |
| Clinical Science and Psychopathology Research (CSPR) | Yes | Yes | No | Yes |
| Counseling Psychology | No | Yes | No | Yes |
| Industrial/Organizational Psychology (I/O) | Yes | Yes | No, but should take it if possible | Yes |
| Personality, Individual Differences and Behavior Genetics (PIB) | No, but strongly encouraged | Yes | No | Yes |
| Quantitative/Psychometric Methods (QPM) | Yes | Yes | No | Yes |
| Social Psychology | No | Yes | No | Yes |