Doctoral Admissions Policies
Admission to doctoral programs is competitive and limited. All doctoral applicants are expected to have a cumulative GPA in past undergraduate and graduate (if applicable) academic work of no less than 3.00 on a four-point scale; some doctoral programs may have more restrictive GPA requirements. Standardized assessment results, personal statements, academic and professional recommendation letters, and interviews may also be used by program admissions committees in making admissions decisions.
Application to the Doctor of Psychology in Clinical Psychology program requires the following:
• Completed Graduate Application.
• A bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited institution.
• Official college transcripts from all previous undergraduate and graduate academic work. If the transcripts are from an institution located outside of the United States, students must submit an official course-by-course transcript evaluation from an organization that is a current member of the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES). A member list is available on the NACES website.
• Completed Personal Statement and supplemental questions (available in the application and on the program website).
• CV/resume.
• Three academic or professional letters of recommendation and accompanying recommendation form. At least one letter must be from an academic reference (i.e., a professor or academic research supervisor who has taught or directly supervised the applicant). At least two academic references are strongly preferred. Professional references should also come from individuals who have supervised the applicant in a professional context (e.g., internship, paid employment, etc.). All letter writers should be able to speak to your potential for doctoral-level study and/or clinical practice.
• Official GRE scores (optional). While GRE scores are not required for admission, applicants may submit them for consideration as part of your application package. The exam must be taken within the past five years.
Following initial review of application materials, a subset of applicants will be invited to participate in a full-day individual and group interview process. All application components, including interview performance, will be considered in final admissions decisions.
Annual criminal background checks are required for all students in the program. During the summer prior to enrollment, accepted students are required to obtain, pay for, and pass a criminal background check through a third-party vendor contracted by the Doctor of Psychology in Clinical Psychology program to conduct background screenings. These background checks are regularly required by the clinical sites at which students will complete practica and internships. Failure to pass a criminal background check may result in revocation of acceptance to the program.