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Entrance Options and Prerequisites

Students may enter the Psy.D. in one of two categories: 1) with an existing master's degree in clinical psychology or while enrolled in a master's program in clinical psychology, OR 2) directly from completion of a bachelor's degree or with a master's degree that is not in clinical psychology.

  1. Students with an existing M.A. in Clinical Psychology or a closely related discipline (e.g., counseling, psychology, marriage and family therapy, or social work) and students who are in the final year of a master's program in clinical psychology or a closely related discipline will be admitted to the Psy.D. in the spring to begin the program in September of that year. These applicants must have completed the prerequisite courses listed in the following information, or their equivalent, prior to commencing Psy.D. studies. If an applicant's master's degree does not contain all the prerequisite courses, then a limited number of courses may be completed while in the admission process or concurrently with Psy.D. studies, by agreement with the director of the Psy.D. program.

    To graduate with a Psy.D. in clinical psychology, students must complete all aspects of the program including 100 doctoral units as outlined in the required curriculum, successfully pass comprehensive examinations, successfully complete a doctoral dissertation, and complete all required clinical training within eight years of beginning the Psy.D.

    Students entering the Psy.D. program in fall 2007 will join the final 89-unit Psy.D. program cohort. For the schedule of course curriculum, please refer to page 167 of the 2005-06 Graduate Catalog located on the APU website at www.apu.edu/provost/catalog/downloads/gradcat0506.pdf.

  2. Students applying to the Psy.D. directly from a bachelor's degree program and students with a master's degree that is not in psychology or a closely related discipline will be admitted to the Psy.D. program in the spring, and must complete a one-year Pre-Psy.D. track in September of that year in which the following sequence of prerequisite courses and a clinical practicum are completed in order to commence with the Psy.D. program. A limited number of graduate courses deemed equivalent to the prerequisite courses may be transferred to satisfy these requirements. Upon satisfactory completion of the one-year track with a GPA of 3.5 and approval of the director of the Psy.D. program, the student automatically becomes a member of the Psy.D. program the following September. These students may apply for a master's degree en route to the Psy.D. after the completion of the first year of the Psy.D. (on the four-year track). This admission process parallels programs in clinical psychology that only admit students to a continuous-from-the-bachelor's doctoral program. Students who enter the Pre-Psy.D. program in fall 2007 will begin the 100-unit Psy.D. program in fall 2008.

Prerequisite Courses to the Pre-Psy.D.:


Undergraduate courses

Prerequisite Courses to the Psy.D.:


Master's-level courses

Admissions Standards

Applicants to the Psy.D. in Clinical Psychology with an emphasis in Family Psychology Program must meet both the department and the university criteria for admission. Admission to the university is the first step in the process, but it does not guarantee admission to the program.

One cohort of students is admitted annually, with course work beginning in September. Students are not permitted to begin mid-year.

Application Deadline: The Application deadline is January 15. Students who apply prior to this date will be given consideration for admission.

Admission with an Existing Master's Degree or While Enrolled in a Master's Program

University graduate and program admission requirements must be met before an application is complete. Each application is evaluated as a whole.

International students have a separate application procedure. Please contact the International Center at +1-626-812-3055 or email IC. (See International Graduate Admissions.)

Applicants must:

  1. A Graduate Application for Admission
    (Apply Online | Download PDF)
    Please use the following program code when applying to this program: DPSY01
  2. Submit a nonrefundable $45 application fee.
  3. Provide one copy of official transcripts (PDF) of all previous collegiate coursework. (To be considered official, transcripts must be sent directly to APU from the registrar's office of each institution attended.)
  4. Possess an M.A. in clinical psychology (or a closely related discipline) from a regionally accredited college or university with a minimum GPA of 3.5 on a 4.0 scale, or be in the final year of a master's degree in psychology or a closely related discipline from a regionally accredited college or university with a minimum current GPA of 3.5 on a 4.0 scale (these applicants must commit to completing the master's degree in clinical psychology prior to July 15 of the current year and must maintain a minimum 3.5 GPA in the M.A. program, as evidenced on their final transcript for the M.A.). All master's degrees must include the courses specified as prerequisite to Psy.D. admission or the applicant must complete those courses during the application year (a limited number of master's courses may be remediated while enrolled in the Psy.D. program). Students who do not satisfy these requirements may have their Psy.D. admission revoked.
  5. Submit two academic references (PDF) and one clinical reference (PDF) (e.g., from a clinical supervisor).
  6. Submit a curriculum vita (résumé).
  7. Submit a written essay (PDF) covering the following areas:
    • What interests you in the field of psychology?
    • Why have you chosen to pursue a Psy.D. at this point in your life?
    • Why are you applying to the APU Psy.D. program?
    • What special skills or abilities do you bring to the Psy.D. program?
    • What experiences (volunteer, paid, practicum) have you had that prepare you for a clinical psychology program?
    • What personal or professional strengths and weaknesses do you bring to the program that will affect your performance as a psychologist?
    • What roles and functions do you anticipate fulfilling when you complete the Psy.D.?
  8. Provide a specification of intent to pursue the four- or five-year program sequence.
  9. Submit Graduate Record Exam (GRE) scores (Verbal, Quantitative, and Analytical Writing Assessment) taken within the last five years. If the GRE was taken prior to inclusion of the Writing Assessment, the applicant must take the Analytical Writing Assessment section of the new exam. Scores on the GRE will be used as one consideration of the application. Verbal and writing ability are especially important to success in the Psy.D.
  10. Submit proof of English proficiency if English is not the primary language. Please read the university's English Proficiency Requirements for ways to demonstrate English proficiency. International applicants are also encouraged to submit Test of Written English (TWE) and Test of Spoken English (TSE) scores. Since written and verbal English language skills are crucial to the education, training, and practice of psychology, further testing for spoken and written English will be required for all international students upon entrance to the program or as deemed necessary at any point in the program. The student must meet standards appropriate to doctoral-level study or he/she will be required to participate in concurrent speaking and/or writing classes in APU's American Language and Culture Institute (ALCI) until the required langauge skills are achieved. Students who do not meet this standard are subject to dismissal from the program.
  11. Upon notification of admission, applicants must confirm intent to attend in writing to the department by April 15. Admission is for the next academic year only and may not be deferred. Applicants who do not confirm acceptance of admission or who do not enroll when accepted, must reapply to be considered for future admission, but future admission is not guaranteed.

Applicants who are finalists will be invited to a meeting that will provide an opportunity for them to present their qualifications for admission and for faculty evaluation of student skills. International applicants who are finalists will be interviewed by telephone by one or more members of the admissions committee.

An interview does not ensure admission. The Department of Graduate Psychology reserves the right to determine, in its sole discretion, whether a candidate is suitable for admission to the Psy.D. program.

Admission Directly from a Bachelor of Arts Program or with a Master's Degree not in Psychology


International students have a separate application procedure. Please contact the International Center at +1-626-812-3055 or email IC. (See 'International Graduate Admissions.')

Applicants must:

  1. A Graduate Application for Admission
    (Apply Online | Download PDF)
    2. Please use the following program code when applying to this program: DPSY01
  2. Submit a nonrefundable $45 application fee.
  3. Provide one copy of official transcripts (PDF) of all previous collegiate coure work. (To be considered official, transcripts must be sent directly to APU from the registrar's office of each institution attended.)
  4. Possess a bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited college or university with a minimum overall GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale and 3.5 for the last two years of the degree. Applicants in the final year of their bachelor's degree must be currently at the GPA specified and their final transcript with degree posted must demonstrate maintenance of the GPA specified or admission may be revoked. A second option is that applicants possess a master's degree in a field other than psychology from a regionally accredited college or university with a minimum GPA of 3.5 on a 4.0 scale. Applicants in the final year of their master's degree must be currently at the GPA specified and their final transcript with degree posted must demonstrate maintenance of the GPA specified or admission may be revoked.
  5. Submit three academic references (PDF).
  6. Submit a curriculum vita (résumé).
  7. Submit a written essay (PDF) covering the following areas:
    • What interests you in the field of psychology?
    • Why have you chosen to pursue a Psy.D. at this point in your life?
    • Why are you applying to the APU Psy.D. program?
    • What special skills or abilities do you bring to the Psy.D. program?
    • What experiences (volunteer, paid, practicum) have you had that prepare you for a clinical psychology program?
    • What personal or professional strengths and weaknesses do you bring to the program that will affect your performance as a psychologist?
    • What roles and functions do you anticipate fulfilling when you complete the Psy.D.?
  8. Commit to completing the APU Pre-Psy.D. track during the following academic year and to beginning the Psy.D. program curriculum the subsequent September. Students who do not satisfy these requirements may have their Psy.D. program acceptance withdrawn. Provide a specification of intent to pursue the four- or five-year Psy.D. program sequence.
  9. Submit Graduate Record Exam (GRE) scores (Verbal, Quantitative, and Analytical Writing Assessment) taken within the last five years. If the GRE was taken prior to inclusion of the Writing Assessment, the applicant must take the Analytical Writing Assessment section of the new exam. Scores on the GRE will be used as one consideration of the application. Verbal and writing ability are especially important to success in the Psy.D. Information on the administration of these tests is available from the Department of Graduate Psychology.
  10. Submit a TOEFL score (minimum 600) if English is not the primary language. International applicants are also encouraged to submit Test of Written English (TWE) and Test of Spoken English (TSE) scores. Since written and verbal English skills are crucial to the education, training, and practice of psychology, further testing for spoken and written English will be required for all international students upon entrance to the program or as deemed necessary at any point in the program. The student must meet standards appropriate to doctoral-level study or he/she will be required to participate in concurrent speaking and/or writing classes in the School of Intensive English until the required language skills are acquired. Students who do not meet this standard are subject to dismissal from the program.
  11. Upon notification of admission, applicants must confirm intent to attend in writing to the department by April 15. Admission is for the next academic year only and may not be deferred. Applicants who do not confirm acceptance of admission or who do not enroll when accepted, must reapply to be considered for future admission, but future admission is not guaranteed.

Applicant finalists will be invited to an interview that will provide an opportunity for them to present their qualifications for admission, and for faculty evaluation of student skills.

An interview does not ensure admission. The Department of Graduate Psychology reserves the right to determine, in its sole discretion, whether a candidate is suitable for admission to the Psy.D. program.

International applicants who are finalists will be interviewed by telephone by one or more members of the admissions committee.

Transfer Credit

The Psy.D. program requires 100 semester units beyond the M.A. degree, as well as completion of clinical training and a clinical dissertation. Of these, 91 units must be earned at APU, while 9 doctoral units may be transferred from other institutions. Applicants to the Psy.D. program may have an existing master’s degree in psychology or a closely related discipline. These degrees will be evaluated according to the list of required prerequisites. Some remediation or additional coursework may be required for students from other institutions to satisfy these requirements.

Students entering directly into the Psy.D. program with a suitable master’s degree from another institution must audit the Pre-Psy.D. integration sequence during the first year in the Psy.D. program.

Psy.D. Pre-doctoral Assistantships

Funds are allocated to provide up to two Teaching-Research Assistantships (TRAs) in each entering class of the Pre-Psy.D. program. For the Pre-Psy.D. year of their program, TRAs receive 50 percent tuition remission plus an annual stipend of $6,250. TRAs must provide 15 hours of service per week in the Department of Graduate Psychology from September through June of their Pre-Psy.D. academic year. The Department of Graduate Psychology reserves the option to, in certain circumstances, divide the TRA positions into eight-hour-per-week positions (each student receiving one-half of the benefits) in order to assist more students.

Students who are awarded a TRA position during their Pre-Psy.D. year are welcome to reapply for each of the first three years of their doctoral program as well. Decisions are made yearly, based upon the needs of the faculty and the program.

Preference is given to applicants who evidence strong academic credentials (high GPA and GRE scores, in particular) and financial need. Cultural knowledge and language skills that facilitate the provision of psychological services in an underserved community and commitment to provide psychological services in an underserved community following graduation are also taken into consideration. Applications for the assistantships and criteria for evaluation of applications are available in the Department of Graduate Psychology.

Applicants who are finalists will be invited to a meeting that will provide an opportunity for them to present their qualifications for admission, and for faculty evaluation of student skills.

An interview does not ensure admission. The Department of Graduate Psychology reserves the right to determine, in its sole discretion, whether a candidate is suitable for admission to the Psy.D. program.

International applicants who are finalists will be interviewed by telephone by one or more members of the admissions committee.

All materials should be sent to:
Graduate Center: Admissions
Azusa Pacific University
PO Box 7000
Azusa, CA 91702-7000

(626) 815-4570
Fax (626) 815-4545 or (626) 815-4571
graduatecenter@apu.edu
www.apu.edu/graduatecenter

Admission Requirements—International Applicants

Azusa Pacific University is authorized under federal law by the U.S. CIS and the U.S. Department of State to enroll nonimmigrant, alien undergraduate and graduate students. APU issues and administers both the I-20 and DS 2019 (F-1 and J-1 status documents respectively).

To apply for a graduate program at APU, the following requirements must be fulfilled in addition to meeting the domestic applicant and program-specific admission requirements specified by the program.

International applicants must:

International applicants must also submit:

Submit all materials to:

International Center
Azusa Pacific University
901 E. Alosta Ave.
PO Box 7000
Azusa, CA 91702-7000
USA
+1-626-815-3055
Fax: +1-626-815-3801
Email IC

What to Expect

After the International Center receives all admission materials, a committee of department faculty review the applicant’s file. The applicant is then notified of the committee's decision.

Acceptance of Admission and Registration

Upon notification of admission, applicants have 30 days to confirm intent to attend in writing to the department. Admission is for the next academic year only and may not be deferred. Applicants who do not confirm acceptance of admission within 30 days or do not enroll in the academic year for which they were accepted and who desire future admission must send a written request to the department prior to the deadline for preferred applications. The request must indicate the term for which the student is requesting admission. International students must send a copy of this request to the International Center. Future admission is not guaranteed.

Residency Requirement

Students in the Psy.D. program must meet a university residency requirement. This is accomplished by enrolling in 91 units during the program. (For students in the 89-unit Psy.D. program, please refer to the Residency Requirement on page 167 of the 2005-06 Graduate Catalog located on the APU website at www.apu.edu/provost/catalog/downloads/gradcat0506.pdf).

Computer Access Required

Students are required to own or have ready access to a computer during their tenure in the Psy.D. program. The university offers a computer purchase program that enables students to obtain computers and software at reduced rates. Current hardware standards that allow access to the university online system are available from the Department of Graduate Psychology. Online access is crucial for students, since an email account and the ability to access PsycINFO, the APA database, are required for all Psy.D. students.

Note: This information is current for the 2012–13 academic year; however, all stated academic information is subject to change. Please refer to the current Academic Catalog for more information. For additional information, please contact the appropriate office.