Doctor of Psychology (Psy.D.)

Admission Requirements

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.

Admissions 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 Office of International Student Services at (626) 812-3055 or email iss@apu.edu. (See 'International Graduate Admissions.')

Applicants must:

1. Submit a completed Application for Graduate Admission. The preferred application deadline is January 15. Students who apply prior to this date will be given consideration for initial admission. The extended application deadline is March 15. Students who apply prior to this date will be given consideration for admission.
2. Submit a nonrefundable $45 application fee.
3. Provide one copy of official transcripts* 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* and one clinical reference* (e.g., from a clinical supervisor).
6. Submit a curriculum vita (résumé).
7. Submit a written essay* 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. International applicants whose first language is not English must submit a TOEFL score of 600 minimum and are encouraged to submit the results of the Test of Written English (TWE) and the Test of Spoken English (TSE). 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 the School of Intensive English, unitl 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.

*The downloadable version of the application is provided in a Portable Document Format (PDF). To learn more about PDFs or to install Adobe Acrobat Reader, follow this link.

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 Office of International Student Services at (626) 812-3055 or email ISS. (See 'International Graduate Admissions.')

Applicants must:

1. Submit a completed Application for Graduate Admission. The application deadline is February 15. Students who apply prior to this date will be given consideration for our initial admission. The extended application deadline is March 15. Students who apply during this period will be considered on a case-by-case basis for admission if positions are available.
2. Submit a nonrefundable $45 application fee.
3. Provide one copy of official transcripts* 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*.
6. Submit a curriculum vita (résumé).
7. Submit a written essay* 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.

*The downloadable version of the application is provided in a Portable Document Format (PDF). To learn more about PDFs or to install Adobe Acrobat Reader, follow this link.

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 must be earned at APU, while 12 equivalent 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 during 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

Located at:
568 E. Foothill Blvd.
Azusa, CA 91702-7000
(626) 815-4570
Fax (626) 815-4545 or (626) 815-4571
graduatecenter@apu.edu
www.apu.edu/graduatecenter

International applicants send forms to:
Office of International Student Services
Azusa Pacific University
PO Box 7000
Azusa, CA 91702-7000 USA
(626) 812-3055
Fax (626) 815-3801
Email ISS
www.apu.edu/international

International Graduate Admissions

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 to be a graduate student at Azusa Pacific, please submit the following:

1. Application for International Graduate Admission
2. $65 nonrefundable application fee
3. Affidavit of Financial Support (included in application form) and bank statement* proving ability to pay for educational costs through personal, family, or sponsor resources
4. International applicants whose first language is not English must submit a TOEFL score of 600 minimum and are encouraged to submit the results of the Test of Written English (TWE) and the Test of Spoken English (TSE). 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 the School of Intensive English, until the required language skills are achieved. Students who do not meet this standard are subject to dismissal from the program.
5. Letters of recommendation** (included in International Graduate Admissions Application)
6. Letter to the dean** (statement of educational and professional goals)
7. Résumé
8. Official transcripts** sent directly from the previous school(s) attended to APU. Transcripts must be translated officially into English and include the degrees earned by the student. Both English and original language transcripts must be submitted.
9. One photo

*One year's tuition may be required in advance prior to issuing the United States immigration document.

**The downloadable version of the application is provided in a Portable Document Format (PDF). To learn more about PDFs or to install Adobe Acrobat Reader, follow this link.

To be considered for graduate admission, the applicant must have a bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited, officially recognized university with a minimum grade-point average (GPA) equivalent of 3.0. Applicants with a GPA of 2.75-2.9 may be considered for provisional admission.

In addition, all international applicants are expected to read and comply with the policies listed in the Graduate Catalog**.

International applicants must submit all application materials and direct all questions to:

Office of International Student Services
Azusa Pacific University
PO Box 7000
Azusa, CA 91702-7000 USA
(626) 812-3055
Fax: (626) 815-3801
Email ISS
www.apu.edu/international/

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 Office of International Student Services. 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/academics/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.

English Proficiency Requirements

All students graduating from non-English speaking institutions and applying for university graduate admission, with the exception of APU-approved bilingual programs, must submit a Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) score sent by ETS. The university minimum required score for graduate study is 550 (213 for the computer-based test). The minimum required score may be higher for a specific graduate program. Please see the applicable program information for its minimum TOEFL score requirements.

An Internet-based TOEFL (IBT) score can also be used as a verification of English proficiency. Please contact ISS for specific scoring requirements.

An International English Language Testing System (IELTS) score can be used as a verification of English proficiency. For regular admission, a minimum score of seven (7) is required.

Applicants studying full time and earning 48 units (not including ESL units) in an English-speaking university immediately prior to applying to APU may be eligible to waive the TOEFL requirements. Verification of English as the language of instruction will be required.

In addition, students must enroll in TESL 500 English for International Students during their first term at APU regardless of TOEFL score. During the first class session, an opportunity will be given to demonstrate proficiency in English. If this is met, the student can waive the class.

A student's ability to speak English well and use clear pronunciation is an important part of a graduate education. It is assumed that a student's spoken English will be at a high enough level to communicate and participate competently in classes. If, while in classes, it is determined that the student's ability to communicate and participate in English is below the necessary standard, a teacher may refer him/her to the department chair who can require him/her to enroll in a noncredit program, at the student's expense. This program will be specifically designed to enable the student to raise his/her English communication ability.

American Language and Culture Institute

Applicants who are not able to take the TOEFL test may apply to APU's American Language and Culture Institute (ALCI). Upon arrival at the ALCI, English testing will be provided to determine the level of English proficiency. Students who pass all the English testing can proceed directly into the university at the next available starting date without studying in the ALCI (provided they have already been accepted to the graduate program at the university). When a student has been placed in or advanced to level six (6) of ALCI, they may take one graduate class concurrent with their intensive English studies.

*The downloadable version of this document is provided in a Portable Document Format (PDF). To learn more about PDFs or to install Adobe Acrobat Reader, follow this link.