Admission

Entrance Options and Prerequisites

Students with a bachelor’s or master’s in psychology or a closely related field are welcome to apply for entrance into the PsyD program without any further prerequisite course fulfillment. Students who have a bachelor’s or master's unrelated to the field of psychology will be required to take the following undergraduate courses before commencing the PsyD program:

• Introduction to Psychology (general psychology course)
• Human Growth and Development (developmental psychology course that covers the lifespan)
• Abnormal Psychology
• Introduction to Statistics

Application Deadline

One cohort of students is admitted annually with coursework beginning in September. Students are not permitted to begin midyear.

• Priority Deadline: December 1 for priority consideration for admission
• Regular Deadline: January 15

Admission Requirements—Domestic Applicants

The university graduate and program admission requirements below must be met before an application is considered complete.

Admission Directly from a Bachelor’s Degree or with a Master’s Degree

Applicants must submit:

• Graduate application for admission
• $45 nonrefundable application fee

• Official transcripts from all institutions leading to and awarding the applicant’s bachelor’s degree and/or master’s degree from a regionally accredited institution and all postbaccalaureate study.

An official transcript is one that Azusa Pacific University receives unopened in an envelope sealed by the former institution and that bears the official seal of the college or university. A cumulative minimum 3.0 (on a 4.0 scale) grade-point average on the posted degree is required for regular admission status. Applicants who possess a master’s degree from a regionally accredited college or university in a field other than psychology must have a minimum GPA of 3.5. Applicants in the final year of their bachelor’s or master’s degree must currently be at the GPA specified, and their final transcript with degree posted must demonstrate maintenance of the GPA specified or admission may be revoked.

• Two academic references
• Curriculum vita (résumé)
• Written essay (5-7 pages, double-spaced) covering the following areas:
  • What interests you in the field of psychology?
  • Why have you chosen to pursue a PsyD at this point in your life?
  • Why are you applying to the APU PsyD program?
  • What special skills or abilities do you bring to the PsyD 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 PsyD?
• General Graduate Record Exam (GRE) scores
• 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, which begins in the fall semester. Applicants who do not confirm acceptance of admission or who do not enroll when accepted may be required to reapply to be considered for future admission, which is not guaranteed.

Send official transcripts to:

Graduate and Professional Center
Office of Graduate and Professional Admissions
Azusa Pacific University
PO Box 7000
Azusa, CA 91702-7000
gpadmissions@apu.edu

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 Clinical Psychology reserves the right to determine, in its sole discretion, whether a candidate is suitable for admission to the PsyD program.

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

Once an applicant has been accepted into the program and has confirmed intent to attend, a nonrefundable prematriculation admission deposit of $500 is required to hold the slot in the PsyD program. The deposit will be applied toward tuition upon registration of courses and attendance at orientation. Contact your admissions representative for additional details.

Transfer Credit

The PsyD program requires 133 semester units, as well as completion of clinical training and a clinical dissertation. Applicants to the PsyD program may have an existing master's degree in psychology or a closely related discipline. These degrees will be evaluated, and some courses may be transferred in to count toward the PsyD

PsyD Teaching and Research Assistantships

Funds are allocated to provide four Teaching-Research Assistantships (TRAs) each academic year per cohort for a total of 16 positions throughout the program. TRAs receive 25 percent tuition remission plus an annual stipend of $3,125. TRAs must provide 8 hours of service per week in the Department of Clinical Psychology from September through June of each academic year.

Preference is given to applicants who evidence strong academic credentials (high GPA and GRE scores, in particular), financial need, and 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. Applications for the assistantships and criteria for evaluation of applications are available in the Department of Clinical Psychology.

Residency Requirement

Residence comprises all courses for academic credit offered by this university regardless of program modality or delivery model. The minimum residence requirement of all graduate programs is 80 percent of course requirements. Variances exist for specific programs; please refer to program requirements for department policies.

Computer Access Required

Students are required to own or have ready access to a computer during their tenure in the PsyD 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 Clinical Psychology. Online access is crucial for students, since an email account and the ability to access PsycINFO, the APA database, are required for all PsyD students.

Admission Requirements—International Applicants

Azusa Pacific University is authorized under federal law by the U.S. Citizen and Immigration Services 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 above.

International applicants must also:

• Demonstrate proficiency in English through a placement test with the American Language and Culture Institute (ALCI), or through a TOEFL/IELTS score that meets program-specific requirements. Refer to APU’s English proficiency requirements to learn more. Request that official test scores be sent to APU. All other forms of proof indicated in the English proficiency requirements must be submitted directly to the International Center. Applicants applying for conditional admission through the American Language and Culture Institute (ALCI) must apply to both ALCI and the academic program. Read about ALCI admission requirements.
• Provide a Graduate Affidavit of Financial Support (PDF) and a bank statement from within the last six months proving financial ability to pay for education costs through personal, family, or sponsor resources.
• Submit a copy of a valid passport showing biographical data, including your name, country of citizenship, date of birth, and other legal information.
• Get foreign transcripts evaluated. International credentials (transcripts, certificates, diplomas, and degrees) must be evaluated by a foreign transcript evaluation agency. View our policy and a list of approved Foreign Transcript Evaluation Agencies.

Send official transcripts to:

Graduate and Professional Center
Office of Graduate and Professional Admissions
Azusa Pacific University
PO Box 7000
Azusa, CA 91702-7000
gpadmissions@apu.edu

What to Expect

After all admission materials have been received by the Graduate and Professional Center, the faculty or department chair reviews the applicant’s file. The applicant is notified in writing of the admission 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.