Admission

Application to the PsyD program is made through PSYCAS between September and December the year prior to matriculation. The program welcomes applicants from diverse ethnic, cultural, religious, sexual orientation, age, and ability backgrounds.  Applications for Fall 2025 will begin in September 2024 and the application deadline is December 15.

Academic Preparation

Applicants to the PsyD program must submit documentation of having earned a bachelor’s degree in psychology or a closely related field from a regionally-accredited institution. Applicants are required to submit final official transcripts for all prior coursework.

The minimum undergraduate GPA required for admission into the PsyD program is 3.00. A master’s degree is not required for admission and a master’s GPA may not be substituted for a deficient undergraduate GPA.

Applicants should have prerequisite coursework with a grade of C-/credit or better for the following: introductory or general psychology, statistics, experimental psychology or research methods, abnormal psychology or psychopathology; and two additional psychology courses.

International students must submit proof of proficiency in the English language via a satisfactory total TOEFL or Duolingo score. The minimum required TOEFL total score for the 3 versions of the TOEFL are: 600 (paper-based version), 250 (computer-based version), and 100 (internet-based version). Duolingo English test of 130 or higher.

GRE

Applicants must submit their official scores on the GRE General Test (Verbal, Quantitative, and Analytical Writing). The minimum required GRE scores are 295 (Verbal and Quantitative combined) and 3.5 (Analytical Writing). The GRE Psychology Subject Test is not required. GRE scores must be recent (not older than 5 years). Information regarding testing dates and locations may be found at the Educational Testing website. The ETS code for our PSYCAS Psychology applications is 7809. Do not use the university’s general code.

Curriculum Vitae and Statement of Professional Goals and Aspirations

Each PsyD applicant must submit a current curriculum vitae. A statement of professional goals and aspirations (APA style, double spaced, 1,000 words maximum) is also required. The statement should address the applicant’s interest in our program; their compatibility with the research interests of the PsyD faculty; their goals for training; and their future aspirations.

Letters of Recommendation

Three letters of recommendation are required. These letters must come from individuals familiar with the applicant’s academic preparation, fieldwork, employment, or volunteer experience. All three letters must be from individuals who are qualified to objectively assess the applicant’s ability to succeed in doctoral-level study and potential to function competently as a professional clinical psychologist.

Interview

Following receipt and review of application materials, an interview is required for those applicants being considered for admission. Interviews will be held in January and February and will be conducted by faculty members from the PsyD program.  Following interviews, admission offers are made by mid-March and decisions are due by April 15th.

Transfer Units

Students who have completed previous graduate work at another university may request transfer credit for this work. Request for transfer of academic credit and coursework will be reviewed by the PC/DCT on a case-by-case basis for recency and academic applicability. Only courses completed within five (5) years from date of admission into the PsyD program, at a regionally accredited university, with a grade of B (3.0) or better may be considered for transfer. The maximum number of transfer credits is 12 semester hours. Transfer credit may reduce course load during various semesters of the program but does not shorten residency requirements or the number of years required to complete the program. Practicum, internship, statistics, research methods, and dissertation units are non-transferable and are not accepted for transfer credit.

Application Deadline: December 15

All applications must be submitted to PSYCAS no later than December 15 (9 p.m. PST) to be considered for admission to the next fall semester. All application materials – including transcripts, statement, CV, recommendation letters, and GRE scores – must be submitted to directly to PSYCAS and not the graduate admissions office at our university. Our university does not process any transcripts or materials received for PsyD applicants.  Applicants should never contact the university’s graduate admissions office for status questions or to provide application materials. For questions regarding the program, status of applications, or our admissions process contact Natalie Brown, Graduate Psychology Manager via email.

A completed application file consists of:

• online PSYCAS application;
• curriculum vitae;
• statement of professional goals and aspirations;
• official GRE general test scores;
• three (3) letters of recommendation;
• official transcripts of all courses leading to the bachelor’s degree (international students, please click for transcript guidelines);
• official transcripts of all graduate level courses (if applicable);
• International students: official TOEFL scores of 100 iBT, IELTS of 6.5, or Duolingo English test of 130 (see full list of requirements at https://laverne.edu/admission/international/english-proficiency/ )

PSYCAS Mailing Address

2024 Entering Cohort Statistics