PsyD Admission Requirements

The application form is quick and easy, taking less than 15 minutes to complete. 

Applicants to this program must possess a bachelor's degree and a master's degree in a closely related field.

For domestic students, transcripts sent electronically via one of the approved companies listed below from the institutions that awarded the baccalaureate and master’s degrees to the applicant as well as all transcripts from all other colleges or universities attended. Unofficial transcripts are acceptable for initial admissions review; however official transcripts must be received to complete your student file.

• Electronic Transcript(s) emailed to gsep-admissions@pepperdine.edu.
• Official transcript(s) may be sent from one of the following approved companies:
  • National Student Clearinghouse
  • Parchment
  • eSCRIP-SAFE
• Hard-copy Transcript(s), in a sealed and stamped envelope, must be mailed to:

Pepperdine University-GSEP
5th Floor- Enrollment Processing
6100 Center Drive
Los Angeles, CA 90045, USA

Two recommendations: if possible, one from a college professor familiar with the applicant’s academic performance and one from a clinical supervisor familiar with the applicant’s clinical skills. The online Recommendation Form should be emailed by your recommender to gsep-admissions@pepperdine.edu. 

A 5-8 page autobiographical statement that addresses each of the following:(1) key life experiences (e.g., personal, family, social, educational, job, etc.) which led to your interest in clinical psychology, (2) why you believe you are a good fit for a career as a psychologist (e.g., personal qualities, values, strengths, skills, preparation, etc.), (3) current areas of scholarly and professional interest, (4) experiences and perspectives regarding any aspect(s) of your own social identities, and how diversity and culture inform your relevant professional work and future work as a clinical psychologist, (5) your reasons for applying specifically to Pepperdine's PsyD Program, and (6) your vision for your career 10 years after graduating. The personal statement can be added to your online application or emailed to gsep-admissions@pepperdine.edu. Note: The statement must be written in single-space.

A brief resume of professional experience both inside and outside the field of psychology (including current professional activities) emailed to gsep-admissions@pepperdine.edu.

Course descriptions of your master's degree courses to assist the PsyD Admissions Committee in assessing the breadth and depth of your academic preparation emailed to gsep-admissions@pepperdine.edu.

If your baccalaureate or master's degree GPA is lower than 3.0, please fill out this Exception Request Form and email it to gsep-admissions@pepperdine.edu.

The application form is quick and easy, taking less than 15 minutes to complete. 

Applicants to this program must possess a bachelor's degree and a master's degree in a closely related field.

All applicants who received or will receive their degree from a university outside of the US (unless the degree is from a university that is already regionally accredited within the US) are required to submit a detailed foreign transcript evaluation report from any National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES) member, such as the International Education Research Foundation or the World Education Services, Inc.

A detailed foreign transcript evaluation report will contain the following:

• Foreign transcripts translated into English.
• A detailed course-by-course report with the grade point average calculated on a US 4.0 scale.
• A determination of US degree equivalency (regional accreditation equivalency is required).

If you are attending school outside of the US and have not completed your bachelor's degree at the time of application, we would need your current NACES member international transcript evaluation (please see above for requirements). Upon degree completion, you are required to provide an updated NACES member evaluation reflecting your final courses, final cumulative GPA equivalency and US degree equivalency.

Please have the evaluation service, send your updated evaluation to gsep-admissions@pepperdine.edu.

Two recommendations: if possible, one from a college professor familiar with the applicant’s academic performance and one from a clinical supervisor familiar with the applicant’s clinical skills. The online Recommendation Form should be emailed by your recommender to gsep-admissions@pepperdine.edu. 

A 5-8 page autobiographical statement that addresses each of the following:(1) key life experiences (e.g., personal, family, social, educational, job, etc.) which led to your interest in clinical psychology, (2) why you believe you are a good fit for a career as a psychologist (e.g., personal qualities, values, strengths, skills, preparation, etc.), (3) current areas of scholarly and professional interest, (4) experiences and perspectives regarding any aspect(s) of your own social identities, and how diversity and culture inform your relevant professional work and future work as a clinical psychologist, (5) your reasons for applying specifically to Pepperdine's PsyD Program, and (6) your vision for your career 10 years after graduating. The personal statement can be added to your online application or emailed to gsep-admissions@pepperdine.edu. Note: The statement must be written in single-space.

A brief resume of professional experience both inside and outside the field of psychology (including current professional activities) emailed to gsep-admissions@pepperdine.edu.

Course descriptions of your master's degree courses to assist the Psy.D. Admissions Committee in assessing the breadth and depth of your academic preparation emailed to gsep-admissions@pepperdine.edu.

If your first language is not English, you must submit a minimum score of 550 on the Test of English as Foreign Language (TOEFL). If taking the Internet-based TOEFL test, you will need a minimum score of 80. Information concerning the availability of this test outside of the US can be obtained by contacting TOEFL, Educational Testing Services, Princeton, NJ 08540, USA, or online. Our TOEFL code is 4630. As an alternative to the TOEFL, you may submit a score of at least 6.5 on the IELTS exam. Scores can be sent electronically by choosing "Pepperdine University Graduate School of Education and Psychology" from the dropdown menu.

If your baccalaureate or master's degree GPA is lower than 3.0 or you're seeking an exception to our TOEFL/IELTS test requirement, please fill out this Exception Request Form and email it to gsep-admissions@pepperdine.edu.