PsyD Admission Requirements

Applicants for the PsyD program must possess a master's degree in psychology or a closely related field that reflects a graduate-level foundation of knowledge in the following domains: biological aspects of behavior, cognitive and affective aspects of behavior, social aspects of behavior; psychological measurement, research methodology, and techniques of data analysis.

The PsyD Admissions Committee takes into consideration the breadth and depth of an applicant's foundation of general knowledge of psychology, and clinical and research experience in granting admission. A review of undergraduate and graduate transcripts, provide an assessment of an applicant's academic preparation and performance. The profession of clinical psychology requires individual and interpersonal competencies in addition to academic preparation. Interpersonal attributes and skills are therefore taken into consideration in assessing an individual's qualification for admission.

In an effort to process your application quickly, we only accept electronic application materials.

To apply for this program, please submit:

1. Your application for admission with a nonrefundable processing fee, which includes a Clinical and Research Experience form.

2. For domestic students, transcripts from the regionally accredited colleges or universities that awarded your baccalaureate and masters degree may be sent through one of the methods noted below. Official transcripts are required for admissions review and 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-SAF

• Hard-copy Transcript(s), in a sealed and stamped envelope, mailed to:

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

3. 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 Professional Recommendation form should be emailed to gsep-admissions@pepperdine.edu. 

4. 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.

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

6. (Optional) If 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.

7. (Optional) 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.

After the initial screening of the applications, the remaining candidates will be invited for interviews by the Psy.D. Admissions Committee. Special arrangements for telephone interviews may be made for applicants who reside outside the Southern California area. The committee bases its decisions on an entire mosaic of requirements rather than on any single factor. Students completing their master's degree at Pepperdine University should not assume automatic admission into the doctoral program.

International Student Requirements

All applicants who received or will receive their degree from a university outside of the US (unless the degree is from a university which 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 at ierf.org or the World Education Services, Inc., at wes.org.

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 official transcripts in a sealed envelope directly from the institution that awarded your degree prior to enrollment.

Mailing Address:

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

Note: 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 visiting the TOEFL website. 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. You can find out more at International Education Research Foundation. IELTS scores can be sent electronically by choosing "Pepperdine University Graduate School of Education and Psychology" from the dropdown menu.