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.
To apply for this program, the following is required:
- Application Form
- Bachelor & Master's Degrees
- Transcripts
- Letters of Recommendation
- Personal Statement
- CV/Resume
- Clinical and Research Experience Form
- Master's Degree Course Descriptions (optional)
- Interview
Domestic Students
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:
- 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.
The Clinical and Research Experience form, as provided in the Application for Admission.
It is recommended that applicants submit course descriptions of master’s degree courses to gsep-admissions@pepperdine.edu to assist the PsyD admission committee in assessing the breadth and depth of the applicant’s academic preparation.
After the initial screening of the applications, the remaining candidates will be invited for interviews by the PsyD 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.
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.
International Students
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 organization, such as the International Education Research Foundation, World Education Services, Inc., or TEC/SpanTran.
A detailed foreign transcript evaluation report must contain the following:
- Official foreign transcripts translated into English.
- A detailed course-by-course report with the grade point average converted or 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 degree at the time of application, we would need your current “in progress” NACES member international transcript evaluation (please see above for requirements). Upon degree completion, you are required to provide an official, updated NACES member evaluation reflecting your full and complete 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.
The Clinical and Research Experience form, as provided in the Application for Admission.
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 PsyD 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 applicants to GSEP whose native language is not English are required to provide evidence of English proficiency. You must submit a test score for the Internet-Based Test (IBT) of English as Foreign Language (TOEFL) examination taken in the last two years with a minimum score of 85. 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 7 on the IELTS exam taken within the last two years. IELTS 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.