Admission Requirements: MA in Clinical Psychology (Day Format)
For the daytime format, a bachelor's degree in psychology is preferred. However, qualified applicants who possess a bachelor's degree in a related academic field (e.g. sociology, social work, child and family development) may also be considered.
In an effort to process your application quickly, we recommend you send your materials electronically.
For questions, contact senior program administrator Andrea Lipnicki at 310.506.4608.
To apply for this program, please submit:
1. Your application for admission with a nonrefundable processing fee.
2. For domestic students, transcripts from the regionally accredited colleges or universities that awarded your baccalaureate degree may be sent through one of the methods noted below. 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, mailed to:
Pepperdine University-GSEP
5th Floor- Enrollment Processing
6100 Center Drive
Los Angeles, CA 90045, USA
3. If you have any questions regarding transcript processing please contact us at 310.258.2850 or gsep-admissions@pepperdine.edu.
4. Two professional recommendations from individuals familiar with the applicant’s academic and professional competencies. The online Professional Recommendation form should be emailed to gsep-admissions@pepperdine.edu.
5. A 2-5 page Statement of Purpose, describing 1) previous training and experience, 2) current interests, 3) engagement with cultural diversity and social justice plus plans for growth in these areas, 4) future professional goals, and 5) reasons for applying to the program. Please email to gsep-admissions@pepperdine.edu if not included in your online application.
6. Scores from the Graduate Record Examination (General Test), taken within the last five years. An Exception Request Form may be submitted (see item 8 below) in order to waive the GRE. For more information about testing, please click here.
7. B.A. or B.S. degree in psychology (or closely related field) or the equivalent of a minor in psychology (or a closely related field).
8. (Optional) If you're seeking an exception to our TOEFL/IELTS or GRE test requirements, please fill out this Exception Request Form and email it to gsep-admissions@pepperdine.edu.
International Student Requirements
8. 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.
- Grade point average calculated on a 4.0 scale.
- A determination of US degree equivalency (regional accreditation equivalency is required)
9. If you have not completed your bachelor's degree at the time of application, submit a current transcript. Upon degree completion, you are required to provide official transcripts in a sealed envelope directly from the institution who 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 online at www.toefl.org. 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 www.ielts.org
If you have any questions regarding the application requirements, please contact Kelley Hill at kelley.hill@pepperdine.edu or 310.568.5664.