School of Professional Psychology Admissions: Clinical Psychology
Admissions Process Calendar 2009-2010
| October 15, 6-8pm | Open House for Professional Psychology Contact admissions to attend: cdunlap@pacificu.edu |
| January 8, 2010 | Preferred application deadline date |
| Mid to Late February, 2010 | Applicants notified of Interview |
| February 22-March 8, 2010 | Interview Period |
| March 5-6, 2010 | Applicant Interview Days (preferred) |
| Mid to Late March, 2010 | Applicants notified of Admission |
| April 15, 2010 | Deposit due to hold place in Fall 2010 class |
*If you are interested in applying for both the Clinical Psy.D. program and the Masters in Counseling program please contact Carissa Dunlap at cdunlap@pacificu.edu or 503-352-7226.
2008 Entering Class Statistics
| Number of students matriculating | 52 |
| Number of students applying | 215 |
| Average age of students | 25 yrs |
| Average undergraduate GPA | 3.54 |
| Average graduate GPA (if applicable) | 3.87 |
| Average GRE Verbal | 511 |
| Average GRE Quantitative | 567 |
| Average GRE Analytic Writing | 4.5 |
Clinical Psychology: Admissions Requirements
The School seeks students with both academic aptitude and personal qualities that will enable them to develop personally and professionally into effective psychologists. A personal interview is required for all finalists who apply to the program. Application deadline is January 8. Applications received after the deadline are considered on a space-available basis.
Applicants are advised that criminal background checks are required by the University. This check is required to determine the student's qualification to provide services, and takes place after admission and deposit. A criminal record may disqualify a previously admitted student. In addition, drug screenings will be required prior to the start of clinical practicum placements.
Doctoral Program: Requirements for admission with a bachelor's degree
- Satisfactory completion of a bachelor's degree. A grade point average (GPA) of at least 3.4 during the last two years of study is desirable.
- The General Graduate Record Examination (GRE) taken within 5 years of application. Desirable minimum scores are a total of 1100 for the verbal and quantitative portions of the general exam; Analytic Writing, at least 50th percentile.
- A strong undergraduate background in psychology. Applicants do not need to have a major, but 4 of the 8 following courses are required as preparation for work at the graduate level:
- Introduction to Psychology
- Personality Theory
- Abnormal Psychology
- Developmental Psychology
- Experimental Psychology
- Physiological Psychology
- Social Psychology
- Behavioral Statistics
- Prerequisite courses must be completed with an average of "B" or above before a student can matriculate into the program. Applicants may demonstrate their knowledge by submitting scores for the optional Psychology Subject test of the GRE. Note that this portion of the GRE is only administered by paper exam. It should be taken no later than November in order for results to be available by the application deadline.
- Other items to submit include official transcripts from all previous institutions attended, GRE scores, CV/resume, letters of recommendation and Pacific's letters of evaluation. Additionally, the application packet includes essay questions and GPA calculations to be completed.
For International Students
- The Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) is required for those for whom English is not the native language. Minimum score for paper test is 600; computer test, 250, internet test 100.
- If you attended a non-US or non-Canadian college, university, or graduate school, a course-by-course evaluation of your international college and university transcripts is required. There are several third party organizations that provide this service to international students, but we prefer WES (World Education Services). Please see the web site at http://www.wes.org for more information. The credentials evaluation must be received in our Admissions office by the application deadline to ensure consideration of your application.
Doctoral Program--Advanced Standing: Requirements for admission with a related master's degree
- Completion of the requirements listed above for entry with a bachelor's degree.
- Completion of a master's degree in psychology or a closely related field (which is roughly equivalent to receiving credit for one year of full-time study). Students admitted at advanced standing do not receive the M.S. degree in clinical psychology from Pacific University.
- The M.S. degree or subsequent academic coursework must have included preparation at the graduate level equivalent to that provided by the following courses in the Pacific University Clinical Psychology Program:
- Basic Clinical and Counseling Skills and Lab
- Introduction to Diagnosis and Treatment Planning and Lab
- Professional Communication
- Psychometrics
To apply for Advanced Standing please check the Advanced Standing box on the online or paper application when you apply. In addition, for each of the prerequisite courses (listed above) for which you believe is an equivalent course, please submit a catalog description and syllabus for each course in your application.
- Applicants with an approved master’s degree, but without such preparation, will be required to complete these courses at Pacific University during their first year of enrollment. Students exempted from taking Introduction to Diagnosis and Treatment Planning and Basic Clinical and Counseling Skills must take GPSY 740 Advanced Clinical Skills Review.
- Subsequent to admission, students applying for advanced standing will receive a supplement to the letter of admission confirming their status and documenting any prerequisites still required.
Transfer of Credits
Post-baccalaureate work at the graduate level in psychology taken at an accredited university may be evaluated for transfer. An "A" grade must have been achieved and the course instructor and the Director of Academic Issues must determine that the content of the course (based on syllabus documentation) was appropriate through review of the Transfer of Credit Application. A maximum of 21 credits may be transferred from other schools provided these were earned after award of a bachelors degree from an accredited program and within the four years immediately preceding admission to the School. Practicum and internship credits are not transferable.