Doctor of Psychology in School Psychology 
Application Requirements

PsyD in School Psychology program requirements

Program applicants must have completed a bachelor's degree in psychology or a related field at a regionally accredited college or university, with a grade point average of 3.0 or higher. The Admissions Committee evaluates applicants on a number of factors. These include: a commitment to working with children and families, a commitment to diversity, past academic performance, letters of recommendation, the content and writing style of autobiographical essays, prior work history and volunteer experiences, research activities and publications, presentations at workshops or conferences in psychology, and personal and professional presentation in the interview. Intellectual ability, academic potential, strong writing skills, emotional stability, maturity, integrity, motivation and high ethical standards are necessary for successful program completion and acceptance into the professional community.

PsyD in School Psychology course prerequisites

Applicants must have completed, prior to admission the following foundational coursework:

• 6 credits of English
• 6 credits of Math
• 15 additional credits of Psychology coursework

Transcripts will be carefully reviewed by the Admissions Committee.

Transfer Policy

A school psychology program candidate who currently holds a graduate degree in psychology or a related field may be eligible to have up to 30 credits of graduate work transferred towards the PsyD degree program. Eligibility for course transfer is as follows:

• Each course must have been taken in an APA-accredited or NASP-approved program within a 7 year period.
• A grade of “B” or better is required for each course.
• A syllabus for each course must be submitted for Program Director review.
• At least 2 graded assignments (per course) must be submitted for Program Director review.

OR

• An exam may be completed to demonstrate content knowledge.

It is the discretion of the program director as to which courses can be transferred based on the above criteria.

What else do I need to apply to the School Psychology PsyD program?

Your application will be processed and assessed by the Faculty Committee on Admissions only after the receipt of:

• Official transcript(s) of all undergraduate and graduate course work
• Three letters of recommendation
• Curriculum vitae or resume
• A general autobiographical statement explaining how PCOM’s School Psychology PsyD program fits your interest in this academic program as it relates to your career goals (in 500 words or less)
• Writing sample - preferably a graded literature review based paper in APA format

When is the deadline to apply?

This academic program operates on a rolling admissions basis. The application closes on Friday, August 2, 2024, but an early application is highly recommended.

How to apply

Prospective students may submit their application through PCOM's online application management system. Additional details, including application availability and instructions, are available at explore.pcom.edu/apply.

Where do I send my college transcripts?

Official college transcripts from all colleges/universities/schools attended must be sent directly to:

Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine
Office of Admissions
4170 City Avenue
Philadelphia, PA 19131

We will accept electronic transcripts via mail, eScript and/or Parchment Services and National Student Clearinghouse.

Where do I send my letters of recommendation?

Letters of Recommendation can be sent through the PCOM application portal or directly to PCOM Admissions in PDF format to recommend@pcom.edu. Recommenders can be directed to our "For Recommenders" page for guidance.

What are the next steps?

Once your application has been submitted, you will be contacted via email with a confirmation of its receipt including reminders of the appropriate steps to complete the application process.

What happens after I apply to the School Psychology PsyD program?

The PsyD program utilizes a rolling admissions policy, so applications will be considered throughout the year as they are received. Students will be accepted into the program until the desired class size is achieved, therefore it is recommended for candidates to submit applications early. Classes begin in the fall term.

The Admissions Committee screens applications, invites some applicants for an interview and to submit a writing sample, evaluates the applicants and selects the new students. As an applicant to PCOM's Doctor of Psychology in School Psychology program, you are responsible for ensuring that all admissions materials are completed accurately and submitted in a timely manner.

Interviews for this program will be offered both virtually and in-person for the 2023-2024 application cycle.

Following completion of the admissions process, each applicant is notified of the Admissions Committee's decision in writing, including any conditions that must be satisfied prior to or following enrollment.

Criminal background check requirement

The College requires a criminal background check for all program applicants and enrolled students. The PCOM Office of Admissions will facilitate a criminal background check prior to matriculation processed by a PCOM vendor of choice. Subsequent criminal background checks can occur during enrollment, including but not limited to, when the student is conducting internships, clerkships, clinical coursework, or other types of coursework that occur off campus. Any student charged, convicted of, or who pleads guilty or no contest to a misdemeanor or felony crime after the date of the original application submission is required to notify the dean of the program in writing within 10 business days of the occurrence. This communication should be sent by certified mail to the dean at the address on the acceptance letter.

Technical standards

Prior to enrollment, all candidates are required to complete PCOM's Technical Standards for Admission and Matriculation (PDF).

Should you have any questions, please contact us via email at admissions@pcom.edu.

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