Degree requirements
A bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited institution is required to apply
to the Clinical PsyD Program at PCOM. We will consider exceptional applicants who
possess a bachelor’s degree only; but most applicants to PCOM’s Clinical PsyD Program
also possess a master's degree in mental health counseling, psychology, social work,
psychiatric/mental health nursing, counseling, school psychology, family therapy,
or pastoral counseling from a regionally accredited institution in addition to a bachelor’s
degree.
Individuals with degrees in other fields will be considered on a case-by-case basis.
GPA requirements for bachelor's level applicants
Students with exceptional performance at the bachelor's level are able to apply to
the program without having completed a master's degree. Bachelor's level applicants
must have a minimum cumulative undergraduate GPA of 3.0 or higher, and a psychology
GPA of 3.5 or higher.
GPA requirements for master's level applicants
Students who have completed both a bachelor's and master's degree in a related field
are able to apply to the program. Competitive applicants at the master's level will
have a minimum cumulative undergraduate GPA of 3.0 or higher, and a minimum cumulative
graduate GPA of 3.3 or higher. Competitive post-master’s students also earn an undergraduate
Psychology-major GPA of 3.5 or better from a regionally accredited college or university.
Coursework requirements
In order to ensure that the program courses be taught at the highest possible level,
applicants must have completed during undergraduate or graduate education the following
courses prior to admission:
- Statistics/Research
- Abnormal Psychology or Psychopathology
- Theories of Personality
- Developmental Psychology
How does the Admissions Committee evaluate Clinical Psychology applicants?
The Admissions Committee evaluates applicants on a number of factors. These include
past academic performance, letters of recommendation (at least one letter of recommendation
should be from a doctoral-level psychologist), 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 or a related field, membership
in professional organizations, 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.