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Application Deadline Fall
Priority January 15

Fall 2025 applications will be accepted through PSYCAS. Apply here.

Admission standards for Graduate Studies at California Baptist University can be found in the Admissions section of the University Catalog. Specific application requirements for the Doctor of Psychology in Clinical Psychology (PsyD) program are below.

Late applications will be considered as space allows.

  1. Application for admission through PSYCAS
  2. Minimum 3.0 GPA
  3. Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university recognized by the U.S. Department of Education and/or the Council for Higher Education Accreditation or the evaluated equivalency.
  4. Official transcripts from all colleges and universities attended.
  5. Students with a master’s degree in clinical psychology or a closely related field may be eligible to transfer up to 27 units toward the CBU PsyD degree. Given that clinical psychology is distinct from other areas of professional work in mental health, the master’s degree (or master’s-level coursework) must be in a closely related field. Moreover, coursework must have been completed in the last five years, given that much of the scientific literature evolves and changes yearly. Prior coursework will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis for possible course credit. Only the below courses are considered for transfer credit:
    • History of Psychological Science (3 units)
    • Cognitive and Affective Bases of Behavior (3 units)
    • Behavioral Neuroscience (3 units)
    • Human Development Across the Lifespan (3 units)
    • Human Social Behavior (3 units)
    • Human Sexuality, Sexual Disorders, and Treatment (2 units)
    • Addictive Behavior (2 units)
    • Child Abuse Reporting, Assessment, and Treatment (2 units)
    • Intimate Partner Abuse (2 units)
    • Aging and Long-Term Care (2 units)
    • Clinical Psychopharmacology (2 units)
  6. Graduate Record Exam (GRE) General Test Scores (Verbal Reasoning, Quantitative Reasoning, and Analytical Writing), dated within the last year. Please have scores sent using the designated institution code for CBU, 4274. 
  7. Four professional recommendations, completed on forms provided, must be dated within the last year—three from faculty and one from a prior supervisor in a work setting. Family members, friends and peers may not complete recommendations.
  8. Prerequisites (completed with a "C" or better). All prerequisites must be completed before starting the program. Prerequisites are individually evaluated to determine the level of preparation for doctoral studies in clinical psychology.
    • One of the following: Statistics, Research Methods, Psychometrics or related coursework
    • Three of the following: General Psychology, Abnormal Psychology, Developmental Psychology, Theories of Personality, Theories of Psychotherapy or related coursework
  9. Comprehensive essay, written in APA format, discussing the following:
    • Your decision to pursue a doctoral degree in clinical psychology, including the reasons for this pursuit, important life experiences that have led you to the field, and why you believe you will be a good fit for the program.
    • The ways in which your academic background has prepared you for doctoral studies in clinical psychology, including the practicum sequence, research sequence, dissertation process, clinical competency exam, and professional licensure upon graduation.
    • Some of the challenges you anticipate facing in a doctoral program in clinical psychology, including how you expect to overcome these struggles
    • Your views on cultural diversity, including how you intend to effectively, competently, and ethically work with clients from a variety of backgrounds with differing worldviews.
    • Your views on faith integration—combining the Christian faith with psychological science when working with Christian clients—including your reactions to the importance that the program places on this competency area in its coursework.
    • An example of a worldview conflict between yourself and a potential client (e.g., working with a client who lives his or her life in a way that is inconsistent with your own faith tradition), including how you might go about resolving such a source of tension.
    • Your views on possibly relocating out of state for the fifth-year internship in order to secure an APA-accredited internship placement, including how you might prepare for such a major life transition.
    • Your 10-year plan, including what you see yourself doing in the field of clinical psychology after licensure.
  10. Current resume documenting all related professional and extracurricular experiences
  11. Successful completion of the interview process, including an interview with the Director of the Doctor of Psychology in Clinical Psychology program.