phd psychology california

PhD Admissions

The PhD program in Psychology trains students for careers in research and teaching. In addition to a wide range of courses, the PhD program is characterized by close collaboration between students and their faculty advisors. 

General Information

The Department of Psychology holistically reviews each candidate's complete application to assess the promise of a career in teaching and research. Consideration is based on various factors, including courses taken, grade point average, letters of recommendation, and the statement of purpose. Additionally, the Department of Psychology places considerable emphasis on research training, and admitted students have often been involved in independent research as undergraduate students or post-baccalaureate settings. Although there are no course requirements for admission, all applicants should have sufficient foundational knowledge and research experience to engage in graduate-level coursework and research.

We accept students with undergraduate degrees and those with both undergraduate and master's degrees. An undergraduate psychology major is not required; the Department welcomes applicants from other academic backgrounds.

Our application portal is now closed for the AY24-25 admissions cycle.  Please consider applying during next year's AY25-26 admissions cycle, which opens on September 15, 2024.

How to Apply

Application and deadline.

Our 2025-26 Admissions application will open on September 15, 2024.

Applications will be due on November 30, 2024

The deadline for letters of recommendation will be  November 30, 2024 . 

Once an applicant submits the recommenders' information, the recommenders will receive an automated email with instructions for submitting the letter. Late letters should be sent directly to psych-admissions [at] stanford.edu (psych-admissions[at]stanford[dot]edu) . Staff will add them to the application file if the review process is still underway. Still, the faculty reviewers are not obligated to re-review files for materials submitted after the deadline.

The status of submitted applications can be viewed by logging in to the   application portal . 

The deadline to apply for the Stanford Psychology Ph.D. program is  November 30, 2024 . 

Applicants who are admitted to the program will matriculate in autumn 2025. 

In addition to the information below, please review the  Graduate Admissions  website prior to starting your application. The Department of Psychology does not have rolling admissions. We admit for the Autumn term only.

Requirements

• U.S. Bachelor's degree or its  foreign equivalent
• Statement of Purpose (submitted electronically as part of the graduate application). You will be able to specify three  Psychology Department faculty members , in order of preference, with whom you would like to work. 
• Three  Letters of Recommendation  (submitted electronically). A maximum of six letters will be accepted.
• Unofficial transcripts from all universities and colleges you have attended for at least one year must be uploaded to the graduate application. Applicants who reach the interview stage will be asked to provide official transcripts as well; Department staff will reach out to these applicants with instructions for submitting official transcripts. Please do  not  submit official transcripts with your initial application.
• Required for non-native English speakers: TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) scores, submitted by the Educational Testing Service (ETS) electronically to Stanford. 

Application Fee

The fee to apply for graduate study at Stanford is $125. Fee waivers are available for some applicants. Please visit Graduate Admissions for information on applying for an  Application Fee Waiver .

Application Review & Status Check

The Department of Psychology welcomes graduate applications from individuals with a broad range of life experiences, perspectives, and backgrounds who would contribute to our community of scholars. The review of applications is holistic and individualized, considering each applicant’s academic record and accomplishments, letters of recommendation, and admissions essays to understand how an applicant’s life experiences have shaped their past and potential contributions to their field.

To check the status or activity of your application, please log into your  application account . You can also send reminders to recommenders who have not yet submitted their letter of recommendation.

Due to limited bandwidth, the Department of Psychology staff will not answer any phone or email queries about application status, including requests to confirm the receipt of official transcripts.

Our faculty will interview prospective students before making final admission decisions. Candidates who progress to the interview round will be informed in January. Interviews are generally conducted in February.

The Department of Psychology recognizes that the Supreme Court issued a ruling in June 2023 about the consideration of certain types of demographic information as part of an admission review. All applications submitted during upcoming application cycles will be reviewed in conformance with that decision.

• Diversity and Engagement in Psychology PhD Programs 
• Vice Provost for Graduate Education
• Stanford IDEAL
• Graduate Application Fee Waiver Information

For More Information

Please see our  list of Frequently Asked Questions  and  psych-admissions [at] stanford.edu (contact us)  should you have additional questions.

Graduate Program

• Program Requirements
• Course offerings
• Professional Development
• Teaching Preparation
• Student Funding and Awards
• Student Success
• Quantitative Methods Certificate
• Developmental
• Quantitative Methods, Measurement and Statistics (QMMS)
• Conferences in the Psychological Sciences
• Post-Doctoral Career Opportunities

Psychological Sciences Ph.D. Program

Thank you for your interest in the Psychological Sciences Ph.D. program at UC Merced. We will be accepting applications for Fall 2024. Applications are due Dec. 1, 2023, and admissions decisions will be made in late December and early January.

GRE scores are not required for applications to our Ph.D. program for 2024 admission but can be optionally reported by applicants. The decision to include or not include GRE scores in the application will not affect admissions decisions.

UC Merced offers doctoral graduate training in Psychological Sciences, culminating in the Ph.D., with emphases in developmental , health , and quantitative methods, measurement, and statistics . We welcome applications for Ph.D. studies in any of these three areas.

Guiding Principle

We create, cherish, and champion a culture of community, collegiality, and compassion. 

Program Goal

Our goal is to prepare sophisticated and creative independent researchers who can apply the qualitative distinctions of our program in a variety of professional settings, including academic institutions, public or private agencies, and industry. To that end, our Program Learning Outcomes  indicate the most prominent skills and knowledge that our graduates will possess to enable them to start successful research careers. Graduates have gone on to a range of positions  upon graduation where they utilize their research competence.

What Distinguishes Us

Having opened its doors in 2005, UC Merced is one of the youngest research universities in the United States. The Psychological Sciences Ph.D. program has grown rapidly since then, with 18 faculty and 44 graduate students in 2018. Our highly productive  faculty conduct impactful research and have gained national and international recognition.

Our program’s national stature has likewise grown rapidly. In the 2018 US and World News Report , our Ph.D. program ranked 90 th (tied with UC Santa Cruz) out of over 200 Ph.D. programs in psychology. We are by far the youngest program ranked this high. We were ranked as 190+ in 2013 and 158 in 2015, indicating a remarkable increase in recognition and influence in a very short time.

We are a congenial group of faculty and graduate students who enjoy creating a supportive work environment that gives everyone here the opportunity to succeed. We strive to maintain a positive, supportive environment for all members of our academic community. This starts with faculty actively practicing kindness, civility, and empathy with one another and with students. We believe that by applying and modeling these values, students more often feel respected and empowered to do their best.

With nine members, we claim the largest identified health psychology faculty group in a regular academic department of psychology (discounting universities with research medical schools) and certainly one of the strongest such research and training programs anywhere in the world. Among strengths in this group is our focus on understanding disparities in health, especially as relevant to our unique region.

Likewise, we feature one of the largest and arguably strongest quantitative methods, measurement, and statistics  research and training programs anywhere. Our five quantitative scientists conduct research from both frequentist and Bayesian approaches applied to a wide range of methods.

Developmental psychology  at UC Merced seeks to achieve world-class recognition for strong empirical research on cognitive, language, and socio-emotional development that relies on advanced quantitative methods and emphasizes the unique contextual and biological factors that may promote or hinder healthy development.

View the Psychological Sciences digital brochure

To apply, visit the UC Merced Graduate Division website .

Updated 2023

Additional Links

• Executive Leadership
• University Library
• School of Engineering
• School of Natural Sciences
• School of Social Sciences, Humanities & Arts
• Ernest & Julio Gallo Management Program
• Division of Graduate Education
• Division of Undergraduate Education

Administration

• Office of the Chancellor
• Office of Executive Vice Chancellor and Provost
• Equity, Justice and Inclusive Excellence
• External Relations
• Finance & Administration
• Physical Operations, Planning and Development
• Student Affairs
• Research and Economic Development
• Office of Information Technology

University of California, Merced 5200 North Lake Rd. Merced, CA 95343 Telephone: (209) 228-4400

• © 2024
• About UC Merced
• Privacy/Legal
• Site Feedback
• Accessibility

Psychology Doctoral Programs in California - PhD

PhD Programs in Psychology

Alliant international university – fresno, california school of professional psychology.

Alliant International University is a private, non-profit university that is strongly committed to preparing students for professional careers where they can make positive contributions to their community. Alliant has been named the Top Producer of Graduate Degrees for Minorities by Diverse Issues in Higher Education. The Alliant California School of Professional Psychology (CSPP) has also been recognized as awarding the most doctoral degrees in psychology to Hispanics, Native Americans, and Asian Americans. In fact, the school has trained almost half of all the practicing psychologists in the state.

PhD in Clinical Psychology

At the Fresno campus, the Clinical Psychology PhD program focuses on clinical training and research with a strong emphasis on preparing students to teach psychology in academia. In the third year of training, students are required to complete a minimum of 1,600 hours at the on-campus Psychological Services Center, which provides numerous diagnostic and therapeutic training opportunities. Students in the program have the option to choose an emphasis area of Clinical Forensic Psychology, Ecosystemic Child Psychology, and Health Psychology to develop a focused subject of expertise.

Accreditations

• American Psychological Association Commission on Accreditation (CoA)
• American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy (AAMFT)
• Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC)

Contact Information

5130 East Clinton Way Fresno, CA 93727 559-252-2200 [email protected] https://www.alliant.edu/psychology/clinical-psychology/phd

Alliant International University – Los Angeles

Selected as the “Best for Vets” college in the nation for the third consecutive year by Military Times Edge magazine, Alliant International University is well-known for offering students high-quality financial assistance, academic flexibility, and support services to help all succeed. The California School of Professional Psychology on the Los Angeles campus is highly regarded in the profession and attracts some of the leading field experts to the faculty. With a small student-teacher ratio, graduate students in the programs are able to thrive with hands-on training, academic mentoring, and innovative curriculum based on multiculturalism.

Situated in the unique global hub of Los Angeles, the PhD in Clinical Psychology program offers plentiful opportunities for research, practice, and community service learning outside the classroom. Students in the program are required to select one of the four available emphasis areas to focus their studies on, including Clinical Health Psychology, Family and Couple Therapy, Multicultural-Community Psychology, and Multi-Interest Option. Although it is not required, the CSPP strongly encourages students to participate in a full-time internship experience in an accredited clinical setting for the fifth year to gain valuable real-world application before graduation.

1000 South Fremont Avenue Unit 5 Alhambra, CA 91803 626-270-3300 [email protected] https://www.alliant.edu/psychology/clinical-psychology/phd

Alliant International University – San Diego

First formed in 2001, Alliant International University is comprised of the combination of two highly regarded institutions, the California School of Professional Psychology (CSPP) and the United States International University (USIU). Founded by the president of the American Psychological Association, CSPP is strongly focused on seamlessly integrating academic excellence, multiculturalism, mentoring by experts in the field, and hands-on training in a variety of clinical settings. For a competitive edge, the school requires all students to specialize in a certain professional niche of interest to give their career a jumpstart.

The Clinical Psychology PhD program at the San Diego campus has developed a unique integrated blend of both research and clinical practice for well-rounded professionals. As students progress through the program, they are able to work closely with established applied researchers to discover increased understanding on principles, such as traumatic brain injuries, autism, mind-body disorders, pediatric psychology, and mindfulness. Each student enrolled in the program is assigned a faculty advisor to help them formulate a customized plan for practicum and internship training that aligns with their schedule and future career goals. Students are required to complete 800 hours in the second year and 1,000 years in the third year in one of the 80 different partnering agencies in the San Diego area.

10455 Pomerado Rd. San Diego, CA 92131 866-825-5426 [email protected] https://www.alliant.edu/psychology/clinical-psychology/phd

Alliant International University – San Francisco Bay

The California School of Professional Psychology on the Alliant International University at San Francisco Bay campus is committed to preparing students for professional careers in the rewarding field of psychology. Since real-world practicum is so vital to the school’s goals, students are given placements in mental health clinics, rehabilitation facilities, hospitals, day care programs, correctional facilities, governmental agencies, and many more clinical settings. All of the doctoral programs offered by CSPP exceed all of the state and national accreditation requirements in California, so graduates are automatically eligible to sit for the examination to become licensed as a professional psychologist.

As the perfect blend of psychological theory and research with a heavy dose of fieldwork, the Clinical Psychology PhD program at the San Francisco Bay campus emphasizes training in cutting-edge strength areas. Depending on their individual interests, students can elect to specialize in LGBT Psychology/Gender Studies, Multicultural Community Psychology, Health Psychology, or Child and Adolescent Psychology. Over the course of the five-year program, students will be able to participate in student-led research projects to apply their skills in collaboration with other institutions, including the University of California at San Francisco, Stanford University, and the San Francisco Department of Public Health.

2030 West El Camino Avenue, Suite 200 Sacramento, CA 95833 916-565-2955 [email protected] https://www.alliant.edu/psychology/clinical-psychology/phd

Biola University

Rosemead school of psychology.

Located in sunny Southern California, Biola University is a private Christian university dedicated to delivering exceptional biblical-centered education and spiritual development to fulfill students’ vocations. As one of the leading Christian universities, it is no surprise that Biola has been recognized as the 177th best college in the nation by U.S. News and World Report. The Rosemead School of Psychology offers reputable, accredited programs that have had a proven track record of preparing graduates for success in the highly competitive field. Through a biblical understanding of human nature and truths from God’s written Word, the programs seek to produce balanced psychologists who will make a difference in areas of teaching, counseling, research, or clinical practice.

Within the Clinical Psychology PhD program at Biola University, students are required to complete a minimum of 133 semester hours in four years of residency. In addition to the major course requirements, students must complete a minor in theology and a minimum of 17 semester hours in biblical coursework. Enrolled students in the program need to satisfactorily complete a full-time clinical internship for one year, as well as compose a dissertation with an oral defense before the doctoral committee before graduation.

• Association of Independent California Colleges and Universities
• Council of Christian Colleges and Universities (CCCU)

13800 Biola Ave. La Mirada, CA 90639 562-903-4867 [email protected] https://www.biola.edu/degrees/g/clinical-psychology-phd

Fielding Graduate University

School of psychology.

As one of the top 100 graduate degree producers in the country for minority groups by Diverse Issues in Higher Education, the Fielding Graduate University in Santa Barbara is committed to programs in psychology, educational leadership, and organizational development. The School of Psychology offers the only accredited doctoral programs in the nation that utilize the innovative distributed delivery method to support students’ other daily obligations. Although some master’s degrees are offered entirely online, the doctoral programs are blended with in-person class sessions, independent studies, online seminars, and meetings with colleagues or faculty. Since being founded in 1974, the school has developed the core values of lifelong learning, social justice, and research innovation.

Fielding Graduate University offers a high-quality Clinical Psychology PhD program within a diverse, challenging, and dynamic community of professionals in psychology. Although all of the faculty instructors are active scholars and practitioners in the field, many have even been nationally recognized in their area of specialization. Students in the program have the option to concentrate in Forensic Psychology, Health Psychology, Neuropsychology, Violence Prevention and Control, or Parent-Infant Mental Health. If students follow the curriculum sequence that is recommended, the 175.5 semester units can be completed within six years.

• California Board of Behavioral Sciences

2020 De La Vina St. Santa Barbara, CA 93105 805-687-1099 [email protected] https://www.fielding.edu/our-programs/school-of-psychology/phd-clinical-psychology/

Fuller Theological Seminary

With more than 4,300 students hailing from 67 international countries and 108 denominations, the Fuller Theological Seminary has been described as one of the most influential seminaries in the nation and the largest multi-denominational seminary on the globe. After it first opened its doors in 1965, the Fuller School of Psychology became the first seminary-based program in psychology to receive full accreditation from the APA. Today, the School is home to the 164th best graduate clinical psychology program and the 214th best graduate psychology program in the nation by U.S. News and World Report. In the Lee Edward Travis Institute, students and faculty members of the School of Psychology are consistently involved in research across the full spectrum of behavioral sciences.

Within the six-year Clinical Psychology PhD program, students are required to complete a minimum of 300 semester units with a seamless integration of clinical practice and innovative research experience. Students are awarded a Master of Arts in Psychology after finishing 88 units in major courses, and then a Master of Arts in Christian Leadership when the required 76 units of theology courses are completed. The program also involves more than 1,000 hours engaging in clinical training through a variety of field placements scattered across the diverse greater Los Angeles metropolitan area.

• Association of Theological Schools in the United States and Canada

135 North Oakland Ave. Pasadena, CA 91182 626-584-5200 [email protected] https://www.fuller.edu/phd-clinical-psychology/

Loma Linda University

School of behavioral health.

Loma Linda University is a Seventh-day Adventist institution with more than 4,000 students completing studies in health and science majors. Previously called the School of Science and Technology, the School of Behavioral Health has undergone a recent transformation to specify its goal of delivering high-quality graduate level education for professionals in behavioral health practices. It now consists of three distinct departments that have matured for the past decades, including Social Work, Psychology, and Counseling and Family Services. The School is currently home to the 164th best graduate clinical psychology program in the nation, according to the U.S. News and World Report.

The LLU Clinical Psychology PhD program strongly adheres to the guidelines and regulations that have been established by the APA. With the largest medical facility in the Inland Empire at Loma Linda University Medical Center, students enrolled in the program receive significant training in behavioral health across diverse populations. Students are encouraged to select one area of professional emphasis, such as neuroscience, health psychology, child and adolescent psychology, or social-cultural behavioral health. Before receiving the degree, students must complete a minimum of 204 semester units, typically within five years.

Griggs Hall 11065 Campus St. Loma Linda, CA 92350 909-558-8722 [email protected] https://behavioralhealth.llu.edu/academics/psychology/clinical-psychology-phd

University of California – Berkeley

Department of psychology.

Overlooking the beautiful San Francisco Bay stands the 20th best college in the nation, the University of California at Berkeley. As one of the premier public universities in the world, the faculty of UC Berkeley is comprised of 22 Nobel Prize winners, 32 MacArthur fellows, and 4 Pulitzer Prize winners. Over the past ten years, the National Science Foundation has awarded more Graduate Research Fellowships to this university’s students than any other in the nation. The Department of Psychology aims to produce high-achieving scholar research students with a significant understanding of psychology and ability to conduct independent research for further knowledge in the field.

The UC Berkeley Clinical Psychology PhD program is currently ranked as the 11th best graduate psychology program in the nation by U.S. News and World Report. Students in the program are expected to complete the degree within five or six years, after successfully finishing the required full-time clinical internship and dissertation. At the beginning of day one, students are matched with a faculty advisor who will supervise the student’s research and provide assistance in scheduling their clinical training.

PhD in Social Psychology

Currently ranked as the 8th best Social Psychology PhD program in the entire nation, the program endeavors to prepare students for professional careers in research and teaching at the university level. Through the rigorous curriculum, students gain expertise in the six core areas of social psychology, which are self identity, social cognition, emotion/motivation, personality development, interpersonal relations, and organizational behavior.

• Psychological Clinical Science Accreditation System (PCSAS)

3210 Tolman Hall #1650 Berkeley, CA 94720 510-642-5292 [email protected] https://psychology.berkeley.edu/research/clinical-science

University of California – Los Angeles

Commonly referred to as UCLA, the University of California at Los Angeles is situated in the Westwood neighborhood of downtown LA, just five short miles from the sparkling Pacific Ocean. Renowned for its legacy of academic excellence in Southern California and beyond, it is currently ranked as the 23rd best university and 2nd top public school in the nation. At the UCLA Psychology Clinic, students enrolled in the Department of Psychology gain valuable experience by providing low-fee therapy and assessment services to diverse populations. Students can also conduct individual or supervised research at the Fernald Child Study Center, which is intended to bolster the department’s commitment to childhood learning and behavior disorders.

Doctoral in Psychology Training Program

PhD in Clinical Psychology – The UCLA Clinical Psychology PhD program has been recognized as the best in the nation by the U.S. News and World Report. The doctoral training program enables students to choose from a variety of distinct areas of concentration, including Behavioral Neuroscience, Developmental Psychology, Cognitive Psychology, Learning and Behavior, and Social Psychology. Although the program must be completed within seven years, it provides flexibility for individual variation spanning from four to seven years.

1285 Franz Hall Box 951563 Los Angeles, CA 90095 310-825-2961 [email protected] https://www.psych.ucla.edu/grads

University of California – Riverside

Graduate school of education.

The University of California at Riverside is currently ranked as the 112th best college and 55th top public school in the nation by U.S. News and World Report. It has also been named as the 5th best college in the United States for contributing to the public good by Washington Monthly magazine. Widely recognized among the most ethnically diverse research campuses in the country, the university has more than 21,000 students pursuing more than 65 different degree programs. Since opening in 1969, the UCR Graduate School of Education (GSOE) has prepared researchers, teachers, school psychologists, and administrators for success in education.

PhD in School Psychology

Leading to a state of California Pupil Personnel Services (PPS) credential, the PhD in School Psychology is a five-year, full-time degree program that includes a one-year internship opportunity in a school or university setting. Using the innovative eco-behavioral theoretical model, the program is designed to help students develop skills for reform and implementation of the Response to Intervention (RTI) approach.

• National Association of School Psychologists (NASP)

1207 Sproul Hall 900 University Ave. Riverside, CA 92521 951-827-5225 [email protected] http://education.ucr.edu/schoolpsych/schpsychmain.html

University of California – Santa Barbara

Gevirtz graduate school of education.

One of only 61 institutions elected to be members of the prestigious Association of American Universities, the University of California at Santa Barbara is ranked as the 41st best college and 11th top public school in the nation by U.S. News and World Report. In addition, the Gevirtz Graduate School of Education is ranked as the 40th best school of education in the nation. The school is committed to educating scholar researchers and practitioners for excellence and equality in education.

Combined PhD in Counseling, Clinical, and School Psychology

Designed to prepare well-rounded psychological service providers to provide direct service to their clients, the PhD in Counseling, Clinical, and School Psychology program blends the three different service areas and employment settings. In order to develop research-oriented and academic psychologists, the UC Santa Barbara department helps students develop knowledge unique to counseling, clinical practice, and school psychology. After completing the program, graduates will meet the California PPS School Psychology credentials and be able to sit for the examination to become licensed.

552 University Rd. Santa Barbara, CA 93106 805-893-3375 [email protected] https://education.ucsb.edu/ccsp/combined-doctoral-program

Looking for an online degree program?

Check out these recommendations.

• Psychology Education
• Bachelors in Psychology
• Masters in Psychology
• Doctorate in Psychology
• Psychology Resources
• Psychology License
• Psychology Salary
• Psychology Career
• Psychology Major
• What is Psychology
• Up & Coming Programs
• Top 10 Up and Coming Undergraduate Psychology Programs in the South
• Top 10 Up and Coming Undergraduate Psychology Programs in the Midwest
• Top 10 Up and Coming Undergraduate Psychology Programs in the West
• Top 10 Up and Coming Undergraduate Psychology Programs in the East
• Best Psychology Degrees Scholarship Opportunity
• The Pursuit of Excellence in Psychology Scholarship is Now Closed
• Meet Gemma: Our First Psychology Scholarship Winner
• 50 Most Affordable Clinical Psychology Graduate Programs
• 50 Most Affordable Selective Small Colleges for a Psychology Degree
• The 50 Best Schools for Psychology: Undergraduate Edition
• 30 Great Small Colleges for a Counseling Degree (Bachelor’s)
• Top 10 Best Online Bachelors in Psychology Degree Programs
• Top 10 Online Child Psychology Degree Programs
• 10 Best Online Forensic Psychology Degree Programs
• Top 10 Online Master’s in Psychology Degree Programs
• Top 15 Most Affordable School Psychology Programs
• Top 20 Most Innovative Graduate Psychology Degree Programs
• Top 8 Online Sports Psychology Degree Programs
• Recent Posts
• Does Psychology Require Math? – Requirements for Psychology Majors
• 10 Classes You Will Take as a Psychology Major
• Top 15 Highest-Paying Jobs with a Master’s Degree in Psychology
• The Highest Paying Jobs with an Associate’s Degree in Psychology
• The Highest-Paying Jobs with a Bachelor’s in Psychology
• Should I Major in Psychology?
• How to Become a CBT Therapist
• What is a Social Psychologist?
• How to Become a Clinical Neuropsychologist
• MA vs. MS in Psychology: What’s the Difference?
• PsyD vs. PhD in Psychology: What’s the Difference?
• What Can You Do with a Master’s in Psychology?
• What Can You Do With A PhD in Psychology?
• Master’s in Child Psychology Guide
• Master’s in Counseling Psychology – A Beginner’s Guide
• Master’s in Forensic Psychology – A Beginner’s Guide
• 8 Reasons to Become a Marriage and Family Therapist
• What Do Domestic Violence & Abuse Counselors Do?
• What Training is Needed to Be a Psychologist for People of the LGBTQ Community?
• 15 Inspiring TED Talks on Intelligence and Critical Thinking
• The 30 Most Inspiring Personal Growth and Development Blogs
• 30 Most Unethical Psychology Human Experiments
• 30 Most Prominent Psychologists on Twitter
• New Theory Discredits the Myth that Individuals with Asperger’s Syndrome Lack Empathy
• 10 Crazy Things Famous People Have Believed
• Psychology Infographics
• Top Infographics About Psychology
• The Birth Order Effect [Infographic]
• The Psychology of Dogs [Infographic]
• Can Going Green Improve Your Mental Health? [Infographic]
• Surprising Alternative Treatments for Mental Disorders [Infographic]
• What Can Humans Learn From Animals? [Infographic]

Psychology PhD

Psychology as a scientific discipline aims to describe, understand, and predict the behavior of living organisms. In doing so, psychology embraces the many factors that influence behavior-from sensory experience to complex cognition, from the role of genetics to that of social and cultural environments, from the processes that explain behavior in early childhood to those that operate in older ages, and from typical development to pathological conditions. The Department of Psychology at Berkeley reflects the diversity of our discipline's mission covering six key areas of research: Behavioral and Systems Neuroscience; Clinical Science; Cognition; Cognitive Neuroscience; Developmental, and Social-Personality Psychology. Our program learning goals focus on honing methodological, statistical and critical thinking skills relevant to all areas of Psychology research, enabling students with sufficient breadth to retain perspective in the field of psychology and sufficient depth to permit successful independent and significant research.

• The major academic objectives of the PhD program are for students to:
• Develop an understanding of the different theoretical and empirical frameworks that have defined and shaped the field
• Develop an understanding of the central questions and issues in contemporary psychology
• Develop expertise in one or more relevant research methodologies
• Build expertise in formulating testable hypotheses and designing appropriate studies
• Hone ability to critically evaluate scientific research
• Develop expertise in statistics and advanced data analytic approaches
• Develop an awareness of the importance of science to humanity while recognizing its limits (i.e., some scientific knowledge is culture-specific and may not be applicable to the human condition universally)
• Develop competence as a teacher of undergraduates and mentor to graduate students

Students select one of the following concentrations:

Behavioral and Systems Neuroscience: The Behavioral and Systems Neuroscience area encompasses faculty and students united by a common interest in the neurobiological/physiological bases of behavior, including but not limited to circadian and seasonal rhythms, decision-making, sex differentiation and behavior, energy balance, birdsong and animal communication, animal spatial orientation and navigation, gene-environment interactions, selective attention and visual perception, social behavior, attachment, developmental processes, physiological substrates of emotion and stress, and motivation. The methodologies currently employed by faculty and students cover the entire spectrum from the behavioral study of animals and humans to computational, cellular, molecular and neuroimaging analyses.

Clinical Science: Graduate students in Clinical Science combine rigorous research with hands-on clinical experience. In addition, students take courses that cover general areas of psychological science as well as more specialized areas based on a students interests. Most students will spend four to six years in residence at Berkeley plus one year at a Clinical Internship site, at or near the completion of the dissertation. Degrees are awarded after completion of the internship, even if the dissertation is completed earlier. The faculty advisor/mentor plays an important role in a students training. At the beginning of Year 1, each student is matched with a faculty advisor, usually one of the core Clinical Science Program Faculty, who supervises the student's research. In subsequent years, the student is free to continue working with that person or to seek a new research advisor. In addition to research supervision, the advisor works with the student in planning a program that fits that student's interests, while at the same time meeting program requirements. If a student is conducting research under the supervision of someone other than a core Clinical Science Program Faculty member (e.g., a faculty member in another area of the Psychology Department), then a core Clinical Science Program Faculty member is assigned to advise that student in matters related program requirements.

Cognition: The Cognition Program brings together faculty and students engaged in behavioral and computational investigations of fundamental cognitive processes, including learning, memory, categorization, reasoning, language, and perception. Our interdisciplinary approach borrows methods and insights from the cognitive sciences and other areas within the department.

Cognitive Neuroscience: Programs in Cognitive Neuroscience focus on neuroimaging and neuropsychological approaches to human behavior. Functional neuroimaging techniques, such as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), electroencephalography (EEG), and intracranial EEG (iEEG) are used to study the neural bases of human behavior. Neuropsychological methods assess varieties of psychological dysfunction associated with brain damage or disease. Areas of specialty within this track include Sensory and Perceptual Processes, Attention and Working Memory, Learning and Memory, Emotion, and Motor Control.

Developmental: Our research goal is to understand how the organism and its capabilities develop throughout the lifespan. Our interdisciplinary approach is multi-species, multi-system, and multidisciplinary in nature. We study change over time in cognitive, linguistic, social, emotional, and neural processes. Our explanations include both neural accounts of the plasticity that is observed in the developing brain and other systems, and computational and psychological accounts of development. The bi-directionality of these processes is emphasized, with the organism's genetically program development being influenced by its physical and social environments and in turn influencing those environments. Thus, our research is situated at the interface between the fields of developmental psychology, computational modeling, psycholinguistics, cognitive psychology, developmental cognitive neuroscience, social psychology, cultural psychology, and clinical psychology. Our research examines numerous areas of development, plasticity, and change including sensory processes, cognitive capacities, language, reasoning, everyday knowledge of the world, emotions, and social relationships. We examine both typical and atypical development, each providing rich insights for better understanding the other and suggesting new approaches for effective treatments and preventive interventions.

Social-Personality Psychology: The social-personality program is devoted to training graduate students for careers in research and teaching. The program faculty and several affiliates conduct research and provide intensive training in six core areas of the field: (1) Self and identity; (2) Social cognition; (3) Emotion, emotion regulation, and affective neuroscience; (4) Personality processes and adult development; (5) Interpersonal, intergroup, and intercultural processes; and (6) Power, hierarchy, and social class. In addition to training in these core areas, the program encourages graduate students to develop their own research interests and build an independent research program. The program is characterized by considerable breadth and diversity. It provides students with special research opportunities, such as access to unique longitudinal databases, multi-method approaches (self-report, observational, archival, life-data, physiological), and biological perspectives on social behavior (e.g., evolutionary, neuroimaging).

Contact Info

[email protected]

2121 Berkeley Way University of California

Berkeley, CA 94720-1650

At a Glance

Department(s)

Admit Term(s)

Application Deadline

December 4, 2023

Degree Type(s)

Doctoral / PhD

Degree Awarded

GRE Requirements

• Request Info
• Academic Programs
• Continuing Studies
• Camp Students & Families
• Academy Students & Families
• Faculty & Staff

PhD in Clinical Psychology

At the forefront in clinical psychology.

It takes a unique mindset to be a clinical psychologist. Students at PAU are taught to be science-minded while appreciating the broader role of psychology in alleviating suffering in the world.

If you are a curious student dedicated to using psychology to improve lives, pursuing a PhD in Clinical Psychology at PAU is your next step towards effecting change in the world.

The PhD in Clinical Psychology Program at Palo Alto University is deeply committed to educating well-rounded clinical psychologists capable and competent as both researchers and clinicians.

Rigorous Evidence-Based Curriculum

The PhD program at PAU includes intensive study in five areas: Basic theoretical concepts in psychology, research, psychological evaluation, psychotherapy theory and process, and clinical foundations and field experience.

You will learn to value evidence-based clinical models while maintaining the responsibilities psychologists have to their community, society, and profession.

The goals and key themes of our program:

• To produce students and graduates who are critically reflective and informed consumers and producers of psychological knowledge and associated clinical sciences
• To produce clinicians with the requisite clinical knowledge, skills, and attitudes to successfully practice as entry PhD-level clinical psychologists in a variety of clinical settings and with a variety of clinical problems.
• To produce researchers with the requisite scientific knowledge, skills, and attitudes to both consume and generate research.
• To produce culturally competent clinical psychologists.
• To produce clinical psychologists whose conduct exemplifies excellence in professionalism and ethics.

Every PhD candidate at PAU takes pride in their capability and competence as both researcher and clinician. If you are ready to focus on your future, connect with PAU today.

PAU alumni go on to have successful and rewarding careers as clinical psychologists or in research-focused academics. Still others find their calling in the corporate and nonprofit sectors.

• With a PhD in Clinical Psychology, you can work in various settings, such as in hospitals and medical centers, community mental health clinics, private practice, and universities.
• With balanced training for competency as a clinician and as a researcher, you will have the training for clinical work, research, or teaching – or even a combination of all three.
• PAU areas of emphases enable our students to be board-certified in specialized psychology careers, including Neuropsychology and Forensic Psychology.

Fully Accredited Training

The program of study for the PhD is informed by the American Psychological Association’s (APA’s) guidelines for doctoral education in clinical psychology and emphasizes the integration of scientific research and clinical practices.

The PAU PhD in Clinical Psychology program has been accredited by the American Psychological Association since 1988.

Office of Program Consultation and Accreditation:

American Psychological Association 750 First Street NE Washington, DC 20002-4242 202-336-5979 [email protected] www.apa.org/ed/accreditation

Learn more about Licensing and Accreditation @ PAU

APA IRC-26 Student Admissions, Outcomes, and Other Data

The PhD Clinical Psychology program faculty is a talented and highly distinguished group of psychologists from across the globe, with wide-ranging clinical and research specialties.

PhD Area of Emphasis

Your core PhD training at PAU provides broad and general preparation through the integration of scholarship, professional experience, and research with our practitioner-scientist training model.

We also offer optional specialized training in seven key emphasis areas – all in high demand and focused on building additional knowledge and experience within a focused field of clinical psychology.

The Diversity and Community Mental Health (DCMH) area of emphasis at PAU gives you specialized knowledge and clinical training to provide psychological services for the public mental health sector.

The PhD emphasis in Forensic Psychology at PAU trains specialists in the clinical application of psychology to the legal system.

PAU’s Health Psychology Area of Emphasis will prepare students with foundational knowledge and skills to conduct cutting-edge assessment, treatment, and consultation in interprofessional care environments.

At Palo Alto University, we are committed to ensuring that the next generation of clinical psychologists is competent in clinical practice and research with diverse lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) populations.

The Meditation and Psychology Emphasis in the PhD Clinical Psychology program involves clinical and research training concerning the interplay of mind-body factors in health and well-being.

The impact of brain function on human behavior is endlessly fascinating – and it’s a great career path for science-minded psychology students.

Why choose pediatric behavioral health? It’s life-changing work – and the demand for highly-trained specialists continues to grow.

Combat veterans. Mass casualty events. Domestic violence. Child abuse. The potential long-term – and immediate – psychological costs of trauma exposure can be catastrophic.

As a student at PAU, you will have access to specialized research groups and clinical training opportunities through the Gronowski Center, a community-based psychology training clinic and treatment center dedicated to providing high quality, evidence-based, clinical services to adults, older adults, adolescents, children, and families in the community.

Admission and Graduation Requirements

The PhD Program is a full-time program and requires a minimum of three years in residence. The program is structured to be completed in five years: three years for academic coursework, one year for the dissertation and one year for internship.

Graduation Requirements

The PhD in Clinical Psychology program takes an average of five years to complete and is open to individuals who hold a bachelor's or master's degree and have completed the required prerequisites prior to applying for admission.

The PhD in Clinical Psychology program at PAU requires that candidates complete 150 units of required coursework and 18 elective units for a total of 168 units, which typically takes three years for full-time attendees.

During their final two years of full-time enrollment, students complete other graduation requirements.

Publication and Presentation : Students must make a significant contribution to a peer-reviewed journal article, book chapter, or literary contribution to another scholarly publication.

Milestones : In addition to the Oral Clinical Competency Exam, three written exams on research competency, clinical competency, and assessment competency must be taken. Additionally, students are required to complete a dissertation of 30 minimum units, a 12-unit internship , and at least two years of practicums . 

Students enrolled in the PhD in Clinical Psychology program are required to complete clinical practicum training.

Provides mentoring and clinical placement services to the PhD Clinical Psychology program students. PhD Clinical Training Faculty provide: Close faculty advising for students applying to practicum and internship Mentoring and intensive professional development advising throughout clinical training. Review of practicum sites for quality assurance

Explore More

Research labs.

All students in the PhD Clinical Psychology Program are required to participate in faculty-led research groups during their second and third years in the program – for 6 consecutive quarters.

You won’t spend all your time in the classroom – you’ll gain direct experience providing supervised therapy while working in a practicum or internship setting.

Student Admissions, Outcomes, and Other Data

Each year, the PAU psychology faculty participate in a thorough strategic review of our curriculum, processes, student learning, and student and program outcomes.

Frequently Asked Questions

Enrolling in a PhD program is a significant life choice – Palo Alto University faculty and staff will answer all your questions before you apply and after you are accepted.

1. Where can I find information on first year student orientation? 

You will receive an email from the PhD program office during the summer before Fall Quarter begins. You may contact  [email protected]  for additional information regarding orientation. 

2. Where can I find the academic calendar?

The Academic Calendar can be found on the  Registrar’s office page.

3. How do I get my PAU email address and access to the PAU Intranet ( https://my.paloaltou.edu/ics/ )? (Access email at gmail.paloaltou.edu)  From the  IT Helpdesk . Contact  [email protected]  with any questions.

4. Where are the classrooms?

At the PAU Allen Calvin Main Campus, Classrooms 1 and 3, and the computer lab, are located on the top floor of Building Three. Classroom 2 is located on the middle floor of Building Three.

At the PAU Los Altos/Gronowski Center Campus, rooms D11A and D11B are on the first floor of the Kurt and Barbara Gronowski Psychology Clinic located at  5150 El Camino Real, Suite 22, Bldg C, Los Altos, California 94022 . 

5. Where do I park for classes?

PAU encourages students to carpool to class as parking availability at the Los Altos/Gronowski and PAU Main Allen Calvin Campus is very limited. Directions to PAU campuses are available on the Locations, Transportation & Parking  web page.

The PhD program at Palo Alto University operates on two main campuses: The  Allen Calvin Campus at 1791 Arastradero Road in Palo Alto  and the Gronowski Center Campus at 1172 Castro Street, Mountain View   

Detailed Driving Directions:

At the Allen Calvin/Main Campus, drive through the gates and up the hilly driveway. There are several different areas for parking, including lower, middle, and upper level areas. You are welcome to park in any of these spaces. On days when there are campus events, parking may be limited. You may also park at the bottom of the driveway or at the nearby Alpine Inn parking lot, but be aware that those areas are not part of the campus and therefore not secure. The campus is in a remote area and there is no public transportation. Please carpool whenever possible.

If you ride a bicycle as your primary mode of transportation, please be extremely cautious when riding on Page Mill Road and Arastradero Road. There are sharp, blind turns, which may be especially dangerous at night or during heavy traffic hours. If you do travel at night, wear reflective clothing and use a light on the front and back of your bicycle. For your safety, always wear a helmet. Please lock and secure your bicycle at the upper parking level, near the cul-de-sac and Building One.

6. What if I have questions?

Please feel free to contact the PhD program or  PAU staff  should you have questions.

April House - PhD Program Manager ( [email protected] )

7. Where can I access basic information about the PhD program?

Please visit the  PhD Program Website . Your most important resource is the PhD Student Handbook. The website also provides links to PhD program forms, information on competency exams, dissertations, important contacts, course schedule archives, grievance procedures, additional program handbooks, and information on TA opportunities.

Other important links related to the PhD program include  the PAU Office of Professional Development and Advising  and  the PAU Institutional Review Board . All of these websites are accessible via  the PAU portal.

8. Who can I talk to about academic support at PAU, curriculum requirements, and program expectations to advance to candidacy?

The PAU Academic Advising Center (PAAC)  is a space where PhD students can  make appointments  to talk to advanced students when they are unsure about any aspect of academic progress at PAU. PAAC aims to support students in thriving academically and professionally throughout the PhD Program. These advanced students assist first year students in many ways, including:

• Reviewing research group application materials
• Providing a general overview of the PhD program curriculum
• Answering questions about academics and research
• Offering advice on surviving and thriving in grad school

PAAC hours shift each academic quarter. Please visit the website for the most-up-to-date hours.

9. How long will it take to earn my PhD at PAU?

Although the PhD program is designed to be completed within five years of coursework and practica, many students choose to take an additional year to complete their degree. Students must complete their degree within 7 years. The number of years it takes to complete the PhD program will depend on your individual needs and professional goals:

• Post-graduate career goals
• Competitiveness of clinical and research training sites
• Internship asirations and restrictions
• Practicum placements and performance
• Research opportunities, dissertation progress, publications and presentations
• Satisfactory academic progress

The PhD program is accredited by the American Psychological Association (APA) and follows their  Benchmark Evaluation System  to assess whether a student has met the competency benchmarks in professional psychology. 

10. How do I register for classes? How do I change my schedule?

For the first year of the PhD program, you are pre-registered for all of your courses based upon the required first-year coursework in the  PhD curriculum . Information about registration can be found at the  Registrar’s Office on the Portal , including  downloadable course schedules , and  academic calendars .

In subsequent years of the program, you will  use the portal for online registration . If you would like to change your schedule, you will need to email the registrar Nora Marquez ( [email protected] ) for further instruction. For additional questions about registration, including wait-listing, sequences, and other concerns, see the PhD Program Handbook. 

11. How do I obtain a copy of my course schedule?

You may always access  your current course schedule on the portal . Additionally, students can request a hard copy in-person from the Registrar’s Office at the PAU Allen Calvin Campus. 

12. Why am I required to attend 8 hours of therapy? Is the cost covered by PAU? How do I find a good therapist on a graduate student budget?

According to the PhD Student Handbook, all PhD students are required to complete 8 hours of individual psychotherapy with a doctoral-level licensed psychologist (PhD, ED, PsyD) or board-eligible psychiatrist prior to registration for the Oral Clinical Competency Exam (which typically occurs in the third year of the program). It is the perspective of PAU that the personal experience of psychotherapy is critical to the ability to work therapeutically with others. The cost of psychotherapy is not covered by PAU and is not part of the financial aid package.

Additional information about this requirement can be located in the PhD Student Handbook. There is an aggregate list of recommended low cost and sliding scale therapists noted under  Student Resources on the portal . You may also want to consult websites such as  Psychology Today  to select the right therapist.

13. How early do I have to decide if I want to complete a PhD  area of emphasis ? 

The first quarter of the first year is a good time to meet with a faculty advisor, as well as other PAU faculty and advanced students, to determine whether an area of emphasis will fit long term professional goals. As the year proceeds, students will have a better idea of their interests and the requirements for completing each area of emphasis. If you are still unsure, schedule an appointment with the PAU Academic Advising Center (PAAC).

14. When are financial aid refund disbursements available?

To receive the status of your financial aid, please visit the portal or email  [email protected] .

PAU alumna Amanda Harris (née Feldman), JD, PhD, a psychologist and attorney representing domestic violence survivors.

Application & Instructions

The deadline to submit the application and all supporting materials (e.g. letters of recommendation, transcripts, etc.) for Fall 2024 admission for the Clinical area only is  November 1, 2023 . The deadline for all other areas (Behavioral Neuroscience, Cognitive, Developmental, Health, Quantitative, and Social) is  December 1, 2023 . 

If you have specific questions about the online UCLA application for Graduate Admission , please email the UCLA Division of Graduate Education office at  [email protected] .

Please note there is no departmental application. The only application you need to complete is the online UCLA application for Graduate Admission . Applications are accepted once a year for the Fall quarter only. 

Be sure to read  Information for Prospective Applicants  and  Preparation prior to submitting your application!   In addition, be sure to visit the link to the specific program to which you plan to apply for additional information. 

You may only apply to one of the seven areas in the Department of Psychology: Behavioral Neuroscience, Clinical, Cognitive, Developmental, Health, Quantitative, and Social.

We do not offer rolling admissions or early acceptance into our program. We do not accept current graduate students transferring directly into our program. Applicants who are currently enrolled as graduate students elsewhere must apply and have their materials reviewed with the rest of the applicants that apply. 

Please note that a writing sample is not required but can be submitted through the application. Applicants to the Clinical and Quantitative program should view the fifth bullet point below.

FACULTY ACCEPTING STUDENTS FOR FALL 2024 ADMISSION:

Behavioral Neuroscience Area : Avishek Adhikari, Dean Buonomano, Jaime Castrellon, Michael Fanselow, Barbara Knowlton, Dario Ringach, Jesse Rissman, Ladan Shams, Kate Wassum

Clinical Area:  Denise Chavira, Bruce Chorpita, Michelle Craske, Tiffany Ho, Katherine Karlsgodt, Anna Lau, Lara Ray

Cognitive Area : Alan Castel, Jaime Castrellon, Patricia Cheng, Phil Kellman, Barbara Knowlton, Ian Krajbich, Falk Lieder, Zili Liu, Hongjing Lu, Martin M. Monti, Jesse Rissman, Ladan Shams

Developmental Area:  Bridget Callaghan, Andrew Fuligni, Catherine Sandhofer, Jennifer Silvers, James Stigler

Health  Area :  Julienne Bower, Theodore Robles, Annette Stanton, Jennifer Sumner, Janet Tomiyama, Patrick Wilson

Quantitative  Area :  Han Du, Craig Enders, Yi Feng, Amanda Montoya

Social Area:  Naomi Eisenberger, Yuen Huo, Jaimie Krems, Matthew Lieberman, Carolyn Parkinson

INTERVIEW SCHEDULE FOR FALL 2024 ADMISSION:

Applicants that are invited to interview will be notified through email about two weeks prior to the interview appointment. Interviews will be conducted virtually. Applicants will receive individual emails with Recruitment Day information. Applicants that are not offered admission to our program for Fall 2024 will be notified by email no later than April 15, 2024.  BNS Area Interview Dates: January 26, 2024 Clinical Area Interview Dates: January 16 – January 19, 2024 Cognitive Area Interview Dates: January 26, 2024 Developmental Area Interview Dates: January 26, 2024 Health Area Interview Dates: January 18 – January 19, 2024 Quantitative Area Interview Date: January 26, 2024 Social Area Interview Dates: Early January, 2024

Department Recruitment Day: February 23, 2024

*** NOTE: ALL OF THE FOLLOWING APPLICATION MATERIALS ARE REQUIRED ***

A) Statement of Purpose & Personal Statement:

The Statement of Purpose and Personal Statement must be submitted electronically through the application for Graduate Admission.

Guidelines for the Statement of Purpose:  Your statement can be up to 1000 words in length. Please state your purpose in applying for graduate study. Describe your scholarly and research area(s) of interest, experiences that contributed to your preparation in the field, and your plans for your future occupation or profession. Briefly describe experiences that have prepared you for advanced study or research, and provide any additional information that may aid the selection committee in evaluating your preparation and aptitude for graduate study. You are encouraged to indicate specific research interests and potential faculty mentors.

Guidelines for the Personal Statement : Your statement can be up to 500 words in length (approximately 1 page, single spaced, using 1-inch margins and 12-point font). Describe how your background, accomplishments, and life experiences (those not already described in your Statement of Purpose) led to your decision to pursue the graduate degree for which you are applying. Include any educational, personal, cultural, economic, or social experiences, challenges or opportunities relevant to your academic journey. In addition, please describe any aspects of your personal background, accomplishments, or achievements that will allow the department to evaluate your contributions to the University’s diversity mission. Contributions to diversity and equal opportunity can take a variety of forms, such as efforts to advance equitable access to education, public service that addresses the need of a diverse population, or research that explores inequalities.

Additional Questions and Essays:  Applicants to the Clinical area must answer 6 additional questions. Applicants to the Quantitative area must provide a supplementary essay up to 1000 words describing their research interests in more detail. Supplementary essays are available in the ‘Psychology’ section of the application once you select ‘Psychology PHD’ under ‘Plans for Graduate Study’.

B) Three Letters of Recommendation:

It is your choice who you would like to choose as your recommenders. Your letters of recommendation can be submitted electronically by your recommenders either before or after you submit the application for Graduate Admission. It is also possible to send your letter of recommendation requests to your recommenders before you submit the application. Three (3) letters of recommendation must be submitted electronically through the application. Letter of recommendation services such as your school’s career center, Interfolio.com, etc. must also submit letters electronically through the application for the letters to be accepted. It is possible to submit more than three (3) letters of recommendation through the application. However, only three (3) letters of recommendation are required. The Letter of Recommendation Rating/Reference Form will only be sent to your recommenders when they submit your letters electronically through the application.

C) Transcripts:

All applicants must upload transcripts with the application. Unofficial copies of transcripts are acceptable for review purposes. If you are recommended for admission and decide to accept the offer, you must submit final, official copies of your transcript for final approval of your admission by the UCLA Division of Graduate Education office. Any discrepancies between the unofficial and official transcripts could lead to withdrawal of an offer of admission. International applicants must upload copies of original and translated international transcripts per country- or educational system-specific guidelines ( https://grad.ucla.edu/gasaa/admissions/ACADRECS.HTM ). UCLA does not accept international transcripts evaluated or verified by a service such as World Education Services (WES). 

D) Test Scores: Please note that starting Fall 2023, admission applicants are not required to take the GRE.

• GRE General Test:  Applicants for admission to our graduate program are not required to submit a GRE score report as part of their application package. Applicants may voluntarily submit GRE test scores and they will be reviewed as one part of the holistic application consideration. The applications with GRE scores will not be given greater weight than those that do not include scores. During the 2020 and 2021 admission cycles combined, 25% of applicants to the UCLA Psychology graduate program submitted GRE General Test scores. The number of applicants that applied, submitted GRE scores, and the percentage of applicants that submitted GRE scores, organized by Area, can be found in the table below.

• GRE Psychology Subject Test:  Consistent with the policy of the UCLA Department of Psychology, applicants to the clinical psychology doctoral program at UCLA will not be required to take the GRE. The GRE Psychology Subject Test is not required and will not be used to make admissions decisions. However, applicants who score above the 70 th  percentile can use the GRE Subject Test to partially fulfill Discipline-Specific Knowledge requirements (e.g., cognitive, social) that are part of accreditation by the American Psychological Association. In this way, admitted students may be able to reduce the amount of, or more flexibly select, coursework needed to complete program requirements. Students may elect to take the GRE Subject Test after their admission into our program and all program requirements can be fulfilled without taking the test.
• To ensure your official test scores are properly processed if you choose to submit them, please be sure the personal information provided in the UCLA application for Graduate Admission matches exactly the information provided to the testing service. Do not wait for your test results to complete the application. Educational Testing Service (ETS) sends scores electronically to UCLA. The institution code for UCLA is 4837. The department/major code is not necessary.  
• Official GRE test scores  cannot be more than five years old . If the GRE tests are taken more than once, the most recent scores are considered.
• Quantitative program applicants: Quantitative psychology is by definition very reliant on quantitative skill sets which can be demonstrated in a number of ways: performance in mathematics courses, performance on the quantitative section of the GRE, and/or letters of recommendation speaking to your quantitative expertise. When reading applications, we will look for demonstrated ability in quantitative skills, but this should not require a GRE score if other parts of your application speak to these skills. If you are unsure whether you should or should not include GRE scores in your application to UCLA, please feel free to contact the quantitative area faculty.
• TOEFL or IELTS EXAM:  INTERNATIONAL APPLICANTS whose first language is not English must submit an official TOEFL (Test of English As a Foreign Language) or IELTS (International English Language Testing System) score. Applicants who hold a bachelor’s degree or higher from a university located in the United States or in another country in which English is both the primary spoken language of daily life and the language of instruction (i.e., Australia, Barbados, Canada, Ireland, Jamaica, New Zealand, United Kingdom) and the medium of instruction, or who have completed at least two years of full-time study at such an institution, are exempted from both the TOEFL/IELTS requirement and the English as a Second Language Placement Examination. The minimum TOEFL or IELTS scores are 560 on the paper and pencil test, 220 on the computer-based test, or 87 on the internet-based test (TOEFL/IBT), or overall band score of 7.0 (IELTS). TOEFL and IELTS test scores are valid for only two years. Educational Testing Service (ETS) sends scores electronically to UCLA. The institution code for UCLA is 4837. The department/major code is not necessary. Please contact the Educational Testing Service (ETS) for GRE and TOEFL test scheduling, registration, and information. Visit the Educational Testing Service web site at  www.ets.org  or call them at (510) 873-8100 (West Coast) or (609) 771-7100 (East Coast). IELTS is administered by local IELTS test centers throughout the world. Applicants should consult  www.ielts.org  for the nearest IELTS test center.

• Search This Site All UCSD Sites Faculty/Staff Search Term
• Contact & Directions
• Climate Statement
• Cognitive Behavioral Neuroscience
• Cognitive Psychology
• Developmental Psychology
• Social Psychology
• Adjunct Faculty
• Non-Senate Instructors
• Researchers
• Psychology Grads
• Affiliated Grads
• New and Prospective Students
• Honors Program
• Experiential Learning
• Programs & Events
• Psi Chi / Psychology Club
• Prospective PhD Students
• Current PhD Students
• Area Brown Bags
• Colloquium Series
• Anderson Distinguished Lecture Series
• Speaker Videos

Graduate Program

If you are considering applying to a PhD program, you'll have many options. We humbly believe that your best option is UC San Diego Psychology. In fact, there are 17 reasons that support this belief. But in the interest of space, we'll focus on the Top 5 here. If you want to know the other 12, you'll have to come to UC San Diego.

1. Five years fully funded, with TA duties

All of our graduate students, including international students, are fully funded . This means that all tuition and fees are covered and graduate students receive $30,000 in additional support per year. This base level of support is provided by the Department, not individual faculty or student grants, which means that our graduate students can work across labs to collaborate, dabble, and experiment. 

As part of this support package graduate students serve as a teaching assistant (TA) for undergraduate courses during the academic year. Teaching Assistantships  provide students with opportunities to work across research areas, grow their teaching expertise, and build relationships with department faculty and lecturers.

There are other sources of funding from the Department as well, such as a large departmental fund, created by UC San Diego’s own Norman H. Anderson, that supports annual travel to conferences for all graduate students, the McGill Research account, which provides $2,000 in your first year for research-related expenses, and the McGill Post-Advancement Research account which provides $1,000 for additional research-related expenses. 

2. A large campus-wide community

Psychologists at UC San Diego interact with researchers in Human Development, Philosophy, Linguistics, Cognitive Science, and Neuroscience. In Psychology, students in each research area - Cognitive, Social, Developmental, and Cognitive Behavioral Neuroscience  (see below) - get together weekly at Brown Bag meetings to discuss their research with other students and faculty. Although we don't train Clinical Psychology graduate students , researchers with an interest in interacting with clinicians can find colleagues and friends in the UC San Diego Medical School. Upshot: We interact with each other a lot. 

3. Holistic review

We care about your research interests and experience - not just your grades and GRE scores . If you have an undergraduate degree and a strong track record of research experience , we want to hear from you ( no previous master’s training is required ) . Sure, we'll look at the numbers, but we're much more interested in your research training and your match to our program. Reach out to us individually and we'll help you figure out whether UC San Diego is the right place for you. 

4. New faces

This year all of our labs are accepting students, but we're especially excited to consider graduate student applicants for our newest labs. New faculty members accepting students include Chujun Lin ,  Dhananjay Bambah-Mukku , and Nadia Brashier . These faculty study topics including social cognition, person perception, computational modeling, neurobiology of social behavior, molecular analysis of neural circuits, and memory and misinformation across the adult lifespan. These, and other faculty, can be checked out here .

5. We're happier

UC San Diego isn't just a productive place to do a PhD. It's a happy place, too. Year-round outdoor meetings. A 5 minute walk to the beach. Cycling, hiking, surfing, and just feeling the warm sun on your face all year round.

To apply to our program, please visit our admissions page for details. The application deadline for Fall 2024 admission is December 6th, 2023.   

Please contact any of us for details on our labs, the application process, or life in San Diego; contact information can be found on our Department website as well as individual lab websites. If you apply, we'll connect you to current PhD students to talk about their experience, who can help you decide which lab is best for you and your interests.

Program Emphases

The Department of Psychology at the UC San Diego, provides advanced training in research in core subfields of Experimental Psychology. Having modern laboratories, an attractive physical setting, and distinguished faculty, both within the Department of Psychology and in supporting disciplines, provides research opportunities and training at the frontiers of psychological science. Our graduate training program emphasizes and supports individual research, starting with the first year of study.

The Department offers the following emphases:

• Cognitive & Behavioral Neuroscience

Graduate students in the psychology doctoral program may also expand their degree and apply to enroll in interdisciplinary PhD programs after being accepted into our program.

• Financial Support

Social Personality Psychology

The program provides intensive training in research methods, statistical analysis, and a wide array of theoretical perspectives focusing on central topics in social and personality psychology. The program is unique in representing a true blend of social and personality psychology, with a strong and active faculty presence in both areas as well as multiple lines of work connecting them. Members of the program study the affective, cognitive, socio-cultural, biological, and developmental underpinnings of human behavior, using a variety of methodological strategies.

ANGELA SCULLY Graduate Program Coordinator

• Graduate Program Requirements
• Related Information
• Graduate Student Funding and Financial Support
• Areas of Specialization
• Interdisciplinary Studies
• How to Apply

University of California, Davis 135 Young Hall  One Shields Avenue Davis ,  CA   95616

[email protected] 530-752-1880

© 2000-2024 by the Regents of the University of California, Davis Campus. All Rights Reserved.

What are you looking for?

Suggested search, phd program.

Doctoral students are trained through a mentorship model, working closely with faculty on research. Students are expected to engage in research activities and scholarship throughout their graduate training, leading up to and culminating in the doctoral dissertation. Expertise is also acquired by participating in courses, seminars, and colloquia. Most students also gain experience with teaching through guest lectures and teaching assistantships.

The Department of Psychology is composed of five groups, or areas. Within each of these groups, the faculty share a primary interest in a specific branch of psychology. Select an area to see more information and its faculty members in our doctoral program.

Brain and Cognitive Science

Addresses fundamental questions about the brain and mind in human and animals in areas such as creativity, decision, emotion, learning and memory, linguistics, motivation, and perception.

Clinical Science

Applies scientific theories and methods to understand adaptive and maladaptive functioning, to alleviate human suffering, and to promote adjustment. Specialization available in clinical-aging, child and family clinical, and adult clinical.

Developmental Psychology

Studies developmental change in social behavior, cognition, language, neurological structure and emotions from childhood through early adulthood.

Quantitative Methods and Computational Psychology

Studies basic and advanced methodology used in psychometrics and measurement, multilevel and longitudinal data analysis, behavior genetic methods, decision making, robust statistical methods, and computational tools for analyzing multivariate data.

Social Psychology

Studies the thoughts, feelings and actions of individuals as they are influenced by other individuals and by groups. Topics include attitude change, aggression, intergroup relations, decision making, safe sex, gender differences, and self-regulation.

However, this division does not reflect our approach to research questions. Many of our faculty are affiliated with more than one area or collaborate across areas. Many students work with multiple faculty members during their doctoral studies.

Prerequisites for Admission

The Admissions page describes how to apply and the background needed for a competitive application.

Course Requirements

The following is a brief outline of requirements. Details of requirements for doctoral students in the USC Graduate School can be found at General Requirements for graduate degrees. Additional information about Psychology department requirements is provided in the Handbook for Graduate Students. Additional information about the Clinical Science Program can be found in the Clinical Science Handbook.

Residency and Time Limits

The doctoral program is designed with the expectation that a student can complete all requirements within five years, except for the clinical area, wherein a requirement for internship training extends the period by one year.

Student progress is monitored through annual reviews and formal evaluations that occur at the first-year screening, second-year project, qualifying examination, and dissertation.

• First-Year Screening: Students are evaluated based on performance in courses and progress in research, as judged by the faculty of the student’s specialty area.
• Second-Year Project: Master’s thesis or a research report of comparable scope and quality. The student’s performance in planning, conducting, and reporting the study is evaluated by a committee of three faculty members.
• Qualifying Exam: During the fourth year of residence, students are expected to pass a Qualifying Exam. This has two components; the dissertation proposal and a written examination or review paper. These are evaluated by a guidance committee that consists of faculty members from two or more areas within Psychology, and a faculty member from outside the Psychology department.
• Dissertation: By the end of the fifth year, the student should submit and defend a dissertation that describes the research that was done, with analysis of the findings in relation to the relevant literature. If this is judged to be acceptable by the guidance committee and the Graduate School, the degree of Doctor of Philosophy is conferred.

• Chancellor’s Message

Print Options

2023-24 edition, psychological science, ph.d..

The Department of Psychological Science offers a Ph.D. program in Psychological Science. The main goal of this program is to train behavioral scientists to apply theory and methods in psychology, together with perspectives and knowledge from allied disciplines, to the analysis of human behavior and health across the life span and in diverse sociocultural contexts. This program values both basic and applied research that is relevant to the improvement of individual, community, and societal functioning. Emphasis is placed on the integration of knowledge from several subspecialties in psychology in order to understand the antecedents and developmental course of adaptive or maladaptive behavior and on the conduct of research that has implications for social policies, programs, and interventions.

En Route M.A. in Social Ecology Requirements

En route m.a. in psychological science requirements, program requirements.

All students take six required departmental core courses:

The course on Applied Research PSCI P209A introduces students to the scientific, professional, and ethical issues involved in conducting and translating psychological research in a variety of applied settings. The three-quarter course Research Directions in Psychological Science ( PSCI P294A - PSCI P294B - PSCI P294C ) allows students to increase their breadth of knowledge regarding contemporary issues and controversies in psychology by participating in the Department’s weekly colloquium series and interacting with visiting scholars and other speakers.

Students must select one of four core specialization areas in which to further focus their graduate training. Students enrolled in the Ph.D. in Psychological Science program with a concentration in Clinical Psychology are not required to select a core specialization area outside of the clinical concentration (see specific program requirements for the clinical concentration). Additional course requirements vary across each specialization.

In addition to selecting a core specialization area, students are also required to select a minor specialization and complete one required specialization course and one elective course in this area. The minor specialization and elective courses should be chosen according to the plan that best meets the needs of the individual student, as determined in consultation with the student’s faculty advisor and the departmental graduate advisor. In addition to courses offered by the Department of Psychological Science and the School of Social Ecology, students may take courses offered by other departments in other schools such as the Departments of Cognitive Science, Anthropology, and Sociology in the School of Social Sciences and the Department of Neurobiology and Behavior in the School of Biological Sciences. Approval from instructors is required to enroll in these courses.

Students who are interested can pursue an optional training track in psychology and law. This track is supplemental to the requirements associated with the required specializations and supplemental to the required minor. That is, all students must complete the above-listed requirements for their specialization and minor. Then, if the student decides to complete the training track in psychology and law, this training is in addition to the requirements listed above. For the training track, a total of four courses must be taken, one required ( PSCI P266 ) and three electives. The electives must be approved by the student’s faculty mentor and departmental advisor and can be a course in Psychological Science, or in the School of Social Ecology or School of Law, with instructor and school approval.

Health Psychology Specialization

Social and personality specialization.

Course only applies when topic is Moral Psychology or Cooperation and Helping

Affective Science Specialization

Developmental psychology specialization, advancement to candidacy and dissertation.

Normative time to advancement for doctoral students in the School of Social Ecology is three to four years. In no case will students be allowed to advance to candidacy after the end of the fifth year of study (adjusted for any approved Leaves of Absence the student may have taken). Psychological Science Ph.D. students are required to advance by the end of their fourth year to remain in good standing with the department.  

A student may formally advance to candidacy for the Ph.D. when all requirements except the dissertation have been completed, and when their Candidacy Committee has approved the student’s dissertation plans. The Candidacy Committee must be approved by the department Chair and the Associate Dean of the School of Social Ecology, acting on behalf of the Dean. The committee must consist of a minimum of four members. At least three of the four members must hold affiliations with Psychological Science and at least two members must have a primary appointment in Psychological Science. A student has the right to request a committee member from an academic unit outside of the student's department.

Emeritus Professors may serve on students' Candidacy Committees as long as they are current members of the Faculty Senate. The Dean of Graduate Division must approve any exceptions to membership for either the advancement to candidacy or doctoral dissertation committees.

The Doctoral Committee (also referred to informally as the “Dissertation Committee” or the “Thesis Committee”) will supervise following advancement to candidacy, the preparation and completion of the doctoral dissertation. The Doctoral Committee ordinarily consists of three members from the Candidacy Committee, a majority of whom hold affiliations with a student’s home department although more than three of the original members may be retained if the student and their Candidacy Committee Chair consider this desirable and feasible. The exact membership of the Doctoral Committee should be determined in consultation with the Chair of the Candidacy Committee. 

Ph.D. in Psychological Science with a Concentration in Clinical Psychology

Students pursuing a Concentration in Clinical Psychology must meet the core course requirements in addition to specialized coursework and clinical training, which includes clinical practica and a one-year internship. Those in the clinical Concentration are required to take six departmental core courses, eight clinical core courses, and five breadth courses. The additional clinical core courses and breadth courses in the clinical Concentration are required for APA accreditation. Students in the concentration are not required to choose a minor.

Requirements

Students in the clinical Concentration are required to take the six departmental core courses, eight clinical core courses, and five breadth courses.

Clinical Concentration Core Course Requirements

Advancement.

Students complete a supervised research project during their second year culminating in a paper that may form the basis for a publication. They take a written comprehensive examination during their third year, which requires them to demonstrate mastery of the principles of social ecology and of major theoretical, substantive, and methodological issues in the study of their major specialization and in the psychology of human behavior. The normative time for advancement to candidacy is four years. The fourth year is devoted to developing and defending a dissertation proposal, and the fifth year is spent completing the dissertation research. The normative time for completion of the Ph.D. is six years, but we encourage students to complete within five years. Students must complete all requirements for the Ph.D. in Psychological Science no later than their seventh year of study, adjusted for any approved leaves of absence that may have been taken. It is expected that most students will complete the degree requirements well in advance of this deadline. All Ph.D. students in the Psychological Science program are required to pass a final oral defense of the dissertation.

Potential employment sites for graduates of the program include academic institutions, research organizations, government policy institutes, health care and human services settings (e.g., hospitals, schools, community agencies), and a variety of private sector employers. The Ph.D. Program in Psychological Science specializes in the training of researchers, not in the training of clinical practitioners.

Practicum Placements

An essential part of the Concentration involves training in clinical psychological assessment and treatments, conjoined with supervised clinical work. This supervised clinical work, beginning in spring quarter of the first year of study and continuing through the second year, will be in the outpatient Psychology Clinic; subsequently in years three and four, there will be practicum placements at various hospitals and clinics.

All students are required to complete a one-year American Psychological Association-accredited internship in clinical psychology, typically in a major medical setting or counseling center. Most students will complete the internship after they have advanced to candidacy and have collected and analyzed the data for their dissertations. Ideally, students will complete their dissertation before the internship begins, which is the current practice in other clinical doctoral programs.

Students will learn to understand human behavior from a social ecological, contextual perspective. They will be exposed to the major theories in each specialization and learn various social science research methods. All students are encouraged to become actively involved in research from the earliest stage of their training. Through close association with faculty members and participation in the faculty’s research projects, students learn to conduct methodologically sophisticated research that addresses contemporary psychological and social issues. Current research teams are investigating stress, coping, and social support; biobehavioral mechanisms of cardiovascular reactivity; psychobiology of stress; personality factors that increase resilience to health threats; parent-child relations; work and family; transitions across the life course; adaptive aging; end-of-life medical decision making; culture and adolescent psychosocial development; cultural influences on social judgment; relations between cognitive and emotional development; emotion regulation; memory and eyewitness testimony; violence and anger management; the development of health-risking and health-protecting behaviors during childhood and adolescence; economic stress and psychopathology/behavioral disorders; health impacts of environmental stressors; mental health and psychopathy; juvenile and criminal justice; positive psychology; and person-environment fit.

Program in Law and Graduate Studies (J.D./Ph.D.)

Highly qualified students interested in combining the study of law with graduate research and/or research qualifications in cognate disciplines are invited to undertake concurrent degree study under the auspices of UC Irvine’s Program in Law and Graduate Studies (PLGS). Students approved for this concurrent degree program may pursue a coordinated curriculum leading to a J.D. from the School of Law in conjunction with a Ph.D. in Psychological Science. The objective of the program is to promote interdisciplinary study of law while also enabling students to obtain both a J.D. and a graduate degree in less time than would be required to acquire both degrees separately. The normative time for completion is seven years for the J.D./Ph.D. combination.

Applicants must submit separate applications for admission to the School of Law and to Psychological Science. Once admitted for study into both components of their program, concurrent degree students will work with the PLGS director and the PS graduate advisor to develop a program of study that will permit efficient pursuit of both degrees. Ordinarily, students will commence their studies in PS and begin their first year of law school instruction after one or more years of graduate program training. Upon completion of the first year of law instruction, students will pursue a coordinated curriculum of upper-level law study and PS graduate program courses and research. Concurrent degree students’ law enrollments will include a required 1-unit “Graduate Legal Studies” colloquium and 3-unit “Interdisciplinary Perspectives on Law” course. Concurrent degree students will be eligible for financial support through PS while pursuing the Ph.D. and through the law school while pursuing law studies.

Send Page to Printer

Print this page.

Download Page (PDF)

The PDF will include all information unique to this page.

2023-2024 Catalogue

A PDF of the entire 2023-2024 catalogue.

• Undergraduate

A message from the Climate & Equity Committee

Department Highlights

Congratulations to Bob Knight who has been awarded the 2024 American Psychological Association Award for Distinguished Scientific Contributions

Bob Knight will receive the 2024 Award for Distinguished Scientific Contributions from the American Psychological Association (APA).

Faculty Lecture: Robert W. Levenson - Moments in Time

Distinguished Faculty Lecture: " Moments in time: Brief biobehavioral building blocks for health and social bonding "

Presented by the UC Berkeley Department of Psychology on Wednesday...

Advancing Computational Psychology: An Visual Interview with Bill Thompson

How do humans pass on complex concepts and knowledge to subsequent generations? In his research, UC Berkeley cognitive scientist Bill Thompson uses computational methods and large-scale experiments to...

Congratulations to Alison Gopnik for receiving the Rumelhart Prize in Cognitive Science

UC Berkeley psychologist Alison Gopnik has won the coveted Rumelhart Prize in Cognitive Science. She’ll receive the prize in 2024.

Graduate Student Highlights

Scientists map our underappreciated ‘little brain’

Scientists at UC Berkeley and Western University in Canada have used brain imaging to map the cerebellum, a formerly underappreciated neural region that contains the vast majority of the brain’s...

Interview with Ph.D. candidate Jonathan Reeves

Jonathan Reeves is a PhD candidate in the Clinical Science program at the University of California, Berkeley. His research aims to better understand, predict, and treat self-harm, suicide, and the...

Tweets by BerkeleyPsych

Alumni stories.

I recently (July 2013) joined the faculty of the Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Department of Hearing and Speech Sciences. Prior to moving to Vanderbilt, I served as Associate Professor of...

David continues to maintain his private practice as a psychotherapist in Boston's Back Bay and Financial Districts. He continues to treat individuals, couple's and families from an eclectic base,...

At the age of 41, I decided I would like to get a degree in psychology.  I went 3 years to a community college and transfered in to UC Berkeley at the age of 44.  I graduated in 2 years (2004)...

Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology Program

• Program Overview
• UC San Diego
• JDP Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (JEDI) Committee
• Program Committees
• Student Council
• SDSU Psychology Clinic
• Program Administration
• Program Faculty
• Practicum Supervisors
• Doctoral Students
• Degree Learning Outcomes
• Major Areas of Study
• Clinical Practicum
• Course Catalog
• Facilities & Centers
• Research and Clinical Training
• Student First-Authored Publications
• Selection Process
• What We Consider for a Competitive Application
• How to Apply
• Faculty Mentorship
• Financial Support
• Admission FAQs
• Student Admissions, Outcome, and Other Data
• Basic Needs Resources
• Community/Cultural Centers
• Financial Aid & Scholarships
• Graduate Affairs
• Graduate Housing
• Student Disability Centers
• Student Health & Well-Being
• Student Handbook Table of Contents
• Mentor-Student Guide
• Registration
• Classes / Sample Curriculum
• Cognitive Psychology Requirement
• Statistics and Research Design
• Emphasis in Child and Adolescent Psychopathology
• Emphasis in Quantitative Methods
• Master of Science in Clinical Psychology
• Master of Public Health
• Class Attendance
• Transcripts
• Change in Major Area of Study
• Waiving Courses
• Grounds for Dismissal
• Student Records
• Program Milestone Checklist/Timelines
• Guidance Committee
• Second Year Project
• Clinical Comprehensive Exam
• Behavioral Medicine Comprehensive Exam
• Experimental Psychopathology Comprehensive Exam
• Neuropsychology Comprehensive Exam
• Dissertation
• Advancement to Candidacy
• After Graduation
• Student Funding
• Tuition and Fees
• Establishing Residency
• International Students
• Financial Aid
• Incentive Awards & Program Support
• Travel Funds
• Ethical Standards/Professional Behavior
• Where Do You Go When You Have A Problem, Question, Concern, or Complaint?
• Policy on Disclosure of Potential Conflicts of Interest
• Representation of Your Affiliation
• Web page and blog policy
• Membership in APA
• Outside Employment
• Requests to Spend Time Off-Site
• Research Experience
• Human Subjects/IRB
• Practicum Placements
• Accruing Clinical Hours in the Context of Research Activities
• Supervision
• Tracking Clinical Hours
• Practicum Grades
• Policy on Working with Diverse Clients/Patients
• Prerequisites
• JDP Student Awards
• Student Portals
• Campus ID Cards
• E-Mail Accounts
• Change of Address
• Leave of Absence
• Second Year Project Cover Sheet
• Dissertation Proposal Defense Announcement
• Final Dissertation Defense Announcement
• Spring Student Evaluation
• Individual Development Plan (IDP)
• MPH Interest Form
• JDP SharePoint

SDSU / UC San Diego Joint Doctoral Program in Clinical Psychology

About the Program

The program provides outstanding education and training to scientifically oriented research professionals who will make significant contributions to clinical psychology in their areas of specialization. The program combines the scholarly resources and offerings from the Department of Psychology in SDSU’s College of Sciences and the Department of Psychiatry in UC San Diego’s School of Medicine.

As a clinical science program, we emphasize integrating research and practice in training, activities, and experience, allowing students to participate in clinical research activities throughout the program. The development of research skills and attitudes is the foundation of training; clinical psychologists will have duties encompassing teaching, research, diagnosis, treatment, consultation, and program evaluation and design, including applying research skills and knowledge to various areas and settings. Our doctoral program enables students to be at the forefront of developments and applications in clinical psychology.

The program includes an initial two-year core curriculum of formal instruction followed by additional experience/instruction in the student’s chosen major area of study. The SDSU/UC San Diego JDP in Clinical Psychology curriculum is based on a twelve-month academic year. Students typically complete the program within five to six years, including an American Psychological Association (APA)-accredited internship.

Completion of the core curriculum ensures that all students have a common background in:

• Empirical psychology (biological, cognitive, affective, developmental, and social bases of behavior).
• Conceptualizations of psychopathology.
• Theory and techniques of psychological assessment.
• Therapeutic interventions and therapeutic skills.
• Experimental design and statistics.

Clinical activities, integrated with formal instruction, begin in the second year. Students will acquire higher clinical proficiency through practicum placements at nearly 30 training sites supervised by SDSU/UC San Diego joint-doctoral faculty representing research and clinical expertise in virtually every topic relevant to clinical psychology.

Major areas of study:

Specialized training is conducted through seminars, tutorials, and extensive research and clinical experience under faculty supervision. The APA-accredited clinical internship typically occurs in the fifth or sixth year. Whenever possible, clinical practica and therapeutic activities are coordinated with the student’s progression through courses and research activities. Summers are utilized to offer more concentrated research and clinical training.

Program History

The SDSU/UC San Diego Joint Doctoral Program in Clinical Psychology began in 1985, was first accredited by APA in 1990, and has been reaccredited consistently since then. Since 1949 and 1964, SDSU and UC San Diego, respectively, have been regionally accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC) Senior College and University Commission . In addition, the School of Medicine at UC San Diego is accredited by the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) .

The program emphasizes and appreciates broadly defined human diversity and offers extensive opportunities for students to become involved in research and clinical activities focused on diverse, underserved populations.

Recently, rankings calculated by the National Research Council (NRC) placed the SDSU/UC San Diego joint doctoral program among the top five psychology programs in the country, regardless of whether they were clinical or nonclinical. Similar rankings have been reported by Academic Analytics in 2010 and by Stewart, Roberts, and Roy (2007).

This program is a good-standing member of the Council of University Directors of Clinical Psychology (CUDCP), the Academy of Psychological Clinical Science (APCS), the Council of Clinical Health Psychology Training Programs (CCHPTP), and the Association of Psychology Training Clinics (APTC). These organizations strive to provide quality education and training at the doctoral level, ensuring the doctoral program stays abreast of changes and developments in the field. 

Questions related to the program’s accredited status should be directed to the Commission on Accreditation:

Office of Program Consultation and Accreditation American Psychological Association 750 1st Street NE Washington, DC 20002 Phone: (202) 336-5979 E-mail: [email protected]

• Campus Safety
• (866) 825-5426

PhD in Clinical Psychology

Develop your expertise and leadership in clinical psychology.

Offered at these campuses:

Los Angeles

San Francisco

Need additional help or information?

Phd in clinical psychology program overview in california.

A PhD in Clinical Psychology is a great way to expand your knowledge and skills and increase your career options in the field of clinical science. The clinical psychology PhD program trains clinical students to conduct psychological assessment and research. With a focus on mental health and human behavior, the PhD program prepares you to understand the psychological processes underlying human behavior and the tools used to apply this knowledge in clinical practice, improving communities’ health and well-being.

Whether you’re helping patients with anxiety disorders or studying new advancements in cognitive-behavioral therapy, our APA-accredited Clinical Psychology PhD programs will help you gain the clinical skills needed to get to where you want to be in the mental healthcare industry. You will explore deeper into developmental psychology, community psychology, health psychology, social psychology, and cognitive psychology to name a few in the broad spectrum of psychological science. The California School of Professional Psychology (CSPP) offers four PhD degree programs in Clinical Psychology: Fresno, Los Angeles, San Diego, and San Francisco Bay Area, each accredited by the American Psychological Association (APA). Our experienced faculty members in the program teach challenging courses that meet a variety of guidelines outlined by the APA and offer unparalleled education within the mental health field. Explore our programs below.

To learn more about this program and other offerings, visit our CSPP-dedicated microsite . You’ll find videos featuring our university president, dean of CSPP, and faculty, along with numerous interactive features!

Apply Today

Explore our program research opportunities, practicum partners, and student communities.

  learn more, program highlights, accreditation.

All CSPP clinical Psychology PhD degree programs are accredited by the American Psychological Association and taught by experienced faculty members.

Research Opportunities

Our Clinical PhD programs are unique in their focus on psychological clinical science research through rich and varied opportunities within the community to help you become a clinical psychologist.

Scholarship Paired with Practice

In our Clinical PhD programs, you will receive clinical training practicum opportunities and will be required to complete a doctoral internship. Depending on your doctoral program, you may also pursue teaching assistantships. All programs provide opportunities to prepare you for licensure and a successful career as a health service clinical psychologist upon graduation.

Get the information you need in order to start your Alliant experience. See the latest admission requirements for your desired program.

Get the information you need in order to start your Alliant experience. Browse our list of diverse faculty members for your desired program.

Degree Information

Specialization.

The clinical psychology programs’ emphasis and experience areas include:

• Clinical health psychology 
• Family/child and couple 
• Multicultural community-clinical psychology 
• Forensic psychology 
• Psychodynamic 
• Clinical health 
• Integrative psychology 
• Multicultural and international 
• Trauma, stress, resilience

Each campus-based APA-accredited program is unique, as are its emphases, specializations, and track offerings. Our clinical psychology program teaches the basic skills needed to work in the field of psychology. In the programs, you'll gain clinical practice experience, which helps to prepare you for entering the workforce as a clinical psychologist. Graduate students of the clinical program will be qualified to give psychological assessments in a clinical setting. Integrating psychological clinical science in the curriculum allows graduates not only to be well-versed in psychological services and public health, but also be prepared to contribute to the advancement of the field.

If you're looking for PhD and PsyD programs in California, please see the doctoral program pages for specifics on emphasis area offerings in the field of psychology.

Both the PhD program and PsyD programs are individually accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of the American Psychological Association (APA). APA accreditation not only serves as a benchmark for the PhD clinical psychology excellence but also contributes to the professional development of clinical scientists and the overall advancement of the field.

Financial Assistance

Alliant has created a comprehensive program that helps facilitate access and affordability. Financing is available in the form of scholarships, grants, part-time employment, and loans. The federal government, state government, Alliant, and private sources finance these programs. Explore the ways to finance your education here .  

What are the benefits of earning this degree?

Graduates from our psychology department at the California School of Professional Psychology (CSPP) go on to pursue careers in various fields, leaving a positive impact in both the private and public sectors.

• Your acquired skills qualify you to work in hospitals and medical centers, community mental health clinics, private practice, and universities. 
• You will be equipped to pursue careers in clinical work, research, teaching, or a combination of all three. 
• With a specialization area, you can pursue higher positions in your psychology career

What's the difference between a PhD and PsyD in Clinical Psychology?

PhD-based psychology programs are designed to provide students with a strong foundation in research, making it an ideal option for those interested both in clinical practice and in academia. Graduates of the program have a wide range of career options, from conducting clinical research methods to administration and consulting. 

On the other hand, a PsyD program is typically the preferred choice for individuals who are solely interested in the practical application of psychology. It prepares students for a career in clinical practice and provides them with the necessary skills to work in a variety of clinical settings. While a PsyD program places less emphasis on research and academia than a PhD program, it still offers a comprehensive education in the field of psychology.  

What is the typical duration of a PhD program in Clinical Psychology, and can it be completed on a part-time basis?

The duration can vary, but on average, it takes around 5 to 7 years for a PhD student to complete the clinical program. This timeframe includes both coursework and supervised practical experience, such as internships or clinical placements. While some programs may offer part-time options, it's advisable to consult with your Psychology Department to understand the feasibility and implications of pursuing a Ph.D. on a part-time basis.

As an international student, may I apply for the graduate program?

Review the admissions requirements, housing, tuition and other information for international applicants. Learn more

"I couldn’t have asked for more of CSPP—the training opportunities, the practicum, the number of sites that you are given access to— it really delivers in terms of the clinical training…it’s spectacular."

Degree Locations

Phd in clinical psychology, fresno, phd in clinical psychology, los angeles, phd in clinical psychology, san diego, phd in clinical psychology, san francisco, related blog posts, the difference between clinical and counseling psychology, alliant's organizational psychology programs recognized by industry's leading professional organization.

SAN DIEGO, Calif. – June 21, 2012 – Alliant International University was recognized for its highly-productive PhD programs in the...

Organizational Psychology Students and Faculty Awarded Grants

SAN DIEGO -- Dec. 20, 2012 -- Two Alliant International University graduate students were selected as recipients of the second...

Why Alliant

At Alliant, our mission is to prepare students for professional careers of service and leadership and to promote the discovery and application of knowledge to improve lives. We offer an education that is accredited, focused on practical knowledge and skills, connected with diverse faculty and alumni, and aimed at the student experience.

Founded in 1969, CSPP was one of the nation’s first independent schools of professional psychology. Today, CSPP continues its commitment to preparing the next generation of mental health professionals through graduate-level degree programs in clinical psychology, marriage and family therapy, clinical counseling, organizational psychology, psychopharmacology, and more.

Start on your path to impact today

Start on your path to succeed on purpose, request information.

• 1 Current Select Interests
• 2 Provide Information

• School of Education Home
• Academic Programs
• Centers & Partnerships
• Welcome from Program Leadership
• The LMU Difference
• What is a School Psychologist?
• Prerequisite Academic Background
• On Campus and Online Programs
• Program Coursework
• Fieldwork Experiences
• Full-Time Faculty
• Part-Time Faculty
• Admission Steps
• Post-Admission Requirements
• Scholarship Opportunities

Financial Aid

• Ready to Apply!
• Request Info div.mega__menu -->
• Request Info

School Psychology

LMU offers a premier nationally accredited school psychology graduate program for candidates residing in California, with both online and in-person options. Both program options are approved by the National Association of School Psychologists ( NASP ). 

Program Overview

LMU’s school psychology programs prepare you to offer behavioral, social-emotional, and academic support to students in preK-12 schools and educational settings. We provide an evidence-based, research-backed curriculum combined with meaningful fieldwork experiences, designed for those who want to work as school psychologists in California public and charter schools.

Graduates of our NASP-approved school psychology program are eligible for the following professional affiliations:

• Nationally Certified School Psychologist (NCSP) credential, upon passing the Praxis II exam
• Licensed Educational Psychologist (LEP) designation upon completing board requirements
• Request More Info
• Meet with an Admission Counselor

Program Details

Degree(s) Awarded

• Master of Arts (M.A.) in Educational Psychology
• Education Specialist (Ed.S.) in School Psychology
• California Pupil Personnel Services (PPS) Credential in School Psychology
• Licensed Educational Psychologist (LEP) eligible
• Nationally Certified School Psychologist (NCSP) eligible

Cohort Program?

Typical Program Length

Units/Hours to Completion

• 63 course units
• 500-hour practicum
• 1,200-hour internship

Estimated Cost

$1,542 per unit plus fees; visit Graduate Cost of Attendance for more details

Teaching Modality

Either in-person or online (indicate preference on application); all applicants must reside in California

Course Meeting Times

Weekdays in late afternoons and evenings

Next Application Deadline

February 7, 2025

Next Program Start Date

June 23, 2025 (Summer Session II)

Prerequisites

• Successful candidates for admission have majored or minored in psychology, child development, education, or a closely related field as undergraduates, and/or have pursued one of these areas in a previous master’s degree.
• Candidates who don't hold the degree(s) above are eligible with the completion of 18 semester units of   prerequisite coursework   prior to enrollment.
• A minimum undergraduate GPA of 3.0. Candidates who do not meet this criterion will be asked to complete the “Request for Exception to the GPA Requirement Form” once they have applied.
• An official transcript from each previously attended college or university
• Three letters of recommendation
• A personal statement of intent
• Complete the FAFSA and apply for other scholarships and aid opportunities
• Qualified applicants participate in a group interview
• Upon acceptance, apply for the School Psychology Program scholarship
• Upon acceptance, confirm your attendance and place your deposit by the deadline listed in your acceptance letter
• MORE ABOUT ADMISSION

Scholarships

All accepted applicants to LMU’s School Psychology program are automatically considered for a program scholarship. Candidates are provided with further information about it in their letters of acceptance. These scholarships are awarded post-acceptance into the program.

You can peruse LMU School of Education’s scholarships summary page to identify other potential scholarships and funding opportunities for paying for your education.  Please make note of all deadlines for scholarship applications, which may occur before an admission application deadline.

Scholarships are awarded to applicants based on academic achievement, demonstrated dedication to LMU’s mission, and other factors. 

SOE’s Scholarships and Aid Page

LMU’s Financial Aid office provides information regarding various types of state and federal financial aid and financing options to cover tuition and fees. Visit their website for further options and details on Graduate Student Financial Aid, Cost of Living, and other valuable resources.  Applicants eligible to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid ( FAFSA ) are required to do so for consideration of financial assistance .  Alternatively, applicable students may visit LMU's further resource s for California DREAM Act aid and assistance.  

Financial Aid Office

Eligibility

How to Apply

Cost of Attendance

From the Program Directors

Thank you for your interest in LMU School of Education’s School Psychology Program! Our three-year cohort program equips you with the knowledge and skills to make a meaningful difference in the lives of students and families.

Social justice is at the heart of our work at LMU. At its core, the job of school psychologists is to serve the needs of the most vulnerable and marginalized students and to break down institutionalized barriers that maintain inequality. We provide you with the foundational skills of the profession and practical lessons to form critical thinkers, advocates, and leaders who transform schools and other institutions for the better.

We encourage you to tour LMU’s campus ( in person or online ), meet with an admission counselor , and  request detailed information about our program.

Dr. Terese Aceves and Dr. Karen Komosa-Hawkins Co-Directors, School Psychology Program

Learning Outcomes

In LMU’s School Psychology program,  you’ll learn to:

• Help students succeed academically, emotionally, and socially
• Assess students for learning and behavioral differences and offer research-based interventions and supports
• Guide teachers, educational leaders, parents, and caregivers on how to support diverse students of all abilities
• Provide leadership to schools and students through crisis matters
• Use your expertise to develop and advocate for safe, responsive, and supportive learning environments

Curriculum and Fieldwork

The curriculum for LMU’s School Psychology Program aligns with NASP’s Practice Mode and uses evidence-based best practices. You must complete a total of 63 course units for the program, whether enrolled in person or online.  

• Sample Schedule: In-Person Program
• Sample Schedule: Online Program

Not sure which enrollment option is the right one? This brief guide offers more details and will help you make a decision that suits your needs.

Fieldwork is also required for all candidates, whether enrolled in person or online. You will complete a supervised 500-hour practicum (two days per week) in Year 2, and a supervised 1,200-hour internship (five days per week) in Year 3.

Read More About Curriculum

Read More About Fieldwork

School psychologists are in high demand in California and nationwide. Graduates of LMU’s school psychology program most often work in preK-12 public schools. Some decide to open or join private practices with fellow school psychologists and other mental-health professionals. Other employers that hire school psychologists include:

• Pediatric clinics
• Community and non-profit organizations
• Government agencies
• For-profit healthcare organizations

Take Your Next Step Today

• Explore Ways to Pay for Your Education

Our admissions team is always happy to assist you. You can reach out anytime by email or phone, fill out this form to request detailed information about the school psychology program, or book a virtual appointment with an admission counselor who can answer any questions you have.

[email protected] 310.258.8791