Applying to the Ph.D. Program in Clinical and Health Psychology

Minimum Requirements for All Applicants

A bachelor’s degree is required: Although a psychology major at the undergraduate level is preferred, the department does accept applications from students with degrees in other disciplines.

Recommended Coursework and Preparation

The most successful applicants have the following :

• A minimum of 1-2 semesters as a research assistant in a laboratory conducting psychological research. Ideally, participation in publication or presentation of the laboratory’s research would serve as evidence of the quality of the applicant’s work.
• Successful completion of 2 or more graduate- or undergraduate-level courses in the following core domains of Psychology:
  • History and Systems of Psychology
  • Affective Aspects of Behavior
  • Biological Aspects of Behavior
  • Cognitive Aspects of Behavior
  • Cognitive Aspects of Behavior
  • Developmental Aspects of Behavior
  • Social Aspects of Behavior
  • Note: Courses must be taken at a regionally accredited college or university and noted on an official transcript with a grade of C+ or better.
• Some coursework in life-science fields such as biology, chemistry, physics, health science
• A course in statistics or research design
• Additional basic science backgrounds as part of their undergraduate majors.

The admissions committee makes every effort to contact all applicants. Those in the final selection pool are invited to Interview Weekend held in February. The number of students admitted is typically 12-15 from an applicant pool of about 300. 

The Department of Clinical and Health Psychology adheres to the Guidelines for Graduate School Offers and Acceptances adopted by the Council of University Directors of Clinical Psychology and to Admissions policies established by the Council of Graduate Schools. The CUDCP guidelines can be found here.