Dear Prospective Applicant:
Thanks for your interest in our APA-accredited* Clinical Psychology doctoral program. On this website, we have links to all items you will need to apply for admission. We no longer send admissions packets or the School of Graduate Studies and Research catalog, but you can view the Graduate Catalog online.
The Clinical Psychology Doctoral Program is a year-round, on-campus, five-year program. Students spend four years on campus, and the fifth year of the program is a paid internship year at a hospital or facility that may be anywhere in the country. Most classes are held during the day, and some clinics have evening responsibilities as well. Our program is full-time, so those hoping to work full-time while obtaining their degree should seek a different program.
To assure that your application materials are complete and ready for our review process, we strongly encourage you to allow your letter writers ample time to prepare your letters prior to our December 1 deadline.
Your complete application will include the Application Form, the Application Fee ($50 nonrefundable), your Goal Statement, transcripts from all post-secondary schools attended, and three letters of recommendation. Note that while the SGSR requires two letters of recommendation, the PsyD program requires three letters, at least one of which should be written by a practicum/research/clinical/volunteer supervisor. All three letters should be written on letterhead and uploaded to your application, not written directly in the web form. International applicants must also include the Financial Statement and TOEFL scores (forwarded directly from ETS).
Send all materials to:
Graduate Admissions Office
Indiana University of Pennsylvania
Sutton Hall Suite 120
1011 South Dr.
Indiana, PA 15705
Or apply online: How to Apply - Graduate Admissions - Admissions - IUP
Note that transcripts and letters of recommendation must come directly from the school and the letter writer.
The deadline for receipt of all application materials is December 1. Applications will not be reviewed without the receipt of all requested materials. We review application materials from mid-December through January. Invitations for personal interviews are made by email in January and February. If you are not invited for an interview, you should assume that you will not be accepted into our program. You will, however, receive formal notification from the SGSR.
Our financial aid comes primarily in the form of assistantships. Our quarter-time assistantships provide a stipend and a partial tuition waiver during the fall and spring semesters.
It is important to highlight a few things about our admissions criteria. The PsyD program at IUP is a generalist program that follows the local clinical scientist model of training with a strong emphasis on the connection between science and practice. We are interested in learning about the academic, research, clinical, and interpersonal strengths of our applicants. We obtain this information from your application materials and your letters of recommendation. The letters should be written by individuals who can make such a professional assessment, such as an advisor, instructor, or clinical or research supervisor. It is not recommended to solicit letters from relatives, friends, or neighbors. It may also be helpful to remind your letter writers to be specific about the above, including your strengths and weaknesses. You can encourage recommenders to attach pre-written letters to the form. Brief letters that say you are a " nice person" do not help in distinguishing you from other applicants or demonstrate your fit with a doctoral program.
The goal statement should be two to three pages and double-spaced. Spend time constructing the statement, because it is an important part of the application. You should include information about (1) your primary clinical interests, (2) your clinical experience, (3) your research interests, and (4) your research experience. If there are any special aspects of your academic background that you feel make you especially well prepared for a career in professional psychology, be sure to emphasize them in your statement. Similarly, if there are specific weaknesses in your application that you feel should be explained, mention them in your statement. Extended biographical information is usually not appropriate in the goal statement. Finally, include with your application a CV and a list of psychology courses that you have completed (graduate courses, too, if any) along with your grade in each course. Indicate any online courses.
If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me. We look forward to receiving your application.
Sincerely,
Jenna Hennessey, PhD
Assistant Professor and Director of Clinical Training
Clinical Psychology Doctoral Program
jenna.hennessey@iup.edu
724-357-4757
*The program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of the American Psychological Association.
Office of Program Consultation and Accreditation
American Psychological Association
750 1st Street, NE, Washington, DC 20002
Phone: 202-336-5979
Email: apaaccred@apa.org