The Doctor of Psychology in Clinical Psychology degree is designed to train the next generation of health service psychologists to live their purpose as 21st century “Good Samaritans,” helping burgeoning mental health professionals to be academically prepared through discipline-specific knowledge, globally minded and equipped to serve via profession-wide competencies, and biblically rooted by integrating psychological science and the Christian faith. The degree prepares students to pursue California licensure as a psychologist.

Admission Requirements

Doctor of Psychology in Clinical Psychology Admission Requirements

Admission standards for graduate studies at California Baptist University can be found in the Admissions section of the University Catalog. Specific application requirements for the Doctor of Psychology in Clinical Psychology program are:

1. Grade Point Average
   • A minimum 3.0 GPA
2. Prerequisites (completed with a “C” or better; all prerequisites must be completed before starting the program)
   • One (1) of the following: Statistics, Research Methods, Psychometrics, or related coursework
   • Three (3) of the following: General Psychology, Abnormal Psychology, Developmental Psychology, Theories of Personality, Theories of Psychotherapy, or related coursework
   • Prerequisites are individually evaluated to determine the level of preparation for doctoral studies in clinical psychology
3. Completion of a bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited institution of higher education
4. Transfer Coursework
   • Coursework must have been completed within the last five years. Coursework taken prior to five years will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis for possible course credit.
5. Graduate Record Exam (GRE) general test scores (verbal reasoning, quantitative reasoning, and analytical writing) must be dated within the last year
6. Four Professional Recommendations, completed on forms provided, must be dated within the last year. Three from faculty and one from a prior supervisor in a work setting. Family members, friends and peers may not complete recommendations
7. Comprehensive Essay that includes the following:
   • Your decision to pursue a doctoral degree in clinical psychology, including the reasons for this pursuit, important life experiences that have led you to the field, and why you believe you will be a good fit for the CBU PsyD Program
   • The ways in which your academic background has prepared you for doctoral studies in clinical psychology, including the practicum sequence, research sequence, dissertation process, clinical competency exam, and professional licensure upon graduation
   • Some of the challenges you anticipate facing in a doctoral program in clinical psychology, including how you expect to overcome these struggles
   • Your views on cultural diversity, including how you intend to effectively, competently, and ethically work with clients from a variety of backgrounds with differing worldviews
   • Your views on faith integration, combining the Christian faith with psychological science when working with Christian clients, including your reactions to the importance the program places on this competency area in its coursework
   • An example of a worldview conflict between yourself and a potential client (e.g., working with a client who lives his or her life in a way that is inconsistent with your own faith tradition), including how you might go about resolving such a source of tension
   • Your views on possibly relocating out of state for the fifth-year internship in order to secure an APA-accredited internship placement, including how you might prepare for such a major life transition
   • Your 10-year plan, including what you see yourself doing in the field of clinical psychology after licensure
8. Current Resume documenting all related professional and extracurricular experiences
9. Successful completion of the interview process, including an interview with the Director of the Doctor of Psychology in Clinical Psychology program