Doctor of Psychology (PsyD) in Clinical Psychology

• Admissions Requirements

• • A bachelor's degree and official transcript from an accredited college or university or an appropriately certified foreign institution.
    •  All applicants, including applicants from William Paterson University, are required to submit all of their transcripts through PSYCAS.
  • Prerequisite psychology courses: Strong applicants who are deficient in any of the five prerequisite courses may be considered for admission if the applicant provides documented evidence of course equivalencies as well as interest, ability, and aptitude for doctoral study in clinical psychology.
    • Developmental Psychology
    • Statistics
    • Research Methods
    • Abnormal Psychology
    • Physiological Psychology or equivalent
  • Minimum undergraduate GPA: 3.0 on a 4.0 scale or minimum graduate GPA: 3.50 on a 4.0 scale. An applicant with a grade point average lower than the stated admission requirements may be considered for admission if the applicant provides documented evidence of interest, ability, and aptitude for doctoral study in clinical psychology.
  • Personal Statement, which should address ALL of the following:
    • What has led you to pursue a career in clinical psychology, and specifically the Psy.D. degree?
    • What do you see as your strengths and weaknesses and how will they impact your ability to attain your academic and professional goals?
    • Why does this program represent a good fit for you, including the faculty with whom you are interested in working?
    • Please also include any additional information that can help us evaluate you.
  • A current resume or curriculum vitae (C.V.), which includes clinical, research and/or human service experiences.
  • Three letters of recommendation:
    • At least two out of the three letters should be academic references. The third letter should come from a person that can speak to the applicant’s strength as a doctoral student or clinician. Personal or non-professional references are not accepted.
  • In-person or virtual interview (required)
  • In addition to the PSYCAS application fee, there is a supplemental, non-refundable $50 application fee to William Paterson University of New Jersey (WP). Within 1-2 weeks of submitting your PSYCAS application, you will receive an email from WP with instructions for how to pay the supplemental application fee. To receive full consideration of your application, the supplemental application fee must be paid.
  • It is strongly recommended that you visit the PSYCAS "Frequently Asked Questions" page before starting your application. All questions about submitting, completing, and verifying your application should be directed to the PSYCAS helpline at https://help.liaisonedu.com/PSYCAS_Applicant_Help_Center.

  Please note that that GRE is no longer required for admission. Please do not submit your GRE scores.

  • View Student Admissions, Outcomes, and other Data here

  Admission Decisions

  • Admissions decisions are based primarily on academic credentials (e.g., GPA), letters of recommendation, and the perceived "fit" between a student's interests, interests of the program, and the interests of the core faculty member(s). Our selection process was developed as a way of establishing a close working relationship between faculty and students early in the program. This selection process also represents a commitment by the faculty to the progress and success of each student we accept. You will be notified via email regarding the final admissions decisions. While we wish we could provide individual feedback about the status of each application, we are unable to due to the large volume of applications. To check the status of your application documents, please log in to your PSYCAS account.

The PSYCAS admissions portal will open on September 4th,  2025.

The Virtual Graduate School Fair was held on April 16, 2025. We will update this page with any further open houses in which prospective applicants may meet our Admissions Committee.

Program Overview

William Paterson University's Doctor of Psychology (PsyD) in clinical psychology is a full-time, five-year, practitioner-scholar training program accredited by the American Psychological Association. Our program integrates academic coursework, supervised clinical training, and research experience in a small, supportive community of peers and mentors. 

A distinguished faculty of active scholars and practitioners, who have diverse interests in both clinical practice and research, will support your training in evidence-based assessment and intervention. The faculty offers individualized attention in our state-of-the-art complex, which includes teaching and research facilities, as well as a psychology clinical training suite, featuring recording and monitoring equipment. Graduates may pursue clinical positions in the community, hospitals, health care organizations, government, and industry; clinical research positions in private and public institutions and industry; and academic positions in university settings. Graduates who wish to become licensed clinical psychologists must additionally pass a national examination and fulfill all state licensing requirements.

• View required courses and course descriptions in the University Course Catalog 
  Clinical Psychology, PsyD
• View Student Admissions, Outcomes, and other Data here
• View the PsyD Program brochure here
• View the PsyD Program FAQs

Financial Support

Graduate Assistantships: Graduate assistantship opportunities will be available to select students with outstanding credentials. The assistantships provide tuition waivers and a stipend. Click here for details.

Teaching: Students holding M.A. or M.S. degree in psychology or a related-field may apply to teach as adjunct faculty to gain undergraduate teaching experience starting in the second year. Adjunct faculty also receive partial tuition remission and financial compensation.

Grants: Please contact the program regarding research, clinical, or training grants that may be available for student support.