Ph.D. Degree in Clinical Psychology

Cost to apply is free.

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Important Dates

• Applications Open: Aug. 1
• Application Deadline: Nov. 8
• Interview Date: Saturday in early to mid-February

About the Program

Requirements

A bachelor’s degree or its equivalent from an accredited institution of higher learning in the United States, or proof of equivalent training at a foreign university, is required.

Students who are in the process of completing a bachelor’s degree are eligible to apply. A major in psychology or substantial coursework in psychology is encouraged.

As a minimum prerequisite, we require three psychology undergraduate courses:

• A basic psychology course such as abnormal or introduction to psychology,
• Behavioral statistics,
• And either experimental or learning/behavioral psychology.

UT Southwestern’s Graduate School has no minimum GPA but incoming students have:

• An average undergraduate GPA of 3.6

Informational Webinar: Clinical Psychology Doctoral Program

 

How do I apply?

The application is online. Admission is granted for the fall semester only.

A complete application will include:

• Finalized and Submitted Online Application

  All applications must be submitted electronically. Access to the online application is available starting August 1 of each year. Additional application materials (i.e., official transcripts) should be mailed to:

  UT Southwestern Medical Center
  Admissions Office
  5323 Harry Hines Blvd.
  Dallas, TX 75390-9162

  What is the deadline for completion of materials?

  The deadline for each academic year is November 8. Only complete applications will be considered for the following fall term.

  IMPORTANT: It is solely the applicant’s responsibility to ensure that all of the required materials are received in the Office of the Registrar by the Dec. 1 deadline.

• Unofficial Transcripts

  Do I need transcripts from all of the institutions I attended or just from the institution from which I received my bachelor’s degree?

  • You must upload an unofficial transcript from every institution that you attended as part of the online application.

   

• Language Proficiency Exam scores – for International Applicants Only

  Do you offer admission/funding for international students?

  Yes, international students are encouraged to apply. International applicants will be considered with their cohort during the admissions cycle. Positions in the program are highly competitive.

  Are Language Proficiency Exam scores required for international applicants? Is there a minimum score requirement?

  Yes, International students whose native language is not English must submit Language Proficiency Exam scores. We accept the following test scores – TOEFL iBT, TOEFL Essentials, IELTS, and DuoLingo. While there are no minimum score requirements, competitive scores are typically equivalent to a TOEFL iBT score of 100 or above.  Applicants whose education medium of instruction is English but in a non-English-speaking country must still submit Language Proficiency Exam scores. In addition, a Master's degree from an English-speaking country does not automatically meet waiver criteria

  What is the school code for TOEFL/IELTS score reporting?

  Our Institutional code is 6686. No departmental code is needed.

  Can the Language Proficiency test be waived?

  Yes, Language Proficiency Exam scores can be waived upon request and review on a case-by-case basis. In general, international applicants who have completed an undergraduate degree in a country whose Official Language(s) include English, a waiver is typically granted. Applicants whose education medium of instruction is English but in a non-English-speaking country must still submit Language Proficiency Exam scores. In addition, a Master's degree from an English-speaking country does not automatically meet waiver criteria. In order to request a waiver, please follow the instructions in the application.

  My previous Language Proficiency Exam scores is expired. Can I use the previous score for my application?

  Yes, you may submit previous, even expired scores for application review. The score AND a copy of the score report MUST be submitted in the application.

• Three Letters of Recommendation

  Please have the names and email addresses of your three references before you begin the application.

  How many letters of recommendation are we allowed to submit?

  Applicants are required to obtain three (3) letters of recommendation. These letters will ONLY be accepted from individuals identified as references, by the applicant, on the application.

  Do my letters of recommendation need to be received by November 8?

  It is recommended that letters of recommendation be received by the application deadline to ensure timely review of your application, but letters of recommendation received within one week of the deadline will be reviewed. Remember, you can submit requests to your recommenders before you have submitted your application.

  When will my recommenders be notified of my request?

  While completing the application and prior to submission of your application, you will be able to send an initial request by clicking a button next to that recommender’s completed information. For any recommender that you did not send a request prior to submission, the request will be sent within two days of final submission of your application.

  After your application has been received and you have been provided access to your student self-service area of the application system, you have the ability to resend letter requests to any writers whose letters have not been received.

Applicant Evaluation

The Admissions Committee seeks to identify applicants whose qualities, attributes, and accomplishments indicate that they will contribute to the missions of the Graduate School and be successful in their course of study. During this admissions process, the Division of Clinical Science (DCS) considers the following factors as part of its individualized, holistic review of each applicant (in no specific order): 

1. Prior academic achievement in college and graduate school (e.g., college or university, majors, courses, grade-point average). 
2. Recommendations from appropriate professors and/or mentors. 
3. The applicant’s personal statement and the motivation indicated therein.  
4. Experiences in clinical or scientific research activities, where appropriate for the program sought. 
5. Personal qualities (e.g., extra-curricular activities, motivation, grit, resiliency, tenacity, integrity, maturity, and leadership). 
6. Suitability for a career in clinical psychology, as evidenced by ability to relate to others, warmth, empathy, and a deep interest in psychological processes.  
7. Multi-lingual proficiency; responsibilities as an undergraduate student such as employment; region of residence, involvement in community activities; commitment to a particular field of study; from a medically underserved geographic area; socioeconomic background; and first generation in their family to graduate from college. 

The DCS extends interview offers to applicants who have the greatest likelihood of succeeding in graduate study based on the listed considerations. The interview provides further evidence of an applicant’s qualifications. Following interviews, an additional individualized, holistic review of each interviewed applicant occurs with careful consideration given to the interview results and all factors described above. This approach facilitates the selection of qualified applicants who possess the educational and research experience as well as the personal qualities needed to succeed in their program. The DCS does not use a point system to evaluate applicants.  

What should my personal statement be about?

Your personal statement is a chance for us to get to know you as a potential student in our program. A good statement tells us your psychology journey and story, clearly and concisely describes your educational, professional, and research experience, and shows us your drive, motivation, passion, and suitability for a career as a psychologist.

Briefly describe, in two pages or less (1,200-word limit), your reasons for pursuing a Doctoral degree in Clinical Psychology. Particularly discuss the following:

• Describe background experiences, pertinent training, and personal motivation for a career in Clinical Psychology.
• Describe experiences in clinical and/or scientific research activities that would contribute to successful completion of a doctoral program.
• Please share with us something about yourself outside of your resume of psychology experiences.
• What do you want to do with a degree in Clinical Psychology?

Transfer of Graduate Credits

The Graduate Studies Committee for Clinical Psychology does not accept graduate credits obtained prior to admission. It will, however, consider petitions from already admitted students to waive particular required courses if there is clear evidence that the student has taken the substantial equivalent of such a course.

Furthermore, students with a graduate degree (such as a master’s degree in psychology) may petition to waive certain courses; however, additional coursework will be substituted, or courses may be modified in order to maintain the student’s enrollment as a full-time student. Thus, time to graduation is not accelerated by coursework taken before entering this program.

Financial Support

Stipend/Research Assistantship

Clinical Psychology students receive a nationally competitive stipend as funds are available.

• The practicum stipend usually begins the summer of the first year and is currently set at:
  $8,625 annually.
• The internship stipend begins in the third year and continues until completion of internship. It is currently set at:
  $17,250 annually.
• Paid teaching and research assistantships are available and are highly competitive.
• Subject to availability, the Admissions Committee Chairperson may award a scholarship to incoming students. A number of these awards have the benefit of allowing a non-Texas resident to qualify for in-state tuition rates in the first two semesters of the program. 

Carmen Miller Michael Award

Students also have the opportunity to earn the Carmen Miller Michael Award. The $1,000 award is bestowed on an advanced student who shows outstanding leadership and academic skills, in addition to dedication to the community.

Children’s Medical Center, Children’s Health Cultural Diversity Scholarship

This scholarship is awarded to an incoming first year student who is interested in the psychiatric needs of children from ethnic minority groups and other underserved populations. This scholarship provides a full practicum stipend for the first year of the student’s enrollment, and is awarded competitively during the admissions process.

Loans and Grants

Information about loan funds and other financial aid can be obtained from the Student Financial Aid Office:

UT Southwestern Medical Center
5323 Harry Hines Blvd.
Dallas, TX 75390-9064

FAQ

Contact the Clinical Psychology Program

For questions or additional information please contact us. utswclinicalpsychology@utsouthwestern.edu