How to Apply
The application cycle for Fall 2025 is now closed. The Fall 2026 application cycle
will open in August 2025.
Students with a bachelor's degree in psychology or a related major and students with a master's degree in psychology or a related major may apply. Students will need to demonstrate their abilities to succeed in a doctoral level program through a cumulative GPA (3.0 or better or an overall graduate school GPA of 3.5 or better at the time of the degree posting), research experience, and experience in the field.
Starting Your Application
- Start your online application.
- The Test Scores section of the application is optional
- Recommendation Forms (2 Required)
- List your recommender’s name and contact information on the Recommender page of your online application. Recommendations should come from recommenders who know you professionally, academically, or in related volunteer experience that are ideally in supervisory roles and not personal relationships (e.g. friends, family members, therapists, etc.). Cal Lutheran will send the required form to your recommenders.There is a space at the end of the form for your recommender to upload their Recommendation Letter. You do not need to wait for your recommenders to send in their recommendations to continue with your application.
- Complete the rest of the application, sign, and submit.
- Request Official transcripts from all regionally accredited 4-year colleges and universities attended and any graduate
work. Official Transcripts must be ordered and sent directly to Cal Lutheran via certified
e-transcript or mail. We recommend e-transcripts if available at your institutions. (3.0 cumulative GPA from bachelors or 3.5 from masters as stated on degree posted
transcript required to apply.)
By email: By mail:
If a selection list is available please choose: California Lutheran University
California Lutheran University 60 W. Olsen Road, #2200
or use the following email address Thousand Oaks, CA 91360-2700
for direct entry: clugrad@CalLutheran.edu- Official transcripts from the college/university where prerequisite courses were completed must also be sent
- International Candidates are required to send a sealed evaluated transcript from an approved evaluation service or provide an official sealed English Translation of transcripts.
Finalizing Your Application
After submitting your completed application, go to your Application Portal where you can upload or fill out the remaining application materials. Use the Upload Materials box to select the document you would like to attach.
- Personal Statement
- Applicants are to review the PsyD Program philosophy available on the website and illustrate how the program’s philosophy fits with their own personal objectives. Please include 3-5, double-spaced, typewritten pages for the statement of purpose.
- Resume or CV
- Clinical Experience Form
- Research Experience Form
- Pre-Requisite Requirement Form
- Applicants who hold a bachelor’s or master’s degree in psychology must have at least 3 credits of statistics with a grade of B- or better. Applicants who do not hold a bachelor’s or master’s degree in psychology are required to have at least 3 credits of statistics and an additional 12 credits of undergraduate or graduate-level psychology courses, all with a grade of B- or better.
- Submit the non-refundable application fee (Fee waivers provided to applicants who attend an Info Session)
GRE scores are not required.
Application Timeline
The PsyD application for Fall 2026 opens on August 1, 2025
Priority Deadline Applicants
- Priority Deadline: December 1, 2025
- Review Period Dec-Jan
- Priority Interviews* are typically held in February
- Decisions are released in late February/early March
- The deposit deadline for admits is April 15
Post Deadline Applicants
- Regular Deadline: January 24, 2026
- Review Period Feb-March
- Interviews* are typically held in late February
- Interviews may be on a space-available basis for top candidates.
- Decisions are released 2-3 weeks after the interview
- The deposit deadline for post-priority applicants is April 15. If admitted after April 15, the deposit deadline will be 2 weeks after the admission date.
Waitlisted Applicants
Students who have been placed on the waitlist for the PsyD Program should hear from the program when space becomes available. Students should expect to hear back during the summer on final waitlist decisions.
*To help you gain a comprehensive understanding of our PsyD program, we require in-person interviews for those invited for an interview. Interview Day gives you the opportunity to explore our Oxnard campus, connect with the dean, the director of clinical training, faculty, and staff, and experience our community firsthand. You'll also take part in two student panels, where you can ask candid questions about the program and the transition to graduate school. This personal approach allows us to guide you through the application process, ensuring you feel supported every step of the way. Applicants invited for interview that live out of the state or country will have the option for a virtual interview.
Applying as an International Student
In addition to the above application requirements, International Students are required to provide the following:
- Official transcripts and degree certificates or certified true copies in English of all college and university records sent directly from each institution to CLU
- Students are required to complete an official transcript evaluation stating their degree is equivalent to a US bachelor’s degree. The evaluation must include GPA equivalence and course-by-course listing, done by a NACES member company. CLU recommends two providers who have offered CLU applicants a streamlined process for obtaining an evaluation. These are IEE and SpanTran.
- Language Proficiency
- Minimum acceptable scores for: Duolingo English Test score: 120; TOEFL score: 88; IELTS score: 6.5; Pearson’s (PTE Academic) score: 58; Completion of ELS 112
- Applicants who earn a bachelor's degree in an English-speaking country may have the proof of English proficiency requirement waived on a case-by-case basis. Please contact International Admission for more information: intladmission@CalLutheran.edu.
- Financial Responsibility Statement or Official Bank Statement
- Copy of Passport