PhD Prerequisites

Applicants to the PhD in Clinical Psychology program must have completed all prerequisite courses before the first day of classes. Prerequisite courses do not need to be completed before students submit their applications to the program. However, students with substantial exposure to coursework in psychology may be viewed as better prepared for doctoral-level work.

• Abnormal Psychology
• Developmental Psychology
• Statistics
• Biopsychology

Please note that these courses also sometimes go by other titles, depending on the institution. If you have questions about whether a course will satisfy a prerequisite requirement, please reach out to the Office of Admissions.

Many students complete their prerequisites while completing their Bachelor's or Master's degree. If you have not done so, you may also complete these courses independently. Guidelines for prerequisite courses include:

• Courses should be completed from a college or university or an approved third-party educational vendor (see below).
• Courses should be completed at the college level (high school or AP courses are not acceptable). However, courses do not need to be completed at the upper-division (300 or 400-level) or master's level. Courses may be taken at a community college; this is often the most cost-effective option.
• Courses may be taken online (synchronous or asynchronous) or in person.
• Courses should be taken for a grade when possible. Pass/no pass grades may be approved on a case-by-case basis. Please reach out to the Office of Admissions to discuss this. 
• Courses should be passed with a grade of "B" or better. 
• Final grades must be available to the Office of Admissions before the first day of class. Official transcripts are required for all prerequisite courses.

Where Can I Take These Courses?

We generally recommend that students first reach out to their local community colleges. Most community colleges offer these courses to students in Psychology associate's degree programs and are usually low-cost options. If you are crunched for time, both National University and the University of Phoenix offer short-term courses that may be completed in as few as four weeks. 

Below is a table of some of our past students' more popular options. This is not a comprehensive list but is designed to offer a sample of available information. We strongly recommend reaching out to the Office of Admissions before enrolling in any course to confirm its acceptability.