Tips to Streamline Your Admissions Process

Welcome! We appreciate your interest and strive to make the NSU Ph.D. Clinical Psychology admissions process as smooth as possible.  Please review all requirements below. Don’t hesitate to reach us at 954-262-7563 or by email with any questions.

A few tips before you begin:

  • You may select the option to apply for both the Psy.D. and Ph.D. programs.       
  • We recommend that you start at least one to two months prior to the application deadline, as the admissions process does take time.
  • All documents submitted to NSU must include your name on every page.
  • Document format must be either Word (.docx, .doc) or Acrobat (.pdf) only.

Minimum Core Requirements

  • Baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited institution
  • 3.0 undergraduate GPA average (4.0 scale) OR 3.5 graduate-level
  • GPA average (4.0 scale) based on 18 semester hours minimum, which must be completed by end of fall semester of your senior year.  
  • 18 semester hours in psychology
  • 3 semester hours of statistics

(Required 18 semester hours of psychology coursework waived with Graduate Record Examination (GRE) Psychology Test score of 600 or higher)

  • 3-credit-hour experimental psychology course (recommended)
  • GRE scores (Verbal, Quantitative and Analytical writing) are optional.
    • Combined score greater than 297 for GRE verbal and quantitative preferred. Please see GRE requirement announcement below .
    • GRE Psychology Test recommended, but not required.

Candidates for the degree must also possess, with or without reasonable accommodation, multiple abilities and skills including:

  • Intellectual, conceptual, integrative, and quantitative abilities.
  • Intrapersonal, communication, behavioral, and personal attributes including empathy, emotional self-awareness, and emotional maturity.

GRE Requirement Announcement

The Department of Clinical and School Psychology is proud to welcome applicants from a wide variety of backgrounds. Our faculty admissions committee reviews each application to determine whether the applicant’s stated goals align with the program’s academic objectives.

During the application review process, the faculty admissions committee places strong emphasis on the applicant’s coursework, grade point average, letters of recommendation, statement of professional goals, individual interview, research experience, and potential to be successful in the program and beyond.

Applicants to the Ph.D. program are not required to submit Graduate Record Examination (GRE) scores. However, the faculty admissions committee encourages applicants to submit GRE scores if they believe the scores will enhance their overall application.

Questions about the admissions process are welcomed at gradschool@nova.edu | (800) 541-6682 ext. 27563 | (954) 262-7563.

What Enhances Your Application?

  • Previous courses taken, especially quantitative for Ph.D. and biological for Clinical Health and Clinical Neuropsychology
  • Previous clinical and research experience
  • Evidence of your interest in psychology
  • Your statement of professional goals
  • Your three letters of recommendation
  • Higher GPA and (optional) GRE scores, indicating greater potential to complete doctoral-level work

 

Former Chair, Dr. John Lewis, provides additional information on the application process.

Follow these 9 Steps to Apply

  1. Complete online  application form.
    To access a step-by-step guide on the application process, click here
  2. Remember to submit your non-refundable $US 50 application processing fee.
  3. Once your application and processing fee is received, you’ll be able to upload your supplemental documents to “Supplemental Documents” on your user profile.
  4. Upload Statement of Professional Goals. This statement of your professional experiences should include descriptions of: your clinical experience; research experience; areas in psychology of greatest interest to you; and goals.
  5. Send Curriculum Vitae or Resume.
  6. Obtain three academic or professional letters of recommendation. Once NSU receives your application processing fee, you’ll be able to enter Recommender's Email Addresses. They will receive an email with a link to your application. Your recommenders should fill out this form electronically and upload their letter.
  7. Include official transcripts. Make sure you include all colleges or universities you attended and mail directly to Enrollment Processing Services (EPS). This includes agency evaluation of foreign degrees for determination of U.S. equivalence (including Canadian transcripts). International students should visit  http://www.nova.edu/internationalstudents for further information.*
  8. Submit GRE scores (optional). (GRE Code: 5516)
  9. If applicable, send English proficiency scores. International student applicants should submit English proficiency scores. Visit  Requirements for Obtaining an I-20 to learn more.

Next Steps: Committee Review and Your Interview

Once you’ve submitted your completed application and uploaded your supplemental documents, your file is sent to our faculty committee for review. This review process may take several weeks, depending upon time of year. (You can check your status online anytime via the application portal.)

  • If you are selected during our review process, you’ll be invited to an interview.
    • For the Fall 2024 admissions cycle, interviews will be conducted via Zoom.
  • Once all interviews are completed and final committee decisions have been made, you’ll be notified at the email address you have on file.
  • If you are admitted, you’ll have until April 15 to respond to our offer, in accordance with guidelines established by the Commission on Accreditation of the American Psychological Association.

Your Application Deadlines

Location Terms Offered Deadlines Interview Days (Zoom)
Main Campus August (Fall) November 1, 2023 (Early)
  • December 11, 2023
Main Campus August (Fall) January 8, 2024
  • February 5, 2024
  • February 19, 2024
  • March 4, 2024

Where to Mail Your Transcripts

Nova Southeastern University
Enrollment Processing Services
Attn: College of Psychology
P.O. Box 299000
3300 South University Drive,
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33328-2004

For International Students:

Nova Southeastern University
Attn: Enrollment Processing Services
3300 South University Drive,
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33328-2004

Official electronic transcripts must be sent to electronictranscript@nova.edu.

NOTE: EXTERNAL INSTITUTIONS ONLY.

Need help? We’re here for you: reach us at (954) 262-7563, (800) 541-6682, 27563 (a-s-k-m-e), or email to gradschool@nova.edu.

Clinical Psychology Interview Days

Dr. John Lewis on Interview Day

If you’re invited to interview with us, those personal interviews are held on Interview Days each December, January or February. Our graduate admissions office will need your completed application and all supplemental documents by January 8 for the following fall admission consideration. The first Clinical Interview Day will be in early December. Students are admitted only once per year for classes that start in the fall semester. For the 2023-2024 academic year, the sessions will be held via Zoom.

 

Former Chair, Dr. John Lewis, provides additional information on the application process.

Additional Information

In accordance with the guidelines established by the American Psychological Association, accepted applicants have until April 15 to respond to our offer, although earlier notification is desired. Applicants who accept our offer must send a required deposit of $1,000 by April 15 to secure their place in the program. This nonrefundable deposit is credited toward the first semester's tuition. You may be subject to a background check upon acceptance into the program.

Students may be provisionally admitted to a degree-seeking program based on a review of unofficial transcripts or other specific program admission requirements. However, this admission includes a condition that final and official documents and requirements must be received within 90 calendar days from the start of the term. If these final and official documents and/or requirements are not received by that time, the student will not be allowed to continue class attendance. Financial aid will not be disbursed to a provisional/conditional student until he or she has been fully admitted as a regular student (all admissions requirements have been approved by the college/program admissions office). Students who have an unpaid balance 30 days from the start of the term will be assessed a $100 fee.

Please note that NSU reserves the right to rescind or place conditions upon admissions offers should information become available that calls into question an admitted student’s academic performance or character, including that which reflects a violation of NSU’s Code of Student Conduct.

All transfer credits must be awarded during the student's first academic year in the doctoral program. Consideration will be given only to doctoral-level courses taken within the past five years and before matriculation in the doctoral program. Requests for first semester courses must be made during the summer before July 20, and may be done through the mail or by making an appointment with the Director of Academic Affairs that is responsible for awarding these credits. Requests for all other transfer credits must be made during the fall, before September 30. The maximum number of credits transferred that will be credited toward graduation is 15. Coursework submitted must meet all the specific criteria outlined in the center catalog. No transfer credits may be applied to pre-practicum, practicum, internship, or electives. Courses from terminal master's degree programs are not transferable. See the College of Psychology student handbook for additional information.

Help with I-20 and more

Get help with your I-20 and other international student admissions details at our Office of International Affairs page.

Applicants whose native language is not English are required to demonstrate English proficiency. Please visit the International Students Office website for a list of English proficiency tests that satisfy the Universities requirements.

Students who have obtained a degree from a foreign country should view the list of approved agencies to have their official transcripts reviewed for university credit. Please visit the International Students Office website for a list of National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES). 

Need to speak with someone directly?

Call our International Student Services team at (954) 262-7240 or 800-541-6682, ext. 27240 or email us.

NSU’s College of Psychology’s clinical, school, and counseling programs maintain affiliation agreements with health care and community agencies and may also place students within the NSU Psychology Services Center (PSC). These affiliations allow for student clinical training experiences required in the programs. Trainees will be required to undergo Level 2 background and drug screenings.

Please note that the university and affiliate sites have a zero-tolerance policy for drug use. Testing positive for illegal or illicit drugs, including marijuana (even if prescribed or certified by a physician), or a controlled substance for which the individual does not have a prescription, would constitute a failed test and as such, could invalidate the placement/match and result in a referral for further action. (Updated Feb 2022)

It is important to note that many agencies with whom the NSU College of Psychology partners for practicum/internship/post-doctoral residency program placements require that students show proof of vaccination against COVID-19 (including recommended boosters).

Not being vaccinated may eliminate some placements as an option and in turn disrupt the sequence of training, delay program progression, and/or timely degree completion.

Questions may be directed to the appropriate program office. (Updated Feb 2022)

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