We are currently accepting applications. Applications for the fall 2025 cohort are due December 1, 2024. New students are admitted one time annually during the fall semester.
The remote open house scheduled for September 30th has been canceled due to the hurricane. Please join us on October 21st at 5:30 PM. Please register by clicking here.
The Doctor of Psychology (Psy.D.) program at Appalachian State University is designed to transform graduate students into professional psychologists capable of delivering evidence-based assessment and psychotherapy services to diverse populations, particularly in rural areas. The Psy.D. program consists of a minimum of four years of full-time, on-site training, plus a one-year pre-doctoral internship. The program does not offer part-time or distance education.
Admission into the Psy.D. program is highly competitive and enrollment is limited to approximately six students per year. Applicants are selected for admission based on their undergraduate and graduate (if applicable) grades, letters of reference, statements, applied and research experience, and a formal remote interview (by invitation only). As a Clinical Psychology program with an emphasis on training in a rural region, we are particularly interested in admitting students whose career goals include a focus on service to rural and underserved populations.
The program and Appalachian State University are committed to providing equal opportunity in education and employment to all students. The university does not discriminate in access to its educational programs and activities, or with respect to hiring or the terms and conditions of employment based on any factors unrelated to success in and match with the program, including but not limited to race, color, national origin, religion, creed, sex, gender identity and expression, political affiliation, age, disability, socioeconomic status, veteran status, or sexual orientation. The program and university actively promote diversity and access.
Applicants must meet the criteria for admission to the Graduate School.
Preferred admissions requirements include:
- Earned bachelor's degree and a cumulative GPA of 3.5 (on a 4.0 scale) or higher
- For applicants with an undergraduate degree that is not in psychology, it is preferred that applicants have completed 15-18 credit hours in psychology (introductory psychology, statistics, research methods, and abnormal psychology are required for admission but not necessarily for application). The GRE Psychology test (ets.org/gre/subject/about/content/psychology) is recommended for those without a psychology undergraduate degree.
- Positive recommendations from references who are familiar with doctoral training in psychology are strongly preferred.
- Applied and/or research experience
- Expressed commitment to providing clinical services to rural or underserved populations upon graduation
A complete application for admission will include:
- Graduate School application (grad.appstate.edu/apply)
Login in for the first time and you will get to the Application Enrollment Page. Under Application Plans, choose: “Yes,” for “Do You Want to Apply for More than One Program?”; Choose “dual (Concurrent) Enrollment” for “I want to apply to __”; Choose “Clinical Psychology PsyD and Psychology MA” for “the dual degree program to which you wish to apply .” The application opens in September for the December 1st review date. See example here.
- Official transcripts (from all universities attended)
- The GRE General Test is optional. You may submit scores if you have them, and they will be considered by the admissions committee. Applications without GRE scores will be given equal consideration.
- Curriculum Vitae (CV)
- Personal statement describing professional interests, expectations from the doctoral program, and career goals (< 2 double-spaced typed pages). You should consider reflecting on some of the following areas in your statement:
- What experiences related to your education, employment, background, upbringing, and/or aspects of your identity prepare you to succeed in the PsyD program at Appalachian?"
- How do your professional goals match our program, including our focus on serving clients in rural and/or underserved areas?
- What characteristics do you possess that you believe are important to the practice of psychology?
- How does your clinical orientation/philosophy fit with that of our specific faculty members?
- How do your research interests fit with that of our faculty?
- If you believe that any part of your application does not accurately reflect your academic skills or preparation for graduate school in psychology, please address this in your personal statement.
- Three letters of recommendation
- Application fee
Top applicants will be invited for a formal remote interview in February. Attendance at an interview is required for admission into the Psy.D. program. When possible, we will try to accommodate scheduling conflicts. Initial decisions on admission and financial assistance should be made by late March/early April and offers must be accepted by April 15th. Final admission will be contingent upon completion of a criminal background check that will be facilitated by the Graduate School for a modest fee.
Consumer Disclosure Information: Educational Requirements for Licensure in Psychology
Appalachian State University's doctoral program in Clinical Psychology program is designed to satisfy the educational requirements for licensure in North Carolina and prepares students to sit for applicable exams. However, requirements in other states may be different. PIease note that at this time Appalachian State University may or may not be able to determine whether the program meets requirements for psychology licensure outside of North Carolina. See information on program educational requirements for licensure under "status by state" as required by the U.S. Department of Education as well as this link from the Association of State and Provincial Psychology Boards. State requirements can change, so prior to enrolling, please contact the Program Director (curtinla@appstate.edu) if you have questions.
Council of Graduate Departments of Psychology Guidelines for Financial Offers
We abide by the Council of Graduate Departments of Psychology guidelines for financial offers (see below):
Acceptance of an offer of financial aid (such as graduate scholarship, fellowship, traineeship, or assistantship) for the next academic year by an actual prospective graduate student completes an agreement which both student and graduate school expect to honor. In that context, the conditions affecting such offers and their acceptance must be defined carefully and understood by all parties. Students are under no obligation to respond to offers of financial support prior to April 15; earlier deadlines for acceptance of such offers violate the intent of this Resolution. In those instances in which the student accepts the offer before April 15 and subsequently desires to withdraw, the student may submit in writing a resignation of the appointment at any time through April 15. However, an acceptance given or left in force after April 15 commits the student not to accept another offer without first obtaining a written release from the institution to which a commitment has been made. Similarly, an offer by an institution after April 15 is conditional on presentation by the student of the written release from any previously accepted offer. It is further agreed by the institutions and organizations subscribing to the above Resolution that a copy of this Resolution should accompany every scholarship, fellowship, traineeship, and assistantship offer.