Ìð¹ÏÊÓƵapp

At the time of enrollment, applicants must have completed the following:

1. a Masters or Specialist degree in clinical or school psychology or
2. a Masters degree in a closely related area that includes at includes the prerequisties listed in the Application Requirements section below.

At the time of application, candidates must select a concentration area: Clinical or School Psychology.

Candidates who are graduates of the M.A. Clinical Psychology program or S.S.P. School Psychology program at Ìð¹ÏÊÓƵapp will have satisfied all course prerequisites prior to admission to the PsyD program.

Candidates graduating from other Masters programs will need to submit transcripts, syllabi, and evidence of prior research conducted (e.g., thesis; published paper) for faculty review to determine if prior coursework satisfies program prerequisites; however, these materials are not needed as part of the initial application. It is not uncommon for students to need to complete additional coursework in order to be meet the PsyD program’s prerequisites, which may extend the course of the program beyond the typical three years. Applicants with questions about prerequisites or admissions requirements may contact the program director, Dr. David Solomon at dsolomon@wcu.edu

Admission Requirements

In addition to the admissions criteria established by the Graduate School, the program also requires the following:

Test Scores

An official GRE General Test score report from within the past five years must be provided by applicants with a cumulative graduate GPA less than 3.7. Submission of GRE General Test scores are optional for applicants with a cumulative graduate GPA of 3.7 or above.

GPA and/or previous degree

At the time of enrollment, applicants must have completed a Masters or Specialist degree in clinical psychology, school psychology or closely related area that includes at least the following prerequisites. All pre-requisites must be met at the graduate level and applicants must have earned at minimum a master’s or specialist degree. Only courses for which an applicant has earned a grade of B or better will be counted towards the required prerequisites.

It is not uncommon for students to need to complete additional coursework in order to be meet the PsyD program’s prerequisites, which may extend the course of the program beyond the typical three years. Students requiring 24 credit hours (one academic year) or fewer of additional coursework may apply directly to the PsyD program. Students requiring more than 24 credit hours are not eligible to apply directly to the PsyD program but may apply to our MA-level clinical or school psychology programs.

The following prerequisites apply to both the Clinical and the School tracks:

Thesis coursework (typically 6 credit hours) resulting in a defended empirical thesis involving the collection and/or manipulation of data.

6 credit yours of practicum or internship.

6 credit hours of research methods and statistics.

A 3-credit-hour course on cognitive and achievement testing, including hands-on practice with clients or volunteers.

A  3-credit-hour course on psychopathology.

A  3-credit-hour course in developmental psychology.

A 3-credit-hour course in cognitive behavioral therapy specifically.

The following additional prerequisites apply to the Clinical Track:

A  3-credit-hour course on objective personality assessment.

A  3-credit-hour course in neuropsychology or biological bases of behavior.

An additional 3-credit-hour course on psychotherapy (e.g., group psychotherapy, evidence-based therapy techniques, etc.).

The following prerequisites apply to the School Track:

An additional  3-credit-hour course on cognitive and achievement, or other school-based testing beyond the general prerequisite.

A  3-credit-hour course in behavioral, academic and/or school-based interventions.

A  3-credit-hour course on professional issues in school psychology. 

Essay or Narrative Statement

A personal statement written in three (3) double-spaced pages or less describing the candidate’s:

• background and experiences in psychology,
• interest in the PsyD program and specific concentration identified
• academic interests that align with departmental faculty
• career goals
• commitment to providing psychological services to underserved and rural populations. 

Letters of Recommendation

Three letters of recommendation solicited from professionals (ideally professional supervisors and psychology faculty) who can provide information about candidate’s:

• Capacity for success in a doctoral psychology program
• Interpersonal characteristics
• Academic preparation
• Clinical skills

Resume and/or Experience

A Curriculum Vita documenting the following criteria:

• Prior research experience (preferred criteria)
• Educational history and Other Experiences

Admission into the PsyD program is selective and satisfying the preferred admission criteria described below does not guarantee admission to the program.

The PsyD admission committee (PAC) will review all completed applications and invite top candidates for in-person interviews. Interviewee selection will be based on review of graduate coursework and GPA, GRE scores, quality of recommendations, and personal statement.

The application review process involves holistic evaluation, including fit with mission of the program as well as academic preparation and promise

Student admissions data can be found here.

Doctor of Psychology (PsyD) Program Curriculum - Effective Fall 2022
Fall 1st Year
PSY 841 Biological and Affective Bases of Behavior (3 hours)
PSY 851 Advanced Research Methods and Statistics III (3 hours)
PSY 888 Professional Supervision (3 hours)
PSY 886 Internal Doctoral Practicum (McKee Clinic) (3 hours)
PSY 668 Teaching of Psychology (For PsyD Teaching Assistants) (3 hours)
12 (15) hours total

Spring 1st Year
PSY 878 Child & Family Systems & Intervention (3 hours)
PSY 842 Multicultural Psychology (3 hours)
PSY 823 Professional Consultation in Health Service Psychology (3 hours)
PSY 886 Internal Doctoral Practicum (McKee Clinic) (3 hours)
12 hours total

Summer 1st Year
No courses required
3 hours total

Fall 2nd Year
PSY 873 Ethics in Health Service Psychology (3 hours)
PSY 855 Advanced History and Systems (3 hours)
PSY 887 External Doctoral Practicum (School or Clinic Based; 3 hours)
PSY 899 Dissertation (3 hours)
12 hours total

Spring 2nd Year
PSY 810 Advanced Social Psychology (3 hours)
PSY 844 Advanced Cognitive Psychology (3 hours)
PSY 887 External Doctoral Practicum (School or Clinic Based) (3 hours)
PSY 899 Dissertation (3 hours)
12 hours total

Summer 2nd Year
PSY 883 Doctoral Internship (School Concentration requires 600 hours in School (1 hour)
1 hour total

Fall 3rd Year
PSY 883 Doctoral Internship (2 hours)
2 hours total

Spring 3rd Year
PSY 883 Doctoral Internship (2 hours)
2 hours total

Summer 3rd Year
PSY 883 Doctoral Internship (1 hour)
1 hour total

The PsyD program emphasizes mastery of profession-wide competencies that are grounded in evidence-based practices in core professional activities, such as assessment, therapy, consultation, and supervision. Our curriculum grounds all coursework and supervised clinical practice in both the empiricism of psychology and ethical competence.

Candidates admitted to the PsyD program will be involved actively in faculty research programs.

PsyD candidates will demonstrate mastery of psychological research through the completion of a dissertation. The dissertation requirement reflects the program’s commitment grounding professional psychological practice in the empirical science of psychology.

The PsyD program features an in-house training clinic, the McKee Psychological Services Center (McKee Clinic).

The McKee Clinic features multiple assessment and therapy rooms with two-way observation mirrors, state-of-the-art video capture technology, videoconference technology, a dedicated reception area, extensive library of testing materials, and dedicated student office space.

Candidates will complete advanced practicum training under supervision from licensed psychologists in various settings.

The PsyD program has established contacts with the Ìð¹ÏÊÓƵapp Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) center, the , the in Asheville, , and local school districts, among other practicum training sites.

It depends on how well the graduate program aligns with either the MA Clinical Psychology curriculum or the SSP School Psychology curriculum. Critical components of WCU graduate programs include supervised practicum placements, research requirements, and core curriculum. If applicants do not satisfy curricular pre-requisites, it is possible for an applicant to be admitted conditionally to the PsyD program while pre-requisites are completed. Applicants from other graduate programs may contact the PsyD Program Director with specific inquires.

Students with Bachelor’s degrees must complete either the MA Clinical Psychology or SSP School Psychology curriculum prior to applying to the PsyD program.

The PsyD Program is Accredited, on Contigency effective March 1, 2022. Please see for more information about APA Accreditation.

Tuition for students differs according to North Carolina resident status. Please find current graduate tuition and fees information on their site. Additional estimated fees or costs to students (e.g., books, liability insurance) are $500.00/year.

PsyD students are guaranteed two years of financial support ($20,000/year) through work completed as undergraduate instructors. The financial support does not include a tuition waiver. PsyD students are eligible to receive the Christine Biles Ledford scholarship ($2,500/year) per year through a competitive application process.