Navigating the UCLA Clinical Psychology PhD Application: A Comprehensive Guide

Applying to a doctoral program in clinical psychology is a significant undertaking. The UCLA Clinical Psychology PhD program is highly competitive, demanding a strong academic background, research experience, and a clear vision for your future contributions to the field. This guide provides a detailed overview of the application requirements, program structure, and other essential information for prospective students.

Academic Background and Prerequisites

The UCLA Department of Psychology values a well-rounded undergraduate education. While a major in psychology is not mandatory, a broad foundation in behavioral, biological, physical, and social sciences is considered the best preparation for graduate study. This interdisciplinary approach reflects the multifaceted nature of clinical psychology.

Application Components and Requirements

Faculty Mentorship

A crucial aspect of the UCLA application is identifying and indicating at least one prospective faculty mentor. Applicants to the Behavioral Neuroscience, Clinical, Cognitive, and Quantitative areas have the option to specify up to two potential mentors. It is important to research faculty members whose research interests align with your own and to articulate in your application how your goals match their expertise. Upon admission to graduate status, each student is assigned an adviser on the basis of the student’s interests as indicated in the application. At the beginning of each fall quarter until Advancement to Candidacy (ATC), all students are required to meet with their adviser to discuss their academic year enrollment plan and to secure their adviser’s endorsement of that plan. Students who would like to change advisers may request to do so.

Admission Timeline and Full-Time Enrollment

Admission to the UCLA Clinical Psychology PhD program is exclusively for the Fall Quarter and requires full-time enrollment. This structure ensures a cohesive cohort experience and allows students to fully immerse themselves in their studies and research.

Holistic Review and Selection Process

The admissions committee conducts a thorough review of all applications, considering a multitude of factors. The program received 957 applications, which represents an almost three-fold increase over prior years. The difficulty of selecting candidates for the interview stage was further magnified given the overall excellence of the pool and the limited number of interview slots. In a recent admissions cycle, fewer than 4% of applicants were invited for interviews. Due to the high volume of applications, the program is unable to provide individualized feedback to applicants.

Curriculum and Coursework

The UCLA Clinical Psychology PhD program provides a comprehensive curriculum designed to equip students with the knowledge and skills necessary for successful careers in research and clinical practice.

Core Course Requirements

All doctoral students must complete the following seven courses: Psychology 250A and 250B, which must be completed in the first year; 251A, 251B, and 251C, which must be completed by the end of the fall quarter of the second year; and 495A and 495B (for a total of 22 units). Depending on their major, students must complete an additional 20 to 38 units, for a total of 42 to 60 units of coursework.

Coursework Breakdown by Area

Behavioral Neuroscience: 8 units of behavioral neuroscience courses; Neuroscience M203; either Neuroscience M202 or Cellular Physiology portion of NS101A (via Psych 596); and 8 elective units.
Clinical: Psychology 250C or substitute, 270A, 270B, 270C, 271A, 271D, 273A, 273B, 273C, 277A, 277B and two advanced clinical courses are required. Psychology 271BC are optional.
Cognitive: 3 cognitive courses from Psychology 261-264, 4 units of methods, quantitative or programming and 8 elective units.
Cognitive Neuroscience: 8 units from cognitive courses, 4 units from behavioral neuroscience courses, Neuroscience M203 and 8 elective units.
Computational Cognition: 2 cognitive courses from Psychology 261-264, Psychology 259 or 265, 2 courses from statistics and or computer science, and 4 elective units.
Developmental: Psychology 250C or substitute, 3 developmental courses taught by different faculty members and 2 courses which may be developmental or outside of the area and/or department.
Health Psychology: Psychology 250C or substitute, Psychology 215AB, Psychology 218, another Health Psychology course and 4 elective units.
Learning and Behavior: 8 units from learning and behavior courses, 4 units from behavioral neuroscience courses, Neuroscience M203 and 8 additional elective units.
Quantitative: Psychology 250C, 255A, 256A, M257, 254C and 4 elective courses.
Social: Psychology 250C or substitute, Psych 220A, Psych 220B or substitute and 3 additional courses in consultation with adviser.
Social and Affective Neuroscience: 250C or substitute, one course from methods series, one course from content series, another course from either methods or content series, three additional courses in consultation with adviser, and a workshop course on presenting research. Enrollment in the Social and Affective Neuroscience colloquium series is required for all quarters of years 1-3.

Independent Study

Students must enroll in one independent study course each quarter, beginning with Psychology 251A in the winter quarter of the first year. Students may select from the following independent study courses, depending on their stage in the program: Psychology 251A, 251B, 251C, 596, 597, 599.

Teaching Assistantship

All students will be introduced to teaching through an introductory teaching assistant position during one quarter of the first year of matriculation in the degree program. All students are required to take Psychology 495A in the first quarter they serve as a teaching assistant (in the first year of matriculation in the degree program), and 495B in the second quarter they serve as a teaching assistant (no later than end of fourth year prior to doctoral advancement to candidacy).

Master's Degree Requirements

The M.A. degree requires nine graduate courses (36 units). This course work must include Psychology 250A, 250B, 251A, 251B, 251C, and 16 units from major courses required for the doctoral degree. Up to four units of 596 may be applied toward the 36 unit requirement. In addition, the Psychology 251C research project must be completed. All courses must be taken for a letter grade except 251A, 251B, and 596 are S/U grading. Courses in the 300 or 400 series may not be applied. Any undergraduate deficiencies must be cleared before the M.A. degree is awarded.

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Research Requirements

Research Project

Students must complete an individual research project which demonstrates their knowledge of relevant scientific literature and their ability to design and conduct a research project and write a complete research report.

Quantitative Practicum

After completing the following courses: 250A, 250B, 250C, M257, 255A, 256A, 258, students are required to enroll in the quantitative psychology practicum Psych 430 for 2 quarters. The practicum serves as a hands-on statistical consultation training for graduate students.

Clinical Training (for Clinical Students)

Practicum and Internship Requirements

At least 500 hours of approved, supervised, pre-internship practicum (Psychology 401) are required, of which 150 hours must involve direct clinical service and 75 hours must be formal scheduled supervision. These hours are usually completed during the second through fourth years. All advanced students working with clients must enroll in Psychology 401 (one to four units). All clinical training must be approved by the Director of Clinical Training (DCT) while students are enrolled in the program. The equivalent of one-year’s full-time supervised internship (Psychology 451) in an acceptable setting approved by the faculty is required. This is usually taken in the fifth or sixth year. Students must enroll in at least 12 units of course work while on internship, including at least eight units in Psychology 451.

Evaluation and Advising

Students are evaluated annually, in the spring of each year, by the chair of the major area until they have completed the program. In addition, each spring quarter, areas are required to conduct a comprehensive review of all graduate students in their program. Each student receives from the area a written evaluation letter.

Qualifying Examinations

Academic Senate regulations require all doctoral students to complete and pass university written and oral qualifying examinations prior to doctoral advancement to candidacy. Also, under Senate regulations, the University Oral Qualifying Examination is open only to the student and appointed members of the doctoral committee. In addition to university requirements, some graduate programs have other pre-candidacy examination requirements. The qualifying examination consists of two parts: a Comprehensive Examination (C-Exam) administered by the major area, and the University Oral Qualifying Exam. The C-Exam administered by the major area examines in breadth the student’s knowledge of the major field. For information about each major area’s examination, refer to the Graduate Student Handbook. All Ph.D. The Final Oral Examination is required for all students in the program.

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Time to Degree and Academic Standing

The normative time-to-degree for doctoral requirements is six years (18 quarters). A student who fails to meet the above requirements may be recommended for academic disqualification from graduate study. A graduate student may be disqualified from continuing in the graduate program for a variety of reasons. The most common is failure to maintain the minimum cumulative grade point average (3.00) required by the Academic Senate to remain in good standing (some programs require a higher grade point average). Other examples include failure of examinations, lack of timely progress toward the degree and poor performance in core courses. Probationary students (those with cumulative grade point averages below 3.00) are subject to immediate dismissal upon the recommendation of their department. In addition to the standard reasons noted above, a student may be recommended for academic disqualification if the student receives two grades of B-, one grade lower than B- in the core program, or does not meet the time requirements for completion of the core program. Such cases are considered by the Graduate Studies Committee. Area committees may also recommend that a student be academically disqualified. Grounds for a recommendation for academic disqualification include: a pattern of unsatisfactory performance in other course work; and failure of a qualifying examination. A recommendation for academic disqualification also may be initiated by the Graduate Studies Committee for insufficient progress toward the Ph.D. degree, as evidenced by a failure to obtain the degree within six calendar years following matriculation. Students are informed in writing by the Vice Chair for Graduate Studies when actions concerning them are under consideration by the Graduate Studies Committee.

Optional Minors

Students are not required to complete a minor. However, three optional minors are available for students who are interested: Diversity Science, Health, and Quant.

Diversity Science
Health Psychology
Quantitative

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