Admission

To apply to our program you must complete the Hofstra Graduate online application by December 31.

Hofstra University continues its commitment to extending equal opportunity to all qualified individuals without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, age, national or ethnic origin, physical or mental disability, marital or veteran status in the conduct and operation of its educational programs and activities, including admission and employment.

The PhD Program in Clinical Psychology at Hofstra University believes that our program is best served when the students, faculty, and staff reflect and celebrate the diversity of society at large. Thus, o ur program is fully committed to increasing the recruitment of underrepresented students and has one annually awarded Diversity Scholarship in Clinical Psychology that covers all expenses in the program through graduation.

For more information about admissions to our program see ADMISSIONS REQUIREMENTS and Frequently Asked Questions (see Frequently Asked Questions for information about the GRE Subject test). Please note July 9, 2020 update: Due to COVID-19 considerations, GRE scores will not be required for the 2020 application.

If you do not have a degree in psychology and you want to apply you must send a list of all psychology courses taken to the Director of the Program to determine if you have the required courses:william.c.sanderson@hofstra.edu).

Please note that all students are admitted to the program rather than to a faculty member's lab/clinic. We do our best to accommodate each student's interest in being assigned to a particular faculty member and are able to do so for the majority of students who enter the program. However, it is not always possible to do so. Students will be aware of their assignment prior to the acceptance deadline. It is important to note that other than lab/clinic assignments to a specific faculty member, the program is exactly the same for all students (e.g., courses, research requirements, externship requirements, internship) -- irrespective of the faculty member one is assigned to.

Requirements

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the application deadline for the Ph.D. Clinical Doctoral Program?

All materials must be in the admissions office by December 31st in order to be reviewed.  Our admissions timeline is as follows.  Invitations for interviews are made during mid to late January.  Our interview day is typically the last Friday of February.  Offers for admission are made during early March.

What are typical GRE scores and GPA for students admitted to your program?

See the table containing  student admissions data.

I've taken the GRE/subject test before your admission deadline but the scores will not be in my file by your deadline. What is the status of my application?

Your application will be considered incomplete and will not be reviewed with those that are complete by the deadline.

Must I take the general GRE test?

We prefer that applicants take the GRE. However, applications without the GRE will still be considered.

Is the GRE Subject test required?

We prefer that applicants take the Psychology Subject GRE (and it is required for non psychology majors). However, applications from psychology majors that do not have the Psychology GRE will still be considered and extra flexibility will be provided this year with regard to the COVID crisis.

Will I be notified by the Graduate Admission office when all my materials have been received?

You can check the status of your application online once you apply by logging in to the Hofstra University Graduate Application here. You will be contacted following submission of your application if any additional information is needed. The office of Graduate Admission may be reached at 516-463-4723 or graduateadmission@hofstra.edu.

How many openings are in a given class of students and how many apply?

We typically receive approximately 200 applications and invite 45-50 applicants for interviews. Ultimately, we accept a class of 12 students.

I already have graduate credits (or a graduate degree) in psychology. Are any credits transferable?

The PhD program in Clinical Psychology is a very specialized program and does not lightly grant waivers of course work considered central to professional training. If found appropriate by the program faculty, students may receive elective credit for equivalent courses taken elsewhere. Evidence of the past course work must be presented and be found to be substantially equivalent to courses in the program . Students may be granted up to maximum of 20% of their past graduate credits and no more than 12 transfer credits provided that present evidence of earning a master's degree. Most admitted students possessing a master's degree will receive 6 credits maximum. Additionally, courses must have been taken no more than eight years prior to beginning at Hofstra, and must have been completed with a grade of B or better. Each transcript is individually evaluated.

How many credits and how much time does it take to complete the program?

The program is full-time and requires the completion of 105 credits with a cumulative grade point average of B or better. The Ph.D. program is a minimum of four years of full-time study and an internship year.  The program will take between five to seven years depending upon a doctoral student’s personal progress on internship and the dissertation.

Is it possible to attend the Ph.D. program in Clinical Psychology part-time?

No. This is a full time program . As shown elsewhere on this site, the program of study calls for full-time study consisting of course work, practica and externship to be taken each semester for the first four years of study. A summer course is required after the first year. Fifth year students and beyond will work on completing their dissertation and clinical internship. This is a rigorous program.

Is it possible to take courses on a non-matriculated basis?

No. We offer a comprehensive program of professional study only open to full-time, matriculated students.

May I enroll in your Program for only a Master's Degree?

A terminal Master's Degree is not offered in the Program. A Master's is awarded as part of the Full-Time study towards a Ph.D.

Is the program APA accredited?

Yes, the program has been accredited by the American Psychological Association since 1973.

Office of Program Consultation and Accreditation
American Psychological Association
750 First Street, NE
Washington, DC 20002
Phone: (202) 336-5979
Email: apaaccred@apa.org
Website: http://www.apa.org/ed/accreditation
More information about the APA can be obtained at http://www.apa.org

Is financial assistance available?

Financial assistance is available to graduate students. Specifically, we offer a specific amount of tuition remission to all students, especially during the first and second years of the program, when credits are particularly heavy. If you are accepted to our program the amount of tuition remission we can offer will be presented in your acceptance letter so you know exactly what to expect about costs before having to make a decision. Since this amount varies each year depending upon the amount allotted to us from the University, we typically do not know the amount available at interview day, but will have the information when we make acceptance offers.

For more information about potential sources of funding see the following link: FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE

What is the theoretical orientation of the program?

As can be ascertained from viewing the faculty page, our program is a behaviorally based Scientist-Practitioner program. We cover the full spectrum of Behavior Therapy (broadly defined) including Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Applied Behavior Analysis, Cognitive Therapy, Dialectical Behavior Therapy, and Exposure Therapies.

Can I apply to the program if I do not have an undergraduate or masters degree in psychology?

Yes. However, prior to admission into our program you must take the following courses:
Statistics
Research Methods
Introduction to Psychology
Abnormal Psychology


And then some combination (2-3) of:
Developmental Psychology
Social Psychology
Cognitive Psychology
Physiological Psychology (Brain/Behavior)<

What is the program's position on diversity?

Hofstra University continues its commitment to extending equal opportunity to all qualified individuals without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, age, national or ethnic origin, physical or mental disability, marital or veteran status in the conduct and operation of its educational programs and activities, including admission and employment. The PhD Program in Clinical Psychology at Hofstra University believes that our program is best served when the students, faculty, and staff reflect and celebrate the diversity of society at large. Thus, our program is fully committed to increasing the recruitment of underrepresented students and has one annually awarded Diversity Scholarship in Clinical Psychology that covers all expenses in the program through graduation.

If you have any further questions regarding the PhD Program in Clinical Psychology, please contact:

Office of Graduate Admission
Email: graduateadmission@hofstra.edu
Phone: 516-463-4723
105 Memorial Hall
126 Hofstra University
Hempstead, NY 11549