• The graduate program admits students to begin classes in fall. The number of doctoral students admitted each year is limited. Admission decisions are based on the applicant’s ability to meet the expectations for academic performance outlined in the Program Handbook. Meeting the minimum admission requirements does not ensure admission to the program. 
• A master’s degree from a regionally accredited institution, for which the applicant maintained at least a 3.4 grade point average on a 4.0 scale, is required for admission. The master’s degree must be in a mental health-related area (e.g. psychology, marriage and family therapy, social work, counseling, nursing, or human development). Applicants must have completed a clinical practicum of at least 300 hours. 
• Students pursuing the Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota’s M.A. in Clinical and Psychological Services Early Entry to Psy.D. option are required to have an undergraduate GPA of 3.0 and maintain a GPA of 3.4 in their graduate work.
• Selected applicants will be asked to complete an interview with a program administrator as part of the admission process.
• A master’s degree from a regionally accredited institution, for which the applicant maintained at least a 3.4 grade point average on a 4.0 scale, is required for admission. The master’s degree must be in a mental health-related area (e.g. psychology, marriage and family therapy, social work, counseling, nursing, or human development). If the master’s degree did not include graduate courses in Developmental Psychology, Physiological Psychology, Counseling Skills, Statistics, Psychological Assessment, Psychopathology, Personality Theory and/or Theories of Counseling, Clinical Interventions, and Professional Ethics, these courses must be taken before starting the program. Applicants also must have completed a clinical practicum of at least 300 hours.

Students with transcripts from universities located outside of the United States, unless from a waiver country listed here, are required to take and pass English Proficiency testing.

Saint Mary’s accepts:

• Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) with a minimum score of 72
• International English Language Testing System (IELTS) with a minimum score of 6.0
• International Test of English Proficiency (ITEP) with a minimum score of 4.0 or Pearson Test of English with a score of 51
• Duolingo Language Test with a minimum score of 105.

Your application must include the following items:

1. A completed application form
2. An official transcript(s) issued to Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota from the institution posting the applicant’s completed bachelor’s, master’s degrees and other relevant transcripts documenting program prerequisites and potential transfer credits. (An official transcript is one that is sent to the university by the credit-granting institution.)
   • Transcripts from countries other than the U.S. must be evaluated on a course by course basis by a university accepted evaluation service, such as World Education Services, Educational Credential Evaluators, Educational Perspectives, One Earth International Credential Evaluators or any approved member of the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES.org) and be deemed equivalent to accredited U.S. university standards.  
   • Official Transcripts should be sent to Office of Admission
     • Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota
       2500 Park Avenue
       Minneapolis, MN 55404
     • Or electronically: tcadmission@smumn.edu
3. Personal Statement: A three to six page personal statement which addresses each of the following areas:
   • Provide a very brief description of your background, training, and experience. Include work and experiences both within and outside of the healthcare field.
   • Describe your long term career goals. Be as specific as possible. It is understood that these goals may change, and that they may not be clearly formed at this point in time.
   • How does obtaining licensure as a psychologist fit into your career goals? What is unique about a professional identity as a psychologist in terms of meeting your goals?
   • The doctoral program in counseling psychology is demanding of both time and energy, and sometimes students underestimate the commitment needed to complete the program in a timely manner. How do you plan to integrate your work as a student in the program with the other demands in your life? How do you anticipate making changes in your life so that you can successfully complete a doctoral program?
   • Describe the academic, interpersonal, and personal strengths you would bring to your work as a student in this program.
   • Describe the academic, interpersonal, and/or personal challenges that might hinder your success as a student in this program.  How do you plan to address these challenges?
   • What concerns you the most about the prospect of embarking on graduate study in a doctoral program in counseling psychology?
   • What excites you the most about the prospect of embarking on graduate study in a doctoral program in counseling psychology?
   • How do you anticipate (and perhaps hope) that completing a doctoral program in counseling psychology will change you?
4. Reflective Essay: A two to three page reflective essay which addresses each of the following areas:
   • What are your thoughts and beliefs regarding the etiology of client distress?  In other words, how do psychological problems develop and how are they maintained?
   • What are your thoughts and beliefs regarding the nature of the psychological change process?  In other words, how do psychological problems become resolved?
5. Three letter(s) of recommendation that verify professional and/or volunteer experience and academic ability,
6. A current résumé listing educational background and work experience
7. Copies of any professional licenses or certifications obtained
8. Applicants must have completed the following graduate courses within the last ten years with a grade of “B” or better. Coursework older than ten years may be accepted if the applicant has maintained a professional license to practice in a related field (e.g. LPC, LMFT) which requires documentation of continuing education credits. Applicants may be required to complete missing coursework prior to enrolling in doctoral level coursework:
   • Developmental Psychology
   • Physiological Psychology
   • Counseling Skills
   • Statistics
   • Psychological Assessment
   • Psychopathology
   • Personality Theory and/or Theories of Counseling
   • Clinical Interventions
   • Professional Ethics

• Fall Semester: January 15

You can expect to be notified about your acceptance to our counseling psychology Psy.D. by April 15.