Admission and Academic Requirements

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New students are admitted once a year (to enroll in the fall). All admission materials must be received no later than the application deadline.

Deadline – Jan 15

Admission Requirements

1. Evidence of a master’s degree in psychology or a closely related discipline of at least 45 semester hours from a regionally accredited institution. Applicants who have earned a master’s degree of less than 45 semester hours or in a field other than psychology may apply but should expect to do leveling coursework in addition to the doctoral requirements.
2. A cumulative grade point average of 3.50 or higher in the master’s program is required
3. Official transcripts from all colleges/universities attended, including junior and community colleges must be submitted. Download special instructions for submitting transcripts from outside the United States and transcripts not in English .
4. NOTE: This requirement is waived for Fall 2022, 2023 and 2024 PsyD applicants
   A satisfactory score on the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) Verbal and Quantitative tests taken within the last five years must be submitted.
5. NOTE: This requirement is waived for Fall 2022, 2023 and 2024 PsyD applicants
   A satisfactory score on the GRE Psychology subject test taken within the last five years must be submitted.
6. Submit three letters of recommendation from professionals, with at least one from a former professor who can attest to the applicant’s promise as a professional psychologist.
7. The applicant must have pertinent professional experience.
8. A personal statement of background in psychology, expectations of doctoral program and professional goals must be submitted.
9. Satisfactory completion of the on-campus interview process.
10. Admission file must be complete by the deadline. 

Academic Requirements

Doctoral degree students will be expected to complete the following coursework requirements in addition to required coursework:

1. Written and Clinical (oral) qualifying examinations.
2. The written examination should be taken during the third or fourth year of coursework and must be passed prior to applying for internship. Students who have not passed the written qualifying exam may re-take the exam.
3. The clinical examination should be taken during the third or fourth year of coursework and must be passed prior to applying for internship. Students who have not passed the clinical qualifying exam may re-take the exam.
4. Dissertation - a dissertation is required as part of the doctoral degree program. A student must register for at least nine semester hours of dissertation (PSYC 9395, PSYC 9396, and PSYC 9397). If a student has not completed the dissertation by the end of the course sequence, PSYC 9198 must be registered for each semester until completion.
5. Pre-Doctoral Internship - the pre-doctoral internship must be complete in one year of full-time or two years of part-time commitment. A student must register for three semester hours which will be PSYC 9190, 9191, and 9192 during the internship. All internships must be approved by the training director.
6. Residency Requirement - doctoral students must attend full-time (18 semester hours or more in one year) at least three consecutive years.

Licensure Information

Our Lady of the Lake University Counseling Psychology Program is required to publicly disclose to prospective and currently enrolled students whether our program meets the educational requirements for licensure or certification for all 50 states, District of Columbia, and specified U.S. territories. Our program is responsible for determining whether our academic program meets applicable state education requirements for professional licensure or certification. See the OLLU PsyD Counseling Psychology Program's Professional Licensure by State Table at this link .