Applicants to the PsyD in Clinical Psychology must have earned an undergraduate degree from a regionally accredited institution, although not necessarily in a related field.

Standardized tests such as the GRE, are not required for admission, with the exception of the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) for international student applicants whose native language is not English. Qualified applicants should be high achieving students with an undergraduate degree in psychology, or substantial coursework in psychology, work experience in the field or a master’s degree in another discipline, with an expected minimum 3.2 grade-point average (or with outstanding narrative evaluations for those earning the master’s degree at Antioch University or other institutions that do not award grades). In exceptional circumstances applicants with a lower GPA will be considered if they have special aptitudes in other areas.

Antioch University Santa Barbara particularly seeks qualified candidates who will contribute to building a student body diverse in gender, ethnicity, age, class, physical differences, learning styles, sexual orientation, professional backgrounds, and community experiences.

To apply please submit the following:

• Online Application VIP Page – Application
• Two letters of recommendation with coversheets, recommendations from relatives, friends, or personal therapists is not advised.
• Program-specific admissions essays (see guidelines below)
• Official transcripts indicating B.A./B.S. and/or M.A./M.S. degree conferral from a regionally-accredited institution

Please send all transcripts to:

Admissions, Antioch University Santa Barbara
801 Garden Street, Suite 101
Santa Barbara, CA 93101

The program does not require that applicants submit G.R.E. scores.

Essay Guidelines

Please send your completed essays as email attachments (word document or PDF) to: Admissions@antiochsb.edu, with the following in the subject line: (your first and last name), PsyD Program.

You also have the option of sending your essays via standard mail.

Please send your essays to:

Admissions, Antioch University Santa Barbara
801 Garden Street, Suite 101
Santa Barbara, CA 93101

ESSAY ONE
To paraphrase Family Therapist, Augustus Napier, We marry or partner with our worst nightmare. How would you evaluate this assumption? What kinds of information would you use and how would you determine which of these are valid and reliable. Please do not exceed 500 words in your essay.

ESSAY TWO
Please download and read the essay “Food, Emotions and the Family” and then write a 500 word critique. Consider the following questions in shaping your critique.

What was the author’s intent in writing this essay?

What is the problem or question which this essay attempts to address?

What are the author’s assumptions?

What is the author’s point of view or bias?

On what data, information or evidence does the author base her position?

What are the concepts or ideas which shape this essay?

What are the inferences or interpretations made by the author to draw her conclusions?

What are the implications that follow from the author’s perspective?

ESSAY THREE
Write an autobiographical essay describing how your life history has contributed to the development of the person you are today. Include your family background, relationships, volunteer work, academic or other study, and employment and multicultural experiences that you consider to be formative. Be sure to relate your essay to your decision to pursue graduate studies and training in clinical psychology, and evidence of other activities relevant to family psychology. Please limit your responses to 5 pages.