Department of Psychology

General Instructions for Application to the School of Science & Technology

PLEASE OBSERVE THE FOLLOWING INSTRUCTIONS.
By doing so, you will make it possible to secure prompt consideration of your application.

The following documents are required in order to process your application to the Department of Psychology, School of Science & Technology, Loma Linda University. Please note that all required documents must be received by the School of Science & Technology by December 31!

• Signed and completed online application form.
• Application fee.
• Official transcripts from all colleges and universities you have attended.
• Three letters of recommendation submitted online (preferably from current or previous instructors).
• GRE scores (within 5 years)
• TOEFL scores (foreign applicants).

1. Please complete one online application for the doctoral degree of your choice.
2. Complete the online application form. Be sure to include all information requested and a photograph.  You may also provide additional information that you feel would be useful in evaluating your qualifications.
3. Request official transcripts from all colleges and universities you have attended. Transcripts must be mailed directly to SST Admissions from the college or university you attended in a sealed institutional envelope using institutional postage meter in order for them to be considered official. Any transcripts that an applicant mails to us are considered unofficial. Confusion and delay frequently arises when applicants send documents to the program instead of the SST admission office. If you are currently attending LLU or have previously attended LLU, contact Shari Lane (909) 558-8577 regarding transcripts before you request them.
4. Arrange for the reporting of your scores on the Graduate Record Examination. Our institutional code is 4062. If you have not taken the test, or it has been over five years since you have last taken the test, you may request a GRE application from the SST admissions office or the Educational Testing Service at Box 6000, Princeton, NJ, 08541-6000, (609)771-7670. The test may be taken on a day other than Saturday by making appropriate arrangements.
5. If your native language is not English, scores on either the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or the Michigan Test must be submitted to SST Admissions. 
6. Again, do not mail your correspondence to any other department, program, or school as it may cause delay in the processing of your application.

(TRANSCRIPTS only mailed to…School Code 4062) 

Requirements For Admissions

Undergraduate Requirements:

The preferred preparation for a doctoral program in psychology is an undergraduate major in psychology. This would include classes in statistics and research methods as well as laboratory courses. A solid background in areas such as mathematics, biological, and social sciences is quite appropriate. In addition, research experience is particularly desirable for PhD candidates. In the case of clinical psychology, field experience also may be of interest.

The following are the minimal undergraduate courses preferred:

1. Psychology:
   1. One course in history and systems of psychology.
   2. Two of the following: cognition, learning, physiological psychology, and sensation & perception.
   3. Two of the following: developmental, personality, and social.
   4. One course in research methods in psychology.
2. Biological Sciences: At least one course in biology.
3. Physical Sciences: One course in physics or chemistry (optional).
4. Social Sciences: One course in anthropology or sociology (optional).
5. Mathematics:
   1. One course in mathematics.
   2. One course in statistics.

Minimum GPA, GRE, and TOEFL (foreign applicants) scores required for admission consideration:
Applicants considering the Ph.D./Psy.D. clinical programs must have a minimum UGPA of 3.0.  In addition, all applicants must have minimum general GRE scores, Verbal plus Quantitative, summing to the 100th percentile (with no one section lower than the 35th percentile), and a minimum score of 4 on the Research and Writing Graduate Level Papers writing assessment portion of the GRE. These minimum scores are required for admission consideration. Foreign applicants must also submit a minimum TOEFL score from one of the following formats: (1) 80 - internet based; (2) 550 - paper based; (3) 213 - computer based and a final score of 5.0 on the written English portion.  For further clarification, please review Guidelines for Admission.