For students with undergraduate degrees in psychology:
Regular Admission
Admission with Regular Status into the program requires students to meet one of the following conditions:
- GPA of at least 3.5 (no GRE is required)
- GPA of at least 3.0 but less than 3.5 AND at least a 3.5 or better in Research Methods, Statistics, Abnormal Psychology, and nine hours in 3000 or 4000 psychology courses (no GRE is required).
- GPA of least 3.0 but less than 3.5 AND GRE of at least 290 (combined verbal and quantitative)
Conditional Admission
Conditional admission to the Clinical Psychology program may be granted for the first nine semester hours of approved graduate study for students meeting one of the following conditions:
- GPA of at least 3.0 but less than 3.5 AND either no GRE OR GRE of at least 280 but less than 290 (combined verbal and quantitative)
- GPA of at least 2.5 but less than 3.0 AND a GRE of at least 290 (combined verbal and quantitative)
Earning a grade of “B” or better in the first semester of at least nine hours of approved graduate degree credit is necessary to continue in the program and will change the student’s status to Regular admission.
For students who do not have undergraduate degrees in psychology:
Students who did not major in psychology must have 18 hours in psychology, including Research Methods, Statistics, Abnormal Psychology, Tests & Measurements, and six hours of electives. The GPA for these courses will be applied to the admission standards along with the cumulative GPA.
Students interested in applying to the program should follow the proceeding process:
1. The following information must be sent by the applicant to the Office of Graduate Studies at Northwestern State University:
- Graduate application and payment of the nonrefundable $25 application fee. The application may ONLY be completed online at: Apply for Graduate School Admission
- Graduate assistantship application at: Graduate Assistantship Application (optional)
- Self-statement: 500 words, double-spaced, typed essay that discusses your personal goals and reasons for wanting to earn a Master’s in Clinical Psychology, particularly from Northwestern State University.
- Three letters of recommendation in sealed envelopes with the signature of the recommending person written across the seal and addressed to:
The Graduate School
Caspari Hall Room 123
Natchitoches, LA 71497
- Applications are accepted on an on-going basis; however, March 15 is the deadline for priority selection. Review of materials and admission into the program after that date will depend on the availability of openings.
2. Official transcripts of all colleges and universities previously attended should be sent directly from the college or university to the Office of Graduate Studies at Northwestern State University. Applicants must have a bachelor’s degree with 18 hours in psychology, including at least three hours from each of the following areas: statistics, abnormal, and experimental.
3. The General Aptitude Section of the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) is required and applicants must instruct the Educational Testing Service to forward the scores to the Office of Graduate Studies. Northwestern State Univerisity’s institutional code is 6492.
4. All applicants, for whom English is a second language (ESL), are required to take the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) and the Test of Spoken English (TSE). The scores must be sent directly to the Office of Graduate Studies at Northwestern State University. Applicants selected for an interview will be contacted directly by the Director of Clinical Training. The applicant will be provided information about the interview process at the time of that contact.
Graduate assistantships are available to a limited number of graduate students who are regular status. While the department of psychology attempts to request all clinical psychology students to be assigned to the Department of Psychology, these positions are assigned to various academic support services, academic offices, program support, faculty research support, and other university offices. The students awarded assistantships receive $12,000 for working 20 hours per week from August to May.
Work times are scheduled by the supervisor and the assistant. Assistantships are awarded for the academic year for the fall semester, but students can receive an assistantship for the spring semester if positions are available. Assistantships are renewable for a second year upon successful evaluation by the supervisor. Renewal from year to year, however, is not automatic. Applicants may complete the application for graduate assistantship if invited to interview for the program.
