Apply to the Program

MS in Clinical Psychology

Thank you for considering SJSU's MS in Clinical Psychology graduate program.

The application cycle opens on October 1, and the deadline to apply to the program is February 1 to begin in Fall of that year (no Spring or early admissions).

Admitted students must accept their admission by (1) saying ‘yes’ through Intent to Enroll and (2) paying a $200 non refundable (and non transferable) enrollment deposit by May 1 in order to register for their first-year Fall classes. The $200 enrollment deposit will be applied towards your tuition and fees once you enroll in classes. For more information visit Mandatory Intent to Enroll webpage on the Graduate Admissions website.

In the application process you will apply to both the University as well the MS Clinical Program through CalStateApply. The University offers SJSU's Steps to Graduate Admission [pdf] guide (pdf) that may be helpful.

The University's Domestic Application Steps to Admission are found here.

Instructions for submitting your transcripts are found in Step 4 on the Application Steps page (above) including information about WES evaluated international transcripts.

You can also learn about the University's international application steps to admission.

For the MS Clinical Psychology Program, here is the key information about your application:
Program Application
GPA calculations
Statement of intent
Letters of recommendation
Application timeline

Note that we do NOT require GRE scores for our program application.

Program Application

The MS Clinical Psychology Program Application is completed online and is found in the tab "Questions" in the Program Materials section of CalStateApply (part of the specific application to SJSU's Clinical Program). This tab is near the top of the page and to the right of the "Recommendations" tab.

Here, you will complete all of the information about your degree(s), enter your psychology and last 60(90) units GPAs that you have calculated (described below), provide your clinical experience, and detail the courses you have taken that meet the prerequisite requirements. Toward the end of the application you will also find a Felony Conviction statement that you must complete. Please see this section for Prospective Students to learn more about why we ask about this.

GPA Calculation

A minimum GPA of 3.0 in all Psychology courses AND a 3.0 for the last 60 semester units or 90 quarter units of undergraduate coursework is required for admission. Inputting your accurate GPA is critical because applications not meeting the minimum GPA will be removed from review.

You MUST include a PDF of BOTH your Psychology GPA and Last 60/90 units calculations with your application in CalStateApply.

Upload these by clicking on the "Documents" tab and then using the two Academic Record tabs.

Do NOT include any credit/no credit courses in the calculation.

Psychology coursework GPA

You are required to provide your GPA calculations for all of your psychology courses using the Psychology GPA Calculator worksheet to calculate your Psychology GPA.

Be sure to enter this GPA into your Application that you complete online (see above) AND upload this to the first Academic Record tab.

NOTE: You MUST have completed a minimum of 10 semester courses in psychology including the required 6 perquisite courses or were a Psychology major. Inputting the correct number of psychology units on your application is critical because applications not meeting the minimum units will be removed from review. For details, see the information for prospective students. Completed and in progress courses must be shown on your Psychology GPA calculation worksheet.

Last 60/90 units GPA

You are also required to provide your GPA calculations for all for your last 60 semester units or last 90 quarter units using the Last 60/90 GPA Calculator worksheet to calculate your GPA.

Be sure to enter this GPA into your Application that you complete online (see above) AND upload this to the second Academic Record tab.

NOTE: You can mix quarter and semester units on the same sheet, but you must show 60 Semester Weighted Units at the bottom of the calculation table.

Letters of Recommendation

Three letters of recommendation are required to apply to the MS Clinical Psychology program at SJSU. You will complete the letter of recommendation process on CalStateApply. This year, your Letters of Recommendation contact will be sent as a link to submit their letter of recommendation for you. There is no form for them to complete; the contact will only upload the letter through the portal. This will be sent directly through CalStateApply when you input their contact information.

One of the contacts (letter writers) MUST be one of your applied clinical experience supervisors and one of the contacts (letter writers) MUST be a professor or university level instructor you have had.

The third recommendation can be from additional supervisors, professors in relevant courses, or other professionals who are familiar with your work and professional skills.

For your application to be evaluated, you must have a total of three letters of recommendation completed by your selected recommenders (letter writers). These letters need to be from professionals who can speak to your capabilities.

You MAY NOT send a request a letter of recommendation from a friend, classmate, or previous therapist.

Statement of Intent (Personal Statement)

To help us evaluate your application, please prepare a 2-3 page double-spaced essay describing your fit with the MS Clinical Psychology Program at SJSU. You should include information about your background, your plans for your future, and how you see admission to our graduate program in the context of your goals as a psychotherapist. You will need to upload a PDF of your Statement of Intent to CalStateApply by clicking on the "Documents" tab (to the right of the "Home" tab) and then clicking on the link for Personal Statement.

In a multiple paragraph statement of intent, please answer the following questions within the context of your statement:

Describe your academic and professional goals and state how SJUS’s MS Clinical Psychology graduate program aligns with your goals.
The mission of the clinical program at SJSU is to provide top quality
psychotherapy services to our diverse community. Please describe how this mission is consistent with your interests and what skills or abilities you feel help meet that mission.
SJSU’s MS Clinical Program has a focus on evidence based practice [pdf] of psychotherapy. Describe what evidence based practice means to you and how that aligns with your training goals as a therapist.
Describe your applied clinical experience and state the number of hours you worked. Discuss what you learned about clinical work in this placement and what skills you developed that might benefit your training.
The MS Clinical Psychology program at SJSU is very demanding, is academically rigorous, and seeks to graduate top quality clinicians. Overall, how are you prepared for this program, given these demands?

Our Application Timeline & General Graduate Admissions

Although you can submit your materials beginning in October, we will not review applications until after February 1. All applications are reviewed at one time (after Feb. 1) to build a cohort to enter in the Fall.

If your application moves forward after the first review, you will be invited to interview (typically in March). Offers for admission are made in mid-April, and acceptances are due by the beginning of May. We seek to build a cohort of 12-14 students each year.

Important Note regarding seeking licensure: Admission into programs leading to licensure and credentialing does not guarantee that students will obtain a license or credential. Licensure and credentialing requirements are set by agencies that are not controlled by or affiliated with the CSU and requirements can change at any time. For example, licensure or credentialing requirements can include evidence of the right to work in the United States (e.g., social security number or tax payer identification number) or successfully passing a criminal background check. Students are responsible for determining whether they can meet licensure or credentialing requirements. The CSU will not refund tuition, fees, or any associated costs, to students who determine subsequent to admission that they cannot meet licensure or credentialing requirements. Information concerning licensure and credentialing requirements are available on the BBS website.