Frequently Asked Questions

What is the application deadline for the Ph.D. Clinical Doctoral Program?

All materials must be in the admissions office by December 15th in order to be reviewed.

I've taken the GRE/subject test before your admission deadline but the scores will not be in my file by your deadline. What is the status of my application?

Your application will be considered incomplete and will not be reviewed with those that are complete by the deadline.

Can I take the GRE Psychology subject test after I have applied to the program?

The application is considered incomplete if the subject test is not received by our application deadline.

Can I retake the GRE General or Psychology subject tests after I have applied to the program?

Retaking the GRE general or subject test is possible. However, the scores may not be received in time to be considered when reviewing the applicant's materials.

Will I be notified by the Graduate Admissions office when all my materials have been received?

Although the Graduate Admissions does try to notify all applicants by mail of their files' status, it is the responsibility of the applicant to make sure that the materials have been received. We are not responsible for incomplete applications or materials which have not arrived by the application deadline. You may call the Graduate Admissions office to check on the status of your file if you have not received a letter. Do not wait for the application deadline to be near in order to assess the status of your application!

The Graduate Admissions Office: 1866-GRAD-HOF (472-3463).

How many openings are in a given class of students and how many apply?

Currently, we are planning to accept a class of 14 students. Typically we receive between 200-225 applications annually.

I already have graduate credits (or a graduate degree) in psychology. Are any credits transferable?

The Ph.D. program in Clinical Psychology is a very specialized program and does not lightly grant waivers of course work considered central to professional training. If found appropriate by the program faculty, students may receive elective credit for equivalent courses taken elsewhere. Evidence of the past course work must be presented and be found to be substantially equivalent to courses in the program . Students may be granted up to maximum of 20% of their past graduate credits and no more than 12 transfer credits. Most admitted students possessing a master's degree will receive 6 credits maximum. Additionally, courses must have been taken no more than eight years prior to beginning at Hofstra, and must have been completed with a grade of B or better. Each transcript is individually evaluated.

How many credits and how much time does it take to complete the program?

The program is full-time and requires the completion of 105 credits with a cumulative grade point average of B or better. The Ph.D. program is a minimum of four years of full-time study and an internship year.  The program will take between five to seven years depending upon a doctoral student’s personal progress on internship and the dissertation.

Is it possible to attend the Ph.D. program in Clinical Psychology part-time?

No. This is a full time program . As shown elsewhere on this site, the program of study calls for full-time study consisting of course work, practica and externship to be taken each semester for the first four years of study. A summer course is required after the first year. Fifth year students and beyond will work on completing their dissertation and clinical internship. This is a rigorous program.

Is it possible to take courses on a non-matriculated basis?

No. We offer a comprehensive program of professional study only open to full-time, matriculated students.

May I enroll in your Program for only a Master's Degree?

A terminal Master's Degree is not offered in the Program. A Master's is awarded as part of the Full-Time study towards a Ph.D.

Is the program APA accredited?

Yes, the program has been fully accredited by the American Psychological Association since 1973.

Is financial assistance available?

Financial assistance is available to graduate students in a number of formats including scholarships, fellowships, assistantships, awards, etc. After you have been accepted and have sent in a deposit, you can write a letter to the Director of the program requesting an assistantship. There are a number of assistantships awarded including two full tuition scholarships for the first year. The assistantships are normally awarded for two years. See the section of our web site on financial aid for greater detail.

What is the theoretical orientation of the program?

As described elsewhere on this web site, the Ph.D. Program in Clinical Psychology is a behaviorally based Scientist-Practitioner (Boulder model) program. We teach the spectrum of Behavior Therapy including techniques like Applied Behavior Analysis, Systematic Desensitization, Exposure (Flooding and Implosive Therapies), Dialectical Behavior Therapy, Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy and Cognitive Therapy. Our Empirical work is guided by the same theoretical base.