Peace Through Education

Clinical Application Instructions

Instructions for Completion of Graduate Application: Doctoral Program in Clinical Psychology
Clinical Psychology Doctoral Program
Department of Psychological Science, University of Arkansas
216 Memorial Hall, Fayetteville, AR 72701-1201
479-575-4256; ctcgrad@uark.edu

[Click here for a pdf version of the application instructions!] Deadline: December 1, 2020. For early review, submit by  November 20, 2020.

Application for graduate work towards the Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology requires completion of the following items:

1. Submit the Application for Admission to Graduate Study in Clinical Psychology form [including a personal statement and a curriculum vita (CV)] to ctcgrad@uark.edu (see #1  below);

2. Completion of Graduate School application online at https://application.uark.edu/ (which includes submitting emails for your letters of recommendation writers; see #2 below);  

3. Unofficial transcript(s) uploaded to your Applicant Center in UA Connect (see #2 and #3 below);

4. Official GRE scores report (including verbal, quantitative, and analytical writing scores) (see #4 below); and

5. Three (3) letters of recommendation that are to be uploaded via the Applicant Center (see #5 below).

Each of these components of the application package is explained in turn.  Any questions regarding the doctoral program in Clinical Psychology should be addressed to the Graduate Admissions Coordinator by email (ctcgrad@uark.edu) or by telephone at (479) 575-4256.

1. Departmental Application Form.  Please answer ALL questions on the form (entitled, “Application for the Admission to Graduate Study in Clinical Psychology”).  Be sure to indicate your preference for which faculty members you would like to work with by rank-ordering them as described on the form.  Browse the faculty webpages thoroughly before indicating your preferences. Be sure include responses to the program-specific questions and a curriculum vita.  As our program operates under a mentor-based model, your application will not be considered if you have not identified a preferred mentor(s). Save this file using the following file name: “LAST NAME_Clinical_Program_Department_Application”. For example, “DOE_Clinical_Program_Department_Application." Email the completed form along with your personal statement (with file name "LAST NAME_Personal Statement") and your CV (with file name "LAST NAME_CV") to ctcgrad@uark.edu.

2. Graduate School Application Form.  The University requires that you also complete the Graduate School application to be considered for admission.  We have requested some of the same information on our departmental application form that appears on the Graduate School application form, but please fill each out completely despite this duplication.  The graduate school application involves a four-step process:

  1. Please visit the following website:https://application.uark.edu/ and complete the entire application, which can be submitted online.
  2. Look for an email from the Office of Graduate and International Admissions with instructions on how to active your Applicant Center in UA Connect.
  3. Activate your Applicant Center in UA Connect and then upload your unofficial transcripts and information regarding your recommenders.  Note that your letter writers will receive an email link for uploading their letter.
  4. Applicants must pay an application fee of $60.  This is University policy.

If you have any questions about this process, please contact the Graduate School at gradinfo@uark.edu or 479-575-4401.

3. Transcripts.  An unofficial copy of your transcripts for all previous undergraduate and graduate work must be uploaded directly to the Office of Graduate and International Addmissions via the UA Connect Applicant Center.  If admitted to the program, you will be required to send official transcripts by the appropriate officials of these instutitions. The Graduate School has instructions about transcripts here: http://graduate-recruitment.uark.edu/applying/degree-seeking.php.  

4. Graduate Record Examinations (GRE).  Scores for the General test (Verbal, Quantitative, and Analytical Writing) are an essential part of your application.  You are not required to take the Subject Test in Psychology for your application to be considered, but if you take it, please submit these scores.  You may get information regarding the GRE on the web at http://www.gre.com/, at your institution, or by writing to: Graduate Record Examination, Educational Testing Service, PO Box 6000, Princeton, NJ 08541-6000.  If you prefer, you can telephone the Educational Testing Service at 1-866-473-4373.  Please request that your GRE scores be sent to Clinical Psychology (Department Code 2001) at the University of Arkansas, Fayetteville (Institution Code 6866).  Until your scores are sent by ETS, we will accept the unofficial scores you received on the computer at the time you took the GRE tests.

5. Letters of Recommendation.  A minimum of three letters of recommendation are required. However, we will accept as many letters of recommendation as are submitted.  Insofar as you can, have references sent by those psychology professors who can best judge your chances for success in graduate study in psychology.  Letters from professors in other fields are helpful, provided they are well-acquainted with your capacity for academic and scientific work and the requirements for successful graduate study in psychology.  Recommendations from persons who have not had firsthand experience in graduate study tend not to be very useful.  Provide each writer's name and email address on the department application AND enter each writer's email address when completing your Office of Graduate School and International Application online. Ask writers to follow instructions in the automated email supplied after you provide the email address to the online application site.

Supplementary Materials. 

You may also wish to attach relevant supplementary materials/writing samples with your
application (e.g., honors thesis, reprints of publications). Supplementary materials are not required, but feel free to attach them to your application e-mail. Label each additional file you attach as follows: “LAST NAME_Name of supplemental item.”  For example, “DOE_Honors_Thesis”.

NOTE:  After your application has been submitted, additional materials (midterm or final grades, additional letters of recommendations, publications, etc.) may become available to you.  We will be glad to add these to your file.  Send them to Graduate Studies Coordinator at ctcgrad@uark.edu or to:


Department of Psychological Science
Memorial Hall 216
University of Arkansas
Fayetteville, AR 72701.  

If any items are missing from your Department application packet, please notify the Graduate Studies Coordinator at (479) 575-4256 or by email at ctcgrad@uark.edu. If you have questions or concerns regarding the Office of Graduate School and International Education online application process, please look at the website (http://graduate-recruitment.uark.edu/applying/degree-seeking.php) and contact that office first by phone at (479) 575-4401 or email at gradinfo@uark.edu. 

All clinical psychology trainees/student clinicians will be required to undergo a criminal background check and a sex offender registry check. If documented offenses are determined to be substantially related to the qualifications, functions, or duties of training or professional practice in clinical psychology, the student will be barred from engaging in required clinical training activities, including practica.