Applying to CIIS

Applicants to M.A. programs must have a B.A. or B.S. from a regionally accredited institution. Program- or discipline-specific accreditation cannot be substituted for regional accreditation.

1. Those applying to Ph.D. programs must have both a M.A./M.S. and a B.A./B.S. (or their equivalents) from a regionally accredited institution in an appropriate discipline. Program- or discipline-specific accreditation cannot be substituted for regional accreditation.
2. Students with an M.A. in an unrelated field may be admitted to a Ph.D. program with additional coursework requirements.
3. Applicants to the Clinical Psychology doctoral program must have earned a B.A. or B.S. for regular standing, and an M.A., an M.S., or a minimum of 40 semester units in psychology or counseling for advanced standing (see the academic programs section for details).
4. A grade point average of 3.0 or higher from previous academic institutions is required by all programs, with the exception of the Doctor of Clinical Psychology program, which requires a 3.0 average for regular standing and a 3.5 average for advanced standing. See the individual program descriptions for additional requirements.

1. Applicants to the undergraduate B.A./B.S. programs must have earned a minimum of 54 semester units of transferable credit from an accredited college. Up to 30 of these units may have been earned through satisfactory test results from the College-Level Examination Program (CLEP), Excelsior College Examination (ECE), and Advanced Placement Exams. The maximum number of total units a student can transfer is 84, with 75 being the maximum for lower-division units. Coursework marked by a grade of C-, D, D-, or F, or coursework falling under the rubric "physical education" is not transferable. Coursework taken twice for credit will be counted only once. Developmental or remedial coursework that cannot be applied toward a Bachelor's degree will also not be accepted.
2. If you have earned more than 54 units, but less than 60 units, we will also require a copy of your high school diploma, transcript, or GED certificate.
3. Applicants must demonstrate a readiness to explore and develop their life direction or vocation, a commitment to learning that incorporates significant personal growth, a willingness to work within a group setting, and college-level communication skills.

Applications for Certificate Programs may be submitted through CIIS' online application platform. Applications may include: Background and Goal Statement, Resume or Curriculum Vitae, and an optional Scholarship Essay.