Overview
Pepperdine, an independent, medium-sized Christian university, has two major campuses. Headquarters for the Graduate School of Education and Psychology and the Graziadio School of Business and Management is in West Los Angeles. On an 830-acre campus overlooking the Pacific Ocean at Malibu are Seaver College, the undergraduate residential college of letters, arts, and sciences; the School of Public Policy; and the School of Law.

Total University enrollment is approximately 7,950 and enrollment at the Graduate School of Education and Psychology is 1,850. Students range in age and experience, with many returning to the workforce or changing their careers and others entering the programs upon completing their undergraduate degree.

The Location and Community
The headquarters for the Graduate School of Education and Psychology is the West Los Angeles Graduate Campus, located 30 minutes west of downtown Los Angeles. The Drescher Graduate Campus in Malibu overlooks the Pacific Ocean from the Santa Monica Mountains. The Encino Graduate Campus is located in the San Fernando Valley. The Irvine Graduate Campus is in Orange County near the John Wayne Airport. The Westlake Village Graduate Campus is in Ventura County. Program offerings vary by location.

Programs of Study and Degree Requirements
As more and more Americans understand the importance of mental health and the psychological underpinnings of marriage and family, teamwork, organizational change, and multicultural relationships, therapists and specialists in human behavior are enjoying a widening range of career options in the business world, the private sector, and private practice. Pepperdine University’s Graduate School of Education and Psychology offers degree and credential programs designed to educate psychologists and counselors, mental health administrators, consultants, and change agents. Since its founding, Pepperdine University has maintained a values-based commitment to improving the lives of others. At the Graduate School of Education and Psychology, students benefit from the University’s academic dedication to purpose, service, and leadership.

Psychology degree programs include a Master of Arts in psychology; a Master of Arts in clinical psychology, with an emphasis in marriage and family therapy; and a Doctor of Psychology (Psy.D.). At Pepperdine University, the graduate programs are created and measured by one guiding principle—how well the University prepares its students to reach their personal and professional goals. The master’s programs are designed for serious students seeking advanced learning in the research foundations and clinical applications of many current and emerging fields in psychology. Students may work at their own pace, with evening classes available for working professionals and a daytime program offered for full-time students.

The Doctor of Psychology in clinical psychology embodies the practitioner-scholar model of professional training. The University considers the practice of clinical psychology to be a healing art and professional discipline that is based upon the principles obtained from psychology as a science. The program, which is fully accredited by the American Psychological Association, offers both a generalist orientation as well as opportunities to study with experts in the major theoretical schools. Doctoral students learn research methods for application in professional practice and in advancing scientific knowledge. The Psy.D. program consists of three years of course work and an internship. A dissertation is required.

Facilities & Resources
A computer network links each of the University’s libraries, which collectively contain more than 800,000 books, bound journals, and microforms. Each facility is fully supported with library services, wireless networking, and a computer center. The West Los Angeles Graduate Campus houses the multimedia center.

Pepperdine also offers psychology students the opportunity to work in one of the four University clinics where they receive both generalist and specialist training to serve children, adolescents, adults, and families. Also included in the wide array of clinical training venues are the unique partnership training programs administered by the University on public school campuses and at community agencies, such as the Union Rescue Mission.

Expenses and Aid
Charges for one trimester unit of instruction in 2005-06 varied from $758 to $957, depending upon the program.

Financial Aid:
Scholarships, grants, loans, assistantships, and payment plans are available to qualified students. Veterans should follow regular admission procedures and secure the certificate of eligibility from the Veterans Administration or the State of California. More than 80 percent of students qualify for federal loans, and more than 40 percent are eligible for Pepperdine-funded assistance. Current information and all forms necessary to apply for financial aid are available on the financial aid Web site at http://gsep.pepperdine.edu/financialaid.

For additional information, students should contact the Financial Aid Office at 310-258-2848 or gsepfaid@pepperdine.edu.

Housing/Living Expenses:
While there is a limited amount of graduate housing available for clinical M.A. students at Malibu, the other campuses are in proximity to apartment buildings and residential areas. Students are assisted in finding housing near the campus at which they are enrolled, whether the housing is an apartment, a town house, a condominium, or a guest room.

How to Apply / Application
Admission requirements vary by program. For more information, prospective students should contact the address listed in the Correspondence and Information section.

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