Pepperdine University Psychology Programs

Pepperdine University’s psychology programs have achieved a soaring win with their 84% placement rate for graduates. Their students thrive after graduation – 49% secure full-time or part-time jobs while 28% advance to graduate school. These numbers showcase why the program ranks among the top 10% nationwide.

The psychology department creates a close-knit community through its 13:1 student-to-faculty ratio. Students build strong bonds with professors who guide them throughout their academic trip. A bachelor’s degree can lead to a median salary of $23,438, while a Pepperdine master’s in psychology opens doors to potential earnings around $47,132. Graduates join a powerful network of 20,000+ alumni who lead with purpose. The program’s global reach stands out too – 80% of psychology students immerse themselves in international programs. This experience broadens their perspectives while they complete their degrees.

School info

The Graduate School of Education and Psychology (GSEP) at Pepperdine University welcomes about 1,600 students at five well-placed campuses across Southern California. This 52-year-old institution has grown into a leading center for psychology education and ranks #6 for its PsyD Program and #7 for its Online Master’s in Psychology Program nationally.

Pepperdine started its psychology programs in 1951 with its first master’s degree in psychology. The Division of Psychology joined forces with the Graduate School of Education in January 1981. The merger created the Graduate School of Education and Psychology in March 1982.

GSEP’s headquarters at the West Los Angeles Graduate Campus offers detailed facilities. Students have access to executive-style classrooms, faculty offices, a library, academic computing resources, a bookstore, and the West Los Angeles Community Counseling Clinic. The campus sits in the Howard Hughes Center with parking right next door.

Students can also study psychology at these Pepperdine locations:

• Drescher Graduate Campus (Malibu) – At 24255 Pacific Coast Highway, home to MA in TESOL and MA in Clinical Psychology MFT Daytime format programs
• Irvine Graduate Campus – Based in Lakeshore Towers III at 18111 Von Karman Avenue
• Calabasas Graduate Campus – Found at 26750 Agoura Road

These strategically placed campuses let you study near your home or workplace. The university also runs several online graduate psychology programs that give you complete flexibility.

Each campus comes equipped with key academic resources. You’ll find wireless networking, computer centers, library services, and administrative staff at every location. This setup gives you the same high-quality education at any campus you choose.

Pepperdine’s psychology faculty includes notable scholars-practitioners with strong academic backgrounds and clinical experience. The university stays true to values-centered education in all psychology programs. This approach helps students create meaningful change through academic excellence and purposeful service.

The psychology department reflects Pepperdine’s Christian heritage, which dates back to 1937. It blends serious intellectual study with spiritual growth opportunities in a diverse community. This unique combination keeps Pepperdine among California’s top-ranked universities for psychology education nationwide.

Programs offered

Pepperdine University stands out with its unique “scholar-practitioner” approach to psychology education. Their professors blend classroom teaching with real-life practice, creating a rich learning environment. Students can choose from various psychology programs at both undergraduate and graduate levels that align with their career aspirations.

Seaver College offers a Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology. Students learn to examine human behavior and mental processes through scientific methods. The program gives hands-on experience at nearby detention facilities, state hospitals, and agencies that handle different psychological challenges. Many psychology graduates qualify to work in state and county positions in corrections and welfare.

The Graduate School of Education and Psychology (GSEP) at Pepperdine offers several master’s degree paths:

The Master of Arts in Psychology (MAP) readies students to pursue doctoral programs, psychology careers, or leadership roles in their current field. This highly-ranked program provides a detailed understanding of psychological principles in a nurturing environment. While the program emphasizes clinical studies, it doesn’t lead to licensure. Students can finish in 1.5–2 years (36–48 units), with online options taking 18–24 months.

The Master of Arts in Clinical Psychology gives students the skills to work as counselors or therapists with individuals, couples, and families. Graduates can become licensed professional counselors (LPC) or marriage and family therapists (LMFT). The program takes up to 3 years with required practicum in mental health settings. Online students can complete it in 27 months.

The Master of Science in Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) helps students master behavior analysis and techniques to identify, evaluate, and treat human behaviors. Online students can graduate in 15–21 months.

Evening classes make these programs perfect for working professionals. Small class sizes create a supportive environment where students connect meaningfully with faculty. Students can choose between traditional on-campus learning and comprehensive online formats.

Pepperdine’s psychology faculty brings together accomplished scholars and practitioners. They possess outstanding academic achievements, professional expertise, scholarly credentials, and extensive clinical experience. The admissions team looks at your potential and dedication to succeed rather than just test scores.

Online options

Pepperdine University’s online psychology programs give working professionals and students amazing flexibility without compromising academic quality. The Graduate School of Education and Psychology (GSEP) has several complete online master’s degrees you can access from anywhere.

The MA in Clinical Psychology program shines with its unique approach. Students attend weekly live online sessions that encourage immediate learning and strong connections between classmates and teachers. This program helps students become licensed marriage and family therapists (LMFT) or licensed professional clinical counselors (LPCC). Graduates can help individuals, couples, families, and groups in California and beyond.

The MS in Applied Behavior Analysis program takes just 15–21 months to finish online. Students looking for a wider psychology focus can choose the MA in Psychology program, which takes about 18–24 months to complete online.

The learning technology makes these programs special. Pepperdine’s Courses system offers HD video classes with great features like:

• Break-out rooms for small group discussions
• Screen-sharing and document sharing capabilities
• Live polls and synchronized annotations
• Real-time chat functionality

Yes, it is online, but these programs keep Pepperdine’s high academic standards. Students must complete extensive field and project work, which matches the quality of on-campus programs.

Students get plenty of support to succeed online through:

• Dedicated student success advisors
• Admissions and career counseling
• Writing services and library access
• Technical support for all platform needs

Pepperdine gives all online students WeWork Global Access membership, so they can find physical spaces to work and study worldwide.

The online MA in Clinical Counseling program is only available to residents of sixteen states: Alaska, Arizona, California, Washington DC, Delaware, Georgia, Illinois, Maryland, New Hampshire, New Jersey, Oklahoma, Oregon, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, and West Virginia.

Over the last several years, Pepperdine has added more online options. Many programs used to need some campus visits before 2020, but now they’re completely online. This shows how Pepperdine balances excellent education with what today’s psychology students need.

Accreditation

Quality assurance through rigorous accreditation is the basis of Pepperdine’s psychology programs. The university has earned accreditation from the WASC Senior College and University Commission (WSCUC). This recognition certifies institutional eligibility for federal funding programs and gives students access to financial aid. The accreditation proves Pepperdine’s educational performance and institutional quality.

Pepperdine’s WSCUC accreditation history dates back to 1949, making it one of the region’s longest-standing accredited institutions. The university has managed to keep a strong compliance record with WSCUC standards.

Pepperdine’s psychology programs also hold specialized credentials. The PsyD Program in Clinical Psychology at the Graduate School of Education and Psychology (GSEP) has received accreditation from the American Psychological Association. This program’s APA accreditation continues through 2027, showing its dedication to professional standards.

The clinical psychology program shows a remarkable 100% Alumni Licensure Rate. This success rate highlights how well its APA-accredited curriculum prepares graduates for professional practice. You can verify the accreditation status by contacting the APA Office of Consultation and Accreditation at 750 First Street NE, Washington, DC 20002-4242, or call 202.336.5979.

OnlinePsychology@Pepperdine programs operate under the university’s regional WSCUC accreditation. These online psychology programs follow the same academic standards as their on-campus counterparts. The only difference lies in delivery method, not educational quality.

How does this comprehensive accreditation benefit your educational experience?

• Your degree meets nationally recognized standards
• You qualify for federal financial aid programs
• Your credentials gain more weight with potential employers
• You can transfer credits easily for further education
• You become eligible for professional licensure examinations

The university’s active participation in accreditation processes shows its steadfast dedication to evidence-based practices. Performance indicators help collect data that shapes institutional planning and decision-making. This commitment creates a dynamic learning environment that evolves with psychology as a field.

Pepperdine’s Office of Institutional Effectiveness manages WSCUC processes. This office ensures all programs, including psychology offerings at undergraduate and graduate levels, meet accreditation standards.

Admission Requirements

The psychology programs at Pepperdine University have specific admission criteria that vary among degree options. All psychology master’s programs, both online and on-campus, need a bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited institution.

Your standard application package for psychology programs has these essential components:

• Official transcripts from all post-secondary institutions attended
• Two letters of recommendation from people who know your academic and professional abilities
• A detailed statement of purpose (2-5 pages) that outlines your training, experience, interests, and professional goals
• Application fee of $55

Pepperdine encourages electronic submission of all application materials. The university accepts official transcripts through Parchment and eScrip-Safe services. Military personnel can use the Joint Services Transcript database. You can also mail hard-copy transcripts directly to the university’s processing center.

Your recommendation letters should come from specific sources. Students who graduated recently should get at least one academic recommendation. Those who finished college more than three years ago can submit professional recommendations. Qualified recommenders include professors, instructors, academic advisors, or professional supervisors – not coworkers, friends, or therapists.

International applicants need additional documentation. Students whose native language isn’t English and haven’t earned a degree from an English-instruction institution must submit test scores. The minimum requirements are 85 on TOEFL IBT or 7 on IELTS, taken in the last two years. A National Association of Credential Evaluation Services member organization must evaluate international transcripts.

Some programs have unique requirements. The MA in Clinical Psychology with MFT emphasis favors applicants with psychology backgrounds. Students without this background can complete prerequisite coursework. The PsyD program requires a master’s degree in psychology or related field.

Note that the online Clinical Psychology program (LMFT/LPC) and Applied Behavior Analysis programs accept students only from approved states.

Tuition

Psychology programs at Pepperdine come with different price tags based on your program choice and format. The university uses a per-unit pricing system that varies by program.

Students in the Clinical Psychology Daytime Program pay $2,030 per unit, while the Evening and Latinx Programs cost $1,630 per unit. The Clinical Psychology Online Program matches the daytime rate at $2,030 per unit. MA in Clinical Psychology MFT Evening students pay $1,225 per unit for their 60-66 unit program, which adds up to $73,500-$80,850. Students choosing the online MA in Psychology will pay $1,585 per credit hour, bringing the total program cost between $57,060 to $76,080 plus fees.

Your complete financial picture, known as “Cost of Attendance,” includes both tuition and living expenses. A student might pay $10,000 in annual tuition and fees plus $51,710 in living expenses, totaling $61,710.

Keep in mind that Pepperdine’s Board of Regents usually increases tuition by 4-6% each year. Online programs might see smaller increases of 2-5% annually.

Several financial aid options can help you manage these costs:

• Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loans (up to $20,500 per academic year)
• Federal Direct Graduate PLUS Loans
• Private education loans
• Scholarships like GSEP Urban Initiative and Board of Visitors Scholarships

International students must show proof that they can fund their entire first year, including tuition, living costs, and other expenses. Since federal financial aid isn’t available to international students, they need to plan their finances carefully.

Pepperdine provides an online tuition calculator to help you estimate your specific program costs.

Additional Information

Pepperdine University psychology students access specialized research opportunities through several centers beyond their regular classes. The Pepperdine Applied Research Center (PARC) connects psychotherapy practice with research and supports a strong foundation at community clinics and counseling centers. The Culture and Trauma Research Lab studies interpersonal trauma recovery through qualitative and quantitative research, backed by Robert Wood Johnson Foundation funding.

Students also thrive in psychology-specific organizations like Psi Chi (International Honor Society in Psychology), Latinx Student Psychological Association, and Student Government Associations across programs. The university supports student success through detailed resources that include a dedicated Writing Support Center to enhance academic work’s quality and clarity.

Career preparation stands at the heart of the Pepperdine experience. The PRYDE program gives master’s and doctoral level psychology students training opportunities at Orange County locations, including sheriff’s departments and public schools. Students develop hands-on skills before they graduate.

Alumni achievements showcase this program’s impact. Dr. Thema Bryant-Davis, a licensed psychologist and Pepperdine professor, helps marginalized people worldwide and leads as president of the Society for the Psychology of Women. Pepperdine’s blend of academic excellence and practical experience shapes well-rounded psychology professionals.