The Adler School of Professional Psychology

Deferring Admission

Students who have been fully admitted into a degree program may petition to defer their admission for up to one year after their original term of admission. To defer admission the student must have their statement of acceptance along with the appropriate tuition deposit, a $500 nonrefundable deferment fee, and a statement indicating why they would like to defer their admission on file with the Office of Admissions at the appropriate campus. Students who are approved to defer their admission will be notified in writing and will be subject to program requirements in effect at the time of the new application. Students that defer admission but do not matriculate must reapply for admission as outlined in the Admissions Process section of the current catalog. The Office of Admissions does not maintain student files for students who do not enroll by their intended start date.

Applicants who do not matriculate into a degree or certificate program do not have the right of access to their admission files.

International Applicants

Chicago Campus

In addition to submitting a completed application, all transcripts from outside of North America (including Mexico) must be evaluated by a transcript evaluation service, World Education Service (www.wes.org) or Educational Course Evaluation (www.ece.org). All official transcripts and official translations if not in English, as well as a course-by-course international credential evaluation, must be submitted.

If you order the WES ICAP (www.wes.org) course-by-course analysis, you will only be required to submit your official international credential evaluation to the Adler school as this service provides a verified copy of your official transcripts and translations to the Adler School. Make sure you send in all your transcripts and order the course-by-course analysis.

English Language Proficiency Assessment

Applicants whose first language is not English must submit scores from the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or International English Language Testing System (IELTS). Students who have earned a Bachelor’s or Master’s Degree in an accredited program in Canada or the United States may not be required to take the TOEFL.

Applicants must request that language proficiency test scores be sent directly to the School by the testing service. These test results are valid for two years only.

TOEFL (www.ets.org/toefl)

The Adler School - Chicago Campus’ code number for receiving test scores is 1147.

Applicants who take the paper-based TOEFL must receive a minimum score of 580.

Applicants who take the computer-based TOEFL must receive a minimum score of 240.

Applicants who take the Internet-based TOEFL must receive a minimum of score 92 with at least 22 on each of the four sections.

IELTS (www.ielts.org)

Applicants who take the IELTS must receive a minimum Academic score of 7 overall with no band score lower than 7.

International applicants must also submit documentation of sufficient financial resources to complete the program and provide for living expenses while attending the Adler School. Once enrolled in the program, students must pay tuition and fees according to the school’s payment schedule. Current international students will not be allowed to register for classes if they have an outstanding balance which jeopardizes the student’s ability to remain in the U.S. under their F-1 student visa.

Students that have been accepted into a degree program at the School will be issued an I-20 upon receipt of their Statement of Acceptance, the appropriate tuition deposit, and all other financial verification paperwork. Students should allow enough time for securing an F-1 student visa in their country for travel to the U.S. It is the student’s responsibility to provide the Office of Admissions with a current foreign address and mailing address, if different, along with the intended U.S. address. I-20s cannot be mailed to Post Office Box numbers.

Once students arrive on campus, they must notify the Office of Admissions of their arrival and update their U.S. address. This information is required by Homeland Security and student I-20s cannot be updated until we receive this information.

International students must have their I-20s updated each year they are in attendance at the School. Students must maintain full-time status each term as outlined by the school for their program. If the student has extenuating circumstances that require that they are enrolled less than full-time, the student must request an exception from the Office of Student Affairs. If an exception is given, a letter will be issued to be used to update the student’s SEVIS record and to accompany the student’s I-20.

Students should not attempt to enter the United States without their current and updated I-20.

Although the School does not provide financial assistance for International Students in the form of financial aid or tuition reduction, students are eligible for Adler School scholarships unless otherwise noted.

Vancouver Campus

In addition to submitting a completed application, all transcripts from outside of North America (including Mexico) must be evaluated by a transcript evaluation service, World Education Service (www.wes.org/ca) or Educational Course Evaluation (www.ece.org). All official transcripts and official translations if not in English, as well as a course-by-course international credential evaluation, must be submitted.

If you order the WES ICAP (www.wes.org/ca) course-by-course analysis, you will only be required to submit your official international credential evaluation to the Adler School as this service provides a verified copy of your official transcripts and translations to the Adler School. Make sure you send in all your transcripts and order the course-by-course analysis.

English Language Proficiency Assessment

Applicants whose first language is not English must submit scores from the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or International English Language Testing System (IELTS). Students who have earned a Bachelor’s or Masters Degree in an accredited program in Canada or the United States may not be required to take the TOEFL.

Applicants must request that language proficiency test scores be sent directly to the School by the testing service. These test results are valid for two years.

TOEFL (www.ets.org/toefl)

The Adler School - Vancouver Campus’ code number for receiving test scores is 6215.

Applicants who take the paper-based TOEFL must receive a minimum of 580.

Applicants who take the computer-based TOEFL must receive a minimum of 240.

Applicants who take the Internet-based TOEFL must receive a minimum of 92 with at least 22 on each of the four sections.

IELTS (www.ielts.org)

Applicants who take the IELTS must receive a minimum Academic score of 7 overall, with no band score lower than 6.5. International students possessing citizenship from a country outside of Canada must apply for a Study Permit. For more information, please contact (in North America) [phone] or www.cic.gc.ca. Once enrolled in the Adler School program, students must pay tuition and fees according to the school’s payment schedule. Adler School, Vancouver Campus participates in the Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) Off campus Work Permit program for international students, www.cic.gc.ca/english/study/work-offcampus.asp. Although the School does not provide financial assistance for International Students in the form of financial aid or tuition reduction, students are eligible for Adler School scholarships, unless otherwise noted.

Students-at-Large / Non-Degree Seeking

Students who wish to take classes for personal pursuit not related to a degree program at Adler School or qualified graduate students and mental health professionals may be admitted as student-at-large/non-degree seeking (SAL/NDS). Qualified mental health professionals may take courses as SAL/NDS students for continuing education credit or for professional enrichment as long as they meet the minimum eligibility for admission. Graduate students in psychology-related degree programs at other regionally accredited institutions bear the responsibility of verifying with their home institutions whether Adler courses will be transferred back and accepted for credit.

Applicants for SAL/NDS must submit a completed application, nonrefundable $50 application fee, an autobiographical essay/personal statement, a resume or curriculum vitae, and official transcripts from all undergraduate and graduate schools attended. Applications will be reviewed by the Admissions Committee, and prospective students will not be allowed to register until they have been approved for admission as an SAL/NDS student.

If admitted as SAL/NDS, a student may complete a maximum of nine credits within one academic year and must comply with all prerequisites and course requirements as given in the School Catalog. Graduates of Adler School degree programs who are approved as SAL/NDS may take up to 18 credits within one academic year. SAL/NDS students are not eligible for financial aid and may not enroll in courses which are reserved for students fully admitted to particular degree programs. Appropriate courses taken for credit may apply toward completing a degree for SAL/NDS students, who are admitted to a degree program within one year of completing SAL/NDS courses. Successful completion of course work, however, does not guarantee admission to a degree or certificate program. An SAL whose application to a degree or certificate program has been denied may not enroll in further courses or continue as a student-at-large.

Because students-at-large are limited to a total of nine (9) credit hours of course work within one academic year, persons who plan to pursue a degree or certificate program should apply for admission at the earliest opportunity. Students-at-large who have completed nine credit hours of courses may not register for additional courses until such time as they have been formally admitted to a degree or certificate program. Those who seek admission to a degree or certificate program within one year of completing their last course as SAL/NDS will not be required to pay an additional application fee for the admissions application, but will be required to submit additional information as is required to make that degree program application complete.

Changing or Adding Programs

Psy.D. students may enroll in a Masters degree program, and M.A. students may apply to change from one Adler School Masters degree program to another by submitting the appropriate application forms. Students must satisfy admission requirements for the degree or certificate program at the time of application to the new program. Acceptance into and/or successful completion of one degree or certificate program neither constitutes nor guarantees admission to another program.

Masters degree students who wish to apply to the Psy.D. program must have completed at least twenty-four (24) credit hours of graded course work and be actively engaged in a clinical practicum before applying. Students are required to submit a Psy.D. application, three letters of recommendation from Adler School faculty and practicum supervisors with at least one from their academic advisor and one from their current program director, a 500-word personal statement, a resume or curriculum vitae, and an official Adler School transcript. The application deadlines for Psy.D. applicants apply to Adler School Masters students who are applying for the Psy.D. program. Once all materials are received, the Admissions Committee will review the application and determine whether the applicant will be scheduled for an interview with doctoral core faculty as the final stage of the application process. Students from M.A. programs who have been accepted to the doctoral program must complete all requirements for their M.A. degree no later than one year after acceptance.

Re-admission

Students who were previously enrolled at Adler School, but withdrew from their degree program or were administratively withdrawn, must wait one year to submit a new application for admission and will be evaluated according to current admission requirements. If readmitted, applicants/students will be subject to program requirements in effect at the time of the new application. This also applies to students who seek to return to the School following a leave of absence, withdrawal in good standing, or other absence including Adler School alumni who wish to return to the School.

When previously withdrawn students are granted re-admission to the Adler School or when alumni apply for admission to a different program, a case-by-case review of the student’s prior academic record will be done to determine whether credit can be granted for formerly completed coursework. Many factors are pertinent to the school’s determination to give credit for previously completed coursework including but not limited to (a) the length of time that has passed since the coursework was originally completed, (b) the grade earned in the course, (c) the performance evaluation completed by the student’s advisor/supervisor, and (d) curriculum changes that may have occurred and been formally instituted since the student’s withdrawal from the school. There are no fixed and absolute rules regarding granting credit for previously completed course work. Instead, a formal review of the unique academic and training history of each applicant will occur and a determination will be made at the discretion of the Admissions Committee in consultation with the Program Director. A formal audit of previously completed coursework will be undertaken only after enrollment into a degree program.

Transfer Credit

Students accepted for admission may be granted transfer credit for graduate level courses previously taken at another accredited institution. A maximum of twelve (12) credit hours may be transferred into a M.A. program and a maximum of twenty-four (24) credit hours may be transferred into the Psy.D. program from other accredited institutions.

Upon enrollment into a degree program, a review of the unique academic and training history will occur and a determination will be made at the discretion of the School. Requesting transfer credit must be done in a timely fashion and it is an extensive process that involves a review of previous academic work including syllabi and grades earned. It is Adler School policy that transfer credit must be requested with all supporting documentation received by the end of the second semester of enrollment. Courses completed more than 5 years prior to time of enrollment are not eligible for transfer credit, nor are requests to transfer electives or practicum/internship requirements.

Academic Policies and Procedures

Schedule

The year-round instructional format consists of three semesters. Each credit hour is equal to 14 contact hours of instruction, which is supplemented by appropriate reading, research, study, and other educational activities students are expected to undertake between class sessions. Courses are held during daytime, evening, and weekend hours. In addition, some courses are offered using an online format or a blended format with both on-line and classroom instruction. The learning outcomes and objectives are the same for online, blended, and traditional classes.

Registration

Term schedules are published and updated online via WebAdvisor. Students register on-line and registration deadlines are published each term. Students cannot add courses or exams after the published add/drop period. Please consult the academic calendar for specific dates. Grades and credit are forfeited if a student is not officially registered for a course or exam. Students who wish to take more than 15 credits within a semester must receive written approval from their Program Director.

Students wishing to add courses or exams after the published add/drop period must submit written authorization from the course instructor to the Office of the Registrar. Payment in full is due to Student Finance before the course or exam can be added to the student’s academic record. Financial aid recipients should consult with the Office of Financial Aid. Students risk forfeiture of all earned grades if they are not officially registered for a course or exam.

Class Attendance

Chicago Campus

Fall/Spring Semesters

Students are responsible for maintaining regular and punctual attendance for each class session. Students who expect to miss or arrive late for class must notify the instructor in advance. Students who miss more than two unexcused class sessions, or an accumulation of 5 hours of class time due to late arrival or tardiness will receive a grade of “F” (Fail) and must repeat the course. Students whose absence or tardiness affects the quality of their work or the work of the class may be given a lower grade at the discretion of the faculty instructor. In those instances in which a class is offered in a weekend intensive format (that is, three or fewer class meetings in a semester), missing one class will result in a grade of “F” (Fail). Due to the unique structure of the practicum seminar courses, students who miss more than one class session in a semester will receive a grade of “No Credit” or “NC” and be referred to the Training Committee for review.

Summer Semester

Students are responsible for maintaining regular and punctual attendance for each class session. Students who expect to miss or arrive late for class must notify the instructor in advance. Students who miss more than two unexcused class sessions, or an accumulation of 5 hours of class time due to late arrival or tardiness will receive a grade of “F” (Fail) and must repeat the course. In those instances in which a class is offered in a weekend intensive format (that is, three or fewer class meetings in a semester), missing one class will result in a grade of “F” (Fail). Due to the unique structure of the practicum seminar courses, students who miss more than one class session in a semester will receive a grade of “No Credit” or “NC” and be referred to the Training Committee for review.

Vancouver Campus

Students are responsible for regular and punctual attendance during each class session. Students who expect to miss or arrive late for a class must notify the instructor in advance. Students whose absence or tardiness affects the quality of their work or the work of the class may be given a lower grade. Students who miss more than two classes in a semester, for courses that meet once/week over a 14-week semester, will receive a grade of “F” (Fail) and must repeat the course. For courses that meet on a weekend intensive format, which involves three or fewer class meetings in a semester, missing one class will result in a grade of “F” (Fail). For courses that meet once every other week (e.g., 7 full-day class meetings) over a 14-week semester, students who miss more than one class in a semester will receive a grade of “F” (Fail) and must repeat the course. Due to the unique structure of the practicum seminar courses, students who miss more than one class session in a semester will receive a grade of “No Credit” or “NC” and be referred to the Training Committee for review.

Application of the Attendance Policy

The above policies establish the obligations of students to adhere to class attendance standards and the rights of Instructors to give students lower or failing grades for breaches of the policy. The policy is on an honor system where students are expected to be present for all classes and will notify the instructor if absent. Faculty may use their discretion on how to track attendance and recognize the honor system.

Instructors consider extenuating circumstances and/or student accommodation needs when applying the class attendance policy and, therefore, have some discretion in providing accommodations to students whose attendance breaches the standard. Thus, instructors may develop an alternative plan for students that are unable to comply with the attendance policy, but only if the plan enables the student to meet the course exit competencies.

Full-Time and Half-Time Status

To be considered full-time, doctoral students must enroll in ten (10) or more credit hours each term. Doctoral students enrolled in between five and nine (5-9) credit hours each term are considered half-time. Doctoral students registered for less than five credit hours are considered less than half-time and are not eligible for federally funded financial aid.

M.A. and certificate students must enroll in eight (8) or more credits to be considered full-time. Master and certificate students enrolled in four to seven (4-7) credits are considered half-time, and those enrolled in fewer than four credits are considered less than half-time and are not eligible for federally funded financial aid.

Students carrying a full-time load are encouraged to limit employment to part-time in order to allow adequate time for classes, practicum work, study, and other student activities.

Students registered for practicum, dissertation proposal, dissertation, or full-time internship satisfy the requirement for full-time study, and are eligible to receive Title IV funding and deferments. Students, who are only registered for half-time internship, dissertation proposal continuation, doctoral dissertation continuation, or practicum continuation, meet the requirement for half-time study, and are eligible to receive Title IV funding and deferments. Students who register for Oral Defense only in any given term are not eligible for Title IV funding.

Course Drop and Withdrawal

Chicago Campus

Students wishing to drop a course or exam must do so before or during the published add/drop period. Students who wish to drop a practicum or internship course must have prior approval from the Director of Community Engagement or Director of Training. Please consult the academic calendar for specific dates. The official date of the drop is the date the student drops the course via online registration system, WebAdvisor.

After the published add/drop period of a semester, electronic approval via e-mail from the student’s Advisor or Program Director is required. Notifying the instructor or ceasing class attendance does not constitute an official drop or withdrawal. The official date of the withdrawal is the date the student sends the e-mail request to withdraw from the course to their Advisor or Program Director. Students may not withdraw after the eighth week of a semester during the Fall and Spring terms. Please consult the academic calendar for the deadline to withdraw from a class during the summer term. Students who stop attending class or fail to complete an exam without submitting an official drop or withdrawal form will receive a grade of “F,” “NC,” or “NP” for the course. In addition, students may not withdraw from a course or exam after the published end date of the course or due date of the exam.

A drop fee is charged for courses dropped during the add/drop period. Students, who drop a course or exam during the add/drop period, may receive refunds in accordance with the established refund policy. Students, who are withdrawn due to disciplinary or academic reasons, may receive a prorated refund. No refunds will be made when students stop attending class without officially withdrawing from the course.

Vancouver Campus

Students wishing to drop a course or exam must do so via the School’s online registration system, WebAdvisor, during registration week. Students wishing to drop a course after registration week must do so in person by submission of the appropriate forms to the Registrar.

Notifying your instructor or ceasing class attendance does not constitute an official drop or withdrawal. The official date of the withdrawal is the date the drop is processed online via Web Advisor or the date the drop form is received by the Registrar’s Office. Students may not withdraw after the eighth week of a semester during the Fall and Spring terms. Please consult the academic calendar for the deadline to withdraw from a class during the summer term. Students who stop attending class or fail to complete an exam without submitting an official drop or withdrawal form will receive a grade of “F,” “NC,” or “NP” for the course. In addition, students may not withdraw from a course or exam after the published end date of the course or due date of the exam.

A drop fee is charged for courses dropped during the add/drop period. Students, who drop a course or exam during the add/drop period, may receive refunds in accordance with the established refund policy. Students, who are administratively withdrawn, may receive a prorated refund. No refunds will be made when students stop attending class without officially withdrawing from the course.