Doctor of Psychology in Clinical Psychology (PsyD Degree)
Purpose
The Doctor of Psychology in Clinical Psychology (PsyD) program follows a professional, competency-based training model and is designed to prepare licensed, health service psychologists. While the PsyD degree provides training in the scientific foundations of psychology and in research methods and statistics, it places emphasis on the development of clinical skills. Since the initial endorsement of the doctor of psychology degree by the American Psychological Association in 1979, the professional model has been incorporated into the training programs of many universities and professional schools. The Graduate School of Clinical Psychology (GSCP) of Â鶹´«Ã½ Fox University is accredited by the American Psychological Association. (The American Psychological Association's Commission on Accreditation is located at 750 First Street N.E. in Washington, D.C. 20002, (202) 336-5979.)
The central distinctives of the program includes the integration of a Christian worldview and the science of psychology at philosophical, practical, and personal levels as well as psychological aspects of religious or spiritual issues within the other religious communities. A second distinctive is an emphasis on clinical training to serve a diverse population in primary care medical settings.
Degree Outcomes
Educational Objectives
To enable students to:
- Competently provide psychological services in a wide variety of clinical settings
- Evaluate, implement and apply psychological research
Professional Objectives
To enable students to:
- Become licensed as psychologists
- Commit themselves to the highest standards of professional ethics.
Admission Requirements
Applicants seeking admission to the PsyD program must hold a bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university, with a minimum GPA of 3.0, and approximately 18 semester hours of psychology or other related social science credits. In addition, applicants must complete the following to be considered for admission to the program:
- Doctor of Psychology in Clinical Psychology application form and application fee
- One official transcript from all colleges or universities attended
- Four references (forms provided in the application materials)
- An in-person interview
- GRE may be required
Transfer Credit
Residence Requirements
Course Requirements
The Doctor of Psychology in Clinical Psychology program is generally five years in length with 125 semester hours of coursework required as a minimum for graduation. This involves 103 hours of psychology coursework, 12 hours of faith integration coursework, and 10 hours of dissertation. In addition, 24 clinical internship hours are required for the degree.
The first two years of the program emphasize study in the scientific foundations of psychology and an introduction to clinical theory and practice. As the student advances in the program, the emphasis shifts toward application of basic knowledge through integration of these areas in clinical practice. Professional training in assessment and psychotherapy begins in the first year with coursework and simulated psychotherapy, clinical training continues incrementally throughout the program, culminating in the clinical internship during the fifth year.
All students receive foundational training and are given the optional opportunity to couple it with specialized training in one of our three tracks. In addition to the requirements of the Generalist Track you must complete the following in each specialized training:
- Primary Care Psychology - Primary care psychology is the application of psychological knowledge and principles to common physical and mental health problems experienced by patients and families throughout the lifespan and presented in primary care. (APA Education Directorate, 2021). This track focuses on the complexity of the biopsychosocial model and includes a series of additional case reports, papers, treatment plans focused on behavioral health issues, and training experiences that allow students to gain more experience in medical models and prepare for competitive health services internships.
- Child & Adolescent Psychology - "Clinical child and adolescent psychology is a specialty in professional psychology that develops and applies scientific knowledge to the delivery of psychological services to infants, toddlers, children, and adolescents within their social context." (APA 2020) This track focuses on unique lifespan and population-specific models of development, intervention, and assessment with one of the most complex populations in psychology. It includes a series of additional case reports, papers, treatment plans and modalities (ex. Parent Child interaction therapy - PCIT) , and training experiences that allow students to gain more experience in understanding and treating pediatric populations and family systems, and prepare students for competitive internships in child and adolescent psychology.
- Psychological Assessment - Clinical Neuropsychology is a specialty field within clinical psychology, dedicated to understanding the relationships between brain and behavior, particularly as these relationships can be applied to the diagnosis of brain disorder, assessment of cognitive and behavioral functioning and the design of effective treatment. (APA Education Directorate, 2008). Psychodiagnostic and Neuropsychological Assessment are capstone skills of doctoral level psychologists, and this track is dedicated to further enhancing the foundational knowledge and ability to use these skills across a wide array of settings, including forensic, medical, school, and community health. This track focuses on enhanced administration, synthesis, and communication of assessment findings to further enhance treatment and outcomes. It includes a series of unique assessments, papers, evidence based treatment plans and recommendations, and training experiences that allow students to gain more experience in comprehensive diagnostic and neuropsychological assessment. These experiences and enhanced knowledge help to prepare students for competitive internships with assessment focus.
Clinical Training
Clinical training is a central component of the PsyD curriculum. Although it is a distinct part of the curriculum, it is also integrated with the academic coursework throughout the program. The clinical training process begins in the first year and continues throughout the program, ultimately preparing the student for postdoctoral residency training and licensure as a psychologist.
Other Degree Requirements
GSCP Faculty perform an annual evaluation of each student's academic progress, interpersonal relationships, legal and ethical conduct, and clinical skills. Practicum supervisors also provide regular evaluations of students' knowledge, skill, and professional attitudes displayed in clinical settings. Students failing to act in an ethical or professional manner, receiving an unsatisfactory evaluation by practicum or internship supervisors, failing to comply with Â鶹´«Ã½ Fox University standards of conduct, or showing other evidence of deficiency in professional development may be dismissed from the program.
A Master of Arts in Clinical Psychology degree is normally conferred following successful completion of the first two years of the program and associated requirements. The MA degree is not designed or intended as a terminal degree; consequently, only students intending to complete doctoral study are admitted into the program. The MA degree is conferred following completion of 62 hours of coursework, including 52 hours of psychology coursework, 7 hours of which are Faith Integration coursework, and 6 hours of clinical training. Two hours of Research Vertical Team/Dissertation are also required.
Continuous Enrollment
Students are expected to maintain continuous enrollment throughout the program. While full-time enrollment normally consists of a minimum of 8 hours each semester, failure to enroll for a minimum of 2 hours each semester (summer term is excepted) will result in suspension from the program. Re-enrollment will require application for readmission.
Professional Standards
Standards for graduate education in psychology, as well as for the practice of psychology, are set by the policies of the American Psychological Association (APA) through its Commission on Accreditation and those of the relevant state laws and administrative rules. In Oregon, these include the Oregon Revised Statutes and Oregon Administrative Rules of the Oregon State Board of Psychologist Examiners. The design, structure, and processes of graduate education at Â鶹´«Ã½ Fox University are influenced by these statutes and policies. Consequently, in addition to the policies of the university's graduate program, students in the psychology program are expected to know and abide by the professional standards established by these regulatory agencies. Both faculty and students are expected to adhere to the APA Ethical Principles of Psychologists and Code of Conduct (2002).
Additional Information
Additional program information can be obtained on the program website. Among this material is an FAQ page within which can be found information concerning time to completion, program costs, success in internship placement, attrition rates and licensure following graduation.
Graduation Requirements
In order to complete the Doctor of Psychology in Clinical Psychology program students must:
- Satisfactorily complete a minimum of 125 semester hours of coursework with a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or above
- Retake a designated course if a grade below a B- is received (for more specific information, please refer to the GSCP Handbook)
- Successfully pass the Comprehensive Clinical Exam. The Comprehensive Clinical Exam has two components, a Scientific Foundations Exam (SFE) and Clinical Intervention and Assessment Exam (CIAE). The first component is a Scientific Foundations Exam that ensures a student has acquired a minimal level of achievement related to the scientific and theoretical aspects of academic psychology. Students are required to pass this exam before they can advance to doctoral candidacy, including the scheduling or defense of their preliminary dissertation proposal. The second component is the Clinical Intervention and Assessment Exam, which demonstrates a minimum level of achievement in conceptualization from a specific theoretical orientation, the selection of evidence-based interventions, the use of standardized assessment data to inform their understanding of the client and clinical practice, and the ability to assess and respond to outcome data. The CIAE must be passed before the student begins the internship application process (see GSCP handbook for additional details).
- Complete the equivalent of a one-year full-time clinical internship (normally 50 weeks and 2,000 clock hours; 24 semester hours)
- Successfully defend the doctoral dissertation (minimum of 10 hours) and submit related documentation components (See the GSCP Student/Clinical Training Handbook). A minimum of one credit of dissertation is required each fall and spring of the second through fourth years of the program.
Curriculum Plan
Completed by all students
Complete the following:
Required for Master's Degree: PSYD 501, 502, 503, 504, 505
Required for Master's Degree: PSYD 507, 708
Complete the following:
Required for Master's Degree: PSYD 511, 513
Complete the following:
Choose one of the following:
Required for Master's Degree: PSYD 521, 557, 558
Complete the following:
Required for Master's Degree: PSYD 530, 531, 551, 552
Complete the following:
Required for Master's Degree: PSYD 571, 616, 630
Complete the following:
Required for Master's Degree: PSYD 517
Complete the following:
Required for Master's Degree: PSYD 532, PSYD 533
Complete 10 hours of the following:
Students must complete a total of 10 dissertation credits. Course is repeatable. A minimum of one credit of dissertation enrollment is required each fall and spring of the second through fourth years of the program.
Required for Master's Degree: two credits of PsyD 805