Our strong emphasis on diversity spans all programs and activities: from classroom teaching and mentoring to research and services.
Master’s in Applied Psychological Science
The goal of the master’s program in Applied Psychological Science (APS) is to foster learning of and competence in interpersonal and research skills relevant to responsible and ethical conduct within basic and applied research settings. Students gain expertise regarding the impact of biological, social, emotional, cognitive and behavioral factors on psychological phenomena. Emphasis is placed on the development of a strong theoretical foundation and on statistical and methodological skills that can be employed in a number of applied settings.
This terminal master’s program is designed to prepare students for employment in applied practical or research settings (QMHP or LPC/LPA licensure routes) or for further training in psychology at the doctoral level.
Required Prerequisite Courses
• Introduction to Psychology
• Quantitative and Statistical Methods
First Year Core courses help you develop a basic understanding of the field’s scientific and professional foundations. Courses include the influence of biological, social, emotional, cognitive and behavioral factors on psychological phenomena. You will build skills in assessment and therapy, as well as statistical analysis.
Second Year & Practicum Second-year work expands on foundations in psychology coursework. Students will complete a capstone project, either a case-study or a thesis.
Students must complete about a 600-hour practicum in their second year. This practicum may be carried out in a variety of settings, including sites that emphasize work with children or adolescents, adults and geriatric clients, employee assistance programs or programs that address a range of ages, issues and cultures.
“The APS curriculum is well-rounded as you gain the necessary skills to become a competent clinician. The program focuses on the basic skills that you can build upon throughout your career as a student and as a professional. the program also does a great job of discussing research and providing opportunities to partake in group projects that can provide insight into research and the process for what a potential thesis might look like. The first year of research methods is very comprehensive and provides a great foundation for future research work if you are interested!”
Doctor of Psychology in Clinical Psychology
The Doctor of Psychology (PsyD) program prepares students for a career in practice, teaching or research. We combine courses, practicum placements and dissertation with professional support to help students successfully complete this rigorous program.The PsyD program follows a five-year model that includes four years of coursework and one year of internship. Clinical training often extends beyond term dates. Applicants with a master’s degree in psychology or a closely related field may request transfer of course credit for similar coursework.
Our diverse faculty and programming gives you exposure to a broad range of theoretical perspectives and assessment, intervention, research/evaluation, consultation/education, and management/supervision skills. The range of classes and faculty areas of interest allows you to tailor the program to your needs.
Curriculum Overview The PsyD program provides a generalist education in clinical psychology. Within this, the following five track options allow you to concentrate on a specific area with its own defined curriculum, research programs, and clinical practice:
• Adult Psychology
• Neuropsychology
• Child Psychology
• Forensic Psychology
• Health Psychology
Practicum Each PsyD student completes six terms of practicum. Practicum experiences include approximately 500 training hours per year. Of that time, 50 to 75 percent is spent in direct service. The remainder dedicated to supervision, training activities and administrative or clerical duties.
Doctoral Dissertation The doctoral dissertation provides evidence of scholarly competence and represents an original contribution to psychology. Dissertations can use a variety of formats: single-case experimental designs; individual, group or system case studies; program development or evaluation; experimental or correlational research; or a synthesis and extension of scholarly literature. The complete dissertation is defended at a public oral examination.
Internship The Clinical Psychology Internship is the culminating experience of the PsyD program. Through the internship, you use and refine clinical skills and knowledge while consolidating your professional identity.
Internships require either full-time supervised clinical experience for one calendar year or a comparable half-time supervised clinical experience for two consecutive years. Internship training must be completed at a site that is APA-accredited or meets Association of Psychology Postdoctoral and Internship Center (APPIC) criteria. Students apply for internships through the APPIC match procedure.
The School of Graduate Psychology has an outstanding record of placing students for internship experiences across the United States and Canada. We also have our own APA-accredited internship training program.
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Doctor of Philosophy in Clinical Psychology
The Doctor of Philosophy in Clinical Psychology (PhD) program trains students as practicing researchers and clinicians who contribute to the scientific foundations of clinical psychology. We emphasize science and practice, which makes our training comprehensive and broad, focusing on applications that contribute to and complement standard health care.
Research training follows a mentorship model and students develop expertise in the specializations of their faculty mentors. Our core PhD faculty’s current areas of research and clinical expertise include mindfulness interventions, assessment and treatment of substance abuse, aging and cognition, cognitive and memory assessment and study of homeless and highly mobile youth.
The Doctoral Sequence The academic year begins in late August and continues through the third week of July. Classes are scheduled in three to three-and-a-half-hour blocks. Required classes continue through the summer term, with clinical training often-extending beyond term dates. Students must attend two complete annual Diversity Day events during their courses of study.
Practicum Pacific’s PhD program training model helps you integrate theoretical knowledge and scientific expertise with clinical application. You gain supervised practice experience with a range of client populations, age groups and clinical problems through six terms of practicum. Supervised clinical training begins in Pacific University’s in-house clinic during the second year. In the third year, you continue supervised clinical training at community agencies. Practicum students spend 50 to 75 percent of their clinical hours in direct service and the remainder in supervisory, training and administrative duties.
Research PhD students learn to become independent researchers who contribute to the scientific knowledge of clinical psychology. You will complete a Master’s Research Project and a doctoral dissertation, and we encourage you to work on additional research projects with core PhD faculty. The Master’s thesis and dissertation are empirical projects that contribute to the scientific knowledge of clinical psychology.
Internship Doctoral training in clinical psychology culminates in a pre-doctoral clinical internship. PhD students compete nationally for APA-accredited or APPIC-approved internships. The internship typically occurs during the fifth or sixth program year. It is a full-time (40 hours per week), year-long training experience. In rare instances, a student may be approved for a two-year half-time internship.
For detailed course descriptions and degree requirements, please see the current Academic Catalog
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As a psychology professional, you can explore theory, practice, research and meaningful collaboration while discovering your passion for helping create change and better lives.
