ScheduleRU OnlineDirectoryContact
Us| RU
AccessScheduleRU OnlineDirectoryContact
Us |
 |
|
|
 Print-friendly version |
Clinical Psychology (Doctor of Psychology) 1856T (Tower) Director: Steven A. Kvaal, PhD PsyD Program Assistant: Diana Zak Doctor of Psychology (PsyD) in Clinical Psychology The goal of the PsyD program at Roosevelt University is to train skilled practitioners who are able to diagnose and treat psychological problems. Our practitioner-scholar program seeks to produce clinical psychologists who demonstrate several essential core competencies, including the ability to
Graduates will also have the capability to critique, design, and execute research focused on clinical problems and services and to articulately present the results of their scholarship to others. Interested and qualified students, after completing a master’s degree, may teach undergraduate psychology courses with the guidance of the Instructor Development course. Our university home also allows students to enhance their psychological training with relevant experiences from other disciplines. Admission Candidates for admission to the PsyD program must have either a bachelor’s or a master’s degree in psychology or in a closely related field and must have completed the following courses with at least a 3.0 (B) average: General Psychology, Introductory Statistics, Tests and Measurements, Research Methods, Theories of Personality, and Abnormal Psychology. Deficiencies in prerequisite courses may be completed at Roosevelt University, but will not count toward the PsyD. Students entering with a bachelor’s degree will earn a master’s degree (modified from the terminal MA offered by the School of Psychology) during their progress through the doctoral program. Applicants must submit the PsyD application form; transcripts of all undergraduate and graduate course work; verbal, quantitative, and analytical writing scores on the Graduate Record Examination (GRE); three letters of recommendation (including our recommendation forms) from academic and professional references; and a personal statement. The personal statement should demonstrate a clear well-articulated understanding of the expectations and responsibilities of graduate training in clinical psychology, strong career motivation, and well-formulated career plans. An interview is required of all finalists. Roosevelt considers each applicant on an individual basis and seeks diversity in ethnic and cultural background, education and life experience, and sexual orientation. Although strict GPA or test cutoffs are not adhered to, a GPA of at least 3.25 for upper division undergraduate work and average scores and higher on the verbal and quantitative sections of the GRE are typical expectations. Advising Upon admission to the PsyD program, students must meet with their advisor and develop a program completion plan covering all courses required for the doctoral degree, clinical training experiences, the comprehensive exam, and the doctoral project. Students’ course schedules must be approved by their advisor before registration throughout their progress through the program. Coursework and other program requirements All students must complete a minimum of 102 semester hours of graduate study plus 3 hours of internship credit, for a total of 105 semester hours. The total credit hours include 14 or 15 required clinical courses (42 or 45 semester hours, depending on whether students complete an MA-level practicum or a thesis), 14 or 15 required nonclinical courses (42 or 45 semester hours), and 6 electives (18 semester hours). In addition to coursework, students must pass the comprehensive examination and complete two doctoral practica (supervised clinical training in the community), an internship, and a doctoral project. The standard course load for a full-time student is at least 9 semester hours each fall and spring semester. Students must complete at least 30 semester hours of work in a 24-month period. For at least one of those two years the student must be at Roosevelt on a full-time basis. Thus, students must complete at least 2 consecutive semesters of full-time study before becoming eligible for the doctoral degree. Courses taken in the PsyD program more than 7 years before the semester in which the graduate degree is to be granted may not be counted toward the degree. Students who take more than 1 semester to complete an independent study, practicum, internship, or doctoral project, must renew registration each semester until all work is completed (“Y” courses). The PsyD program may accept credit for substantially equivalent graduate-level coursework completed at approved universities or schools of professional psychology. A maximum of 36 semester hours of credit may be transferred with approval of the doctoral program graduate advisor and the University. Credit is granted only for courses in which the grade obtained was a B or higher, and only if the courses were taken within 7 years prior to the beginning of the student’s doctoral program. The doctoral project, internship, and at least 6 semester-hours of practicum must be completed at Roosevelt University. Required clinical courses
Required nonclinical courses
Elective courses
Other electives may be available (see the seasonal University bulletins). Clinical practicum Applied clinical experience, which includes practica and the internship, is a cornerstone of the PsyD program. Students entering with a bachelor’s degree have the option of completing an introductory practicum or a thesis prior to beginning their doctoral practica. Students may begin their introductory practicum after they have completed eight courses (24 semester hours). These courses must include Psychopathology, Basic Clinical Skills, Professional Writing, either Cognitive and Behavioral Therapies or Insight Psychotherapy, and either Intellectual or Personality Assessment. Students register for and attend the MA Practicum Seminar during their introductory practicum. Following completion of the introductory practicum or thesis, students must complete at least two doctoral practica. During their practica, students typically spend 16-24 hours per week at their clinical training site and attend a weekly doctoral practicum seminar. Each practicum seminar is 3 credit hours per semester, for 2 semesters each practicum. Most practicum site placements are for 9 to 12 months. The focus of training depends on the student’s needs, interests, and experience. Students with little clinical experience (e.g., those who have elected to complete a thesis and who have had no other clinical experience) or who have problems in training may be counseled to take a third practicum. Students may also take a third practicum for specialized training experiences. Students may transfer up to 2 semesters of clinical practicum credit from other doctoral programs. Although students may receive elective credit hours for practicum (or “externship”) experiences they have taken as part of a master’s degree, they must still take four semesters of clinical practicum seminars at the doctoral level. The PsyD student handbook and the clinical training manual have more details on requirements for practica and internship. Note that because the selection process for practicum placements begins early, students should begin preparation for an introductory or doctoral practicum a year before their anticipated start. Comprehensive examination The comprehensive examination provides an opportunity for students to review and integrate their knowledge of the theory, research, and practice of clinical psychology. The examination is taken after students have completed at least 72 semester hours of coursework, including Psyc 791 and Psyc 792 (one complete doctoral practicum). After the examination is passed, students are admitted to doctoral candidacy. Students must be admitted to doctoral candidacy before they accept a clinical internship. If a student does not pass the examination, he or she may retake it once. If the student is unable to pass it the second time, the student will be dismissed from the program. Internship All students must complete a 1-year, full-time internship approved by the Director of Training. To be eligible to begin an internship, the student must have finished all course work and practica and must have passed the comprehensive examination. All internships will be evaluated according to the criteria for American Psychological Association (APA) accredited internship training, and APA-accredited internship programs will be given highest priority. Although the internship should be completed as a 1-year full-time experience, it may be completed half-time within a 2-year period (after review of the internship site’s program and with approval of the Director of Training). Doctoral project Students develop and enhance scholarly skills pertinent to the practice of clinical psychology by completing a doctoral project. In the doctoral project, students demonstrate their ability to assess and integrate the research literature in the management and conceptualization of clinical issues. There are five types of projects: a traditional empirical study, a case study, a review of the literature on a selected topic, applied program research such as grant proposals, and treatment and program evaluations. Three courses help prepare students for the doctoral project: Psyc 530 Advanced Research Methods, Psyc 730 Applied Research Methods, and Psyc 789 Doctoral Project Seminar. At the end of the doctoral project seminar, students must have completed a formal doctoral project proposal and selected three graduate faculty members who agree to constitute their doctoral project committee. The doctoral project is to be conducted under the guidance of this three-person doctoral committee, which is also charged with conducting the final oral defense of the project and determining when the project is acceptable. At least two members of the committee, including the committee chair, must be full-time or half-time members of the Roosevelt University psychology faculty. The committee chair serves as project director. One committee member may be from another program, an adjunct faculty member, or a psychologist supervising work at a practicum placement. When the doctoral project is completed, three typed copies must be submitted in a form acceptable to the Graduate Dean and the University library. Academic standards PsyD students must maintain a 3.25 cumulative grade-point average. Students with more than one grade of C will be placed on probation and become ineligible for graduation. Students have one semester (at least 6 semester hours) to regain good academic standing. If they do not regain good academic standing within that time period, they will be dismissed from the Program. Students who have grades of D or F in more than one course during any one semester or in two consecutive semesters will be dismissed without first being placed on probation. Student evaluations The PsyD program at Roosevelt University is accountable to the profession and the public for the development of the professional standards of its future practitioners. Thus the successful completion of the program entails development of academic knowledge and skills, professional skills, and interpersonal competencies necessary to function as an effective practitioner. Professional and interpersonal competencies include, but are not limited to, the ability to cultivate and maintain productive and respectful relationships across academic and clinical settings; the ability to respond productively to feedback and change problematic behavior that interferes or has the potential to interfere with one’s ability to function as a student and trainee; and the ability to act in an ethical manner following cultural and professional standards. The faculty will provide feedback on students’ academic and professional development throughout the program. Students will be formally evaluated each year; students may be evaluated more frequently when concerns arise. Students are evaluated via a collaborative process that involves faculty, mentors, and clinical training supervisors. Failure to meet the above standards may result in dismissal from the program. Failure of a practicum or internship is also grounds for dismissal from the program. Practice of psychology by graduate students PsyD students who render psychological services must report their activities to the Director of Doctoral Studies. If this activity is not within the student’s competence and under professional supervision, as determined by the Director, the student will be asked to desist. Failure to comply with this regulation will be grounds for immediate termination from the psychology doctoral program. Request Further Information Request a university catalog, information packet, or application for admission |
|
|
© 2006, Roosevelt University, All Rights Reserved |
|
