Location:

La Verne, United States

Program Type:

Full Degree

Degree Level:

Doctorate

Specialty:

Clinical Psychology

Program Overview

Program Description:

The Clinical Psychology program awards the Doctor of Psychology (Psy.D.) degree and is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of the American Psychological Association. It builds on the University of La Verne’s established tradition of community service, and prepares graduates to work competently and responsibly in a multicultural and pluralistic society. Students receive a breadth and depth of training that combine practical experience with research and writing requirements, integrating knowledge and skills with scientific foundations of psychology. The program exemplifies the scholar-practitioner model of professional training and prepares clinical psychologists to promote mental health for the welfare of individuals, families, groups, institutions, and society as a whole. The core mission of the program is to train scholar-practitioners who think critically, apply their knowledge diligently, and practice ethically and compassionately. Courses are taught by a cadre of respected scholars and seasoned clinicians. The University of La Verne’s Psy.D. program is structured for completion in five years of full time study, at least four of which must be in residence. The program is designed to develop competence in the scientific foundations of psychology, clinical practice, research methods, and data analysis. The program provides an opportunity for students to conduct an empirical dissertation. The dissertation is designed during Year 3 and completed during Year 4, prior to the clinical internship. Clinical training consists of clinical practica and an internship. The practica occur during Years 2 and 3 of the program, and require a minimum of 1,500 training hours at two different sites. The clinical internship in Year 5 requires a minimum of 1,500 clinical hours. The internship meets the pre-doctoral licensure requirements in California. Graduates, following completion of post-doctoral clinical training, are eligible to be examined for licensure as psychologists. Psychologists trained within the scholar-practitioner model establish careers in clinical practice in the private and public sectors including clinics, hospitals, and community agencies. They may also teach and provide supervision in colleges and universities. Psychologists also serve as consultants to corporate, public, educational, and religious institutions, and conduct program evaluations. The Psy.D. Program at University of La Verne is relatively small, with 14-15 students expected to enter each fall. The program takes five years to complete, and includes 120 semester hours of study. Most 120-unit programs advertise a minimum of four years to completion, whereas our program is designed to be completed in five years. We believe that five years is realistic, and we expect the large majority of our students to graduate within 5 or 5 1/2 years of beginning the program. Our program operates on a cohort model, meaning that students entered the program take most of their courses with the same group of 14-15 students.

Additional Program Information

Accreditation:

In addition to regional accreditation (Western Association of Schools and Colleges), the University of La Verne's Psy.D. in Clinical Psychology is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of the American Psychological Association (APA). The next site visit is scheduled for 2018.

Financial Aid:

Yes

Requirements:

An undergraduate degree in psychology with a minimum GPA of 3.3, three letters of recommendation attesting to applicant's academic/clinical fieldwork, ability to function competently as a professional psychologist; a statement of professional goals and aspirations, official GRE scores, and a current curriculum vitae. Applicants must have completed undergraduate coursework that includes: introductory/general psychology, statistics, experimental psychology/research methods, and abnormal psychology. In addition, two courses from among the following are required: history and systems of psychology, social psychology, theories of personality, human development/developmental psychology, clinical psychology, physiological psychology/biopsychology, multicultural psychology, psychological testing/psychometrics, cognitive psychology, learning/memory, sensation and perception.

International Requirements:

The University of La Verne is authorized to issue an I-20 only after international applicants have been accepted for admission and have submitted the $200 non-refundable tuition deposit. International students with F-1 or J-1 visas may apply to and attend only the Central Campus. To apply for admission, international applicants must submit all of the application materials required, as well as a notarized original statement indicating how the student will meet the financial obligations for graduate study at La Verne.