Program Requirements
Clerkship
Clinical Practicum
Qualifying Examination
Internship
Clinical Dissertation
Health Electives

*Note: The MWU/CHS Clinical Psychology Program reserves the right to alter its curriculum however and whenever it deems appropriate.

Program Requirements
The Psy.D. Program is designed to be completed in four to five years. Full-time students will complete three years of coursework, clerkship, and practicum experiences. This is followed by a one-year internship and the satisfactory completion of a clinical dissertation. Some evening courses may be scheduled.

Master of Arts in Clinical Psychology Degree
Doctoral students may elect to earn a M.A.in Clinical Psychology while pursuing the Psy.D. degree after completion of the first two years of coursework, clerkship, and practicum experiences. Students electing to receive the M.A. in Clinical Psychology must have successfully completed all of the 500 and 600 level nonclinical core and clinical core courses, clerkship, and practicum experiences for a total of 116 credit hours. In addition, these students must complete and successfully defend a clinical master’s thesis. Students must also register for Psy 681 Master’s Thesis (3 credits).

The awarding of the M.A. in Clinical Psychology is done to provide an additional credential certifying the work completed by students who are pursuing the Psy.D. degree. This additional credential may enhance the value of the students to many employers and assist in the competitive process of securing an internship. The M.A. in clinical Psychology is awarded if the following are fulfilled:

• Petition to the program for the awarding of the M.A. degree;
• Satisfactory completion of 116 credit hours including all required 500 and 600 level courses (92.5 credits), Interdisciplinary Healthcare courses (1.5 credits), clerkships (3 credits), practicum and practicum seminar (16 credits) and clinical master’s thesis (3 credits);
• Attainment of a cumulative grade point average of 2.75 or higher;
• Successful completion and defense of clinical master’s thesis;
• Full payment of all outstanding tuition and fees; and
• Faculty and committee approval for awarding of the degree

Clerkship
The Psy.D. Program offers a number of supervised clinical training experiences beginning in the first year of study. Students are selected for clerkships following consideration of the Program Director, clerkship supervisor, and Academic Review Committee.

Clinical Practicum
All students must successfully complete practicum experiences in the second and third year of study. Students enter practicum training if they are making satisfactory progress in the program and receive approval of the Program Director. Practicum is a field experience that spans the academic or calendar year. The specific clinical focus of the experience varies according to the student's needs, interests, and availability of practicum sites. Students complete a minimum of eight quarters of practicum. Students work approximately 16 to 20 hours per week in a clinical setting. The practicum experiences in psychodiagnostics and psychotherapy total approximately 1,000 hours over two years. Practicum placements may require work in the summer months, over holiday periods, and during breaks in the academic calendar. The Director of Training assists students in the application process for practicum placement.

Qualifying Examination
The purpose of the Qualifying Examination is to permit students to demonstrate the capacity to integrate the core clinical and non-clinical course material from the first two years of study into comprehensive responses demonstrating organizational and differential thinking. The successful completion of the Qualifying Examination signals the official acceptance of the matriculated student as a doctoral candidate. The examination is evaluated on a pass/fail basis and is scheduled after the first two years of study.

Internship
The predoctoral internship is a 2,000-hour requirement at an approved site over a 12-month or 24-month period. The internship is designed to provide intensive advanced clinical training that builds upon the coursework and practicum experiences. The internship is a critical component of the Psy.D. Program and cannot be waived. After successfully completing the Qualifying Examination, a student can apply for an internship. Students must complete all required coursework and practicum experiences before beginning the internship. The internship may or may not be a paid position, depending on the placement of the student.

Clinical Dissertation
A clinical dissertation is required for graduation. This is intended as a scholarly work that permits the student an opportunity to enhance their knowledge about a particular clinical area. A committee of faculty members will assist with this process. The clinical dissertation typically is completed within nine to 12 months. Students are required to develop a proposal for their project that must be approved by the Clinical Dissertation Committee before the project is implemented. The student then completes any data collection and analysis required for the project and completes a written document about the project. Each student must present an oral defense of the project upon its completion. Following the defense, the student must provide the program with copies of the clinical dissertation that are suitable for binding.

If a student has not completed the clinical dissertation by the end of the internship, a fee of $500 per quarter for the first two quarters, and $1,000 per quarter for each quarter thereafter will be assessed until the dissertation is completed or until the maximum time allowed for program completion, seven years from the date of matriculation. Financial aid will not be available during this time. Student loan repayment will typically begin six months after completion of the internship.

Health Electives
The Psy.D. Program has a very intensive schedule of classes that limits the hours available for electives. But for students who wish to enhance their course of study in clinical psychology, the Psy.D. Program permits selection of elective courses in areas related to Psychology. Elective options are offered through the program and in other university departments. Course availability varies from year to year, and could include courses in services for special populations or advanced interventions, e.g., topics of drug abuse, mental health issues related to aging/geropsychology, sexual assault and domestic violence issues, and rehabilitation. Some courses may be available in an independent study format.