General Requirements

The Doctoral Program in Clinical Psychology requires four years of full-time course work and practicum experience in addition to successful completion of a Master's Thesis (PSY 900, Masters Research), comprehensive examination, clinical internship, and dissertation (PSY 950, Doctoral Research). Students are evaluated after completing each level to determine their eligibility to progress to the next level.

The program is designed to provide a logical progression of course work over Levels I-IV. The first two levels are directed at imparting the basic principles and skills in assessment, statistics, foundations, and psychotherapy. In addition, there are courses in research methodology that are structured in such a way as to enable the student to generate a dissertation proposal by the end of Level II. The student is expected to submit a dissertation proposal for approval during Level III; an approved proposal is required prior to submission of internship applications. The student's progress toward completion of the dissertation requirement will be evaluated each semester; failure to make satisfactory progress may result in termination from the program.

Students begin their clinical practicum training during Levels I-II at our training clinic, the St. John's University Center for Psychological Services and Clinical Studies. During Levels III and IV there is further development of various clinical skills through concentrated work in clinical externship settings and related course work, and continuation of clinic practicum work at our training clinic. The Comprehensive Examination is taken in the summer following Level III. Students will be afforded two opportunities to pass the examination, and successful completion of the exam is required for continuation in the program. Upon passing the exam, the student must register for Doctoral Research (PSY 950) in the spring of Level IV.

The fifth year of the program is normally devoted to a full-time clinical internship which has been approved by the department. During the internship year, the student must register for PSY 903 and PSY 904 (which carry no academic credit) and PSY 950. There is a charge of $100 per semester for PSY 903 and PSY 904. Instead of embarking on an internship during the fifth year, students may elect to work toward completing their dissertation research and defer their internships for a year. Clinical child track students must complete an approved internship that provides substantial exposure to working clinically with children and families.