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PsyD Program: Doctorate of Clinical Psychology

Overview

Our doctoral program in clinical psychology (PsyD) provides the expertise and experience you need to excel as a clinician and leader in a broad range of clinical settings.

At a Glance

• Offered as: Doctorate
• Format: On Campus
• Credits: 120
• Avg. Time to Completion: 5 years
• College/School: College of Health & Human Services
• Campus Location: Chester, PA

Program Overview

In Widener's clinical psychology doctoral (PsyD) program, you’ll prepare for success as a scholar-practitioner-psychologist. Not only will you delve into the science of psychology, you’ll also apply newfound knowledge in assessment, intervention, consultation, and supervision. Through a practicum placement, paid internship rotations, and rigorous dissertation research, you’ll gain on-the-job training for a rewarding career in the field of clinical psychology.

Curriculum & Coursework Requirements

View the academic catalog for information regarding the clinical psychology doctoral (PsyD) program as well as certificate track and concentration requirements.

PsyD Certificate Tracks

• Biofeedback: Explore how to use biofeedback data such as heart rate, galvanic skin response, and brain waves to inform mental health intervention. This one-year, two-semester track pairs didactic learning with hands-on clinical application at Widener’s Biofeedback Clinic and leads to certification with the Biofeedback Certification Institute of America.
• Neuropsychology: Become an expert in brain-behavior relationships as you prepare for certification in clinical neuropsychology. We provide the coursework, placement, and research experience you need to become certified in clinical neuropsychology after completion of our program and the required postdoctoral experience.
• School Psychology: Interested in working in schools and obtaining child clinical training? This track integrates field experience that will lead you to becoming a certified Pennsylvania state school psychologist and can be applied to certification in other states. This program is approved by the Pennsylvania Department of Education.

PsyD Concentrations

• Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy/Acceptance & Commitment Therapy (CBT/ACT)
• Psychodynamic Psychology
• Cross-Cultural & Diversity Psychology
• Child, Adolescent, & Family Psychotherapy
• Forensic Psychology
• Health Psychology
• Consulting Psychology

Detailed information about our concentrations, including courses and requirements, can be found in the Concentrations Manual.

Clinical Experience: Practicum & Internship

At Widener, a unique clinical and internship experience is embedded in the PsyD degree curriculum.

• Year 1: Pre-Practicum: The pre-practicum training is multi-modal and experiential. It offers students opportunities to learn and practice skills that are foundational to the practice of professional psychology.
• Years 2-3: Practicum Training: The practicum-level placements are designed to familiarize the students with a variety of clinical settings. Each practicum offers progressively more responsibility and patient–staff interaction.
• Years 4 & 5: Internship Training Program with three day a week clinical rotations: Most doctoral students in clinical psychology enter the Association for Psychology Postdoctoral and Internship Centers (APPIC) match process to find a pre-doctoral internship. In contrast, our PsyD program offers a unique and fully integrated internship that is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of the American Psychological Association (750 First Street NE, Washington, DC 20002, ). This means that rather than enter the APPIC match to find an internship; our students are guaranteed a local internship placement through our in-house network of outstanding internship rotations.

Dual Degrees

Take an interdisciplinary approach to clinical psychology. A unique opportunity to obtain a master's degree in a related area of psychology, expanding your marketability and professional network as you prepare for a well-rounded career.

• PsyD/MBA (Master of Business Administration)
• PsyD/MBA - Health Care Management
• PsyD/MEd - Human Sexuality Education
• PsyD/MCJ (Master of Criminal Justice)

Post-Doctoral Respecialization Program

The clinical psychology doctoral degree program is designed to afford an opportunity for doctoral level nonclinical psychologists to shift their career focus to the professional practice of clinical psychology. Students must have a PhD in psychology from an accredited university. The respecialization is typically 3 years of study, including the internship.

FAQs

• Q: Can the program be completed in less than three years? A: No. Due to the needs of licensure and our APA Accredited internship, which is part-time for two years, the respecialization program takes three years to complete.
• Q: Can I do this program remotely? A: No. This is a full-time in-person program, so respecialization students need to be in the area to complete it.
• Q: How can I apply for the respecialization program? A: Our respecialization students apply using the PsyCAS application and submit all of the same materials that the general PsyD applicants submit.
• Q: How do I know what courses I will take? A: Our faculty work with respecialization students individually to determine a course ladder. We take a look at the courses you’ve taken, courses needed for the professional practice of clinical psychology included in our curriculum, and licensure requirements.

Licensure by State

Doctoral education alone is not sufficient for licensure in the United States. In addition to requiring specific educational criteria, all states require candidates for licensure to pass a national exam after completing graduate education (the Examination for Professional Practice in Psychology [EPPP]), and many states also require additional experiences for licensure, including supervised post-doctoral experiences, criminal history background checks, and personal ethical/moral references. Specific requirements for each state vary, and are developed and monitored by State Boards of Psychology. A general list of State Boards and contacts can be found on the website of the Association of State and Provincial Psychology Boards.

The curriculum provided by Widener’s Institute for Graduate Clinical Psychology meets state educational requirements for licensure as listed below. It is strongly recommended that students who expect to pursue licensing in a particular state reach out to the licensing board to confirm specific licensing requirements. The information below is accurate, as best as could be determined based on published records of state licensing requirements, as of June 2021.

Widener’s PsyD curriculum meets educational requirements for licensing in the following states

• Alabama
• Alaska
• Arizona
• Arkansas
• Colorado
• Connecticut
• DC
• Delaware
• Florida
• Georgia
• Hawaii
• Idaho
• Illinois
• Indiana
• Iowa
• Kansas
• Kentucky
• Louisiana
• Maine
• Maryland
• Massachusetts
• Michigan
• Minnesota
• Mississippi
• Missouri
• Montana
• Nebraska
• Nevada
• New Hampshire
• New Jersey
• New York
• North Carolina
• North Dakota
• Ohio
• Oklahoma
• Oregon
• Pennsylvania
• Rhode Island
• South Carolina
• South Dakota
• Tennessee
• Texas
• Utah
• Vermont
• Virginia
• Washington
• West Virginia
• Wisconsin
• Wyoming

It is still being determined whether Widener’s PsyD curriculum meets educational requirements for licensing in the following states

• Puerto Rico

Widener’s PsyD curriculum does not meet educational requirements for licensing in the following state

• California

Doctorate of Psychology Outlook & Outcomes

Avg. Salary

$99,640

2021 mean annual wage for clinical, counseling and school psychologists

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics

Recent Employers

• University of Pennsylvania
• North Shore Medical Center
• South Woods State Prison
• Sheppard-Pratt Health System
• Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia

Practicum and Internships

• Inpatient/outpatient clinics & hospitals
• School counseling centers
• Private practice settings
• Forensic-related placements

Industry Growth

93% of job ads in psychology that specified a minimal educational requirement asked for a doctoral degree.

Source: American Psychological Association

Why Study Clinical Psychology at Widener?

Gain Clinical Experience from Day One

You’ll hit the ground running. In your first year, you’ll dive into clinical training that includes courses on theory and technique, laboratory activities to practice basic skills, and discussion groups to process the nuances and challenges of clinical work. Practicum placements continue the intensive clinical training through the third year of the program. All students are also admitted to our APA-accredited internship at the time of doctoral program admission, which translates to a placement in our exclusively-affiliated and integrated internship in years four and five.

Engage in Next-Level Research

Through your rigorous research and dissertation experience, you’ll enhance your approach and understanding of scholarly literature and theory as you anticipate new innovations and developments in psychology. When you graduate, you’ll excel as a scholar-practitioner who asks the right questions and uses creative problem-solving solutions.

Make an Impact on Your Community

You’ll encounter countless opportunities to serve. Whether you engage in service projects with local organizations or serve community members in one of our on-campus clinics, you’ll go beyond your formal training in psychology as you meet the needs of your new neighbors.

Doctorate of Psychology Program Highlights

Ranked 11 out of 50

On the list of Editors' Choice 50 Best Accredited PsyD Programs for 2022

Source: psydprograms.org

90%+ Five-Year Graduation Rate

for PsyD students

Program attrition data

Admissions & Aid

Admissions Information

• Requirements:
  • Complete online application and pay application fee through PsyCAS.
  • Please also pay the supplemental Widener application fee.
  • Applicants must hold a bachelor of arts or a bachelor of science degree from an accredited institution. A major in psychology is desirable, but not required.
  • Transcripts are required from all attended institutions. A minimum GPA of a 3.0 is preferred, competitive applicants have a 3.5 GPA or higher.
  • All entering students must have completed a course in statistics, abnormal psychology or psychopathology, and research design or experimental psychology by the time they matriculate in the fall.
  • Personal character and attributes of emotional maturity and stability, as well as a capacity for relating to and working with other people, are also major factors in reviewing the credentials of applicants. Evidence for these attributes is sought from records of past performance, letters of reference, autobiographical statement, and work history.
  • All applications are reviewed holistically and no strict cutoffs are utilized. We aim to understand your story, motivation, and passion for this career choice via the application process, and later via on campus interviews.
• Application Deadline & Materials:
  • Deadline: The online application opens September 9th, 2024.
  • An online application, including all supporting credentials, must be received by 11:59 pm EST, December 6, 2024 to be considered for acceptance into the program. We encourage all applicants to submit their application as early as possible, especially as applications are only complete once verified by PSYCAS. All acceptance decisions are made by April 1.
  • Supplemental Materials: All supplemental materials must be submitted through the online PSYCAS (Psychology Centralized Application Service) system:
    • Essays
    • 3 letters of recommendation
    • Transcripts
    • Optional scholarship essays (to be considered for service-related tuition scholarships)
• Interviews: If you are selected as a top candidate for the PsyD program, you will receive an invite to one of four Admissions Interview Days, which will include an individual interview, tour, and information sessions. Interviews will be held in person.

Financial Aid

Because Widener is a private institution, we're able to offer financial assistance that brings our education within reach for individuals who might otherwise not be able to afford it.

Applying for Aid as a Graduate Student

Getting started is easy. Simply apply to Widener and submit your FAFSA to be automatically considered for scholarships and grants. "FAFSA" stands for the Free Application for Federal Student Aid and helps identify whether you are eligible for aid awarded by Widener, the government, and other sources. Our school code is .

In order to receive a financial aid offer, students must meet certain eligibility requirements. Here are the general eligibility requirements for most financial aid programs:

• Must demonstrate financial need
• Be a U.S. citizen or eligible noncitizen
• Be enrolled or admitted for enrollment as a regular student in an eligible degree or certificate program

Learn more about applying for financial aid as a graduate student

Paths to Savings

85% of Full-Time Grad Students Receive Aid

Simply apply to Widener and complete the financial aid process to be automatically considered for scholarships and grants. Because Widener is a private institution, we are able to offer financial assistance that brings our education within reach for individuals who might otherwise not be able to afford it. You might be surprised at how much we are able to offer in assistance.

Program Cost

Clinical Psychology

$1,200 per credit

• Psychology (PsyD) Tuition by Cohort:
  • Psychology - First Year: $20,610 per semester, $41,220 annual
  • Psychology - Fall 2024 Cohort: $19,932.50 per semester, $39,865 annual
  • Psychology - Fall 2023 Cohort: $19,352 per semester, $38,704 annual
  • Psychology - Fall 2022 Cohort: $18,697.50 per semester, $37,395 annual
  • Psychology - Fall 2021 Cohort: $18,170.50 per semester, $36,341 annual
  • PSY D Joint Program Fee (MBA, MCJ, HSED): (no semester fee), $995 annual

Tuition rates are subject to change. Official costs for your first year will be determined at time of enrollment.

Next Steps to Apply

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