Program Structure
Residence and Coursework
Normally, four years of residency are required unless transfer of credit is brought in and advanced standing granted. While the doctorate is not awarded simply for completion of stated coursework, there are basic credit requirements for the degree (133 semester credits). Each student is assigned a faculty advisor who assists in the planning of each semester's schedule of courses and supervises the student's progress in the program.
- Psychology: Psy.D. students must complete a minimum of 77 credits of psychology. These 77 credits must include 50 required psychology credits, 18 credits of practicum and 9 credits of elective psychology courses. Students may apply up to 6 credits of graduate coursework from the Cook School of Intercultural Studies toward the total psychology elective hours requirement.
- Psychotherapy Laboratory: Students in the Psy.D. program must complete 21 credits selected from psychotherapy lab courses. These are taken in the second, third and fourth years.
- Theology: All students must complete 18 credits in theology. These 18 credits consist of Theology and Anthropology I & II, and the Theology I-V required sequence.
- Integration Seminars: All students participate in a series of seminars (12 credits) devoted to the integration of a variety of theological and psychological concepts in research, theory and practice.
- Dissertation Research: Students in Rosemead's Psy.D. program may fulfill the research component of their program either by writing a dissertation or by successfully completing a research consumership sequence (5 credits), which includes a year-long doctoral research seminar, a doctoral paper consisting of a critical review of research literature on a clinical topic, and a comprehensive proficiency examination for consumers of clinical research.
Progress Evaluations
All students have an oral interview with a faculty committee to evaluate their progress and potential for successful completion of the doctoral program. This interview is scheduled after the completion of three semesters in residence, including at least one practicum assignment. The results of this interview are reported to the faculty, which votes on the following:
- Psychological assessment and intervention
- Integration of psychology and theology
- Ethics
These examinations are scheduled annually and serve as the major means of evaluating a student's suitability to continue studies toward the doctorate. The examinations may be taken after completion of 75 percent (100 credits) of the coursework and must be successfully completed prior to the Professional Qualifying Examination.
Only one retake of the examination is allowed. The dates of the Comprehensive Examinations are specified in the Academic Calendar.
Admission to Candidacy
Official candidacy for the doctorate signifies an advanced stage in the student's progress. In order to be admitted to candidacy the student must have:
- Successfully completed the Second Year Evaluation
- Passed the Comprehensive Examinations
- Received approval of the dissertation proposal by the Doctoral Committee or completed the three-semester, 5-credit Doctoral Research Seminar and clinical comprehensive proficiency research examination
- Completed training therapy experience
Professional Qualifying Exam
All doctoral students must successfully complete an examination that evaluates the student's readiness for a full-time internship. It may be taken any time after the comprehensive examinations have been passed and must be completed prior to acceptance of an internship. Only one retake of the exam is allowed. The examining committee may require the student to complete additional course work, practicum, or other professional growth experiences prior to beginning the internship. See the Professional Qualifying Examination Guidelines in the student handbook for further detail.
Completion of Training Therapy
All students must receive certification of completion of training therapy from the Director of Clinical Training. A minimum of 36 hours of interpersonal therapy plus 50 hours of individual therapy is required. See Training Therapy Guidelines in the student handbook for further details.
Dissertation or Research Consumership Sequence
All Psy.D. students must demonstrate doctoral-level mastery of a research area in clinical psychology. This may be done either by a dissertation or by a research consumership sequence. The research consumership sequence is composed of:
- A three-semester, 5-credit doctoral research seminar focusing on the critical evaluation and utilization of clinical research;
- A doctoral paper involving a critical review of research on a selected, clinically relevant topic; and
- A clinical comprehensive proficiency examination evaluating the student's ability to critically evaluate current clinical research. This comprehensive proficiency exam is taken in conjunction with the first semester of the doctoral research seminar. Psy.D. students must either register for 5 credits for dissertation or for the doctoral research seminar.
Final Examination
The final examination for Psy.D. students who write a dissertation is an oral defense of the dissertation before the doctoral committee and other invited professionals. Students completing the doctoral research sequence must pass the research consumership exam given during the Doctoral Research Seminars.
