Core Course Requirements

Students enrolled in the PsyD in Clinical Psychology degree program are required to complete core course requirements in the following distribution areas: Psychological Bases, Applied Psychology, Research Methodology, Core Assessment, Intervention, and Professional Development.
 

Elective Requirements

Students must successfully complete 12 credit hours of elective courses. Elective requirements may be fulfilled in part by the completing one of the following concentrations: Child and Adolescent Psychology, General Adult Clinical Concentration, Health Psychology, or Neuropsychology/Geropsychology. See “Concentrations in the Doctor of Psychology in Clinical Psychology Degree Program” for details regarding course requirements.

Additionally, 3 credit hours of Advanced Practicum (PP 8310 Advanced Practicum and Seminar I , PP 8311 Advanced Practicum and Seminar II , and PP 8312 Advanced Practicum and Seminar III ) or an empirical research elective course may be counted towards the electives requirements. Students who wish to take elective courses that do not comprise one of the aforementioned concentrations must do so in consultation with their advisor.

Practicum and Practicum Seminar Requirements—Students Are Required to Complete the Following

• PP8201 - Practicum I (3)
• PP8202 - Practicum II (3)
• PP8203 - Practicum III (3)
• PP8204 - Practicum IV (3) *

Practicum and Practicum Seminar Requirements—12 Credit Hours

 * The Clinical Competence Examination may be taken concurrently with Practicum and Seminar IV (PP 8204 ).

Clinical Research Project Requirements—Students Are Required to Complete the Following

• PP8501 - Clinical Research Project I (1)
• PP8502 - Clinical Research Project II (1)
• PP8503 - Clinical Research Project III (1)

Clinical Research Requirements—3 Credit Hours

Enrollment Requirements

The PsyD in Clinical Psychology degree program follows a highly-structured curriculum that prescribes a sequence of coursework, clinical practicum, and research training. In order to complete program requirements in a timely manner, we expect students to maintain full-time enrollment. Also, students in the PsyD in Clinical Psychology degree program are required to maintain continuous enrollment each semester throughout their course of study, until all program requirements have been met.

Additional Requirements for Academic Progress

Students achieve satisfactory academic progress toward the PsyD degree by maintaining a cumulative GPA of 3.0 (on a scale of 4.0). A grade of “B-” is the minimum grade for successfully completing courses in the PsyD Clinical Psychology degree program. Students who receive a grade lower than “B-” in any course must retake the course within the next 12 months and receive a grade of “B-” or higher. If the course is an elective, the same elective or another elective of equal credit must be retaken and successfully completed. Students who receive a grade lower than “B-” in a course required for the PsyD in Clinical Psychology degree program while enrolled in the MA in Clinical Psychology degree program must retake and successfully complete that course no later than 12 months after beginning the PsyD in Clinical Psychology degree program.

If a student receives a grade of “Incomplete” in a course that is a prerequisite for a course in the next semester, he or she must rectify the incomplete grade within two weeks in order to take the subsequent course. If the course in which a grade of “Incomplete” was assigned is not a prerequisite for a subsequent course in the following semester, the student must rectify the incomplete grade by the end of the next semester. Any grade of “Incomplete” that is not rectified by the end of the following semester will be changed to a grade of “F.”

Students whose cumulative GPA falls below 3.0 (on a 4.0 point scale) will be placed on academic probation. If a student’s cumulative GPA falls below 3.0 (on a scale of 4.0) for two consecutive semesters, he or she will be academically dismissed from the program. Students should refer to “Academic Warning” and “Other Reasons for Dismissal”  under Section Seven, Academic Policies and Procedures .

Students are expected to successfully complete all requirements for the PsyD in Clinical Psychology degree program within seven years after matriculation. Any student who fails to do so must request an extension of this deadline in writing from the program chair. The program chair may refer a student who has failed to program requirements within seven years to the Student Professional Development Committee (SPDC) to be considered for a formal remediation plan or a recommendation of dismissal. For a student who has taken a temporary withdrawal (i.e., leave of absence) from Argosy University, the length of time withdrawn from the program is not counted in the calculation of his or her time to program completion. A student cannot be temporarily withdrawn from the University for an accumulated period of more than one year. Please note that temporary withdrawal from the program must be formally approved by the program faculty and administration.

Clinical Training Overview

Students’ clinical training in the PsyD in Clinical Psychology degree program involves progressively challenging levels of supervised field experience through which students work directly with clients in a mental healthcare setting. There are three required levels of field training in the clinical psychology doctoral degree program: diagnostic practicum, therapy practicum, and internship. Students may also choose to complete an advanced practicum, when available, prior to their internship training. During practicum training and internship, students apply their theoretical and empirical knowledge, implement clinical techniques based on this knowledge, and develop the professional and personal attitudes important to the identity of a professional psychologist. Specific requirements for progressing through each level of clinical training are outlined in the PsyD Program Training Manual for the Georgia School of Professional Psychology at Argosy University, Atlanta.

The program faculty closely monitors academic performance and accomplishment in clinical training during all stages of progress throughout a student’s graduate career. This monitoring, by both academic faculty and site supervisors, addresses both the issue of students’ suitability for clinical practice and their academic achievement in completing the program’s curriculum. Aspects of students’ personal adjustment, interpersonal relationships, and behavior in all settings are relevant to their progress through the program. Our goal is to assure that, by the end of their clinical training, students will have developed effective assessment and intervention skills needed to practice in a competent and ethical manner.

Practicum and Practicum Seminar Requirements

The primary goal of our practicum training is the development of competent clinicians who are able to deliver basic and effective assessment and therapeutic interventions, by means of supervised direct client contact. The foundation of our students’ training in clinical psychology is the accurate assessment and understanding of mental health problems. This assessment and understanding serves as the basis for recommending and/or implementing effective techniques for the alleviation or resolution of these problems, within a climate of respect for the client.

The Clinical Psychology program at the Georgia School of Professional Psychology at Argosy University, Atlanta places students in a wide variety of clinical field sites. Doctoral students in the clinical psychology program complete a diagnostic practicum in their second year of study and a therapy practicum in their third year of study. Practicum placements are generally for a minimum of  nine months, and typically begin in August or September.

Students spend 16 to 20 hours per week in an agency, program, or professional practice that is formally affiliated with the clinical psychology program. Students provide 6 to 10 hours of “direct service” per week – i.e., face-to-face provision of psychological services to individuals designated as clients by the agency, program, or professional practice. The remaining time may involve receiving supervision, completing documentation and other paperwork, indirect service activities, and other training activities. Students accrue a minimum of 500 hours in each practicum over the course of their clinical training experience. Prior to entering the internship year, PsyD degree program students will have accumulated a minimum of 1,000 hours of supervised clinical experience.

Doctoral degree program students receive a minimum of one hour of primary supervision per week from a licensed doctoral-level psychologist at the diagnostic and therapy practicum sites. An additional hour of secondary supervision may be delivered by another licensed professional or postdoctoral fellow, and may consist of group supervision, case conferences, clinical observation, or in-service training. All students must also enroll in a weekly practicum seminar led by a faculty member on-campus. The faculty member does not provide direct supervision, but offers didactic training emphasizing diagnostic and intervention skills applicable to a variety of clinical populations, as well as an opportunity for consultation. The specific content and emphasis of practicum seminar varies according to the practicum setting and expertise of the faculty member.

Practicum Restrictions

Students may not complete practicum training in settings in which they are employed. The Georgia School of Professional Psychology at Argosy University, Atlanta cannot provide compensation to the agency for the supervision and/or training of students. Each practicum training placement takes place in a single agency. Students cannot complete diagnostic practicum and therapy practicum at the same site, nor can students who have completed a Master’s practicum complete diagnostic or therapy practicum at the same site. Also, students cannot receive a course waiver in diagnostic, therapy, or advanced practicum for clinical training completed at another institution.

Professional Liability Insurance

All students enrolled in practicum at the Georgia School of Professional Psychology at Argosy University, Atlanta must be covered by Professional Liability Insurance. Students purchase this insurance through the school. This coverage is mandatory even if the student is otherwise insured. Payment for insurance is included in the practicum tuition fees. This liability insurance is designed for activities resulting from students’ participation in the graduate curriculum, such as practicum and internship, but will not cover students who are providing clinical services as an employee of an agency or practice.

Student Qualifications for Practicum

The program’s training director, in conjunction with the Training Committee, has the authority to determine a student’s readiness for practicum training.

In order for students to apply for practicum, they must be in good standing (GPA of 3.0) and able to successfully complete all the practicum prerequisite courses prior to the beginning of practicum training. Students must not be on probation from the time of application to practicum (Spring semester) to the time the practicum begins.

Students must demonstrate a readiness to assume a professional role and to interact appropriately with clients. Personal adjustment issues, interpersonal difficulties, poor communication skills, or other behavioral problems may reflect upon a student’s ability to interact with clients in a competent and ethical manner.

Students must also have been in attendance in the Clinical Psychology program at the Georgia School of Professional Psychology at Argosy University, Atlanta for a minimum of two semesters before beginning practicum. Any exception to this rule must be approved by the program chair.

Diagnostic Practicum

In Diagnostic Practicum (Practicum I and II) students work with clients in a healthcare setting to learn clinical assessment techniques and diagnostic formulation skills that are utilized to make effective treatment recommendations. Accurate diagnostic assessment procedures are fundamental to the practice of professional psychology. Skills emphasized in the diagnostic practicum include the following: diagnostic interviewing of the identified client and collateral informants; appropriate selection and use of psychological tests; review of treatment and/or medical records; behavioral observation; integrating clinical data from multiple sources; formulating diagnostic impressions utilizing the most current version of the DSM; psychological report writing; and generating appropriate recommendations that address the referral question(s). It is expected that the diagnostic practicum student will complete a minimum of nine (9) comprehensive assessments during the diagnostic practicum. These assessments may include information from a range of sources, including: the clinical interview; a variety of cognitive, intellectual, neuropsychological and/or personality measures; interviews with collateral informants; review of treatment or medical records; and/or observations of behavior in specified setting(s). The nature and content of these assessments are determined by the referral question―and should include a comprehensive clinical interview, along with administration of at least two assessment measures. All assessment reports are supervised by the on-site supervisor.

Diagnostic Practicum Prerequisites

Students must complete the following courses, with a grade of B- or higher (or a grade of “Credit ”), before beginning the diagnostic practicum – i.e., PP 8201 Practicum I  and PP 8202 Practicum II .

Therapy Practicum

Therapy Practicum

The PsyD program’s Therapy Practicum (Practicum III & IV) emphasizes the development of students’ clinical intervention skills. Therapy practicum students are expected to develop and exhibit professional skills and conduct needed to work successfully in a clinical, direct-service setting. Various practicum training sites differ in the client populations served, specific treatment options available to clients, and the theoretical orientations utilized by clinicians at the site. Primary treatment experiences offered in therapy practicum sites affiliated with PsyD program include individual adult psychotherapy, individual adolescent and/or child therapy, couples or marital therapy, family therapy, and group therapy. Students are encouraged to explore a variety of treatment approaches in an effort to develop their own personal therapeutic style. Faculty members in the PsyD Clinical Psychology program represent a number of different theoretical orientations and, as such, the program curriculum does not favor a particular approach to clinical work. It is hoped that students will, with time and experience, recognize the strengths and limitations of a variety of approaches and will develop proficiency in formulating and working within an approach best suited to their own personal style and clinical interests.

Therapy Practicum Prerequisites

In addition to all prerequisites for diagnostic practicum, students must successfully complete the following courses, with a grade of B- or higher (or a grade of “Credit ”), prior to beginning therapy practicum – i.e., PP8203 Practicum III  and PP8204 Practicum IV .

On-Site Supervision

Trainees receive a minimum of one hour of primary supervision and one hour of secondary supervision or training per week on-site. For PsyD degree program students in Practicum I, II, III, IV, V and VI at least one hour must be spent in primary individual supervision with a licensed doctoral-level psychologist. Primary supervision is offered at a regular, preset, uninterrupted time each week. Additional or secondary supervision may be provided by masters-level clinicians or postdoctoral fellows. Supervisors are expected to communicate clear expectations to students at the beginning of practicum and to provide clear feedback regarding clinical competence and progress throughout the year. Students are required to audio- or video-record some of their clinical work to be played in individual supervision and in their practicum seminar on campus. The student’s practicum seminar leader should be informed immediately of any difficulties encountered at the practicum, or of any substantive changes in the practicum experience (e.g., change of supervision).

Practicum Seminar

The practicum seminar serves as an auxiliary training component in student’s clinical training. The seminar leader works as a “partner in training” with the student’s on-site supervisor to oversee his or her field training experience. Although the seminar leader may provide general feedback about a student’s work with particular clients and progress toward treatment goals, supervision of individual cases remains the responsibility of the on-site supervisor, who has direct contact with the practicum setting and with the clients. In the seminar, students receive didactic training, present their clinical work, and consult with peers and the seminar leader regarding challenging assessment and treatment issues. The major objectives of practicum seminar include:

• Introducing, via didactic and experiential training, fundamental skills in conceptualization and clinical service.
• Providing exposure to a variety of clinical issues in different settings and with diverse populations.
• Enhancing students’ capacity to generalize their clinical experiences across domains and groups.
• Fostering students’ development in specific technical interventions and global clinical competencies.
• Evaluating students’ progress in professional development and growth in the major areas of competence.

In practicum seminar, students also prepare formal case presentations, both through written documents and oral presentations in the seminar. These case presentations demonstrate not only the student’s skills and competence in working with clients, but also provide a means to assess his or her ability to integrate knowledge and skills obtained by progressing through the program curriculum into one’s practicum experience. As such, the practicum seminar provides an additional level of clinical training and evaluation of students’ competencies beyond that provided by on-site supervision alone.

Practicum Student Evaluation and Final Grades

Site supervisors and practicum seminar leaders formally evaluate students each semester, and a grade is assigned by the practicum seminar leader. Depending on a student’s progress in practicum, a grade of Progress, Credit, No Credit, or Incomplete may be issued for each term that the student is enrolled (Fall, Spring, Summer I). A student receiving a grade of No Credit for Practicum I, II, III, IV, V, or VI must repeat that entire practicum experience for a minimum of nine months. The student must also meet with the program’s Student Professional Development Committee to develop a plan for addressing his or her training needs. A final grade of “No Credit” in a practicum constitutes a failing grade  for purposes of determining whether a student is demonstrating satisfactory academic progress.

The current PsyD Program Training Manual for the Doctoral Degree Program in Clinical Psychology at the Georgia School of Professional Psychology at Argosy University, Atlanta provides a more detailed description of practicum requirements and guidelines. This manual is updated on a regular basis. All students are responsible for familiarizing themselves with the information contained in the student training manual.

Clinical Competence Examination Requirements

Students are required to take and successfully pass a Clinical Competence Examination (CCE) during the Summer I semester of the year in which they complete therapy practicum (Practicum III and IV), typically in the third year of the program. The CCE involves a thorough, structured case presentation of a client for whom the student provided treatment services during therapy practicum. The written case presentation addresses the student’s knowledge and understanding of assessment and diagnosis, conceptualization and treatment planning, ethical and legal considerations, and diversity issues. Students must also provide a synopsis of their treatment with the client, a self-assessment of their work with the client, a recorded session and transcript, and a self-critique of that session. Students are also required to successfully complete an oral defense of their case presentation with a faculty committee, covering the areas noted above and responding to specific questions about the case itself and pertinent areas of knowledge within clinical psychology. The content and structure of the CCE is designed to assess students’ knowledge base, their clinical reasoning within a conceptual model, their technical assessment and intervention skills, their relationship skills, and their ability to communicate as a practitioner in both written and oral formats.

Students who fail the CCE are allowed to retake the examination one time, following an additional practicum training experience. Students who fail the CCE a second time are dimissed from the program. A student is not eligible to apply for predoctoral internship until he or she has successfully completed the CCE.

Clinical Competence Examination Prerequisites

Students are eligible to take the CCE if they (1) are in good academic standing in the doctoral program with a GPA of 3.00, (2) have completed all required prerequisite courses noted below, (3) have completed 115 direct service hours in Practicum IV by the last day of the Spring semester, and (4) demonstrated satisfactory progress throughout Practicum III and IV.

In addition to the prerequisite courses required for both diagnostic and therapy practicum (PP8201 / PP8202  and  PP8203 /PP8204 ), students are also required to successfully complete the following courses before attempting the Clinical Competence Examination (CCE):

• PP 7050 Physiological Psychology  (3)
• PP 7200 Statistics and Research I  (3)
• PP7201 - Statistics and Research II  (3)
• PP7360 - Clinical Psychopharmacology  (3)
• PP8060 - Group Psychotherapy  (3)
• PP8203 - Practicum III  (3)
• PP8204 - Practicum IV  (3) *

* The Clinical Competence Examination may be taken concurrently with PP 8204 Practicum IV .

Specific information about the content, administration and scoring of the Clinical Competence Examination is outlined in the PsyD Program Training Manual for the Doctoral Program in Clinical Psychology at the Georgia School of Professional Psychology at Argosy University, Atlanta. All students are responsible for familiarizing themselves with the information contained in the student training manual.

Predoctoral Internship Requirements

All doctoral degree program students must complete a predoctoral internship, which is an integral component of the doctoral degree program and the final experience in the clinical training sequence. Most internships are full-time positions for 12 months, but half-time internships may be completed in 24 months. The internship must be successfully completed in order for students to obtain the PsyD degree. During internship training, students are expected to assume significant responsibilities and to perform major professional functions under the supervision of licensed psychologists. The internship experience should provide students with a variety of intensive and diverse opportunities that allow them to function in various roles expected of a clinical psychologist. Typically, full-time students begin the internship during their fifth year of enrollment.

Prerequisites for Internship

Students’ readiness for internship will be formally reviewed by their academic advisor and the program’s Training Office. In order to be eligible to begin the internship, the student must have completed the following requirements:

• Successful completion of the Clinical Competence Examination (CCE)
• Successful completion of all coursework with no outstanding grades of Incomplete
• A cumulative GPA of at least 3.0
• Submission of the completed and signed Internship Readiness Form to the Training Office

Because predoctoral interns assume a great deal of professional responsibility, the clinical psychology program faculty and administration ultimately determine students’ readiness for internship training. In addition to the prerequisites noted above, students applying for internship must demonstrate an appropriate level of professional competence and maturity in order to begin the internship year. Students with ongoing issues regarding their professional conduct may be prohibited from applying for internship until these concerns are sufficiently resolved.

The Internship Application Process

The application process for internship begins approximately one year prior to the start date of the internship. This process is highly-structured and involves specific requirements, administrative tasks, and deadlines. Most internship placements in professional psychology begin in September, but a few begin as early as July 1st or as late as October 1st. The Director of Training will hold meetings beginning during the Summer semester prior to the internship application process. Students who are planning to apply for internship during the Fall semester must attend all of these scheduled meetings. Further, they must demonstrate that they are, or will be, ready and eligible to attend internship the next year.

Students are expected to abide by all policies and procedures outlined by the Georgia School of Professional Psychology at Argosy University, Atlanta and APPIC regarding the internship application and selection process. The Director of Training and program faculty will work diligently to assist students with the internship application process. The Training Office will send email messages and hold meetings periodically, in order to keep students as informed as possible throughout this process. However, each student applying for internship should bear in mind that he or she is responsible for completing and submitting application materials. As such, it is important to stay abreast of all information that is distributed regarding the internship application process and to adhere closely to application processes and deadlines.

Basic Requirements for Internship Sites

There is a minimum requirement of 2000 hours for the internship. This requirement should be completed through full-time experience for one calendar year, or through two consecutive years of half-time experience. Students are strongly encouraged to seek internships that are accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of the American Psychological Association (APA). Students may not seek internships that are not active members of the Association of Psychology Postdoctoral and Internship Centers (APPIC) without prior approval from the training director. The list of all APA accredited internships can be found in the most recent December issue of the American Psychologist or at www.apa.org. Copies of the current APPIC Directory are available online at www.appic.org. The internship must be a paid position.

Students should bear in mind that some states may have internship requirements that must be met for licensure and/or certification. Students should be familiar with the specific regulations of the state or states in which they wish to practice, so that their internship experience conforms to the guidelines of those states.

Evaluation of Interns

Students’ performance on internship is evaluated two times per year. The Student Evaluation Form is completed by internship supervisors and assesses the student’s progress, competence, and performance on internship. The Director of Training reviews the evaluation forms in order to monitor each student’s progress during internship training and to identify any areas of difficulty. At the completion of the internship year, the Director of Training makes the final determination whether the student has successfully met the internship requirements of the PsyD degree program. In addition, the student is asked to complete a formal evaluation of his or her internship experience.

Please refer to the PsyD Program Training Manual for the Doctoral Program in Clinical Psychology for more detailed information regarding the predoctoral internship process, requirements, and guidelines. All students are responsible for being familiar with the information contained in the student training manual.

Clinical Research Project Requirements

The Clinical Research Project (CRP) is a training experience designed to provide students with a guided opportunity to integrate and apply findings from empirical research in order to address a specific issue in professional psychology. Working closely with faculty members, students identify an issue within applied psychology and conduct a scholarly review and synthesis of the empirical literature designed to address this issue. The primary training goal of the Clinical Research Project is to help students develop the skills needed to become critical consumers of the empirical literature in psychology.

Scope of the Clinical Research Project

Students are expected to focus upon a psychological issue that is grounded in theory and that is addressed by current research. The appropriateness of the project is determined by the CRP chair and committee member(s), and should represent a potentially publishable review or a synthesis of findings that could be presented to professional psychologists in a conference or workshop setting. Students are not limited to research on clinical populations. All students, however, are required to provide a clinical rationale for proposed reviews. The final Clinical Research Project document should demonstrate the following:

• Mastery of theoretical, clinical, and empirical literature relevant to the topic studied.
• Methodological and statistical knowledge relevant to the area of inquiry.
• The ability to integrate specific research findings across studies and to synthesize information into a clear conclusion.
• The ability to write clearly and concisely in the style adopted by the profession.

In other words, the Clinical Research Project should be a sophisticated piece of written scholarship that demonstrates the ability to frame and address a psychological issue through an exacting review of published literature.

The Clinical Research Project Proposal

The Clinical Research Project proposal is a brief, but important, document. The CRP proposal summarizes the student’s planned review of the professional literature, including: a brief introduction that supports the central issue guiding the review; the primary organizing principle(s) of the review; a general outline of the review; the clinical rationale for reviewing this particular CRP topic; and a preliminary bibliography. The CRP proposal is regarded as a contract that is binding both to the student and the program. Specific content and structure of the CRP proposal are developed jointly with the CRP chair. Given that it is not possible to know in advance everything about a given area of empirical literature, the student should expect some changes in the structure or focus of the CRP review. However, these changes should be minor and consistent with the scope of the review outlined in the proposal.

Proposal Defense

The formal defense of the Clinical Research Project proposal is designed to ensure that the student has a workable plan for his or her review that meets the standards of scholarship and scientific sophistication appropriate to earning a doctoral degree. The student may be questioned about any aspect of his or her CRP proposal. Students should be prepared to explain their topic, specific issues, clinical rationale, the proposed structure, and the scope and quality of published literature. The formal defense also allows the CRP committee to reach clear agreement about the structure and scope of the proposed review.

Final Clinical Research Project Document

The Clinical Research Project document should present a critical review and synthesis of the literature that ends with clear conclusions about, and implications for, the issue addressed by the review. As a significant piece of scholarship, the final CRP document should be well-organized, well-written, and professionally presented. More detailed information about the content and structure of the final CRP document is provided in the program’s CRP Manual.

Final CRP Defense

The final CRP defense is an examination of the scholarship and the quality of both the research and the written document. The student must be prepared to discuss all aspects of his or her project, including specific studies and their findings, theoretical and clinical implications of their evaluation of the research, and methodological strengths and weaknesses of the studies reviewed. Even though the student may have successfully defended the CRP, committee members may ask him or her to make specific revisions to the CRP document. These revisions must be completed, with the CRP chair’s approval, before the document is submitted for binding.

Please refer to the CRP Manual for the Doctoral Program in Clinical Psychology at the Georgia School of Professional Psychology at Argosy University, Atlanta for a more detailed description of CRP requirements, procedures, and guidelines. All students are responsible for familiarizing themselves with the information contained in the student training manual.

Recommended Course Sequence for the Doctor of Psychology in Clinical Psychology Degree Program at the Georgia School of Professional Psychology at Argosy University, Atlanta

Students’ progress through the program’s coursework and clinical training is intended to be sequential and graded in complexity. Certain courses are offered earlier in the curriculum in order to provide a theoretical and practical foundation for courses and practicum training experiences that follow in subsequent years. In addition, certain advanced courses require the student to have the background provided by more basic courses in order to benefit fully from the course experience.

Before a student can register for a course, he or she must satisfy all stated prerequisites for that course. Failure to meet all stated prerequisites before taking a course could result in administrative withdrawal from that course at any point prior to or during the semester.

Students in the PsyD in Clinical Psychology degree program are expected to adhere to a recommended program of study that specifies which courses should be taken in each term and year of enrollment in the program. Any student who transfers course credits into the program or who falls behind in the curriculum sequence should meet with his or her academic advisor to develop an alternate program of study that accommodates that student’s particular circumstances. The recommended program of study for students in the PsyD Clinical Psychology degree program is outlined below:

Concentrations in the Doctor of Psychology in Clinical Psychology Degree Program

The PsyD in Clinical Psychology degree program at the Georgia School of Professional Psychology at Argosy University Atlanta offers concentrations in the areas of:

• Child & Family Psychology
• General Adult Clinical
• Health Psychology
• Neuropsychology/Geropsychology

All entering students in the PsyD program are assigned to the General Adult Clinical concentration. Students who desire to pursue study in Child & Family Psychology, Health Psychology, or Neuropsychology/Geropsychology may declare one of these specific concentrations in consultation with their academic advisor.  Specific requirements for each of these concentration areas are outlined below.

Course/Credit Transfer

A maximum of 10 graduate level courses (30 semester credit hours) from other academic institutions may be transferred into the PsyD Clinical Psychology degree program at the Georgia School of Professional Psychology at Argosy University, Atlanta.

For any course that a student wishes to transfer, a Course Waiver Form with a corresponding transcript, syllabus, and other supporting material must be submitted for review. Decisions on course waivers are made following faculty review of all materials submitted with the waiver request. Transfer credit is granted if there is an 80 percent overlap in course content and objectives between the course submitted for transfer credit and the course offered at the Georgia School of Professional Psychology at Argosy University, Atlanta. Students may obtain the procedures to be observed in submitting transfer requests from the program’s administrative coordinator. All requests to transfer courses into the PsyD degree program at the Georgia School of Professional Psychology at Argosy University, Atlanta must be submitted during the first academic year of the student’s enrollment.

Requests for transfer of credit are not granted until an applicant has been accepted into the program. A grade of “B” or better must have been obtained for any course submitted for transfer credit from another graduate institution. Of the allowed 30 credit hours, only 3 credit hours of general elective courses from a doctoral program in psychology may be transferred. The elective course submitted for transfer must correspond to an elective course that is offered in the PsyD degree program at the Georgia School of Professional Psychology at Argosy University, Atlanta. Courses from another Argosy University campus with the same course name and number at both campuses will automatically transfer if an acceptable grade (based on program requirements at the Georgia School of Professional Psychology at Argosy University, Atlanta) was received.

The following courses may not be transferred to the PsyD in Clinical Psychology degree program at the Georgia School of Professional Psychology at  Argosy University, Atlanta unless they are transferred from another Argosy University campus.

• PP7100 - Professional Issues: Ethics, Conduct, and Law  (3)
• PP7110 - Professionalization Group I  (1)
• PP7111 - Professionalization Group II  (1)
• PP7365 - Clinical Interviewing  (3)
• PP8201 - Practicum I  (3)
• PP8202 - Practicum II  (3)
• PP8203 - Practicum III  (3)
• PP8204 - Practicum IV  (3)

Transfer credit for diagnostic practicum and therapy practicum (PP8201-8204) will not be approved if the student’s practicum training requirements at another Argosy University campus differed substantially from practicum requirements for the PsyD degree program at the Georgia School of Professional Psychology at Argosy University, Atlanta.

Qualifying for the Master of Arts in Clinical Psychology Degree as a Doctor of Psychology in Clinical Psychology Program Student

Many students decide to pursue the MA in Clinical Psychology degree while earning the PsyD in Psychology in Clinical Psychology degree. Students can apply for the MA in Clinical Psychology degree after they have successfully completed all courses required in the first two years of the PsyD in Clinical Psychology degree program curriculum, including all requirements for Practicum and Seminar II (PP 8202 ).

The Diagnostic Practicum Competency Evaluation (DPCE; formerly the Final Project) in Practicum and Seminar II is designed to integrate didactic knowledge and clinical skills that students have the opportunity to gain in the first two years of the program, and requires a work sample, written case report, and self-critique of evaluation skills. Essentially, this project serves as a written, comprehensive examination of students’ knowledge of clinical assessment and theory.

Once students have successfully completed all required coursework and Practicum and Seminar II (PP 8202 ), they may petition to the Student Services Department to receive the MA in Clinical Psychology degree. The director of Student Services publishes deadlines for petitioning for the MA in Clinical Psychology degree each year.