Program Requirements

Students enrolled in the PsyD in Clinical Psychology degree program  at the Arizona School of Professional Psychology at Argosy University are required to satisfactorily complete 98 semester credit hours distributed as follows: assessment requirements, 12 credit hours; clinical intervention and psychotherapy requirements, 24 credit hours; consultation and supervision requirements, 3 credit hours; elective requirements, 12 credit hours; ethics and professional conduct requirements, 5 credit hours; human development requirements, 3 credit hours; psychology foundations: basic science/psychology requirements, 12 credit hours; psychopathology requirements, 6 credit hours; statistics and research methods requirements, 6 credit hours; practicum and practicum seminar requirements, 12 credit hours; and clinical research project requirements, 3 credit hours.

Elective Requirements

12 credit hours of electives are available for advanced general studies or specialization areas. All students will be required to take 3 credit hours of coursework that qualify as advanced interventions and 3 credit hours of coursework that focus on special populations.

Neuropsychology Concentration Requirements

Students who select the Neuropsychology concentration are required to complete a minimum of 12 credit hours (six credit hours in each of the two areas listed below) which are applied to the elective requirements of the PsyD in Clinical Psychology degree program.  They must also complete a practicum in a neuropsychological setting and Clinical Research Project in the area  of Neuropsychology.

Professionalization Group Requirements

During the first year, students participate in weekly Professionalization Groups that focus on topics related to professional psychology. Through readings and discussions led by a faculty member, students can begin to develop a professional identity and become familiar with current issues in clinical psychology. The groups are designed to provide a comfortable environment in which students can freely exchange concerns, questions, and issues relevant to their studies and their future careers. The faculty member who leads the student’s Professionalization Group also serves as his/her academic advisor.

Practicum and Practicum Seminar Requirements

The practicums are designed to provide opportunities for students to gain clinical field training by working under supervision with a clinical population in a behavioral health delivery system. Practicums are an essential part of clinical training, and all students are required to participate in two years of practicum experience, typically during their second and third years of study. During each year of practicum, students participate in a practicum seminar.

PsyD in Clinical Psychology degree program students are usually assigned to interview at a practicum site the year prior to undertaking the experience. Site supervisors decide who they accept. Each practicum requires a minimum of 500 hours (approximately 16 hours per week) of clinical training. One half of the practicum hours should be in direct client contact. The practicum/seminar carries 3 credit hours per semester, or 6 credit hours per academic year.

Practicum sites require placements for either ten or twelve months. All Arizona School of Professional Psychology at Argosy University students enrolled in practicum meet in a weekly, ninety minute, year-long practicum seminar led by a faculty member. A practicum may not be done in a student’s place of employment, nor are practicums requirements waived.

All students placed on practicum are covered by professional liability insurance, purchased through the school. This coverage is mandatory even if the student is otherwise insured. Payment for insurance coverage is made through the Student Services Department at the time of practicum registration. Students are strongly encouraged to purchase their own professional liability insurance in addition to the school policy.

Students are expected to demonstrate mastery of the necessary psychological knowledge base, learn basic clinical assessment and intervention skills, and demonstrate appropriate professional attitudes throughout the practicum. Evaluation of student progress will be based on these domains.

Students may not register for two practicums simultaneously. Students may not repeat any practicum site for a second year, except as advanced practicum, in which case, it cannot be substituted for an elective course. Students may not register for practicum seminar for a second year with the same practicum seminar instructor.

Clinical Evaluation Competency Requirements

The Clinical Evaluation Competency (CEC) requires each student to present a diagnostic interview and conceptual analysis in writing resulting in a case formulation, diagnostic formulation, and recommendations for treatment relevant to the case conceptualization. The purpose of the CEC is to monitor the growth and development of the school’s standard of clinical competency.

The CEC ensures that students are prepared to demonstrate their conceptual abilities, theoretical knowledge, and applied clinical skills in class and in supervised clinical field training. Faculty evaluators assess the student’s fund of knowledge regarding the foundations of clinical psychology, the student’s ability to manage a clinical interview, and the student’s ability to arrive at an accurate diagnostic and case formulation. Students are also evaluated on their ability to make appropriate and individualized treatment recommendations based on their case formulation and evidence-based practices.  Students will also be evaluated on their ability to systematically evaluate the outcomes of their interventions.   Students must pass the CEC prior to beginning the second year of practicum. The CEC is due during the summer semester of the student’s first practicum year.

Students should refer to the Clinical Evaluation Competency Manual for complete information concerning the requirements and process for completing the CEC.

Clinical Comprehensive Examination (CCE) Requirements

The Clinical Comprehensive Examination (CCE) requires each student to present a treatment summary, case presentation, and case analysis in writing. Following successful passage of the written analysis and work sample, the student schedules an oral defense with her/his seminar faculty and an additional faculty member. During the oral defense, the student answers questions based, in part, upon the CCE materials. Additionally, the student’s fund of knowledge regarding foundations in clinical psychology will be assessed. This format is designed to provide an assessment of the student’s clinical reasoning within diverse conceptual frames, specifically with regard to the ability to gather and use clinical data; to devise a treatment plan; and to direct interventions appropriately and in accordance with this plan and evidence-based practices.  Students will also be evaluated on their ability to systematically evaluate the outcomes of their interventions.

The CCE requirement is met by submitting a tape and transcript or other approved sample of a psychotherapy interview that the student has conducted with a client and a case formulation report, including a self-critique. This tape cannot have been submitted either in the school or outside of it for review, supervision or critique. The CCE is due during the summer semester of the second practicum.

A student is ineligible for internship until he or she has passed the CCE. In the event of a failure, the examination may be re-taken once. Students should refer to the Clinical Comprehensive Examination document for complete information concerning the requirements and process for completing the CCE.

Clinical Research Project Requirements

Each doctoral degree program student is required to develop a Clinical Research Project (CRP) as a requirement for graduation. The CRP is intended to provide students with an opportunity to deepen their knowledge and thought about a particular clinical area, to demonstrate the ability to analyze methodological issues, and to produce an original piece of scholarly work in the field of clinical psychology.

The philosophy of the PsyD in Clinical Psychology degree program faculty with respect to research, research skills, and the CRP is consistent throughout the program. In our practitioner-scholar model, we expect our students to understand research and use research findings as a primary resource for their clinical work. We expect our students to read current research articles and understand the methods and statistics, draw appropriate conclusions from research, and critique research in terms of internal and external validity. All of these skills are important and necessary when integrating information in our field and, more generally, in being a qualified clinical psychologist. We do not expect that most students will be involved in publishing large-scale scientific studies. They may, however, be involved in case studies, evaluation research, and qualitative research. Types of projects that are acceptable for the CRP include a broad range of qualitative and quantitative methods.

Students should refer to the Clinical Research Project manual for complete information concerning the requirements and process for completing the CRP.

Registration for Clinical Research Project

Students must register for a minimum of 3 credit hours of CRP during one, two, or three semesters. Students must be registered for CRP when they defend their proposal, while they are using faculty committee time and Arizona School of Professional Psychology at Argosy University resources, and when they defend the final project. If the CRP has not been successfully completed after completion of 3 credit hours, students must continuously register for 1 credit hour per semester until it is completed. Students must defend the CRP proposal by March 31 preceding application for internship and must complete the CRP prior to submitting rankings for internship or accepting an internship offer.

Internship Requirements

All doctoral degree program students are required to complete a 2,000-hour internship as a condition for graduation. This intensive and supervised contact with clients is essential for giving greater breadth and depth to the student’s overall clinical experience. Typically, full-time students will begin the internship during their fifth year of enrollment. Meetings held each spring semester provide a comprehensive overview of the policies, procedures, and requirements of the internship. To be eligible to begin internship, students must be in good standing and must have completed all program requirements, including:

• Successful completion of the Clinical Evaluation Competency
• Successful completion of the Clinical Comprehensive Examination
• Successful completion of all coursework, with no “Incomplete” grades
• Successful completion of the Clinical Research Project

Internship Application Procedures

The Clinical Training Department actively provides guidance and support for students throughout the internship search process — in both group and individual formats. The following are the general steps in the process:

1. Students are required to complete an APPIC-member internship.
2. The student arranges to have Arizona School of Professional Psychology at Argosy University faculty members and practicum supervisors write letters of recommendation on his or her behalf.
3. The student meets with the director of Clinical Training or assistant director of Clinical Training to review the student’s eligibility and to discuss procedures related to the internship application process.
4. The student researches a range of internship sites both in the Phoenix area and nationally. Various resources are available to conduct this research, such as the APPIC directory the Web sites of APPIC and internship sites, and files available in the Clinical Training Department office.
5. The student submits a list of internship sites that he or she is requesting approval to apply to. The Clinical Training Department carefully reviews all applicants’ requests and decides which sites to approve based on compatibility and site application limits.
6. The student sends application materials directly to his or her approved sites. The Clinical Training Department will coordinate the processing and sending of letters of recommendation as well as other necessary documents (e.g. APPIC verification of the applicant’s eligibility and readiness).
7. The student arranges to meet with internship personnel at those sites where they are offered interviews.
8. The Clinical Training Department assists the student in preparing for Uniform Notification Day in February when students will receive their match results online through the National Matching Service Web site.
9. In the event a student does not receive an internship on Uniform Notification Day, the Clinical Training Department provides guidance and assistance to him or her in continuing the search process.
10. Students will be permitted to begin their internship if they are in good academic standing, have completed all PsyD in Clinical Psychology academic requirements (including any course incompletes), and have successfully completed the CEC, CCE and CRP.

Internship Evaluation and Remediation

Internship supervisors complete a mid-year and final internship progress report. These forms provide an evaluation of the student’s progress, competence, and performance relative to the learning objectives as well as other factors of importance to the internship site program. These forms are carefully reviewed by the Clinical Training Department to make sure that the student is making satisfactory progress.

The Clinical Training Department actively works to address areas of significant difficulties, and, as necessary, coordinates a remediation plan in collaboration with the internship site supervisor. If, at any point during the internship process, a student is in need of remediation, the Arizona School of Professional Psychology at Argosy University Clinical Training Committee will work with the internship site to develop and/or implement a remediation plan. At the completion of the internship year, the Clinical Training Committee makes the final determination regarding the satisfactory completion of internship requirements. If post-internship remedial work is required, the student, the Clinical Training Department, and the internship site director will develop a written contract specifying clinical areas needing improvement, methods by which such improvement will be achieved, and criteria by which improvement will be measured. Following this collaboration, the Clinical Training Department will continue its oversight of the student’s training and remediation, and when criteria for improvement have been met, will issue final approval regarding internship completion. Both the process and outcome of an internship remediation are subject to student appeal and hearing by the Appeals Board.
 

Recommended Course Sequence for the Doctor of Psychology in Clinical Psychology Degree Program at the Arizona School of Professional Psychology at Argosy University— Five-Year Curriculum

Student progress through the PsyD in Clinical Psychology degree program is intended to be sequential. Certain courses are offered to first-year students that are designed to provide a theoretical and practical foundation for courses that will follow in subsequent years. Certain advanced courses also require the student to have the background of more basic courses in order to benefit fully from the course experience. Students must satisfy all stated prerequisites for a course before registration for that course can be considered official.

Course/Credit Transfer

 Transfer of Courses/Credit from another Institution

Students who have completed graduate coursework at another institution may petition for transfer of courses in the PsyD in Clinical Psychology degree program up to a maximum of 30 credit hours (10 courses). For a course to be considered eligible for transfer, the following conditions must be met:

• The course must have been taken no more than five years prior to enrollment at the Arizona School of Professional Psychology at Argosy University, unless the student can present evidence of ongoing work experience or continuing education in that area, or passes an approved examination for the course.
• The course must have been a graduate-level course, taken for graduate-level credit at a regionally accredited institution. In the case of an institution outside of the United States, the appropriate state or national accreditation is required.
• The course submitted for credit transfer of a 3-credit hour course must itself be at least 3 credit hours.
• The student must have earned a grade of “B” or above in the course.
• Practicum, practicum seminars and the first-year Professionalization Group are not eligible for transfer.

All course transfer requests must be submitted to the Student Services Department before or during the first year of enrollment in the program. Request forms are available from the Student Services Department. A separate form must be submitted for each course request. The transfer request must be accompanied by a transcript reflecting completion of the course and the grade received, along with other supporting documentation, such as course description, syllabus, and work samples. The request will be reviewed and a decision rendered within four weeks of the request. If approved, the transferred course and credit hours will appear on the student’s transcript as a “transfer course” under the corresponding course number and title. No transfer credit will be given for courses taken elsewhere after matriculation into the PsyD in Clinical Psychology degree program at the Arizona School of Professional Psychology at Argosy University.

Transfer of Courses/Credit from another Argosy University Campus

Students who transfer from another Argosy University campus to the Arizona School of Professional Psychology at Argosy University  may receive credit for a course taken at the original campus, including professionalization group and practicum, if the course is identical to the one offered at this campus. In cases where the course is similar but not identical, the campus has the option to review for approval or denial.

Students at the Arizona School of Professional Psychology at Argosy University who wish to submit transfer requests for courses taken at another Argosy University campus must do so before or during the first year of enrollment at the Arizona School of Professional Psychology at Argosy University.

With prior approval of advisor and campus dean or program chair, students are allowed to take up to 6 credit hours of coursework at another Argosy University campus School of Professional Psychology, exclusive of Professionalization Group, practicum, Clinical Research Project, and online courses.

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

Students who are enrolled in the PsyD in Clinical Psychology degree program at the Arizona School of Professional Psychology at Argosy University who wish to be awarded the MA in Clinical Psychology degree during their program must meet the following requirements:

• Successful completion of the minimum required number of credit hours (50) for the MA in Clinical Psychology degree
• Successful completion of all courses that are required in the MA in Clinical Psychology degree program curriculum, even if they exceed the minimum required number of credit hours for the degree (see table below)
•  Successful completion of the Clinical Evaluation Competency required in the first doctoral practicum
• A completed Petition to Graduate submitted to campus administration