Core Course Requirements — Students Are Required to Take the Following

• PP6150 - Introduction to Diverse Populations †§ (3)
• PP7100 - Professional Issues: Ethics, Conduct, and Law †§ (3)
• PP7000 - History and Systems ‡§ (3)
• PP7010 -  Lifespan Development †§ (3)
• PP7040 - Cognition and Affective Processes § (3)
• PP7050 - Physiological Psychology § (3)
• PP7060 - Social Psychology (3)
• PP7164 - Capstone Integrative Seminar (3)
• PP7200 - Statistics and Research I § (3)
• PP7201 - Statistics and Research II § (3)
• PP7300 - Psychopathology I †§ (3)
• PP7301 - Psychopathology II †§ (3)
• PP7340 - Issues in the Assessment and Treatment of Diverse Populations ‡§ **(3)
• PP7350 - Consultation and Supervision (3)
• PP7370 - Cognitive Assessment †§ (3)
• PP7371 - Objective Personality Assessment †§ (3)
• PP7372 - Projective Personality Assessment †§* (3)
• PP8010 - Cognitive Behavioral Theory and Therapy ‡§ (3)
• PP8020 - Person-Centered and Experiential Theory and Therapy ‡§ (3)
• PP8030 - Psychodynamic Theory and Therapy ‡§ (3)
• PP8035 - Basic Intervention Skills †§ (3)
• PP8051 - Systems Theory and Therapy ‡§ (3)
• PP8100 - Assessment and Treatment of Children and Families ‡§ (3)

Core Course Requirements —69 Credit Hours

Professionalization Group Requirements—Students Are Required to Take the Following

• PP7110 - Professionalization Group I †§ (1)
• PP7111 - Professionalization Group II †§ (1)

Professionalization Group Requirements—2 Credit Hours

Practicum and Practicum Seminar Requirements — Students Are Required to Take the Following¹

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

Practicum and Practicum Seminar Requirements—12 Credit Hours

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

• PP8500 - Clinical Research Project Seminar (1)
• PP8502 - Clinical Research Project II (1)
• PP8503 - Clinical Research Project III (1)

Clinical Research Project Requirements—3 Credit Hours

Internship Requirements— Students Are Required to Take the Following

• PP8900 -  Internship (0)

Internship Requirements—0 Credit Hour

Elective Requirements

Students are required to take 12 credit hours of electives chosen in consultation with their advisor. Alternatively, students may choose to complete an optional concentration that will be applied to their elective requirements. All elective courses are to be selected from the Clinical Psychology offerings in the catalog (courses beginning with PP). Electives need to be chosen from courses numbered PP7000 and higher.

Concentrations

Students enrolled  in the PsyD in Clinical Psychology degree program may choose one of four optional concentrations: Child and Family, Forensic, Health and Neuropsychology, and Trauma.

Students are strongly encouraged to select a CRP topic related to the area of concentration and work with an advisor with appropriate expertise in this area. Students are strongly encouraged to seek at least one training experience (practicum, advanced practicum or internship) involving work in the area of concentration.

Students are strongly encouraged to obtain either training experience or research experience in the area of concentration.

Professionalization Group Requirements

The Professionalization Group is a required experience for first-year students. The Professionalization Group meets once a week for an hour during the first two semesters the student is in the program. The Professionalization Group is designed to provide:

• An orientation to the PsyD in Clinical Psychology degree program at the Minnesota School of Professional Psychology at Argosy University
• An orientation to the profession of psychology
• The opportunity to get to know other first-year students

Professionalization Groups are led by a core faculty, who will provide a syllabus for the class. The Professionalization Group leader is automatically assigned as the academic advisor for entering students. For a more complete description of the advising process, see “Advisor Assignment” previously described in this program description.

Practicum and Practicum Seminar Requirements

Completion of two practica, the first focusing on assessment and the second focusing on interventions, must be completed for the doctoral degree program. Each of the two practica must meet each of the following requirements:

• The practicum is a  600 hour (minimum) experience.
• Students are expected to remain at one practicum site for the nine-month academic year or more, and must be at the practicum site a minimum of 20 hours per week.
• The practicum must extend over a minimum period of nine months. Practicum must begin at the beginning of the Fall semester and may extend into the following summer if negotiated in advance with the student.
• Students must attend a practicum seminar during the fall and spring semesters. Practicum seminars meet weekly while classes are in session.
• Students must enroll for the 3-credit hour courses Practicum I (PP 8201 ) and II (PP 8202 ) while in the Assessment Practicum, and the courses Practicum III (PP 8203 ) and IV (PP 8204 ) while in the Therapy Practicum.

The Minnesota School of Professional Psychology at Argosy University maintains a wide variety of clinical field sites. Most practica begin in September and end in May, although some sites may require work during the summer.  Students may not begin a practicum during the Summer term.  Each practicum takes place in a single agency, and the student must change agencies from the Assessment Practicum to the Therapy Practicum. A practicum may not be done in a student’s place of employment. The Training Department attempts to place students with extensive clinical backgrounds in practicum sites where they have not had previous clinical experience. All students on practicum are covered by professional liability insurance purchased through the school. This coverage is mandatory, even if the student is otherwise insured.

All practicum sites must be approved by an Assistant Director of Training (ADOT). Students may not apply to any practicum site without prior approval from an Assistant Director of Training. Students may not set up sites independently, but are encouraged to provide names of potential sites to the Training Department for follow up. The Training Department will provide students with a list of potential practicum sites to which they may apply. However, students must be accepted by the site for training at that site. The Minnesota School of Professional Psychology at Argosy University does not guarantee practicum placement. Most practicum sites are located in the Twin Cities metropolitan area, however in some cases the student may need to travel outside of the Twin Cities metropolitan area to obtain practicum training.

Eligibility for Practica

All students entering the practicum application process must be in good standing. Students should carefully plan to complete all required courses before the beginning of practicum. Exceptions to prerequisites for the practica are rarely considered, and must be approved by an Assistant Director of Training. With the exception of an optional First-Year Practicum, students must have been enrolled as a matriculated student at the Minnesota School of Professional Psychology at Argosy University for a minimum of two semesters before beginning a practicum. Course prerequisites for practicum are indicated on the list of course requirements  elsewhere in this catalog.

Students will not be allowed to apply for practicum placement  if there is concern about their ability to function competently and professionally at the training site. Students who are on academic probation are not permitted to apply for practicum. Exceptions to this policy may be granted by the Training Department. Students who have received a grade below a “B-” in prerequisite core clinical courses may not begin practicum until the course(s) have been retaken and a satisfactory grade has been earned. The departmental Student Professional Development Committee may stipulate that a student delay application for practicum as part of an overall remediation plan for the student.

Practicum Training Sites

The Minnesota School of Professional Psychology at Argosy University list of approved practicum sites includes a wide variety of training locations: mental health centers, psychiatric hospitals, schools, college counseling centers, outpatient clinics, treatment centers for the developmentally disabled, chemical dependency treatment programs, plus a variety of specialized programs, such as eating disorder programs, pain programs, and rehabilitation centers.

Students need a minimum of two hours of supervision per week; one hour of which is individual, face-to-face with a doctoral-level licensed psychologist. Supervision by the licensed psychologist should occur at a regularly scheduled time each week and MUST be a one hour block of time. The second hour may be a one hour block of time in individual or group supervision with any appropriate licensed mental health professional.  These supervisory hours should be regularly scheduled and continue throughout the training year. The Minnestoa School of Professional Psychology at Argosy University has no financial obligation with its training sites. The student, the Minnesota School of Professional Psychology at Argosy University, and the training site enter into a relationship in which the student delivers service in exchange for clinical supervision.

Once a student has accepted a practicum site, the site supervisor, student, and an Assistant Director of Training will complete the Practicum Agreement Form. Students may not withdraw from a site they have accepted.  By accepting a practicum site, a student makes a professional and ethical commitment to a site; students must conduct themselves accordingly.

Practicum Application Process

Detailed procedures for all levels of the practicum application process are provided in The Training Manual which is distributed to students at multiple times throughout the year to students.  Mandatory practicum preparation sessions are held in the Fall semester to orient students to the  application process. Students are matched to practicum sites through a process of mutual selection. Students give the Training Department up to six sites that they believe match their training interests. The Training Department reviews each student’s selections and weighs these selections with the student’s training needs and site availability. The Training Department then assigns each student three or four sites to which to apply. Students are required to apply to all sites assigned; failure to do so may result in the student not being placed for the practicum.

Students may only apply to practicum sites assigned by the Training Department. Practicum site supervisors expect that applicants have been referred to them by the Training Department and that all clinical training is coordinated through the school. Students who do not follow these guidelines can expect disciplinary action.

Practicum sites vary considerably in how and when they interview and select students. Minnesota School of Professional Psychology at Argosy University students, as well as students from other graduate programs, compete for practicum sites. Students should apply, conduct interviews, and accept/decline practicum positions with the utmost professionalism.

When students receive an offer, they may ask that site supervisor for a reasonable period of time to complete interviewing at other sites; reasonable means up to five business days. Once a student accepts an offer, that acceptance is binding. The student should then notify other sites of his or her withdrawal from candidacy and thank them for their consideration.

Students must inform the Training Department immediately after accepting a practicum site and complete the Practicum Agreement Form. This form identifies the student, the site, the supervisor, and the approximate days and times the student will be  at the site. The student is responsible for completing this form and returning it to the Training Department with all appropriate signatures. Changes in the agreement are not to be made without prior approval of an Assistant Director of Training.

Because of the different treatment philosophies at each practicum site, students are encouraged to consult the practicum resource materials and the Training Department in order to select the practicum sites best matching their training interests. Students can also use the application interview with the site supervisors to learn as much as possible about the practicum site.

Students should pay attention to their relationship with the site supervisor. The supervisory relationship is designed to provide an excellent opportunity for students to discover a great deal about themselves and their impact on others. “Goodness of fit” in the practicum also applies to the match between supervisor and student.

Practicum Seminar Requirements

All practicum students are required to attend a practicum seminar. This seminar is a ”No Credit”,  one hour meeting, occurring weekly during the fall and spring semesters (September through mid-April). Attendance at the practicum seminar is required.

Students regularly present tapes and diagnostic reports in order to reach the competency necessary to pass the diagnostic interviewing and case formulation section of the Clinical Competency Evaluation CCE).

Assessment Practicum Requirements

The Assessment Practicum teaches students clinical assessment techniques and diagnostic formulation so that appropriate clinical services can be recommended. By the end of the practicum, students are expected to be able to demonstrate the necessary psychological knowledge base, the basic clinical assessment skills, and the appropriate professional attitudes necessary to perform effective diagnostic interviewing and assessment. The practicum supervisor evaluates the student’s progress on these criterion areas of competency.

Practicum sites vary in the kinds of interviews conducted, psychological tests administered, and populations served. However, all students in the assessment practicum are expected to gain experience in interviewing, psychological testing, and psychological report writing. Students must complete a minimum of 12 comprehensive written psychological reports over the course of the practicum.

Therapy Practicum Requirements

The Therapy Practicum teaches intervention skills. Minnesota School of Professional Psychology at Argosy University does not favor a particular theoretical orientation. The faculty and curriculum represent many major clinical orientations. Students are encouraged to keep an open mind about their theoretical  orientation in order to get the full benefit of this exposure.  With time and experience, students will settle into a theoretical orientation and develop the personal style that best suits them as individuals.

Students are cautioned that it is unrealistic to expect that they can participate in the entire spectrum of clinical experiences and therapy modalities in their Therapy Practicum; nor will this one training experience decide their clinical futures. The therapy practicum involves a “goodness of fit,” namely, the ability of the student to adjust to and work in an established program in a way that is mutually beneficial to the training site and to the student’s professional growth. The learning that takes place in such an environment will transfer to other clinical situations and become an integral part of the foundation for sound clinical practice.  Students must complete a minimum of 200 face-to-face client contact intervention hours by the end of the Therapy Practicum.

Evaluation of Student Progress in Practicum

Student performance in the practicum is assessed in basic areas of clinical functioning, including:

• Theoretical knowledge base
• Clinical skills
• Professional/ethical attitudes and behavior.

Performance at the practicum site is evaluated each semester by the assigned practicum site supervisor(s). Performance in the practicum seminar is evaluated each semester by the seminar leader. These evaluations must be completed using the approved forms, and will review both strengths and weaknesses.

If students are experiencing problems at their practicum site, they should consult first with their site supervisor(s), then with the practicum seminar leader, and finally with an Assistant Director of Training. Practicum supervisors are also encouraged to immediately contact the Training Department with any concerns about students.  Obtaining a passing evaluation from a site supervisor and satisfactory completion of practicum seminar requirements (all levels of practicum training) does not guarantee a “CR” grade. All practicum are graded on a “Credit” (“CR”) or “No Credit” (“NC”) basis. Students are initially assigned a grade of “Progressing” (“PR”) for their practicum work each semester.

The final grade of “CR” or “NC” is assigned by the director or a co-director of Practicum Training when all documentation in support of the student’s practicum experience (assessment or therapy) has been received and reviewed. Required documentation includes:

• Practicum supervisor evaluations
• Faculty seminar leader evaluations
• CCE evaluations completed by the faculty seminar leader.

Unsatisfactory ratings on any of these evaluations may be grounds for granting a grade of “NC” for the practicum. Students may not receive partial credit for a practicum. If a student receives a grade of “NC” for a practicum, the entire practicum must be repeated. An “NC” grade for practicum is equivalent to a grade of “F.” The receipt of two grades of “NC” (the equivalent of two “F” grades) for practicum is grounds for dismissal from the program.

Optional Practicum Experiences

In addition to the practicum experiences required to fulfill the degree requirement, students may choose to complete optional practicum experiences: First Year Practicum and Advanced Practicum.

Optional First-Year Practicum Requirements

There are opportunities to gain practicum hours before the required assessment practicum. This may be done during the student’s first year at the Minnesota School of Professional Psychology at Argosy University. The Training Department will assist students who are interested in a First Year Practicum to find an appropriate site, which must be approved by the training department in order to receive credit for the practicum. Students who have little previous experience in psychology are strongly encouraged to complete a first year practicum to bolster their experience and increase their chances of placement for assessment practicum. Credits accumulated for First Year Practicum do not count towards the 98 credit hours required to fulfill degree requirements.

• The practicum must be done in consultation with the Training Department. The student must register for PP 8150 , First Year Practicum, for each term he or she is involved in this experience.
• A Practicum  Agreement Form is required and must be on file at the Minnesota School of Professional Psychology at Argosy University prior to starting the practicum. Progress will be evaluated each semester. The student will also evaluate the practicum site each semester.
• A seminar is not required for First-Year Practicum but the student must meet with a designated faculty member once a month. The supervision of the practicum will be done by the site supervisor.

Optional Advanced Practicum Requirements

Students may opt to do a practicum beyond the required Assessment and Therapy Practica to seek additional assessment or therapy training to strengthen certain areas or to increase the breadth of their training.  The faculty encourage students to seek advanced clinical training.  Advanced practicum is an optional experience with flexible parameters, typically conducted in the student’s fourth year of the program. Students arrange for these placements on a term-by-term basis. The minimum commitment is 10 hours a week for 15 weeks (150 total hours). The maximum commitment is 40 hours a week for 12 months (approx. 2000 total hours). Students are expected to start at the beginning and end at the end of academic terms.

Advanced practicum is intended to supplement a student’s other clinical training, provide opportunities to deepen training in areas of interest, strengthen skills in basic areas, or broaden out into previously unexplored clinical areas or populations.

All advanced practicum students receive a minimum of one hour of individual supervision each week with a doctoral level licensed psychologist and at least one additional hour of supervision each week, which may be in a group or individual format supervised by a licensed mental health professional (e.g., MA LP, LMFT, LiCSW, LPCC).

Students attend biweekly advanced practicum seminars at school facilitated by Clinical Psychology faculty. The practicum seminar provides support and education, but not supervision. Seminar is intended to allow practice in peer consultation and expose students to the role of a psychologist in diverse settings. The site supervisor and seminar leader are encouraged to coordinate their training efforts. Credits accumulated for this experience do not count towards the 98 credit hours required to fulfill degree requirements.

In addition to the requirements listed above:

• The advanced practicum must be obtained in consultation with the Training Department.
• The student must be in good standing.
• The student is required to register for 1 credit hour each semester.
• The student is required to have a completed Advanced Practicum Agreement on file at the Minnesota School of Professional Psychology at Argosy University.
• Progress will be evaluated each semester. The student will also evaluate his/her practicum experience each semester.
• The student is required to register for and attend an advanced practicum seminar.

Detailed policies and procedures regarding all levels of practicum training are provided in the Training Manual.  This document is distributed to students as they begin the practicum application process and updates are provided on an ongoing basis.

Comprehensive Examination Requirements

All doctoral degree program students are required to successfully complete a Comprehensive Examination.

The Comprehensive Examination covers material in the courses and required training activities during the first two or three years of study at the Minnesota School of Professional Psychology at Argosy University. The examination requires students to integrate the material from those years into a form demonstrating both mastery of the factual and conceptual material and the ability to apply what they have learned in a coherent and practical manner. Responses to the examination questions should also demonstrate the ability to think critically about issues in clinical psychology.

Comprehensive Examination Prerequisites

To be able to sit for the Comprehensive Examination, the student must have successfully completed or transferred all the prerequisite courses listed in this catalog. Students taking the Comprehensive Examination must be in good standing and have a grade point average (GPA) of 3.0.

Procedures for Comprehensive Examination

Students are required to take the Comprehensive Examination no later than the beginning of the fifth year after matriculation. This exam must be completed one year prior to the student’s internship year (i.e., not in the summer immediately prior to their internship starting in the fall). The  Comprehensive Examination consists of a take-home examination. The examination is offered once a year. Students interested in taking the Comprehensive Examination should fill out the request form to do so during the semester prior to taking the exam. Students are allowed two opportunities to take and pass the Comprehensive Examination. After the second failure, a student is automatically dismissed from the program. Detailed guidelines for completing the Comprehensive Examination, as well as grading procedures, are contained in the Comprehensive  Examination Guidelines booklet.

Clinical Competency Evaluation (CCE) Requirements

The CCE constitutes a series of competency based checkpoints designed to evaluate the student’s mastery of major clinical assessment and intervention skills. These evaluations take place at designated times prior to the student becoming eligible for internship. The CCE requirements monitor the growth of the student’s acquisition of clinical skills.

Demonstration of competency at each CCE task is a prerequisite for advancing to the next level of training.

Specific CCE checkpoints are built into the curriculum as requirements for the two practicum seminars and in the Comprehensive Examination.

Assessment Practicum Checkpoint

Competencies:   Assessment integration and report writing, oral case presentation, diagnostic interviewing, application of ethical principles and issues in assessment, critical self self-evaluation.

Therapy Practicum Checkpoint

Competencies:   Basic relationship and counseling skills, oral and written therapy case presentation, application of ethical principles and issues in interventions, critical self evaluation.

Comprehensive Examination Checkpoint

Competency:   Ability to apply knowledge gained in the first two-three years of coursework to clinical situations

Grading of the Clinical Competency Evaluation

Practicum seminar leaders will distribute material about how to complete the assessment and psychotherapy CCE tasks and the criteria for passing. A student who does not pass the CCE will be given one chance to repeat it.  At the seminar leader’s discretion, a different case may be required.  All requirements related to the CCE must be completed and passed within four weeks following the beginning of the Summer term.   Seminar leaders refer students who are unable to achieve mastery to an Assistant Director of Training for remediation. Each CCE task must be completed before advancing to the next level of training.

Clinical Research Project Requirements

The Minnesota School of Professional Psychology at Argosy University requires each doctoral degree program student to develop a Clinical Research Project (CRP) as a requirement for graduation. The primary purpose of the Clinical Research Project is to refine the skills necessary for the production of a scholarly piece of work in an area of clinical psychology. In the course of conducting the project, students are expected to deepen their knowledge about a particular area of clinical psychology, to enhance their critical thinking and writing skills, to develop and apply skills in research methodology, and to  experience a working relationship with a faculty mentor. Detailed requirements for completing the Clinical Research Project are found in the Minnesota School of Professional Psychology at Argosy University CRP Manual.

Procedures

Doctoral degree program students should plan to begin work on the Clinical Research Project during the second year of classwork. Complete information about procedures for completing this project is given in the Minnesota School of Professional Psychology at Argosy University CRP Manual. Students will follow procedures delineated in the Minnesota School of Professional Psychology at Argosy University CRP Manual. The final bound version of the Clinical Research Project is considered a published document, and is housed permanently in the library.As such it must conform to the editorial standards outlined in the CRP Style Manual. Students are expected to complete their CRP prior to starting their internship.

Students who have completed their internship but have not completed the Clinical Research Project must register for PP 8504 Clinical Research Project — Extended  each semester, including summer, until the Clinical Research Project is completed or the seven-year limit is reached. Students registered for PP 8504 Clinical Research Project — Extended   must file a Clinical Research Project Progress Report by the end of each semester in order to be eligible to register the next semester. Students who have passed the seven-year limit for completing all degree requirements must secure the permission of the Program Chair in order to register.

Internship Requirements

The internship is typically completed during the fifth year of graduate studies, after all coursework is finished. The internship must be completed within the overall seven-year time limit for completing the doctoral degree program. Internships normally require a full-time commitment for 12 months, although half-time internships extending for 24 months are possible. A student may not apply for an internship without the approval of the Director of Training. All internships must be approved by the Director of Training.

The following requirements must be met before a student may submit internship applications:

• The student must be in good standing in the program, and have a grade point average (GPA) of at least 3.0 (on a scale of 4.0).
• All coursework must either be completed or scheduled to be completed prior to the anticipated start of the internship.
• The Comprehensive Examination must be successfully passed.
• The Clinical Research Project proposal must have received approval from the Departmental Review Committee.
• Approval to apply for internship(s) must be granted by the Director of Training.

In addition to the above requirements, the following requirements must be met before the student begins the internship. If these requirements are not met, the student may be withdrawn from  the internship:

• Satisfactory completion of all required courses, with no grades of “Incomplete” or “In Progress” on the student’s record. (Clinical Research Project II (PP 8502 ) and III (PP 8503 ) are an exception to this requirement)
• Successful completion of all parts of the Clinical Competency Evaluation (CCE).
• The Clinical Research Project proposal must be approved by the Institutional Review Board (IRB).

Internship Application Procedures

Before a student applies for internship, the Director of Training reviews the student’s academic and training file. This review focuses on an intern applicant’s strengths and training needs, as stated by practicum supervisors, practicum seminar leaders, and course instructors. The Director of Training assesses whether the student has acquired solid theoretical knowledge, effective clinical skills, and appropriate professional attitudes. All intern applicants review their training interests and needs with the Director of Training. Each student assesses his or her areas of professional competence and develops a one page statement of training goals. The Director of Training writes a statement of areas of particular strength and potential development based on the review of the student’s files and the student’s’ assessment of his/her own strengths and weaknesses.

The student is required to first apply to sites participating in the National Match Service and listed with APPIC. All applications for local or non-APPIC sites must be made through and with the approval of the Director of Training. No student may apply for an internship without prior approval from the Director of Training.

It is the student’s responsibility to initiate and follow through with all internship application procedures. The Director of Training assists in this process in a number of ways:

• Supplying internship information and resource materials
• Advising students on choice of sites
• Writing statements of areas of particular strength and potential development.
• Providing students with the Association of Psychology Postdoctoral and Internship Centers (APPIC) internship selection procedures

Uniform Standards for Minnesota School of Professional Psychology at Argosy University Internships

Successfully completing a Minnesota School of Professional Psychology at Argosy University approved pre-doctoral internship is required for graduating with the degree of Doctor of Psychology (PsyD) in clinical psychology.

The Minnesota School of Professional Psychology at Argosy University encourages all of its students to obtain American Psychological Association approved internships. Non-APA approved internships affiliated with APPIC are acceptable.

The Director of Training must review and approve all other internship programs. Standards for Minnesota School of Professional Psychology at Argosy University, Twin Cities approved internships are listed in the Minnesota School of Professional Psychology at Argosy University Internship Manual.

Following Internship Acceptance

Interns vary in their needs and goals for their internship. The Director of Training consults with students to focus on their individual training strengths, weaknesses, and goals. Students develop a statement identifying their training strengths and weaknesses and establishing training goals. The student and the Director of Training work to develop the underpinnings of a learning contract that meets the learning objectives of each intern. This is in keeping with the philosophy that the internship year is primarily a training period, as opposed to a year of work in which delivery of services is primary. This process is designed to enable students to develop the knowledge, skills, and attitudes necessary to be a competent professional. The final learning contract is developed at the site within the first 45 days of the internship. This is sent to the school for final review and approval.

The Director of Training maintains contact with internship sites and supervisors throughout the training period. During these contacts, the Training Department reviews the student’s progress, based on the learning contract developed by the student and the Director of Training. Site visits may be made as needed.

At least twice a year, evaluation forms are provided to and completed by the internship supervisor. The supervisor assesses the student’s progress, competence, and performance in terms of the learning objectives and other factors of importance to the internship site. The Director of Training reviews these forms, monitoring ratings, progress, and areas of difficulty. All evaluations are kept as part of the student’s permanent training record. At the end of the internship, a Certificate of Completion and a final evaluation form are forwarded to the Director of Training. Once received, the director of Internship Training notifies the Director of Student Services. Achievement of a passing final evaluation from the student’s internship site supervisor and receipt of the Certificate of Completion does not guarantee a passing grade of “CR”.

The internship is not considered finished until the Certificate of Completion is received by the Director of Training, even if a final evaluation of the student has been received.  At that point, the student’s credit hours will be updated to reflect completion of the internship requirement.

Students who fail the internship, or who need to leave early for any reason, such as health concerns, must repeat the entire 2000-hour internship. Additional information about the details of the internship process is provided in the Internship Manual. This document is distributed to students as they begin the internship application process.

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

This course sequence is designed to provide a recommendation for which years students should complete coursework. Several core courses are offered only once per academic year.  Student progress through the 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. In addition, certain advanced courses 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 a registration for that course can be considered official. A listing of the  prerequisites for courses in the PsyD in Clinical Psychology degree program is printed in each Registration Bulletin.

Qualifying for the Master of Arts (MA) in Clinical Psychology Degree as a Student in the Doctor of Psychology (PsyD) in Clinical Psychology Degree Program

Students in the PsyD in Clinical Psychology degree program who wish to earn a MA in Clinical Psychology degree while working toward the doctorate must petition for the degree and complete the approved PsyD in Clinical Psychology degree program courses and clinical training consistent with the requirements of the Master of Arts in Clinical Psychology degree, including the completion of one year of practicum training and the Master’s Integrative Paper. The PsyD in Clinical Psychology degree program at the Minnesota School of Professional Psychology at Argosy University does  not award a terminal MA in Clinical Psychology degree.

Course/Credit Transfer

Transfer of Courses/Credit in the PsyD in Clinical Psychology Degree Program from other Graduate Programs

Students who have completed graduate coursework at another institution, including another Argosy University campus, 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:

• Courses used to waive a required course must be equivalent in content to the course being waived. It is the responsibility of the student to document course equivalency.
• The course must have been taken no more than five years prior to enrollment at Argosy University, Twin Cities, unless the student can present evidence of ongoing work experience or continuing education in that area.
• 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 or courses submitted for credit transfer of a 3-credit hour course must 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 transfer/waiver requests must by submitted within one year of matriculating into the PsyD in Clinical Psychology degree program.
• In special circumstances, a maximum of two courses can be submitted to transfer/waive one 3 credit PsyD in Clinical Psychology course offered at Argosy University, Twin Cities. The total number of credit hours of the two courses must be equal to, or greater than 3 credit hours.

All course transfer requests must be submitted to the Clinical Psychology administrative assistant. Students are strongly encouraged to submit transfer/waiver requests before or during the first semester of enrollment in the program. 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. No transfer credit will be given for courses taken elsewhere after matriculation into a degree program at Argosy University, Twin Cities.

Transfer of Courses/Credit from another Argosy University Campus or Argosy University, Twin Cities Program

Students who transfer courses/credit from another Argosy University campus to the Minnesota 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 are required to submit course transfer/waiver requests for all courses successfully completed at another Argosy University campus or Argosy University, Twin Cities program in the College of Behavioral Sciences.

Online and Blended Courses

Students enrolled in the Minnesota School of Professional Psychology at Argosy University PsyD in Clinical Psychology degree program are not eligible to complete required core coursework online. Students may choose to take elective offerings available online through Argosy University’s campuses. In order to be counted toward fulfillment of graduation requirements, all online and blended courses must be approved by the program chair. Students are responsible for obtaining prior written approval from the program chair for all online and blended courses.