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2015-2016 Argosy University Academic Catalog—Graduate Programs | Volume 6, Issue 1 [ARCHIVED CATALOG]
Doctor of Psychology in Clinical Psychology Degree Program—Illinois School of Professional Psychology at Argosy University | Schaumburg
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Program Overview
The Doctor of Psychology (PsyD) in Clinical Psychology degree program has been designed to educate and train students to function effectively as clinical psychologists. To ensure that students are prepared adequately, the curriculum is designed to provide for the meaningful integration of theory, training, and practice. The PsyD in Clinical Psychology degree program at the Illinois School of Professional Psychology at Argosy University | Schaumburg is designed to emphasize the development of attitudes, knowledge and skills essential in the formation of professional psychologists who are committed to the ethical provision of quality services. Specific objectives of the program include the following:
- The training of practitioners capable of delivering diagnostic and therapeutic services effectively to diverse populations of clients in need of such treatment;
- The development of mental health practitioners who understand the biological, psychological and sociological bases of human functioning;
- The training of practitioners who are capable of exercising leadership both in the health care delivery system and in the training of mental health professionals;
- The preparation of mental health practitioners capable of expanding the role of psychologists within society;
- The education of psychologists capable of working with other disciplines as part of a professional team.
Students enrolled in the PsyD in Clinical Psychology program at the Illinois School of Professional Psychology at Argosy University | Schaumburg may choose to focus on one of four optional concentrations:
- Child & Family Psychology
- Clinical Health Psychology
- Forensic Psychology
- Neuropsychology
Clinical Training Overview
Clinical training is the supervised out-of-class contact of students with a clinical population. Through this contact, students apply their theoretical knowledge, implement clinical techniques based on this knowledge, and develop the professional and personal attitudes important to the identity of a professional psychologist. By the end of clinical training, Illinois School of Professional Psychology at Argosy University | Schaumburg students possess effective assessment and intervention skills, and practice in a highly ethical manner.
During their clinical training, students advance through progressively more challenging levels of training. At each level, a student’s progress is assessed in multiple ways by multiple faculty members and field supervisors. In order to advance to the next level of clinical training, the student must pass certain courses, complete practicum and internship, and demonstrate competency in specific clinical tasks.
Foundation Courses
Applicants should have completed the following five undergraduate courses, or their equivalent:
Abnormal psychology or psychopathology
General or introductory psychology
Personality theories
Psychological assessment or tests and measures
Statistics or research methods
Students who have not completed these courses prior to admission must complete them no later than the beginning of the student’s second semester of the first academic year of enrollment. Special transfer requests should be directed to the program director.
These courses are designed to provide an academic foundation for the doctoral clinical psychology degree program curriculum, and offer perspectives that complement those of the clinical psychology program.
Argosy University, Schaumburg offers non-credit courses in-residence and online in most of the above subject areas, which are available to first year students periodically during the academic year.
Enrollment Requirements
Students must enroll for a minimum of 6 credit hours each semester except during and after internship. Doctoral degree program students wishing to be enrolled less than 6 credit hours per semester should meet with Financial Aid and the program dean of the clinical psychology program.
No pre-internship doctoral students will be permitted to take less than the equivalent of 3 credit hours per semester except those students who have fewer than 3 credit hours of required coursework to take prior to internship. Students registered for Clinical Research Project are considered half-time.
Additional Requirements for Academic Progress
Students must make satisfactory progress toward a degree by maintaining a grade point average (GPA) of 3.0 on a scale of 4.0, and completing the program within seven years after matriculation. All coursework and practicum must be completed by the end of the fifth year after matriculation. Students who have temporarily withdrawn from the University will have seven years plus the length of time that they were not enrolled, not to exceed one year, to complete the program.
Students who receive a grade lower than “B-” in a core course must retake the course within the next twelve months and receive a grade of “B-” or better. Students who take a core course required for the PsyD in Clinical Psychology degree program while enrolled in the Master of Arts (MA) in Clinical Psychology degree program must retake the course no later than the end of the first twelve months after matriculation into the doctoral degree program and achieve a grade of “B-” or better. Core courses in the doctoral degree program in clinical psychology are designated in “Program Requirements.”
Students are permitted to request an “Incomplete” in courses where all of the requirements for that course have not/will not be met by the end of the semester. Approval of the “Incomplete” is at the discretion of the instructor. However, no student is permitted to request more than four “Incompletes” during their degree. Any student who desires more than four “Incompletes,” regardless of whether all other “Incompletes” have been successfully remediated, will need the written approval of the program dean.
Students must complete a minimum amount of academic work by the end of each year in the program following matriculation to demonstrate satisfactory progress. The suggested incremental maximum time frame schedule for students in the doctoral degree program is described below. Students should familiarize themselves with this time frame to ensure that they are meeting the incremental and cumulative maximum time frames for the program.
Students are required to complete 98 credit hours within the incremental maximum time frame requirements listed below:
Suggested Incremental Time Frame Completion Rates |
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End of Year One |
20 credit hours |
End of Year Two |
38 credit hours |
End of Year Three |
56 credit hours |
End of Year Four |
74 credit hours |
End of Year Five |
92 credit hours (includes Clinical Competency Evaluation and Oral Qualifying Examinations) |
End of Year Six |
98 credit hours |
End of Year Seven |
98 credit hours including internship |
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Graduation Requirements
To be eligible for graduation, students matriculating Fall 2005 or later must meet the following requirements (other students should consult the program handbook for their year of matriculation):
- 98 credit hours which must be completed by the end of the sixth year of matriculation. The total hours must include:
- 72.5 credit hours of required classes (includes Professionalization Group)
- 10.5 credit hours of electives
- 12 credit hours (two years) of practicum and practicum seminar
- 3 credit hours of Clinical Research Project
- Successful completion of the two Clinical Competency Examinations (CCE – Diagnostic and CCE – Psychotherapy)
- Successful completion of the Clinical Research Project (completion required prior to beginning the internship)
- Successful completion of a one-year, full-time internship or its equivalent
- A completed Petition to Graduate submitted to campus administration
Writing Program and Remediation
Students will be evaluated on their writing competency during the first-year Professionalization Group. For students who demonstrate writing deficits a plan will be developed that may include specific tutoring or attendance in a specified writing course or directed study. Students may also be referred for writing remediation by the Student Professional Development Committee.
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Program Requirements
Students enrolled in the PsyD in Clinical Psychology degree program at the Illinois School of Professional Psychology at Argosy University | Schaumburg are required to satisfactorily complete 98 credit hours distributed as follows: assessment requirements, 12 credit hours; clinical intervention and psychotherapy requirements, 22.5 credit hours; consultation and supervision requirements, 3 credit hours; elective requirements, 10.5 credit hours; ethics and professional conduct requirements, 5 credit hours; human development requirements, 6 credit hours; psychology foundations: basic science/psychology requirements, 12 credit hours; psychopathology requirements, 6 credit hours; statistics and research methods requirements, 6 credit hours; clinical research project requirements, 3 credit hours; and practicum and practicum seminar requirements, 12 credit hours. Students who register for PP7371 - Objective Personality Assessment , PP7372 - Projective Personality Assessment , or PP7370 - Cognitive Assessment must have completed an undergraduate course in psychological assessment or tests and measurements or be enrolled concurrently in this course. Students enrolling in PP7200 - Statistics and Research I must have the necessary undergraduate background in statistics or research methods. Assessment Requirements — Students Are Required to Take the Following
Assessment Requirements — 12 Credit Hours
Clinical Interventions and Psychotherapy Requirements — Students Are Required to Take the Following
Clinical Interventions and Psychotherapy Requirements — 22.5 Credit Hours
Consultation and Supervision Requirements — Students Are Required to Take the Following
Consultation and Supervision Requirements — 3 Credit Hours
Ethics and Professional Conduct Requirements — Students Are Required to Take the Following
Ethics and Professional Conduct Requirements — 5 Credit Hours
Human Development Requirements — Students Are Required to Take the Following
Human Development Requirements — 6 Credit Hours
Psychology Foundations: Basic Science/Psychology Requirements — Students Are Required to Take the Following
Psychology Foundations: Basic Science/Psychology Requirements — 12 Credit Hours
Psychopathology Requirements — Students Are Required to Take the Following
Psychopathology Requirements — 6 Credit Hours
Statistics and Research Methods Requirements — Students Are Required to Take the Following
Statistics and Research Methods Requirements — 6 Credit Hours
Clinical Research Project Requirements — Students Are Required to Take the Following
Clinical Research Project Requirements — 3 Credit Hours
Practicum and Practicum Seminar Requirements — Students Are Required to Take the Following
Practicum and Practicum Seminar Requirements — 12 Credit Hours
Elective Requirements
10.5 credit hours of electives are available for advanced general studies, advanced interventions, special populations or concentration specialization areas. Additionally, 3 credit hours of Advanced Practicum (PP8300 Advanced Practicum) may be counted toward the elective requirements. Retaking Courses
Any required course in which a grade below “B-” is received must be retaken. An elective in which a grade below “B-” is received need not be retaken, however credit will not be received. A student who receives a grade “F” or “No Credit” in any course must retake the course during the current or next academic year. Postdoctoral Supervision Hours
Depending on the licensure requirements of the state in which a student is making application, graduates may begin counting postdoctoral supervision hours toward licensure upon successful completion of their Clinical Research Project (CRP) and final approval by the CRP chair and committee members, provided that internship and other degree requirements have been met. Requirements for when a student may begin to count postdoctoral hours vary from state to state. Students may not refer to themselves as “Doctor” or use the title of PsyD until internship and all program requirements have been completed and a bound copy of the student’s CRP has been submitted to the Student Services Department. Practicum and Practicum Seminar Requirements
The practicum is the first opportunity provided to Illinois School of Professional Psychology at Argosy University | Schaumburg students for clinical field training. Within the series of practicum courses, Illinois School of Professional Psychology at Argosy University | Schaumburg provides students with the opportunity of working under supervision with a clinical population within a mental health delivery system. The practicum is an essential part of clinical training and all students are required to participate in the practicum experience. Liability insurance is charged at the time of registration for practicum. Full-time students will normally be placed in a Psychodiagnostic Practicum and Seminar during their second year of study and in a Psychotherapy Practicum and Seminar during the following year. For registration purposes, the practicum and seminar are treated like a course. The practicum/seminar carries 3 credit hours per semester and 6 credit hours per academic year. Practicum usually begins in September and concludes in June. Students may be required to take a supplemental practicum. However, many practicum programs also begin in July or August, and finish in June. Students must minimally accumulate a total of 2,000 hours of supervised practicum training between their Psychodiagnostic, Psychotherapy, and/or Advanced practicum. For each of the Psychodiagnostic and Psychotherapy Practicum years, the student will be required to spend a minimum of 800 hours in the practicum training experience. If students only complete the minimum (i.e., 800 hours), then an advanced or supplemental practicum must be completed. A practicum may not be done in a student’s place of employment, nor is any student waived from the practicum requirements. Students who come to the Illinois School of Professional Psychology at Argosy University | Schaumburg with extensive clinical backgrounds are placed in practicum sites in areas where they have an interest and do not have previous experience. Practicum Requirements All students who enter the practicum application process must be in good academic standing, have a minimum grade point average of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale and have completed the academic planning which will allow for all the practicum prerequisite courses to be completed prior to the beginning of the practicum. No student may begin a practicum without being in attendance at the Illinois School of Professional Psychology at Argosy University | Schaumburg for a minimum of two semesters. Requirements for the Psychotherapy Practicum include: - Successful completion of the Psychodiagnostic Practicum and Psychodiagnostic CCE
- Good academic standing
The director of Clinical Training has the discretion to make decisions on any probationary student who is beyond the first year of attendance. This would include both searching for practicum and participating in practicum. If a first-year student is placed on probation based on fall semester grades, the student may not look for a practicum during the spring semester. If the student has achieved a GPA of 3.0 when the spring grades are available, the student may, at the discretion of the director of Clinical Training, search for a practicum. To be eligible for a Psychodiagnostic Practicum, a student must have successfully completed or waived the following prerequisite courses: Psychodiagnostic Practicum Prerequisites
Types of Practicum
Psychodiagnostic Practicum emphasizes the clinical observation and diagnostic interviewing and psychological testing of clients. Time is allocated to direct diagnostic contact, seminars, and supervision. Psychotherapy Practicum emphasizes some aspect of therapeutic intervention. Time is allocated to direct therapeutic contact, seminars, and supervision. Advanced/Supplemental Practicum is an elective training opportunity for students to gain further experience in psychological assessment, psychotherapy or other interventions, such as bio-feedback, Eye Movement Desensitization Response (EMDR), neuropsychological assessment, etc. Further information is available in the Clinical Training Manual. Practicum Seminar All students enrolled in a practicum will be concurrently enrolled in a practicum seminar. The seminar meets weekly throughout the academic year and allows the student to reflect on practicum experiences and to acquire additional skills and attitudes useful in field training. The specific content and emphasis of the seminar varies according to the practicum setting and focus of the enrolled students and the professional expertise of the faculty member. Practicum Evaluation The goal of the practicum is to foster the training of competent clinicians capable of providing basic and effective assessment and therapeutic intervention. Evaluation of student progress in clinical field training is designed to focus on three areas: theoretical knowledge base, clinical skills and professional attitudes. A thorough review of all practicum students’ site and seminar evaluations is conducted by the Training Department, and an overall grade of “Credit” or “No Credit” is included in the student’s academic record. Clinical Competency Examination Requirements
Students in both the doctoral Psychodiagnostic Practicum and the doctoral Psychotherapy Practicum must successfully complete a written and oral clinical proficiency examination in the spring semester. The Clinical Competency Examination (CCE) is composed of a written case conceptualization and self-critique with accompanying audio or video tape, transcript of a psychotherapy or diagnostic session, and an oral portion consisting of a discussion of the above issues and other relevant clinical data in the presence of the seminar leader and the other faculty member. Students demonstrate their conceptual abilities, theoretical knowledge, and applied clinical skills obtained through the integration of classroom theoretical work, clinical field training and supervision at their practicum, and in the practicum seminars. In the event that a student passes either the written, oral, or both portions of the CCE with revision, the practicum seminar leader will develop a remediation plan with the student. All revisions must be completed within one semester of the original CCE submission date. In the event that a student fails the examination, she or he must seek remediation, and will be permitted to retake the examination the spring semester of the following year. The Clinical Training Committee, in consultation with the initial examining faculty member, will recommend a program of remediation to address concerns noted in the first CCE. The student’s progress in remediation will be taken into account. A student may retake the CCE one time. A second failure will result in dismissal from the school. Further details regarding specific requirements of the CCE are available in the clinical training manual. Descriptions and Procedures for Successful Completion Procedures for the Psychotherapy and Psychodiagnostic CCE require the student to submit a tape, a transcript, a client assessment and progress report, and a self-critique of a therapy session or clinical interview that the student has conducted with a client. The student will have received supervision on this session from the practicum site supervisor, but this session must not have been submitted for review, supervision or critique at the Illinois School of Professional Psychology at Argosy University | Schaumburg or elsewhere prior to submission for satisfying the requirements of the CCE. The Psychotherapy or Psychodiagnostic CCE is graded “High Pass,” “Pass,” “Pass with Revision,” and “Fail.” In the event that a student passes the CCE with revision, the practicum seminar leader will develop a remediation plan with the student. All revisions must be completed within one semester of the original CCE. Detailed explanations of these procedures are contained in the CCE Diagnostic and Therapy Advisories which are distributed to practicum seminar faculty and students at the beginning of the fall semester. 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 be a scholarly work that provides students 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. Further information regarding the CRP may be found in the Department’s CRP Manual. Types of Clinical Research Projects There are several types of Clinical Research Projects that students may elect to accomplish. Following are some examples: Comprehensive Case Study The goal is to develop a clinical question linked to the case presented in the Clinical Comprehensive Exam (CCE). This should be a theoretical discussion of a novel or innovative approach in treatment and/or conceptualization of an individual case. It should integrate materials which both assist in understanding the case dynamics and may support treatment approaches and case conceptualizations. Theoretical CRP The theoretical CRP is a work “in which the author draws on existing research literature to advance theory in any area of psychology.” This project should include a new integration of theory based on a review of significant literature in the area addressed by the CRP. By organizing, integrating, and evaluating previously published material, the author of a theoretical CRP considers the progress of current research toward clarifying a problem. Thus, one first conducts a literature review that defines and clarifies the problem, summarizes previous investigations in order to inform the reader of the state of current research, identifies relations, contradictions, gaps and inconsistencies in the literature and suggests the next steps in solving the problem. The author traces the development of theory in order to expand and refine theoretical constructs. The author may present a new theory, or may analyze existing theory, pointing out flaws or demonstrating the superiority of one theory over another. In this type of theoretical analysis, the author customarily examines a theory’s internal and external consistency, that is, whether a theory is self-contradictory and whether the theory and empirical observation contradict each other (paraphrased from Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association, 5th ed.). Empirical Studies CRP studies that employ qualitative and/or quantitative approaches are an option to Illinois School of Professional Psychology at Argosy University | Schaumburg students, recognizing the limitations of time and resources in order to effect an acceptable study. Reports of empirical studies are reports of original research. They typically consist of distinct sections that reflect the stages in the research process and that appear in the sequence of these stages: - Introduction: Development of the problem under investigation and statement of the purpose of the investigation.
- Review of literature: Description of previous research pertaining to the topic.
- Method: Description of the method used to conduct the investigation.
- Results: Report of the results that were found.
- Discussion: Interpretation and discussion of the implications of the results.
Clinical Research Project Committee The Clinical Research Project is expected to take no more than 12 months to complete with a steady commitment of time. During this period the student works closely with the chairperson in order to develop a proposal and then to complete an acceptable draft that is reviewed by the other member of the committee. The chair works on a regular basis with the student in order to develop an organized and individualized experience. The chair may require the student to come to campus for consultation even if the student is residing out of state. The chair of the committee functions as a guide and facilitator to the CRP process and should be expected to refine and suggest enhancement, rather than to develop or initiate hypotheses. The reader, as well, works with the chair in assisting the student-scholar to add dimension and clarity to the process. The goals of this activity are to help the student develop a procedure for the production of scholarly work, to deepen their knowledge and thought about a particular clinical area, to learn both methodological issues and critical thought processes and to produce an original scholarly work. The committee will consist of two faculty members, a chairperson and a reader. The chairperson must be a faculty member while the reader may be faculty or associate faculty. A second outside reader may be added with the permission of the chair. Timeline for Completion of the Clinical Research Project Students must register continuously for 1 credit hour of CRP per semester beginning no later than the fall semester of their fourth year. A maximum of 3 credit hours of CRP may count toward the degree. The time frame for completion of CRP tasks will be connected to the internship application time frame: - Proposal accepted by committee by October 15, when applications are sent.
- First draft of completed project must be reviewed by chairperson by February 1 (internship notification day is the third week in February).
- Final draft must be accepted by committee by May 30 prior to internship.
Failure to comply with any of these three deadlines without written permission from the CRP chair and approval from the director of Clinical Training will result in the student’s removal from the internship process. Internship Requirements
All students are required to complete a one-year (12 month) 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 academic experience. Typically, full-time students will begin the internship during their fifth year of enrollment. In order to be eligible to apply for internships, the student must have completed the following requirements: - Be in good academic standing (i.e. must not be on academic probation)
- Successfully pass the Oral Qualifying Examination (for students admitted before Fall 2004).
- Resolved all grades of incomplete by October 1 of the year they apply.
Any student who does not meet one or more of these requirements,must petition the Clinical Training Committee in order to obtain permission to apply for internships. Internship Application Procedure The Clinical Training Department actively provides guidance and support for students throughout the internship search process — in both group and individual format. The following are the general steps in the process: - The student formally declares intent to apply for internship.
- The student arranges to have Illinois School of Professional Psychology at Argosy University | Schaumburg faculty members and practicum supervisors write letters of recommendation on his or her behalf.
- The student meets with the director of Clinical Training to review the student’s eligibility and to discuss procedures related to the internship application process.
- The student researches a range of internship sites both in the Schaumburg area and nationally. Various resources are available to conduct this research, such as the directory of the internship-governing agency (i.e. APPIC), the Web sites of APPIC and internship sites, and files available in the Clinical Training Department.
- 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, rank order, and site application limits.
- 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).
- The student arranges to meet with internship personnel at those sites where they are offered interviews.
- The Clinical Training Department assists the student in preparing for Match Day in February when students will receive their match results online through the National Matching Service Web site.
- In the event a student does not receive an internship on Match Day, the Clinical Training Department provides guidance and assistance to him or her in continuing the search process, through Clearinghouse and other resources.
- Students will be permitted to begin their internship if they are in good academic standing, have completed all doctoral academic requirements (including any course incompletes), have successfully passed all CCE tasks and have completed their CRP.
Learning Contracts Interns are responsible for discussing their training goals and interests with their internship training director or primary supervisor in order to develop a formal learning contract soon after internship begins. This contract will be a written document sent to the Clinical Training Department by the student within a month after the start of internship. Evaluation and Remediation of the Internship Internship supervisors complete a mid-year and final internship progress report. These forms are 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 with the internship site supervisor in implementing a remediation plan. If, at any point during the internship process, a student is in need of remediation, the Illinois School of Professional Psychology at Argosy University | Schaumburg procedures for practicum and internship remediation will be implemented. At the completion of the internship year, the Clinical Training Department makes the final determination whether or not the internship requirements have been met. 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. The process of consultation and approval by the Clinical Training Department and final approval and/or hearing of student appeal by the Clinical Training Committee applies to internship remediation. Please refer to the Illinois School of Professional Psychology at Argosy University | Schaumburg training manual for a more detailed description of training requirements and guidelines. All students are responsible for being familiar with the information contained in the training manual. Concentrations in the Doctor of Psychology in Clinical Psychology Degree Program
Students enrolled in the PsyD in Clinical Psychology degree program at the Illinois School of Professional Psychology at Argosy University | Schaumburg have the opportunity to select program concentrations focused on select populations or problem areas. These concentrations will include the selection of particular elective courses, choosing relevant practicum and training experiences and focusing their Clinical Research Project (CRP) topic on their chosen concentration. The election of a concentration is designed to allow students to focus their interests in a structured manner and build on the strong skill and competency-based education and training they are receiving in Clinical Psychology. The selection of a concentration is not required and many students will choose to focus electives, training and scholarship in a more generalist or eclectic fashion or emphasize other areas of interest not formally designated as concentrations. Concentrations generally require up to 9 credit hours of elective courses. The student should consult with the concentration coordinator for details on specific concentration requirements. New areas of formal concentration may be developed in the future dependent on student and programmatic needs and interests. The concentrations to be offered in the 2015-2016 academic year include: Child & Family Psychology Concentration — Examples* of Courses Offered in this Concentration
Clinical Health Psychology Concentration — Examples* of Courses Offered in this Concentration
Forensic Psychology Concentration — Examples* of Courses Offered in this Concentration
Neuropsychology Concentration
The Illinois School of Professional Psychology at Argosy University | Schaumburg offers a concentration in Neuropsychology. This concentration is organized to meet the INS/APA Division 40 guidelines for doctoral training in clinical neuropsychology. It is intended to provide foundation level training in clinical neuropsychology and prepare graduate students for internship in clinical neuropsychology, post-doctoral fellowship and eventual licensure. The Illinois School of Professional Psychology at Argosy University | Schaumburg is a member of the APA Division 40 listing of doctoral degree programs in clinical neuropsychology. The Neuropsychology concentration is a specialty area within the PsyD in Clinical Psychology degree program. Students must first be admitted to the PsyD in Clinical Psychology degree program and follow all procedures and requirements necessary for admission and graduation from the PsyD in Clinical Psychology degree program. The Neuropsychology concentration is designed to provide an opportunity for students to develop a more intensive academic focus and clinical experience in neuropsychology without sacrificing the integrity of a general training in clinical psychology. Goals and Competencies Neuropsychology is an applied psychological specialty that involves the study, diagnosis, and treatment of disorders of brain functioning in adults and children. The activities of the neuropsychologist build upon the competencies of the clinical psychologist developed in the PsyD in Clinical Psychology degree program. These additional goals and competencies include: Goal One: Developing an understanding of brain-behavior relationships Students develop competence in understanding brain-behavior relationships through mastery of material related to: - Neuroanatomy & Neuropathology
- Psychopharmacology
- Non-neurological conditions affecting the CNS
- Neuroimaging and Other Neuro-diagnostic Techniques
Goal Two: Acquiring the foundations for the practice of clinical neuropsychology Students develop competence in the foundations for practice of clinical neuropsychology through mastery of material related to: - Neuropsychological Assessment
- Neuropsychological Interventions
- Research design and analysis in Neuropsychology
- Professional Issues & Ethics in Neuropsychology
- Practical Implications of Neuropsychological Conditions
Specifically, students develop the ability to - Assess/examine patients with known or suspected brain injury/disease
- Develop and implement interventions that target the cognitive, behavioral, and emotional deficits of these patients
- Consult with service agencies regarding evidence based practices and needed accommodations for their patients
- Conduct research that addresses applied neuropsychological topics
- Develop skills in the area of teaching and supervision, and
- Apply clinical experience in the area of clinical neuropsychology
In keeping with guidelines developed by professional organizations in the field of neuropsychology and because of required mastery of knowledge from a variety of disciplines (e.g. pharmacology, neurology, psychology, and cognitive neuroscience), training is a relatively lengthy and challenging process that involves not only completion of a four- to five-year doctoral curriculum but also a one-year pre-doctoral neuropsychology internship (or major rotation in neuropsychology) and a two-year postdoctoral neuropsychology residency. Students who are accepted into the PsyD in Clinical Psychology degree program at the Illinois School of Professional Psychology at Argosy University | Schaumburg may pursue a concentration in Neuropsychology in addition to completing all clinical psychology requirements. The structure and content of this concentration have been shaped by the “Houston Conference Guidelines,” a set of goals that are designed to identify essential skills that clinicians should have acquired by the end of their training (for more information, please see auschaumburg.net/net/documents/HCG.pdf). It is expected that students who complete the Neuropsychology concentration will be able to successfully compete for INS/Division 40 neuropsychology internships and for neuropsychology fellowships. After obtaining such training, students should be well qualified to function as a clinical neuropsychologist. It is anticipated that many graduates will eventually seek board certification in this area and the Neuropsychology concentration represents the first stage of this process. Curriculum
Specific course offerings and required credit hours are listed below. All courses are not offered each term. For specific course sequence recommendations and available practicum training sites, students should consult the program coordinator. Brain-Behavior Relationship Requirements–Students Are Required to Take the Following
Brain-Behavior Relationship Requirements—3 Credit Hours
Foundations for the Practice of Neuropsychology Requirements–Students Choose From the Following
Foundations for the Practice of Neuropsychology Requirements–6 Credit Hours
Research Design and Analysis in Neuropsychology (Minimum 3 Credit Hours)
A Clinical Research Project (CRP) is required for completion of the Clinical Neuropsychology concentration. An empirical study is preferred to maintain the convention of the field and to ensure the student can demonstrate a scholarly contribution. The CRP will be related, in whole or in part, to a topic in clinical neuropsychology and chaired by a core faculty member of the Clinical Neuropsychology concentration or a faculty member approved by the coordinator. Students are strongly encouraged to present or publish their work. Practicum Experience (minimum 6 credit hours) Given the emphasis on applied skills at the Illinois School of Professional Psychology at Argosy University | Schaumburg, students in the Neuropsychology concentration are required to obtain applied experience beyond the basic coursework. The PsyD in Clinical Psychology degree program at the Illinois School of Professional Psychology at Argosy University | Schaumburg is designed to emphasize the integration of theoretical and applied science and thus, practicum courses in assessment, therapy and clinical neuropsychology are embedded in, and integrated with, didactic curricular sequences designed to accentuate the interdependence of theory, practice and research. Students must complete 2 practicum seminars and a minimum 500 hours of direct service in the area of clinical neuropsychology assessment and/or treatment. Seminars should be completed with approved neuropsychology faculty leaders and at approved neuropsychology sites. Some students may chose to complete these requirements in the diagnostic or therapy practicum or they may complete more general training in these required practica and complete their neuropsychology training in a more focused advanced practicum. All of these practica are directed by core clinical neuropsychology faculty who themselves model the role of the clinical neuropsychologist. Internship Experience (0 credit hours) A minimum of 2000 hours of internship experience is required. Ordinarily, this requirement is accomplished by a full-year internship placement (i.e., 50 successive weeks at 40 hours per week). However, 2-year, part time positions are also acceptable pending approval from the DOT. The internship is taken in a setting that is primarily or largely devoted to the delivery of clinical neuropsychological services (it is recommended that at least 50% of the intern’s time is devoted to clinical neuropsychology). The internship includes supervised experience in both assessment and intervention. Consistent with Houston Conference Guidelines with respect to internship training in clinical neuropsychology, students are strongly encouraged to complete APA/CPA accredited internships. Course/Credit Transfer
Transfer of Courses/Credit into the Doctor of Psychology in Clinical Psychology Degree Program from other Institutions Like other institutions which offer a doctoral degree, the Argosy University does not automatically transfer credit from graduate coursework taken at other institutions. Students who have taken graduate courses elsewhere may petition to have these courses apply toward a transfer of courses in the curriculum. Transfers are not reviewed or granted until the student has been accepted and paid the initial deposit. For a course to be considered eligible for a transfer, the following conditions must be met: - The course must have been taken no more than five years before the student’s entry into Argosy University, except when students present evidence of ongoing work experience or continuing education in that area, or when students pass a transfer exam for the course.
- The course must have been a graduate level course, taken for graduate-level credit regionally accredited college or university. In the case of institutions outside the U.S., the appropriate state or national accreditation is required.
- Any course submitted towards a transfer of a 3-credit hour course must have itself carried 3 or more graduate credit hours.
- A student must have earned a grade of “B” or better in any course submitted for a transfer.
- A maximum of twelve courses (36 credit hours) may be waived towards the doctoral degree program in psychology.
- The school does not accept any credit hours earned as military credit, credit hours by examination, credit hours by correspondence, credit hours for life experience, or graduate credit hours from non-accredited schools.
A student who desires to submit a course for transfer review should notify the Student Services Department and obtain the appropriate transfer request form. This form should be completed and returned to the Student Services Department. Only requests made in writing are reviewed. All transfer requests must be submitted during the first academic year of the student’s enrollment. Students petitioning for transfers are requested to provide course descriptions, syllabi, exams, diagnostic test protocols and write-ups. Transfers are granted by a faculty member if there is an 80 percent overlap in course content and objectives between the course submitted for transfer and the course as it is offered at the Illinois School of Professional Psychology at Argosy University | Schaumburg. Students may obtain the procedures to be observed in submitting transfer requests from the Student Services Department. Non-Transferable Courses
In each program at Argosy University, the requirements to successfully complete certain courses may not be met by transfer of credit based on coursework from other institutions. The following are non-transferable courses in the PsyD in Clinical Psychology degree program at the Illinois School of Professional Psychology at Argosy University | Schaumburg: Qualifying for the Master of Arts in Clinical Psychology Degree as a Doctor of Psychology in Clinical Psychology Degree Program Student
Conferral of the Master of Arts in Clinical Psychology degree is not automatic. PsyD in Clinical Psychology degree program students may petition for the master’s degree upon successful completion of the master’s degree program 50 credit hours and requirements, substituting the Diagnostic Practicum for the master’s practicum and taking the master’s Clinical Comprehensive Examination. |
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