Clinical Psychology, Psy.D.

The Psy.D. is designed to prepare students for careers in applied areas of clinical psychology. While requiring a strong program of core courses in the basic areas of psychology, the primary focus of developing professional skills necessary for clinical practice is taught through the applied course work. These courses include a sequence of assessment courses, core paradigm or theory courses, therapeutic interviewing skills, and ethics and professional issues. Practicum/Clerkship training at professional sites begins in the second and continues through the fourth year. The Psy.D. program is accredited by the Committee on Accreditation of the American Psychological Association.

The Master of Arts degree in Clinical Psychology will be granted to students in the Psy.D. program upon completion of 48 credits, including a minimum of 43 hours of 700-level courses in psychology.

A maximum of 12 credits applied to the M.A. degree may be transfer credit. To be awarded the degree, students must also have completed a minimum of six hours in biblical and theological studies, including BITH 561 and BITH 565. Students should file for candidacy for the master's degree after 28 credit hours are completed. To receive approval of candidacy, students will need to document that all prerequisites for admission have been satisfactorily completed. Further, adequacy of progress in academic and professional skill areas and suitability for professional practice in psychology will be reviewed. Students who have a master's degree in clinical psychology from Wheaton upon matriculation into the Psy.D. program may not obtain a second M.A. in this field.

Director, Benjamin Pyykkonen
Interim Director Clinical Training, Ward Davis

Requirements for admission to the Psy.D. program include completion of the bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited college or university with a minimum 3.0 GPA on a 4.0 scale. In addition, at least 18 semester hours in psychology are required, including at least one course in each of the following groups of courses:

• General psychology

• Abnormal psychology or psychopathology

• Quantitative methods, statistics, research methods, or experimental design

• Physiological psychology

• One course from the traditional scientific subdisciplines (i.e., learning, cognition, sensation/perception, developmental, personality, or social psychology, or industrial/organizational psychology).

Applicants must take the GRE general test. Personal interviews are required for all finalists in the application process.

Requirements for the Doctor of Psychology in Clinical Psychology are 120 semester hours of course work. Degree requirements must be completed within seven years of the first date of enrollment. Required courses include:

The Master of Arts degree in Clinical Psychology will be granted to students in the Psy.D. program upon completion of 48 credits, including a minimum of 42 hours of 700-level courses in psychology. The required courses that must be completed are:

A maximum of 12 credits applied to the M.A. degree may be transfer credit. Students should file for candidacy for the master's degree after 28 credit hours are completed. To receive approval of candidacy, students will need to document that all prerequisites for admission have been satisfactorily completed. Further, adequacy of progress in academic and professional skill areas and suitability for professional practice in psychology will be reviewed. Students who have a master's degree in clinical psychology from Wheaton upon matriculation into the Psy.D. program may not obtain a second M.A. in this field.