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Doctoral Program Goals and Objectives

The Psy.D. program differs from other programs in the Graduate Psychology Department because of its unique curriculum, intensity of instruction across multiple content domains, and preparation of doctorally trained psychologists. From the philosophy of the college and of the Psy.D. program issue the following programmatic goals and objectives that define the practitioner-scholar emphasis of the training model:

1. The Psy.D. program is committed to the goal of fostering personal growth in its student body through exposure to professional socialization, positive faculty and supervisory role models, new knowledge, strategies for self awareness. The program's objective is to deepen students' appreciation for the complexity and spirit of the human condition.
2. The Psy.D. program is committed to the goal of fostering the maturation of conceptual and technical skills relevant to the delivery of clinical psychology services. The program's objective is to provide students with a well rounded understanding of multiple models of client change and the techniques necessary to facilitate such change. The application of technique to diverse clinical settings and shorter term models is discussed in relation to client service. Students gain foundational experience in developing teaching skills by leading class discussion and seminar presentations on concepts related to clinical psychology research and practice. Students will also graduate skilled in the diagnosis of various forms of psychological disturbance and will have acquired the ability to make such diagnoses from psychological test, measures and clinical interviews.
3. The Psy.D. program is committed to the goal of nurturing a strong ethical base in its students. The objective is to provide students with an understanding of psychology ethics and professional standards of conduct. Students are taught professional ethics and standards in the classroom and through application of case material and dilemmas arising in work with supervised clients. There is also a strong commitment to teaching ethical conduct through faculty role modeling in the context of instructional, advisory, and mentoring roles and responsibilities.
4. The Psy.D. program is committed to the goal of teaching its students multiple strategies for identifying, defining, studying and analyzing research data. The program's objective is to provide students with the skills needed to support scholarship, conduct research, and foster a desire for systematic inquiry that complements the inquiry of clinical problems through psychotherapy and psychodiagnostic processes.
5. The Psy.D. program is committed to the goal of program diversity in a broad sense, including diversity among faculty, students and curriculum. The objective is to broaden student sensitivity and competence. Faculty bring uniqueness to the classroom and to their exchange with students. Students are invited to participate in identifying field sites that speak to their diverse needs. The non-discriminatory policy of the college invites individuals from all walks of life to seek admissions, teaching opportunities and supervisory roles. The range and depth of course offerings include specific courses in Diversity, Human Sexuality, Social Psychology, and Gender Psychology; in addition, efforts are made to integrate diversity applications throughout the curriculum.
6. The Psy.D. program is designed to move students toward state psychology license requirements. The objective is to support student attainment of a psychology license for independent practice. Course content and field work lay the pre-doctoral foundation for licensure eligibility in Pennsylvania. Program graduates have passed the state licensing examination.
7. There is a strong commitment to the goal of helping students meet scheduling needs.The objective is to support degree attainment through program flexibility. Students take one to three courses each semester including a minimum of two consecutive semesters of three courses each. Courses are scheduled in a manner that allows students to meet pre-requisite needs as well as study together. The four-semester academic calendar permits flexibility and predictability in scheduling. Advisement occurs regularly in order to help students meet their short-term and long-term scheduling goals. Students have eight years to complete the requirements for the Psy.D. degree.
8. The Psy.D. program is committed to the goal of encouraging professional exchange among students, faculty and members of the psychology community. The objective is to provide students with opportunities to dialogue with psychologists working in the field who have areas of special interest. Faculty are encouraged to make presentations at professional meetings, to publish, and to involve students in professional activities.
9. The Psy.D. program is committed to the goal of timely program review and revision. The objective is to provide students with qualified teaching faculty, and with a model of education and training that is updated, contemporary, and responsive to program needs. Students continually evaluate faculty teaching performance, are invited to evaluate field sites and are periodically surveyed about program-related matters. Program publications are reviewed at regular intervals and updated to reflect change in program direction.