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College of Allied Health:
PhD in Clinical Psychology

Walden’s PhD in Clinical Psychology program can prepare students to practice, teach, or research to positively impact the mental health of diverse clientele.

In this blended doctoral program, featuring online and in-person participation, students can gain the skills to assess mental wellness and provide interventions as a practitioner, educator, researcher, or consultant. Taught by respected psychology faculty, coursework explores current theories and empirically supported practice. Students can combine scholarly research with practical experience to build the skills and knowledge to work with people who are struggling with mental illness or general life issues.

Note on Licensure

The PhD in Clinical Psychology program is designed to prepare graduates to qualify to sit for psychology licensing exams in some states. This program is designed to meet the academic licensure requirements of some state psychology boards. However, Walden University’s PhD in Clinical Psychology is not accredited by the American Psychological Association (APA) and has not received designation by the Association of State and Provincial Psychology Boards/National Register (ASPPB/NR), which are requirements for licensure in many states.

Walden enrollment specialists can provide guidance on licensure issues, state-by-state educational requirements, and internship and practicum requirements; however, it remains the student’s responsibility to evaluate and understand the licensure requirements for the state in which he or she resides, as requirements vary widely. Walden University enrollment specialists can provide general guidance on licensure requirements; however, it is the responsibility of each student to understand and comply with the most current psychology licensure information for his or her individual state. Walden makes no guarantee that its PhD in Clinical Psychology program will meet the licensure requirements in any state.

Prospective students should review the specific, detailed licensure requirements applicable to their state(s) of residency to see if the Walden program meets all of the requirements to sit for licensure as set forth in the state regulations. Additionally, some states have additional coursework, residency, or fieldwork requirements that students will need in order to be eligible for licensure as a psychologist in that state.

Prospective students enrolling in licensure-leading programs are advised that relocation to another state may impact the student’s ability to complete field experiences and/or to obtain professional licensure, certification, or other credential in another state. Prospective students are advised to carefully review, evaluate, and understand the requirements of the applicable licensure board in the state in which they intend to relocate.

Learning Outcomes

At the end of this program, graduates will be able to:

  1. Evaluate the origins and development of major ideas in the discipline of psychology, as well as major theories of psychology.
  2. Critique the basic content areas of scientific psychology including the breath, range, and depth of the affective, biological, cognitive, developmental, and social aspects of behavior. 
  3. Apply integrative knowledge in scientific psychology including the ability to integrate, evaluate, analyze, and conceptualize multiple discipline specific content areas. 
  4. Integrate advanced knowledge and applied skills in psychometrics, research, quantitative, and qualitative methods. 
  5. Synthesize the principles of research methods in order to independently formulate, conduct, and disseminate research and related scholarly activities. 
  6. Critique and apply relevant research in the development and implementation of evidence-based interventions in clinical decision making, as well as evaluate treatment effectiveness, goals, and methods consistent with ongoing evaluation. 
  7. Communicate competency in the application of APA ethics and codes, as well as the relevant laws, regulations, policies, rules, professional standards, and guidelines in the practice of clinical psychology. 
  8. Model professional values and attitudes including integrity, comportment, identity, accountability, lifelong learning, self-reflection and care, and concern for others welfare in all relationships. 
  9. Demonstrate professional competence, including professionalism, respect for diversity, and relational competency
  10. Demonstrate competence in the profession specific clinical competencies, including diagnosis, assessment, and psychotherapeutic interventions.
  11. Integrate knowledge of individual and cultural diversity in professional practice.

Minimum Degree Requirements

  • Doctoral Writing Assessment
  • Professional Development Plan and Program of Study
  • Foundation course (5 credits)
  • Core courses (45 credits)
  • Research courses (20 credits)
  • Electives/Specialization courses (15 credits)
  • Clinical practicum (6 credits)
  • Internship (12 credits)
  • Blended Academic Year in Residence (40 credits)
  • Completion of the Doctoral Dissertation
    • Dissertation writing courses (5 credits per term for a minimum of 4 terms; taken continuously until completion)
    • Completion of a beginning-of-quarter, mid-quarter, and end-of quarter plan for each term
  • Four PhD residencies

Curriculum

Foundation Course (5 credits)

Core Courses (45 credits)

Research Courses (20 credits)

  • Students may take this as a non-degree course.
  • Students may take this as a non-degree course.
  • Students may take this as a non-degree course.

Elective Courses (15 credits)

For the General program, select three courses from any of the PhD in Clinical Psychology specialization courses as electives. 

Specializations Not Currently Accepting New Students

Clinical Practicum (6 credits)

Internship (12 credits)

Blended Academic Year in Residence (40 credits)

The courses associated with the Blended Academic Year in Residence (BAYR) must be completed consecutively within a 12-month calendar year. Students that stop the course sequence and do not complete in a consecutive calendar year will need to resume the BAYR course sequence again from the beginning.

Residency Requirements

  • Residency 1 – Complete Residency 1 as soon as you begin your program; should be completed in Term 1 or Term 2.
  • Residency 2 – Complete Residency 2 at the beginning of your second year, around the time of second research course (RSCH 8310).
  • Residency 3 – Complete Residency 3 once you have a prospectus in Walden’s review system.
  • Residency 4 –Complete residency 4 after your prospectus is approved as follows:

Completion of the Doctoral Dissertation

Students take this course for a minimum of four quarters and are continuously enrolled until completion of their dissertation with final chief academic officer (CAO) approval.

To complete a doctoral study, students must obtain the academic approval of several independent evaluators including their committee, the University Research Reviewer, and the Institutional Review Board; pass the Form and Style Review; gain approval at the oral defense stage; and gain final approval by the chief academic officer. Students must also publish their dissertation on ProQuest before their degree is conferred. Learn more about the dissertation process in the Dissertation Guidebook.

Course Sequence

Students undertake courses in the following sequence.

Term Course Credits
Quarter 1

CPSY 8002 - Foundations of Graduate Studies in Clinical Psychology

5 credits

CPSY 8781 - Psychopathology From a Clinical Perspective

5 credits

Complete Residency 1 as soon as you begin your program; should be completed in Term 1 or Term 2.

Quarter 2

CPSY 8245 - Interpersonal Psychotherapy

5 credits

RSCH 8110 - Research Theory, Design, and Methods

5 credits
Quarter 3

CPSY 8247 - Social Psychology

5 credits

RSCH 8210 - Quantitative Reasoning and Analysis

5 credits
Quarter 4

CPSY 8316 - Tests and Measurement

5 credits

CPSY 8215 - Lifespan Development

5 credits
Quarter 5

CPSY 8226 - Biopsychology

5 credits
Complete Residency 2 at the beginning of your second year, around the time of second research course (RSCH 8310).  

RSCH 8310 - Qualitative Reasoning and Analysis

5 credits
Quarter 6

PSYR 8704 - Ethics and Standards of Psychological Practice

5 credits
PSYR 8346 - Clinical Psychopharmacology *  5 credits
Quarter 7 PSYR 8117 - Writing a Quality Prospectus in Psychology *  5 credits

PSYR 8421 - Multicultural Psychology

5 credits
Quarter 8

PSYR 8232 - Consultation and Supervision in Psychology

5 credits

PSYR 8240 - Cognitive Behavioral Therapy

5 credits
Quarter 9 PSYR 8350 - Personality Assessment *  5 credits
Complete Residency 3 once you have a prospectus in Walden’s review system.  
PSYR 8340 - Cognitive Assessment *  5 credits
Quarter 10

CPSY 8700 - Psychology and Social Change

5 credits

RSCH 8260 - Advanced Quantitative Reasoning and Analysis

5 credits
Quarter 11

Elective

5 credits

CPSY 8238 - Cognitive and Affective Bases of Behavior

5 credits
Quarter 12

CPSY 8207 - History and Systems of Psychology

5 credits
Elective 5 credits
Quarter 13

CPSY 8290 - Psychology Practicum I

5 credits
Elective 5 credits
Quarter 14+

CPSY 8291 - Psychology Practicum II

3 credits

CPSY 9000L - Dissertation** 

5 credits per term; taken continuously until completion**
  • Residency 4 –Complete residency 4 after your prospectus is approved as follows:
    • Residency 4 General (RESI 8404) OR
    • Residency 4 Proposal Writing (RESI 8404Q) OR
    • Residency 4 Methods & Data Collection: Qualitative (RESI 8404R) OR
    • Residency 4 Methods & Data Collection: Quantitative (RESI 8404S) OR
    • Residency 4 Publishing & Presenting (RESI 8404T) OR
    • an approved professional conference (RESI 8900 for select programs only. Contact Advising for information.) OR
    • a dissertation intensive (DRWI 8500) during your 9000 course. Contact Student Success Advising to register. You must attend all sessions and advising throughout the entire intensive retreat in order to successfully complete the experience to satisfy residency 4 requirements. NOTE: Intensive Retreats are NOT included in Fast Track tuition.
Quarter 18

CPSY 8292 - Psychology Internship I

3 credits
Quarter 19

CPSY 8293 - Psychology Internship II

3 credits
Quarter 20

CPSY 8294 - Psychology Internship III

3 credits
Quarter 21

CPSY 8295 - Psychology Internship IV

3 credits

* The courses associated with the Blended Academic Year in Residence (BAYR) must be completed consecutively within a 12 month calendar year. Students that stop the course sequence and do not complete in a consecutive calendar year will need to resume the BAYR course sequence again from the beginning.

** Students take this course for a minimum of four terms and are continuously enrolled until completion of their doctoral dissertation with final chief academic officer (CAO) approval. In general, students are continuously registered in the dissertation/doctoral study course until they complete their capstone project and it is approved. This usually takes longer than the minimum required terms in the dissertation/doctoral study course shell.

To complete a doctoral dissertation, students must obtain the academic approval of several independent evaluators including their committee, the University Research Reviewer, and the Institutional Review Board; pass the Form and Style Review; gain approval at the oral defense stage; and gain final approval by the chief academic officer. Students must also publish their dissertation on ProQuest before their degree is conferred. Learn more about the dissertation process in the Dissertation Guidebook.

Doctoral Writing Assessment

Students who start or readmit to doctoral programs at Walden University in the university catalog for academic year 2017 or later will complete the university’s required doctoral writing assessment. Designed to evaluate incoming doctoral students’ writing skills, this assessment aims to help prepare incoming doctoral students to meet the university’s expectations for writing at the doctoral level.

Doctoral Writing Assessment

Students who start or readmit to doctoral programs at Walden University in the university catalog for academic year 2017 or later will complete the university’s required doctoral writing assessment. Designed to evaluate incoming doctoral students’ writing skills, this assessment aims to help prepare incoming doctoral students to meet the university’s expectations for writing at the doctoral level.

9-year Maximum Time Frame

Students have up to 9 years to complete their doctoral degree requirements (see Enrollment Requirements). Students may petition to extend the 9-year maximum time frame, but an extension is not guaranteed.