The PhD in Psychology is designed to meet the educational requirements for the state of California Psychologist license. The PhD in Psychology also meets the educational requirements for the state of California MFT license (Board of Behavioral Sciences, Senate Bill 33, Section 4980.36, Business and Professions Code), and LPCC license, (Senate Bill 788, Section 4999.33 of the Business and Professions Code), provided that fieldwork is done in accordance with BBS requirements. Students entering with Advanced Standing status are not required to take certain courses; as such, neither the Ph.D. nor the Psy.D. earned by Advanced Standing students meet the educational requirements for California MFT or LPCC licensure.
Graduation Requirements for the PhD in Psychology
- Students who enter with a Bachelor’s degree must complete 108 credits (1080 hours) plus 25 credits of fieldwork (750 hours).
- Students who enter the program with a qualified Master’s degree (Advanced Standing) must complete 92 credits (920 hours) plus 25 credits of fieldwork (750 hours).
- The completion of an original research dissertation is required.
- Sixty hours of personal therapy in an individual, couple, family, and/or group setting are required. In some cases, this experience may be obtained prior to enrollment in the program.
- Students have a maximum of eight years from their initial date of enrollment to complete the PhD in Psychology.