About the Program

Program Features

Licensure Eligibility

The Psy.D. program is designed to meet all of the academic and pre-doctoral clinical requirements for California licensure in psychology. Because licensure requirements vary among states, students interested in practicing psychology outside of California should consult with the licensing board in the state where they intend to practice for information on eligibility in that state.

Clinical Network

The department has established a network with mental health agencies in the San Gabriel and Pomona valleys and the Inland Empire region, and has been obtaining placements for undergraduate Behavioral Sciences students and graduate counseling students for twenty-five years. Many of these sites, as well as new ones, serve as practicum and internship training sites for the Psy.D. program.

Personal Psychotherapy

The capacity for self-awareness and an appreciation of the psychotherapeutic process are important aspects of an individual's development as a clinician. The program encourages this process by requiring students to complete at least 40 hours of personal psychotherapy during the program and prior to the pre-doctoral internship. The Department maintains a referral network of practitioners and agencies who are willing to provide these services at reduced fees; however, it is the responsibility of each student to meet the cost of their personal psychotherapy.

Psi Chi

The department sponsors a chapter of Psi Chi, the National Honor Society in Psychology. Doctoral students who meet the department's eligibility requirements are invited to join the chapter.

Teaching Assistantships

A limited number of teaching assistantships are available for highly qualified students to assist faculty on a variety of teaching and/or research projects. Students will receive partial tuition reimbursements for these assistantships.

Masters in Psychology

The Master’s degree is intended only as an en-route degree, not a terminal degree in psychology. It must be received, however, before students are eligible to receive the Psy.D. degree. Students must file for “graduation” and pay the appropriate fee in order to receive this M.S., and are then eligible to participate in the next scheduled commencement ceremony. Please refer to the program handbook.