Last Updated on August 12, 2023 by Oluwajuwon Alvina

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The Doctor of Psychology (PsyD) degree program is for individuals who are interested in advancing their knowledge of clinical issues in psychology and developing the practical application of this knowledge for the professional practice of psychology. The curriculum is designed to meet the educational requirements for licensure as a clinical psychologist in the State of California. The Doctor of Psychology exposes learners to theoretical and practical methodologies within the field.

California Southern University’s Doctor of Psychology (Psy.D.) program is unique among online Psy.D. programs in that it’s received the stamp of approval from the California Board of Psychology as meeting the state’s educational requirements for psychologist licensure in California.

What else do students need to know about this 100% online Psy.D. so they can decide if this program should make their short list?

Here’s a look at the vital statistics surrounding CalSouthern’s online Psy.D.

Basics

• Institution type: Private, for-profit
• Degree: PsyD (online)
• Main campus: Costa Mesa, California
• Accreditation: Western Association of Schools and Colleges Senior College and University Commission

Tuition & requirements

• Per credit-hour tuition: $545
• Total expected tuition: $35,970
• Credits required: 66
• Program length: 4-5 years (full time)
• Maximum transfer credits: 30
• Doctoral project: 14 credits
• Internship: Optional (no credits)

Admissions

• Application method: Online
• Application fee: $75
• Admission requirements: Master’s degree in psychology or closely related field

What are the biggest factors that work in favor of CalSouthern’s Psy.D. for the average student?

Optional 100% online delivery

Students who don’t opt to add an internship or other supervised professional experience period will be able to complete their degree entirely online, which makes this program quite unusual, even among online programs. While some students will have to add a postdoctoral internship (more on that later), this method may be ideal for others.

SEE ALSO: 5+ Best Online PsyD Programs

California licensure

Many, though crucially not all, students who pursue Psy.D. education eventually go on to seek professional licensure in the states where they intend to practice. Every state does things a bit differently when it comes to what is required to receive this licensure, but CalSouthern’s online Psy.D. meets the educational requirements set forth by the California Board of Psychology.

Personal therapy requirement

Another unique requirement of CalSouthern’s Psy.D. is that all students intending to engage in internship or practicum experiences must go through personal therapy provided by a licensed clinician. The therapy requirement helps students gain valuable insight to personality or emotional factors that can impact their professional performance.

Psychology PsyD Programs in California

Our innovative program provides comprehensive courses as well as a variety of elective courses and opportunities for supervised clinical experience to emphasize the service orientation of a professional clinical degree. The program provides learners with the knowledge and skills necessary for growth in their professional career.

Admission to the PsyD program requires both a bachelor’s degree and a master’s degree with the master’s degree in psychology or a related field of study.

Situated on the West Coast of the United States alongside the sparkling Pacific Ocean, California is the third largest and most populous state being home to one out of every eight Americans. As the “Golden State,” California is well-known for its pristine sandy beaches, world-class surfing, earthquakes, and famous movie stars in Hollywood.

Home to many of the nation’s top-notch universities, it is no surprise that the state is packed full of graduate psychology programs.  We’ve assembled a list of Psychology PhD Programs in California on another page, and the following are the Doctor of Psychology (PsyD) programs that have been fully accredited by the APA in California.

Alliant International University – Fresno

California School of Professional Psychology

Within a close proximity to Yosemite National Park, which offers splendid opportunities for hiking, kayaking, skiing, and other outdoor recreational activities to offset an intensive pace of doctoral training, the Fresno campus of Alliant International University is located in the San Joaquin Valley. The California School of Professional Psychology at Alliant International University – Fresno has a strong emphasis on serving diverse client populations for social justice.

PsyD in Clinical Psychology

Designed primarily for students who are interested in pursuing clinical practice in the application of research knowledge with diverse populations, the PsyD in Clinical Psychology program takes on a systematic approach to train students for becoming advocates in the treatment of individual and social problems. With campus-based practicum experiences conveniently offered at the Psychological Services Center, fourth year students are responsible for completing a full-time one-year internship up to 2,080 hours. Students must select one or more concentration areas of Ecosystemic Child Psychology, Clinical Forensic Psychology, and Health Psychology.

Accreditations

• American Psychological Association (APA) Commission on Accreditation (COA)
• Western Association for Schools and Colleges (WASC)

Contact Information

5130 E. Clinton Way
Fresno, CA 93727
(559) 253-2200
rharris@alliant.edu

Alliant International University – Los Angeles

California School of Professional Psychology

Alliant International University – Los Angeles is located in the western San Gabriel region of Los Angeles County on a 38-acre campus in Alhambra within the famous “Sixty Mile Circle.” As a private non-profit accredited institution, Alliant International has been consistently recognized by Military Edge magazine as one of the top military-friendly schools. With over 600 students enrolled annually in a number of the campus’ graduate schools and programs, the California School of Professional Psychology at the LA campus is well-known in the region for providing an integrated focus on hands-on training, multiculturalism, and mentoring.

PsyD in Clinical Psychology

Recent recipient of the Suinn Award from the American Psychological Association (APA) in 2010 for its exceptional training and education from multicultural perspectives, the Los Angeles PsyD in Clinical Psychology program prepares professionals who can provide psychological services across diverse populations. Students are required to emphasize their studies in Multicultural Community-Clinical Psychology, Clinical Health Psychology, Family/Child and Couple Psychology, or choose the Multi-Interest option. The final year of the four-year program is spent engaged in a full-time internship in a clinical mental health setting.

Accreditations

• American Psychological Association (APA) Commission on Accreditation (COA)
• Western Association for Schools and Colleges (WASC)

Contact Information

1000 South Fremont St. Unit 5
Alhambra, CA 91803
(626) 270-3300
bhouskamp@alliant.edu

Alliant International University – Sacramento

California School of Professional Psychology

Located in the capital city of California where policies are discussed and debated, Alliant International University – Sacramento is easily accessible for all major thoroughfares in the large metropolitan area. Home to a diverse student population of 200 students annually ranging in age from 21 to 62, Alliant International formed in 2001 from combination of the California School of Professional Psychology and the United States International University. It is estimated that the Alliant CSPP has trained more than 50 percent of the licensed psychologists who are currently practicing professionally in California.

PsyD in Clinical Psychology

With a strong emphasis on the clinical skills needed to apply research knowledge to practice with diverse populations across various health settings, the Sacramento Clinical PsyD program follows a practitioner-scholar model reflecting theory, assessment, and intervention across cultural systems. The program requires students to complete a minimum of 90 academic units for three years full-time or four years part-time, along with 30 internship units for one year full-time during the fourth or fifth year.

Accreditations

• American Psychological Association (APA) Commission on Accreditation (COA)
• Western Association for Schools and Colleges (WASC)

Contact Information

2030 West El Camino Ave. Suite 200
Sacramento, CA 95833
(916) 565-2955
blimberg@alliant.edu

Alliant International University – San Diego

California School of Professional Psychology

Just ten miles east of the sparkling waters of the Pacific Ocean, the San Diego campus of Alliant International University is located in the northeast corner of the city in a suburban setting known as Scripps Ranch. As the original home-base for the expanding university, the San Diego campus is home to more enrolled students than any other in California at 1,200 students annually. The Alliant California School of Professional Psychology offers intimate class sizes that enable students to work side by side with world-class faculty mentors.

PsyD in Clinical Psychology

With a distinctive dual emphasis on clinical expertise and clinical scholarship, the San Diego PsyD program in Clinical Psychology aims to develop competent professional clinical psychologists skilled in delivering advocacy services to diverse communities. Students in the program are required to complete a total of 120 units, with a rigorous curriculum covering statistics, personality theories, psychpathology, assessment/evaluation, integrative psychology, and multiculturalism. Students engage in a clinical pre-dissertation group, intensive dissertation seminar, and clinical internship.

Accreditations

• American Psychological Association (APA) Commission on Accreditation (COA)
• Western Association for Schools and Colleges (WASC)

Contact Information

10455 Pomerado Rd.
San Diego, CA 92131
(866) 825-5426
nribner@alliant.edu

Alliant International University – San Francisco

California School of Professional Psychology

Situated on Beach Street directly across from Pier 39 on the waterfront of the San Francisco Bay, Alliant International University – San Francisco occupies two floors of a beautifully renovated 30,000-square-foot building that was originally built in 1924 and is listed on the National Historic Register. Offering special advantages to psychology students who are interested in gaining practice experience in a culturally diverse environment, the California School of Professional Psychology emphasizes field placement programs to ensure students are comprehensively prepared to deliver relevant services to tackle today’s pressing concerns.

PsyD in Clinical Psychology

The APA-accredited PsyD in Clinical Psychology program at the San Francisco campus trains students to utilize multiple methods of assessment and intervention strategies to work with multicultural populations in a wide variety of settings. Perfectly integrating classroom learning with clinical training, professional training placements begin in the first year and culminate in the fourth year with a one-year full-time internship. In the second year, students also begin working on a clinical dissertation to demonstrate their ability to think critically about social issues with appropriate use of psychological research.

Accreditations

• American Psychological Association (APA) Commission on Accreditation (COA)
• Western Association for Schools and Colleges (WASC)

Contact Information

One Beach St. Suite 100
San Francisco, CA 94133
(415) 955-2100
rolkin@alliant.edu

Azusa Pacific University

School of Behavioral and Applied Sciences

Azusa Pacific University is a comprehensive private institution with an evangelical Christian community of disciples and scholars who seek to advance the work of God in the world through service. As a leader in the Council for Christian Colleges and Universities committed to academic excellence in higher education, Azusa Pacific is currently recognized as the 173rd best college in the nation by the U.S. News and World Report. Located just 26 miles to the northeast of Los Angeles, the APU School of Behavioral and Applied Sciences equips leaders through accredited doctoral programs to lead in the helping professions.

PsyD in Clinical Psychology

With an emphasis in Family Psychology, the PsyD in Clinical Psychology program is committed to a practitioner-scholars model to apply the science of psychological theory to clinical practice in a wide range of healthcare settings. Designed to meet the requirements for licensure in the state of California as a clinical psychologist, students are required to complete 133 semester units within five to six years. The program has two entry pathways, including one for students who already have a master’s degree in psychology and another for those entering directly from a bachelor’s degree.

Accreditations

American Psychological Association (APA) Commission on Accreditation (COA)
Western Association for Schools and Colleges (WASC)

Contact Information

568 E. Foothill Blvd.
P.O. Box 7000
Azusa, CA 91702
(626) 815-4570
graduatecenter@apu.edu

Biola University

Rosemead School of Psychology

Considered one of the leading Christian universities in the nation, Biola University is a premier private institution located near Los Angeles in the sunny Southern California town of Biola. Home to more than 5,500 students, Biola University is currently ranked as the 177th best college in the nation by the U.S. News and World Report and the 90th best college in the West by Forbes magazine. The Biola Rosemead School of Psychology is also well-known for seamlessly integrating a Christian worldview with a research-drive study of human nature and behavior.

PsyD in Clinical Psychology

Designed to prepare students to nurture the whole person spiritually, emotionally, intellectually, and professionally within clinical settings or fulfill leadership positions in research, the PsyD Clinical Psychology program requires students to complete a total of 133 semester hours usually within four or five years. In order to fulfill the five unit research component of the program, students can choose to complete a dissertation or engage in a year-long doctoral research seminar with a proficiency examination on clinical research.

Accreditations

• American Psychological Association (APA) Commission on Accreditation (COA)
• Western Association for Schools and Colleges (WASC)

Contact Information

13800 Biola Ave.
La Mirada, CA 90639
(562) 903-4867
graduate.admissions@biola.edu

Fuller Theological Seminary

School of Psychology

Based in Pasadena, the Fuller Theological Seminary is a diverse community with seven campuses across the nation that are solidly founded in traditional Christian intellectual values. The Fuller School of Psychology is the oldest seminary-based clinical psychology program and the first program outside of a university to receive full accreditation by the APA. Not only is the school recognized as the 214th best graduate psychology school, it is distinguished as offering students the 164th best graduate clinical psychology programs in the entire nation by the U.S. News and World Report.

PsyD in Clinical Psychology

Utilizing a practitioner-evaluator model, the PsyD in Clinical Psychology program aims to train professionals to provide clinical services and implement innovative treatment plans. Normally accomplished within five years, the program requires the completion of a minimum of 258 units. Students are awarded a Master of Arts in Psychology after finishing 88 selected units and can earn a Master of Arts in Christian Leadership after 76 units of theology. With a high emphasis on field training, students gain clinical experience at the eight local community programs operated by the campus Psychological Center and placements in the Greater LA area.

Accreditations

• American Psychological Association (APA) Commission on Accreditation (COA)
• Western Association for Schools and Colleges (WASC)

Contact Information

135 N. Oakland Ave.
Pasadena, CA 91182
(626) 584-5200
admissions@fuller.edu

John F. Kennedy University

Department of Clinical Psychology

Providing working adults with quality higher education in the San Francisco Bay area since 1964, the John F. Kennedy University is a fully accredited private institution with nationally recognized programs at affordable tuition rates. As a member of the National University System, UFKU offers flexible programs with evening and weekend classes at its San Jose, Pleasant Hill, and Berkeley locations. The JFKU Department of Clinical Psychology has a mission to train practitioner-scholars to provide comprehensive and culturally sensitive services.

PsyD in Clinical Psychology

Boasting a small student-faculty ratio of 13:1 for one-on-one mentoring opportunities, the PsyD in Clinical Psychology program prepares practitioners to serve multicultural communities as a clinician, evaluator, assessment expert, and critical consumer of psychological research. All students in the program are required to complete a dissertation research project, 144 semester units of coursework, and 36 units of internship either over one year full-time or two years part-time. Completion from the program ensures students are eligible for licensure by the California Board of Psychology.

Accreditations

• American Psychological Association (APA) Commission on Accreditation (COA)
• Western Association for Schools and Colleges (WASC)

Contact Information

100 Ellinwood Way
Pleasant Hill, CA 94523
(408) 236-1120
proginfo@jfku.edu

Loma Linda University

School of Behavioral Health

As a Seventh-day Adventist private educational institution devoted exclusively to health sciences with more than 4,000 students, Loma Linda University is located in the newly thriving unique community of Loma Linda in Southern California. Of the eight schools that encompass LLU, the School of Behavioral Health is nationally recognized for being home to the 164th best graduate clinical psychology program according to the U.S. News and World Report.

PsyD in Clinical Psychology

Designed to prepare students who seek specialized training in professional clinical practices of psychology, the PsyD program encompasses a solid foundation in scientific research methodology, training in the application of research to cases, and preparation for clinical proficiency. Students enrolled in the program begin working in supervised clinical settings at the conclusion of the first year, work with clients in the on-campus psychology clinic through the second and third year, and complete a culminating internship at the Loma Linda University Medical Center in the fourth year.

Accreditations

• American Psychological Association (APA) Commission on Accreditation (COA)
• Western Association for Schools and Colleges (WASC)

Contact Information

11139 Anderson St.
Loma Linda, CA 92350
(909) 558-1000
admissions.sst@llu.edu

Psy.D. in Applied Clinical Psychology

• Los Angeles, CA
• Full-Time
• 3 Years

The Chicago School’s 3-year Psy.D. in Applied Clinical Psychology is recognized for its culturally competent training and offers students a multitude of opportunities to utilize their education in real-world settings.

At our Los Angeles Campus, Applied Clinical Psychology students may apply to complete their clinical training hours at one of The Chicago School Counseling Centers, two of Southern California’s largest and most respected community counseling centers.

Through our innovative training model, Psy.D. in Applied Clinical Psychology students learn marketing and business operation techniques related to running a private practice, and provide individual and group psychotherapy services. Psy.D. graduates leave with the skills and training to sit for licensure and launch their careers.

Psy.D. in Applied Clinical Psychology: Los Angeles Student Experience

Immersed in the heart of the most diverse city in the most diverse state in the U.S., students attending the Los Angeles Campus will benefit from significant networking opportunities as they experience real-world training in the city’s rapidly evolving downtown business district. Together they learn from and work side-by-side with an experienced, qualified, and passionate faculty practitioners.

Diagnostic and Clinical Interviewing

Teaches techniques of clinical and diagnostic interviewing and observation. Students learn a variety of techniques for interviewing new clients, including listening skills, aids for giving and receiving feedback, and establishing a relationship with a client. Students studying in Southern California learn ways of incorporating these techniques into models of diagnostic interviewing. Students are exposed to non-verbal methods of interviewing and observation. Techniques for interviewing family members and other collateral sources are taught. Consideration of cultural differences in establishing a relationship and conducting an interview is integral to this course.

Advanced Psychological Assessment

The primary objective of this course is to develop skills that are essential to the interpretation of psychological test findings. Emphasis is placed upon the integration of assessment material from multiple test instruments to develop a comprehensive understanding of the client. Students continue to develop their skills in report writing, differential diagnosis, and formulation of effective therapeutic recommendations.

Dissertation 1: Advanced Statistics and Research Design

Students will learn the specific paradigms of qualitative and quantitative methodologies and will apply specific research methodologies according to the dictates for desired research outcomes. Emphasis will be placed upon the following: understanding research questions through the lens of a clinical theoretical approach,; the appropriate operational definition of research terms; and developing an understanding of the significance of research to the field as a whole. Applied Clinical Psychology students will learn the appropriate techniques to ethically research a question and will be required to complete the NIH certification for ethical treatment of human research subjects. Students will also examine the structural elements of a dissertation, begin developing a dissertation plan, and form their dissertation committee to carry out that plan. After the student forms a dissertation committee, they will submit Form A to the dissertation office.

Send materials to:

Admissions Operations
c/o The Chicago School of Professional Psychology
350 N Orleans St, Suite 1050
Chicago, IL 60654-1822

Application to The Chicago School of Professional Psychology’s Psy.D. Applied Clinical Psychology program is open to any person who has earned a master’s degree in a mental health field from a regionally accredited institution and who meets other entrance requirements. Applicants must submit the following materials:

• Application
  • Apply Online
• Application Fee: $50
• Resume or Curriculum Vitae
• Essay – Please answer the following question within three double spaced typed pages (approximately 750 words).
  • In your role as a psychology student, you will likely assist individuals from diverse backgrounds in a variety of contexts. Tell us reasons why you want to receive your Psy.D. in Applied Clinical Psychology. Include what your career aspirations are and some of the challenges you might encounter when working with diverse individuals.
• Official College/University Transcripts
  • Students must submit official transcripts from all schools where degrees have been earned. The Chicago School requires that all schools be regionally accredited higher education institutions. Official transcripts may be sent directly from the institution or with your application for admission as long as they are official, sealed, and signed across the envelope flap when they arrive.
• Three Letters of Recommendation
  • Appropriate recommendations are from professors and/or supervisors from significant work or volunteer experiences, who can appraise your academic or professional performance. If you are mailing in your letters, they should arrive in a sealed envelope, signed across the seal. You can also submit the letters online via the applicant portal.
• Previous Coursework
  • Specific courses must be complete in a student’s Master’s program or completed as part of the Psy.D. in Applied Clinical Psychology elective options.

International Application Requirements

The Chicago School is dedicated to keeping our professional degree programs accessible to anyone regardless of financial status. In addition to the scholarships that may be available, our Financial Aid department will help provide you with information to determine what financial arrangements are right for you.

The Doctor of Psychology (PsyD) degree program is for individuals who are interested in advancing their knowledge of clinical issues in psychology and developing the practical application of this knowledge for the professional practice of psychology. The curriculum is designed to meet the educational requirements for licensure as a clinical psychologist in the State of California. The Doctor of Psychology exposes learners to theoretical and practical methodologies within the field.

Our innovative program provides comprehensive courses as well as a variety of elective courses and opportunities for supervised clinical experience to emphasize the service orientation of a professional clinical degree. The program provides learners with the knowledge and skills necessary for growth in their professional career.

Quick Facts:

• Credits required: 66
• Cost per credit: $545
• Program length: 4-5 years (full-time status)
• Max transfer credits: 30 credits

Time to degree completion can be accelerated by taking multiple courses in a term and through credits accepted in transfer.

What you’ll learn

Formulate and express in writing advanced conceptualizations of psychological ideas with the capacity to design, evaluate, and defend these concepts.

Employ appropriate oral communication skills to successfully interact with people from a variety of experiences and backgrounds in presentations, discussions, negotiations, and conflict management situations.

Construct and assess logical and/or empirical evidence from advanced clinical psychological theory and research, employing complex judgments drawn from inferential statistics and scientific methodology.

Critically weigh and consider the clinical impact that cultural and social institutions have on psychotherapy clients’ ethical systems, values, worldview assumptions, and presenting, psychological symptoms.

Design an advanced system of inquiry that is rooted in peer-reviewed, empirical research findings to describe, critically evaluate, hypothesize about, predict outcome, and intervene with clinical populations.

Incorporate psychometric theory in designing assessment methods in clinical psychology, including critically evaluating established systems of diagnosis.

Create and evaluate evidence-based psychotherapeutic treatment plans to reduce psychopathological symptoms and improve clients’ adaptive functioning.

Distinguish between statistically normal and abnormal patterns of development across the lifespan, and discriminate between the various protective vs. risk factors that influence developmental outcomes for clinical populations.

What are the Admission Requirements for a PSYD Program?

The admission requirements for a Doctor of Psychology degree varies and absolutely the decision of the school to make.

However, most PSYD programs will require students to exhibit some character traits, and some academic achievements as well as background understanding of some relevant subject matters.

This article will discuss the admission requirements for the best accredited PSYD programs in California. Although, most schools will require students sending an application for a PsyD program to submit the following:

• Online application form and fee
• Master’s (possibly bachelor’s)
• High GPA
• Good scores on the GRE or other tests
• Essays
• Interviews
• Letters of Recommendation

How Long is a PsyD Program?

Depending on the institution, Doctoral level programs take a minimum of four years to complete. In California, most accredited PSYD programs may last for up to six years.

PsyD was introduced to complement the Ph.D. in Psychology program. Hence, the program focuses on allowing you to apply your knowledge in a practical setting though, you may be required to conduct some researches anyway.

However, Ph.D. in Psychology because of its need for extensive research may last for five to eight years.

How Much Does a PsyD in California Cost?

Depending on school and mode of class, the cost of earning a doctoral degree in CA may vary. Other factors that may affect how much you pay for a PsyD in California include, type of school and scholarships available.

There are basically, fully-funded scholarships that may exonerate you from paying a dime while attending a PsyD program. Also, attending a private school will definitely, demand you pay higher than if you were to enroll for a PsyD program in a public school.

Generally, the cost of obtaining a PsyD in California may be as high as $270,000 or over $900 for schools that charge per credit fee.