Residential Doctorate in Clinical Psychology (Psy.D.) Degree Program
Gain advanced training in human behavior and psychological interventions that integrate science, practice, and the Christian faith with a Psy.D. in Clinical Psychology degree from Liberty’s Center for Professional and Clinical Psychology. Prepare for state licensure as a clinical psychologist with a structured sequence of advanced training. With this degree, you’ll be able to work with individuals in your career in a wide variety of settings. Gain the knowledge and skills needed to address the behavioral, emotional, spiritual needs and more of individuals and families.
Get ready for success in a program that emphasizes cultural diversity and the holistic integration of evidence-based practice with a Christian worldview. The Center of Professional and Clinical Psychology’s Doctorate in Clinical Psychology (Psy.D.) combines:
- In-depth training in psychological testing and assessment
- Clinical diagnosis and treatment planning
- Evidenced-based psychotherapy
- Clinically-focused research
- Supervision and multidisciplinary consultation
Academics for the Doctorate in Clinical Psychology (Psy.D.)
See Center for Professional and Clinical Psychology faculty
Featured Courses
- Child & Adolescent Psychopathology (PSYD 610)
- Evidence-Based Psychotherapy for Adults (PSYD 740)
- Evidence-Based Psychotherapy for Children (PSYD 745)
- Applied Theology for Clinical Psychologists (PSYD 755)
- Psychology Assessment I: Cognitive & Intellectual Assessment (PSYD 805)
- Psychopharmacology in Clinical Psychology (PSYD 820)
Contact
For more program information, email us at PsyD@liberty.edu
Program Features for the Psy.D. Degree
As a student, you will be awarded an M.A. in Clinical Psychology following your second year of study. Students will be required to complete a quantitative research-based dissertation and a one-year internship before graduating. You will engage in clinical work beginning your second year and must complete a minimum of 10-20 hours per week in clinical activities (Second year students will complete 10-15 hours per week on site; third year students will complete 15-20 hours per week on site). Clinical sites in and around Lynchburg, VA include public and private outpatient clinics, partial hospitalization and acute psychiatric units for adults and children, residential addiction programs, with more being added to provide students with breadth and depth of supervised experience.
Note about accreditation:
Liberty’s Psy.D. in Clinical Psychology program is not yet accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of the American Psychological Association. To see program statistics and information about attrition, program costs, and internship data, visit the Psy.D. Program Data page. Questions related to the program’s accredited status should be directed to the Commission on Accreditation:
Office of Program Consultation and Accreditation
American Psychological Association
750 1st Street, NE, Washington, DC 20002
Phone: (202) 336-5979 / E-mail: apaaccred@apa.org
Web: www.apa.org/ed/accreditation
curriculum information
Clinical Experience
Admission requirements
Following the APA-guidelines, our curriculum involves:
(The Department of Psychology will apply for program accreditation from the American Psychological Association (APA) following the Psy.D. degree’s second year.)
- Training in of the origins and development of the major theories underlying the psychology
- Training in the foundational content involved in scientific psychology, including the biological, social, emotional, cognitive, and developmental aspects of human behavior.
- Advanced Integrative knowledge in scientific psychology, which involves linking multiple areas of knowledge together. For example, Developmental Psychopathology—addresses how various lines of development (biological, neural, genetic, social, cognitive) interact with social/environmental factors to influence both adaptive and maladaptive outcomes.
- Advanced training in research methods and statistical analysis, with an emphasis on understanding how to read, understand, critically analyze, and apply findings from psychological science to clinical practice. Learn how to use science to inform practice and to practice to inform science.
- Advanced training in psychometrics, learning the theory and techniques involved in psychological measurement, test construction, reliability, validity, and standardization.
- Advanced training in assessment, including:
- Cognitive/intellectual assessment
- Clinical interviewing strategies
- Clinical diagnosis and treatment planning
- Advanced training in both adult and child psychopathology
- Advanced Training in Psychotherapy and Evidenced-Based Interventions, including
- Evidenced-based interventions for adults
- Evidence-based interventions for children and adolescents
- Cognitive Therapy
- Psychodynamic Therapy
- Group Therapy
- Family Therapy
- Ethical and legal principles involved in the practice of professional psychology
- Theory and practice of consultation and supervision
Our program provides a minimum of 1,200 hours of supervised practicum experiences, involving a wide array of placements in community-based hospitals, clinics, and agencies as well as Liberty University’s student counseling center. Additionally, the fifth year of the program involves a one year 1,500-hour internship.
Placements include the following areas:
- Acute adult psychiatry
- Acute child/adolescent psychiatry
- Acute geriatric psychiatry
- Autism clinic
- Residential child/adolescent treatment center
- Emergency mental health services
- Private-practice clinics (Outpatient)
- Community-based clinics (Outpatient)
- College counseling centers (Outpatient)
Requirements for admission to the Psy.D. program include the completion of a bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited college or university with a minimum of 3.0 GPA on a 4.0 scale.
Additional Requirements
Students follow the standard graduate program admissions requirements as published in the Liberty University Graduate Catalog, with the following additional requirements:
- At least 18 semester hours in psychology are required and must be completed before the 2nd semester (spring) of the Psy.D. program, including at least one course in each of the following groups of courses:
- general psychology
- abnormal psychology or psychopathology
- quantitative methods, statistics, research methods or experimental design
- personality psychology or theories of psychotherapy
- physiological psychology
- one course from the traditional “scientific subdisciplines” (i.e., learning, cognition, social or developmental psychology or sensation/perception)
- The GRE is NOT required, but applicants are strongly encouraged to take the GRE General Test. A minimum composite GRE score of 300 will contribute positively to the applicant’s success.
- 3 Letters of Recommendation (at least 1 academic source) that speak to the student’s character, work ethic, teachability, leadership potential, quality of academic work and ability to do doctoral level work
- Statement of Purpose, personal essay (500-700 words) to address long term career plans, area of interest in clinical psychology, and why applicant seeks a doctoral degree in Clinical Psychology from this program
- Faculty interview and department approval
Graduation Requirements
To graduate from the program, students must:
- Complete 126 hours of coursework
- Maintain a cumulative Grade Point Average of 3.0
- Successfully defend dissertation
- Complete degree within seven years
