PsyD Student Handbook

Doctoral Program in Clinical

Psychology

PsyD Student Handbook

August 2020 Revision

PsyD Student Handbook

August 2020 Revision

TABLE OF CONTENTS

I.

II.

III.

IV.

V.

VI.

VII.

VIII.

IX.

X.

XI.

XII.

XIII.

PROGRAM MISSION AND OVERVIEW................................................................................................ 1

STUDENT LEARNING OUTCOMES ....................................................................................................... 4

ACADEMIC RECRUITMENT AND ADMISSION ................................................................................. 6

DEGREE REQUIREMENTS ...................................................................................................................... 8

ADMINISTRATIVE ORGANIZATION .................................................................................................11

FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE ......................................................................................................................12

STUDENT PERFORMANCE EVALUATION, FEEDBACK, AND ADVISEMENT ........................13

RETENTION AND TERMINATION DECISIONS ...............................................................................15

STUDENT CONCERNS, DUE PROCESS, AND GRIEVANCE PROCEDURES ...............................15

STUDENT RIGHTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES..................................................................................26

STUDENT RECORDS ..............................................................................................................................35

APPENDIX A: ADVISING GUIDE .........................................................................................................36

APPENDIX B: COURSE DESCRIPTIONS............................................................................................39

PsyD Student Handbook

I.

August 2020 Revision

PROGRAM MISSION AND OVERVIEW

Program Mission

The West Chester University PsyD program in clinical psychology follows a practitioner-scholar

model that prepares students for leadership roles as culturally competent psychologists. Graduates

of WCU¡¯s program will be able to employ evidence-based practice to assess, treat, and prevent

mental, emotional, and behavioral disorders among individuals who are at greatest risk and

demonstrate the greatest need. The program prepares students to be critical consumers of research,

and to develop and evaluate interventions for the purpose of quality improvement and clinical

decision-making. The program provides significant training in assessment and therapeutic

interventions through didactic coursework and supervised clinical training experiences beginning in

the first year of the program. Graduates of WCU¡¯s program will be adaptive to new knowledge in the

field and responsive to emerging needs in an increasingly diverse society.

Upon completion of the PsyD from WCU, students will be eligible to pursue a license as a clinical

psychologist, to practice as culturally competent psychotherapists and provide consultation within a

diverse range of communities and organizations, and to be informed consumers of the theoretical

and empirical literature related to clinical psychology.

Program Overview

The program has eight categories of training goals that organize our curriculum: (1) Basic

Foundations in Psychology, (2) Research, (3) Ethical and Legal Standards, (4) Individual and Cultural

Diversity, (5) Professional Values, Attitudes, and Behaviors, (6) Communications and Interpersonal

Skills, (7) Assessment, (8) Intervention, (9) Supervision, and (10) Consultation and

Interprofessional/Interdisciplinary Skills. Graduates of this program will demonstrate competence

in each of these areas. Students will complete a minimum of 114 credit hours spread across five years,

with the fifth year dedicated to a full-time clinical internship as required by the American

Psychological Association. Of the required credits for the PsyD at West Chester University, 12 credits

(or four courses) will be elective courses. Students are required to choose between one of two

specialty tracks: Child and Adolescent Mental Health or Trauma. Elective courses and advanced

practicum training experiences (i.e., externships) during the third and fourth year will provide

students the opportunity to gain depth of training and expertise in their chosen specialty area.

Students interested in exposure to trauma among children and adolescents are encouraged to select

the Child and Adolescent Mental Health Track, as this will facilitate access to professional

development and other training opportunities relevant to clinical work with trauma-exposed youth.

Students will complete a minimum of 114 credit hours spread across five years, with the fifth year

dedicated to a full-time pre-doctoral clinical internship, as required by the American Psychological

Association. Of the required credits for the PsyD at West Chester University, 12 credits (or four

courses) will be elective courses. In consultation with the academic advisor, each student will select

4 elective courses that support the student's specific training goals and that enhance learning in the

student's specialty track. With approval from the Director of Clinical Training, students may choose

to complete a single-semester Elective Advanced Practicum under the supervision of a WCU clinical

faculty member as 1 of the 4 electives.

First year students will complete required clinical courses in preparation for their clinical practice

training which begins in Spring of Year 1, when students start their psychology Clinic

Practicum experience in the program¡¯s in-house clinic, WCU Community Mental Health Services. The

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PsyD Student Handbook

August 2020 Revision

WCU community clinic is an on-campus clinic serving both the campus community and the broader

West Chester area community. Training in the clinic will extend through the Summer of Year 1 and

the Fall, Spring, and Summer of Year 2. In addition, Year 2 students complete required courses,

including remaining core and foundational courses. Training in specialty areas begins in the third

year, with Advanced Practicum assignments through off-campus partner agencies in the greater

Philadelphia region and elective courses focused on either Child and Adolescent Mental Health or

Trauma. Third year students also complete courses in program evaluation, as well as clinical

supervision and consultation in clinical practice. In Year 4, students continue their advanced

practicum training and elective coursework, while completing their dissertation.

All students must have their dissertation proposals completed and successfully defended before the

end of the Fall semester of Year 3. Students will apply for clinical internship during Year 4, and

complete internship during Year 5.

Students with a Master¡¯s Degree in Clinical Psychology

Students who have already earned a master¡¯s degree in clinical psychology from WCU or from

another program or institution will continue their clinical training upon entering the WCU PsyD

program. With approval from the Director of Clinical Training, these students will be able to apply

select courses completed in their master¡¯s program toward their PsyD requirements. Up to 30 credits

completed within the WCU clinical MA program or up to 12 credits completed in another master¡¯s

program will be eligible for transfer to the PsyD program. In the Fall semester of Year 1 students who

enter the PsyD program with a master¡¯s degree in clinical psychology or a related mental health field

will begin their clinical practicum at WCU Community Mental Health Services, the in-house clinic.

These students will follow the same course sequence as students who enter the program without a

master¡¯s degree. However, the number of credits required of students will be reduced during one or

more semesters, depending on the number of transfer credits.

II.

STUDENT LEARNING OUTCOMES

Goal 1: Foundational Knowledge in Psychology

? Demonstrate an understanding of the major concepts and empirical findings in biological,

social, cognitive, and affective bases of behavior, as well as research and statistical methods,

and psychometrics

? Demonstrate advanced Integrative Knowledge of Basic Discipline-Specific Content Areas

Goal 2: Research

? Demonstrate the substantially independent ability to formulate research or other scholarly

activities (e.g., critical literature reviews, dissertation, efficacy studies, clinical case studies,

theoretical papers, program evaluation projects, program development projects) that are of

sufficient quality and rigor to have the potential to contribute to the scientific, psychological,

or professional knowledge base.

? Conduct research or other scholarly activities.

? Critically evaluate and disseminate research or other scholarly activity via professional

publication and presentation at the local (including the host institution), regional, or

national level.

Goal 3: Ethical and legal standards

? Be knowledgeable of and act in accordance with each of the following:

o the current version of the APA Ethical Principles of Psychologists and Code of

Conduct;

o Relevant laws, regulations, rules, and policies governing health service psychology at

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PsyD Student Handbook

August 2020 Revision

the organizational, local, state, regional, and federal levels; and

o Relevant professional standards and guidelines.

? Recognize ethical dilemmas as they arise, and apply ethical decision-making processes in

order to resolve the dilemmas.

? Conduct self in an ethical manner in all professional activities.

Goal 4: Individual and cultural diversity

? An understanding of how their own personal/cultural history, attitudes, and biases may

affect how they understand and interact with people different from themselves.

? Knowledge of the current theoretical and empirical knowledge base as it relates to

addressing diversity in all professional activities including research, training,

supervision/consultation, and service.

? The ability to integrate awareness and knowledge of individual and cultural differences in

the conduct of professional roles (e.g., research, services, and other professional activities).

This includes the ability apply a framework for working effectively with areas of individual

and cultural diversity not previously encountered over the course of their careers. Also

included is the ability to work effectively with individuals whose group membership,

demographic characteristics, or worldviews create conflict with their own.

? Demonstrate the requisite knowledge base, ability to articulate an approach to working

effectively with diverse individuals and groups, and apply this approach effectively in their

professional work.

Goal 5: Professional values, attitudes, and behaviors

? Behave in ways that reflect the values and attitudes of psychology, including integrity,

deportment, professional identity, accountability, lifelong learning, and concern for the

welfare of others

? Engage in self-reflection regarding one¡¯s personal and professional functioning; engage in

activities to maintain and improve performance, well-being, and professional effectiveness.

? Actively seek and demonstrate openness and responsiveness to feedback and supervision.

? Respond professionally in increasingly complex situations with a greater degree of

independence as they progress across levels of training.

Goal 6: Communications and interpersonal skills

? Develop and maintain effective relationships with a wide range of individuals, including

colleagues, communities, organizations, supervisors, supervisees, and those receiving

professional services.

? Produce and comprehend oral, nonverbal, and written communications that are informative

and well-integrated; demonstrate a thorough grasp of professional language and concepts.

? Demonstrate effective interpersonal skills and the ability to manage difficult communication

well.

Goal 7: Assessment

? Select and apply assessment methods that draw from the best available empirical literature

and that reflect the science of measurement and psychometrics; collect relevant data using

multiple sources and methods appropriate to the identified goals and questions of the

assessment as well as relevant diversity characteristics of the service recipient.

? Interpret assessment results, following current research and professional standards and

guidelines, to inform case conceptualization, classification, and recommendations, while

guarding against decision-making biases, distinguishing the aspects of assessment that are

subjective from those that are objective.

? Communicate orally and in written documents the findings and implications of the

assessment in an accurate and effective manner sensitive to a range of audiences.

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