Admission | Program Goals & Objectives | Academics | Clinical Training
Research Training | Clinical Psychology Respecialization Certificate Program

The primary goal within the academic domain of the Clinical Psychology PhD program is the mastery of the existing body of literature which constitutes the content areas of clinical psychology. Graduates of the Clinical Psychology PhD program will be able to demonstrate:

• Knowledge of the scientific, theoretical, and methodological bases which support the practice of clinical psychology.
• Critical understanding of the current issues and emerging trends within the defining areas of clinical psychology.

The academic component consists of a curriculum of areas of study called knowledge areas (KAs). Students must complete 12 core knowledge areas of four units each, plus other required knowledge areas and their choice of elective knowledge areas to accumulate 68 units.

Students make full use of the doctoral program's learning environments to complete the academic component of their program:

• New Student Orientation (NSO)
• Cluster Meetings
• National Sessions
• Research Sessions
• Clinical Sessions
• PAL's
• FELIX—Fielding's electronic network

Students enjoy considerable flexibility in fulfilling the PhD Program's academic component. The sequencing of knowledge areas and the topics covered within them can be tailored to match each student's specific interests. Students are encouraged to build on their existing knowledge in the process of completing the curriculum requirements.

Knowledge Area Assessments
To complete a knowledge area (KA), students select a faculty assessor in that area and develop an Assessment Contract. The contract describes the student's educational objectives within the KA, the specific knowledge to acquire it, and a timetable. The School of Psychology provides study guides for each KA to help students with this process.

Assessments are intended to be scholarly demonstrations of a student's competence in a KA and may take a variety of forms, from oral and written examinations to creative essays or position papers. However, for each assessment, some portion must be completed through written work.

Our curriculum allows a great variety of elective options for students, attention to contemporary and neglected topics, integration of the residential sessions and the academic curriculum, and opportunities to complete assessments and seminars in a variety of formats. For instance, almost all of the core assessments are available in an online (FELIX seminar) format, as well as our traditional independent study format. New electives may be initiated by students or faculty members, and can be either 2 or 4 units depending on the scope of the topic and the requirements for completion.

Review the list and descriptions of the required knowledge areas as well as the regularly-available electives.

Comprehensive Examination
The Comprehensive Examination is a two-part evaluation of doctoral-level scholarship, clinical intervention skills, and clinical assessment abilities. The first part of the Comprehensive Examination is a paper review conducted by two independent faculty readers. The second part of the exam is an oral, scholarly discussion of all the materials submitted that demonstrates your ability to present a clinical case to an audience of mental health professionals. Students must successfully complete the exam before applying for internship.

Transfer Credits
Incoming students may receive up to 12 units of transfer credits from previous graduate institutions. Transfer credits are awarded only upon admission, and requests must be submitted with enrollment materials.

To be eligible for transfer credits, courses must be taken in the psychology department of a master's or doctoral program at a regionally accredited college, university, or professional school. Courses must have been completed within the past five years with grades of B or better. Courses must also be judged equivalent to current courses in the PhD curriculum. Transfer credits can only be applied to core KA assessments. Intermediate Statistics (PSY 717) cannot be waived by transfer credit.

A complete list of graduation requirements is available within the Policy Bulletin.

Last Updated: 8/15/07