Degree Requirements

The program curriculum includes sequential research courses, practicum experience and an internship in the field.

• Five-year program with a traditional semester format
• 114 course credits required
• Three areas of focus:
  • Six core courses
  • Research
  • Practical skill development courses
• Includes three years of practical training (one year at Cal Lutheran)
• One year of internship
• Second-year project or Competency Exam (for Clinical Masters)
• Qualifying Exam
• Dissertation

View the program's Curriculum Map to see student learning outcomes.

View the Student Handbook

Note:  The PsyD Program at California Lutheran University strives to offer all training activities in an in-person format, including courses, practicum, clinical supervision, and advising.  However, remote learning for courses may be used when required for ensuring adequate coverage by qualified instructors.  Additionally, some practicum sites offer only remote supervision through videoconference but those placements are optional.  Lastly, faculty and students may agree to use videoconference for advising (for example, when helping with dissertation), though the faculty are also available in person when requested.  

Required Courses (number of credits)

• PSYD-701 Research Seminar 1 (1)
• PSYD-705 Research Methods 1 (3)
• PSYD-706 Statistics and Data Analysis (3)
• PSYD-716 Biological Aspects of Behavior (3)
• PSYD-717 Human Development (3)
• PSYD-718 Cognitive-Affective Aspects of Behavior (3)
• PSYD-719 Social Psychology (3)
• PSYD-721 Practicum 1 (2)
• PSYD-722 Practicum 2 (2)
• PSYD-723 Practicum 3 (2)
• PSYD-724 Practicum 4 (2)
• PSYD-725 Practicum 5 (2)
• PSYD-726 Practicum 6 (2)
• PSYD-728 Case Conference 1 (1)
• PSYD-729 Case Conference 2 (1)
• PSYD-740 Diagnostic Interviewing (2)
• PSYD-741 Basic Attending Skills (2)
• PSYD-743 Child & Adolescent Interventions (2)
• PSYD-744 Principles of Psychodynamic Psychotherapy (3)
• PSYD-745 ABA and CBT Interventions (3)
• PSYD-746 Couples and Family Therapy (2)
• PSYD-747 Group Psychotherapy (2)
• PSYD-750 Child & Adolescent Disorders (3)
• PSYD-751 Personality & Dissociative Disorders (3)
• PSYD-752 Mood and Anxiety Disorders (3)
• PSYD-753 Gender & Sexual Disorders (2)
• PSYD-754 Eating Disorders/Substance Abuse/Somatoform Disorders (2)
• PSYD-755 Schizophrenia and Other Cognitive Disorders (2)
• PSYD-761 Professional Seminar (2)
• PSYD-762 Test and Measurement (3)
• PSYD-763 Ethics (3)
• PSYD-770 Assessment: Cognitive (3)
• PSYD-771 Assessment: Personality (3)
• PSYD-780 History and Systems (3)
• PSYD-781 Consultation/Supervision (3)
• PSYC-782 Multiultural Psychology (3)
• PSYD-783 Dissertation: Design and Method I (2)
• PSYD-784 Dissertation: Design and Method II (1)
• PSYD-785 Dissertation: Scientific Writing (1)
• PSYD-786 Dissertation: Proposal Draft (1)
• PSYD-787 Dissertation Proposal (1)
• PSYD-788 Dissertation: IRB, Data Management, and Data Collection (1)
• PSYD-789 Dissertation: Data Collection, Analysis, and Results (1)
• PSYD-790 Dissertation: Discussion and Defense (1)
• PSYC-791 Psychopharmacology (2)
• PSYC-798 Internship (2)
• PSYD-7CO Clinical Competency Exam (0)
• PSYD-7XD Dissertation Completion (0)