Doctor of Psychology (PsyD)

• Emphasis in Behavioral Health
• Focus on Underserved Populations

Demonstrating a commitment to improving access to behavioral health services and leadership in health professions education, the School of Nursing and Health Professions at the University of San Francisco offers a collaborative Doctor of Psychology (PsyD) program in Clinical Psychology. The innovative program

• is a collaboration between the School of Education Counseling Psychology Department, the College of Arts & Sciences Psychology Department, the School of Nursing and Health Professions Doctor of Nursing Practice Department, and Counseling and Psychological Services at USF 
• emphasizes the integration of mental, emotional and physical health in applied settings
• focuses on cultural competence in meeting the needs of underserved populations

As a general concept, behavioral health refers to a field of scientific study, academic education, and clinical healthcare practice that focuses on the integration of psychosocial, behavioral, and biomedical knowledge relevant to health and illness.

What is a PsyD Degree?

The PsyD degree adheres to the Vail Model of training in Psychology. It is generally termed the “Practitioner-Scholar” model, which emphasizes applied methods of clinical psychology and inquiry, rather than theoretical and scientific research. The Boulder Model of training typically characterizes Ph.D. Programs in Clinical Psychology. The PsyD is practice doctorate and referred to as a professional degree while the Ph.D. is a research doctorate and often considered an academic degree. 

The PsyD Program at the University of San Francisco

The USF PsyD Program is accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC) and has Observer Member status in the National Council of Schools and Programs of Professional Psychology (NCSPP). Graduates of the PsyD program at USF are eligible for licensure in California as psychologists.

The curriculum and clinical training requirements for the program have been designed to meet the standards of the Association of State and Provincial Psychology Boards (ASPPB) and the Guidelines & Principles on Accreditation of the American Psychological Association (APA).

• The USF PsyD program intends to seek APA accreditation as soon as it is eligible and ongoing updates regarding progress toward accreditation will be made available.
• Graduates from APA-approved PsyD and PhD programs in Clinical Psychology who have also completed postdoctoral supervised clinical hours are eligible for licensure in every state. 
• Accreditation - To attain licensure in most states, graduates must complete a program approved by the Commission on Accreditation of the American Psychological Association (APA). Since APA does not allow a program to apply for accreditation until the first cohort of students has completed four years of course work, we anticipate submitting our application for accreditation in 2018. If the program is granted accreditation before the Fall of 2018, our first cohort of students would graduate from an APA accredited program. While every effort is being taken to ensure we will meet the APA Commission on Accreditation standards, APA requires us to inform prospective students that there is no guarantee the program will be accredited.

Mission of the Program

The PsyD in Clinical Psychology is a program that prepares doctoral students to serve in a variety of community health settings as professional psychologists. Graduates are proficient in the empirical and theoretical underpinnings of integrated, behavioral health interventions while sensitive to contextual, cultural,  spiritual, and socioeconomic environments of individuals and communities. Advancing the Mission of the University of San Francisco, the primary focus is to address disparities in the delivery of physical and mental health services to the underserved and marginalized.

Program Goals

The PsyD in Clinical Psychology will prepare professional psychologists under a practitioner-scholar model in theoretical and scientific foundations; and to apply evidence-based interventions across a variety of contexts, problems, and populations. 

Graduates of the PsyD in Clinical Psychology will:

develop a focus in integrated behavioral health that will allow them to work effectively with individuals and organizations across boundaries of economic, physical, psychological, sociocultural, and spiritual issues.  

be prepared using multidisciplinary approach through a variety of modalities including consultation, psycho-education, advocacy, and direct clinical care. 

gain an understanding and sensitivity to providing behavioral health services to those who have been traditionally disadvantaged due to socioeconomic, race, gender, religion, ethnic, or disability status or sexual orientation, and others who are underserved in current health care systems. 

Student Learning Outcomes

Graduates of the PsyD in Clinical Psychology will acquire the knowledge, attitudes, and skills to function in diverse settings to provide culturally competent, contextually sensitive, integrated behavioral health consultation to individuals and health professionals.  

Graduates will:

1. demonstrate knowledge of the historical and contemporary social and psychological theories of human development and behavior; 
2. integrate behavioral health knowledge, strategies, and skills that allow them to work effectively with individuals and organizations across boundaries of economic, physical, psychological, sociocultural, and spiritual issues. 
3. effectively utilize qualitative and quantitative empirical approaches to the understanding and evaluation of human behavior and psychological interventions; 
4. demonstrate proficiency in practice- and evidence-based approaches to psychological assessment, consultation, intervention, prevention and advocacy; 
5. demonstrate competence in providing evidence-based behavioral health interventions for diverse individuals, groups, and families experiencing a variety of physical, psychosocial, and mental health problems;  
6. develop skills that will allow them to engage in and promote community-based interventions that advance the health and well-being of groups and individuals. 
7. learn to work in a variety of settings serving the underserved, whether in medical centers, community agencies or clinics, or as independent contractors or practitioners offering multiple modalities of behavioral health interventions. 

PsyD Affiliate Faculty

For additional questions, please contact the School of Nursing and Health Professions.