Degree Requirements

Coursework.  A minimum of 72 units is required for the degree. The University’s policies on Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) and transfer credit apply.

• Evaluation Core: 20 units
• Methods/Statistics: 20 units
• Transdisciplinary: 6 units
• Practicum: 6 units
• Capstone or Dissertation: 8 units
• Electives: 12 units

Required Courses.  All graduate students must meet the following course requirements and pass these courses with a grade of B- or better.

• Evaluation Core (20 units) Students must take 20 units of core courses: Evaluation Principles (4 units); Evaluation Theory (4 units); Evaluation Procedures (4 units); Evaluation for Transformational Change/Social Good (4 units); Culturally Responsive Evaluation (4 units)
• Research Methods/Statistics (20 units). Students who have taken a comparable graduate level courses in methods and statistics should consult with the instructors about a waiver examination.
  • Research Methods (PSYCH 302- 4 units).  Students who have taken a comparable graduate level course should consult with the instructor about a waiver examination. Students are required to be dually enrolled in the associated lab PSYCH 302L for zero units.
  • Statistics Sequence (PSYCH 308a,b,c,d - 2 units each).  Students who have taken comparable statistics courses may consider taking the waiver examination given at the beginning of each module. Courses from other institutions cannot be considered for transfer credit unless the waiver examination is passed and grades in the comparable course(s) were B- or better.
  • Qualitative Research Methods for Evaluation & Applied Research (4 units)
  • Mixed Methods (2 units)
  • Data Presentation (2 units)
• Transdisciplinary Course (6 units required): Choose from an array of courses offered by the Transdisciplinary program including: Leading Change and Innovation (2 units); Transdisciplinary Collaboration and Communication (2 units); Leadership During Crisis (2 units); Systems-thinking (2 units); Diversity and Team Leadership (2 units). Additional TNDY courses meet this requirement, with advisor approval.
• Practicum (6 units): Students will take six TEI workshops in total by enrolling in 3 2-unit courses in Directed Specialization/Practicum.
• Capstone: (8 units) is completed across three courses: Capstone proposal (2 units); Capstone progress (4 units); Capstone completion (2 units)
• Electives (12 units) Select from CGU courses in any program with advisor approval.

Applied Portfolio

All students must assemble a portfolio to provide evidence of professional development within an area of specialization. The applied portfolio consists of six items designed to equip students with the applied and translational skills essential to their area of specialization.

Selection of portfolio items is expected to occur in consultation with the student’s advisor and the second faculty member on their committee. Approval of the portfolio plan is recommended in each student’s third semester in the program.

Portfolios should include the following (substitutions can be made upon advisor recommendation and approval):  

• Capstone Dissertation Project (completed independently during enrollment in Capstone Courses)
• Robust technical evaluation report, preferably mixed methods
• Integrative reflections on evaluator competencies and areas of strength and need for improvement
• Present at a Practitioner or Evaluation Conference
• Evidence of evaluation dissemination beyond traditional reporting mechanisms
• Evidence of how you facilitated evaluation use (or built evaluation capacity) by preparing a training or workshop

Time to Degree Limits

University policies on time to degree apply.  For doctoral students, no more than 7 years from the time a student begins graduate study will be allowed for the fulfillment of all degree requirements (6 years if 13-24 units of transfer credit are accepted toward degree; 6.5 years if 1-12 units are transferred in).  The Psychology program imposes the following additional specifications for its students regarding extensions of time to degree.

• Extensions of time are granted for only one year at a time.
• Only students who are making satisfactory progress on their capstone project will be considered for a second extension.
• The D.Eval program does not authorize more than three extensions.

Master’s Degree Along the Way

CGU’s degree requirements for the Master of Arts in Psychology apply. Students may qualify for a master’s degree, received along the way to the doctoral degree, provided all of the following conditions are met.

• A minimum of 48 units of coursework must be completed.
• Students must complete all required courses required by the specific MA program they aim to obtain.
• Completed coursework must not have been used toward conferral of a master’s degree from CGU in another discipline.

To receive the master’s degree, students must follow degree completion procedures and comply with the deadlines applicable for the semester in which the degree is requested.  Degree completion deadlines are published in the University’s Academic Calendar.