The Doctor of Psychology (PsyD) program is designed to meet the growing demand for experts who can cultivate thriving work environments and positive company cultures in today’s rapidly changing workplace. Created as a practical, application-oriented alternative to traditional, research-heavy PhDs, this program equips you to solve real-world organizational problems. Drawing from psychology, human resources, management, and more, the PsyD program prepares you for impactful leadership roles with advanced knowledge and practical skills.
This program is offered in-person with some coursework offered in an hybrid/online modality and can be completed in six semesters of full-time attendance (twelve units/semester).
Degree Requirements
A minimum of 72 units is required for the degree. Additionally, students are required to submit an Applied Portfolio and successfully defend a Capstone Project.
Students must select a concentration in either:
- Industrial-Organizational Psychology, or
- Positive Organizational Psychology
Coursework
All graduate students must meet the following course requirements and pass these courses with a grade of B- or better.
Concentration Core Courses (18 units)
Industrial-Organizational Psychology:
Positive Organizational Psychology:
Methods/Statistics (12 units)
Research Methods
Students who have taken a comparable graduate-level course should check with their advisor about bypassing this course. Students waived from this requirement will instead take an additional four units of electives.
Statistics Sequence
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.
Evaluation Courses (6 units)
Directed and Advanced Practice (8 units)
Directed Practice
PSYCH 416 - Professional Doctorate Portfolio Capstone and Directed Practice (2 - 4 units)
Advanced Practice
All students must enroll in advanced practice as their final course in the program. This course is designed to support students as they complete their capstone project.
PSYCH 417 - Advanced Practice for PsyD (4 units)
Transdisciplinary Elective (4 units)
All students must enroll in either one 4-unit or two 2-unit TNDY courses of their choosing.
Electives (24 units)
Students will select an additional 24 units of electives selected in consultation with their academic advisor.
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. Approval of the portfolio plan is recommended in each student’s second year in the doctoral program.
Portfolios Must Include:
- Collaborative Practicum (completed collaboratively during Directed Practice)
- Evidence-Based Practice Review on Industrial-Organizational Psychology or Positive Organizational Psychology
- Field Experience
- Three Student Choice Items: Student choices must be approved by your advisor, but may include items such as: presenting at a practitioner conference, submitting a paper at a practitioner outlet, designing and delivering a training, earning a coach certification, etc.
Capstone Project and Defense
In lieu of a dissertation, students enrolled in the PsyD degree will complete a Capstone project, which is completed independently and scaffolded during the Advanced Practice course. All students will defend their completed Capstone project to a panel of practitioners and scholars.
Time to Degree
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:
- 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 PsyD program does not authorize more than three extensions.
Master’s Degree Along the Way
Students are eligible to earn the Master of Arts in Psychology 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 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 the 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.
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