DOCTOR OF PSYCHOLOGY IN SCHOOL-CLINICAL CHILD PSYCHOLOGY

General Information

The Psy.D. Program in School-Clinical Child Psychology carefully integrates field experience with academic preparation within a practitionerscholar training model. Students are trained in psychological foundations, assessment and evaluation techniques, remediation and intervention procedures, and program evaluation and research. Although research methodology and theoretical academic subjects are essential parts of the program, emphasis is placed on professional preparation in the delivery of psychological services.

Graduates of the doctoral program will have completed all pre-doctoral academic and internship requirements needed to be admitted to the New York State Licensing Examination for the professional practice of psychology. Typically graduates from the program have been awarded the Master of Science in Education in School Psychology (or equivalent program in school psychology), and been recommended for New York State Certification in School Psychology. The Psy.D. in School-Clinical Child Psychology is fully accredited by the American Psychological Association (APA) as a combined school-clinical program. (The APA Committee on Accreditation is located at APA, 750 First Street NE,Washington, DC 20002-4242; the telephone number is (202) 336-5979.)

Full-Time or Part-Time Study
Students may undertake the program on a full- or part-time basis, but the program must be completed within ten years. Class hours permit field work and generally allow for limited part-time employment in the first four years of study.Wherever possible, paid internships are arranged in order to help alleviate the financial expense involved. The program requires 110 credit hours of study, a Qualifying Examination after the first year, a Proficiency Examination and Comprehensive Examination, typically during the third or fourth year, a final internship (over one or two years), and a doctoral project.

Purpose of the Program
The goal of Pace University’s Psy.D. Program in School-Clinical Child Psychology is to prepare professional psychologists with expertise in school and clinical child psychology. The program utilizes a practitionerscholar training model to prepare psychologists to provide direct and indirect services from a variety of theoretical perspectives.

The Psy.D. program seeks to train doctoral-level professionals who:

1. Consult with teachers, school administrators, representatives of social agencies, and parents on matters affecting children’s and adolescents’ learning and development.
   
   
2. Plan, develop, and evaluate research and testing programs in conjunction with schools and other institutions serving youth.
   
   
3. Provide diagnostic, counseling, and intervention services for youth in schools and community agencies.

Admission
Admission to the Psy.D. program is open to qualified holders of a bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution. Applicants must submit all transcripts from prior academic preparation, scores from the Graduate Record Examination (general and psychology examinations), three letters of reference, a personal statement, and a completed Pace University application form.

Pace University participates under section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. Students with disabilities must notify the coordinator of disabled students, prior to matriculation, regarding possible educational modifications.

Program Prerequisites
Students must have background preparation in abnormal psychology, developmental psychology, experimental psychology, general psychology, learning, personality theory, and statistics. In addition, students must have courses or show competencies in principles and problems in education and curriculum development or methods of teaching and instruction. It is desirable and strongly recommended that students have all psychology prerequisite preparation prior to entering the program; however, it is possible for students to complete some of the program prerequisites (e.g., education) after program admission.

Program Goals
The specific goals related to student learning in the Psy.D. Program are as follows:

1. Psychoeducational assessment related to school difficulties and learning disorders.
   
   
2. Psychological assessment related to personality and mental disorders.
   
   
3. Psychological interventions aimed at ameliorating adjustment and personality difficulties experienced by children, adolescents and families.
   
   
4. Psychological interventions aimed at ameliorating learning difficulties experienced by children, adolescents, and families.
   
   
5. Development and implementation of programmatic preventive interventions.
   
   
6. Developing and implementing consultation services.
   
   
7. Enlisting the aid of community agencies to secure services or prevent circumstances contributing to unsatisfactory adjustment or behavior problems.
   
   
8. Initiating and/or directing group interventions.
   
   
9. Initiating and/or directing family interventions.
   
   
10. Conducting in-service training sessions for parents and/or school personnel.
    
    
11. Coordinating inter-disciplinary assessment and intervention strategies.
    
    
12. Providing psychotherapeutic services from a variety of theoretical perspectives and learning to evaluate students’ own interventions and outcomes.
    
    
13. Providing diagnoses related to mental disorders.
    
    
14. Carrying out applied research.
    
    
15. Providing psychological services to an ethnically diverse population.
    
    
16. Supervising the provision of direct psychological services.

Time Limit
For students entering the doctoral program without advanced standing, there is a maximum of ten years within which all requirements for graduation must be met. For students entering at the advanced standing level, there is a maximum of six years within which all requirements for graduation must be complete.

Complete Program Information
For complete doctoral program description, please contact the Office of Graduate Admissions at Pace University, One Pace Plaza, New York, New York, 10038, (212) 346-1531; for specific questions, call the Psychology Department (212) 346-1506. For detailed curriculum description, please consult the Psychology Department Graduate Program Catalog.