Overview
The Doctor of Psychology (Psy.D.) in Clinical Psychology with an emphasis in Family Psychology is a professional doctorate. The Psy.D. is becoming the recognized degree in psychology for practitioners. The Psy.D. retains a commitment to provision of a comprehensive education in psychological science as the foundation for any training in psychology, yet emphasizes the service orientation of a clinical degree in which training and supervision comprise a substantial part of the curriculum. The Psy.D. at Azusa Pacific University is identified as a practitioner-scholar program. The intent is that APU graduates actively apply the science of psychology to the practice of psychology.
The Psy.D. curriculum provides the courses and training necessary to meet the educational requirements in the state of California for licensure as a psychologist.
Benefits and Distinctives
- A solid academic curriculum that prepares students for California psychology licensure examinations and clinical practice
- An emphasis on Family Psychology, the discipline that considers individual, interpersonal, and environmental factors which impact human behavior
- An academic schedule that allows students to continue working in Southern California while they pursue their doctorate
- A Christian values orientation that informs the practice of psychology and courses that provide a structure for the integration of ethics, theology, and psychology
- Faculty who maintain active careers in the profession and bring their experience to the classroom
- Two entry pathways: one for students who already have an existing master's degree in psychology or a closely related discipline; another for students entering directly from the bachelor's degree or with a master's degree in a discipline other than psychology
Learn more about the program and our faculty.
Accreditation
Azusa Pacific University values the importance of developing programs of distinction and academic integrity. This attention to excellence has earned the school notable accreditations. The university is accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC), while the doctoral program in psychology is accredited by the Committee on Accreditation for the American Psychological Association (APA), 750 First Street NE, Washington D.C., 20002-4242, (202) 336-5979. When you graduate from APU's psychology program, you embark on your career with the assurance that you are well equipped to function in the education and behavioral studies arena and are a valued asset to the organization you serve.
Note: The Guidelines and Principles for Accreditation of Programs in Professional Psychology (G&P) requires that doctoral graduate programs provide potential students, current students, and the public with accurate information on the program and with program expectations. For more information on the G&P requirements, download the detailed report (PDF).
University Reputation
Azusa Pacific University held its place for the second year in the most prestigious category of the U.S.News & World Report’s America’s Best Colleges 2009, ranking in the third tier of the national category. Additionally, for the first time, APU ranked ninth among the best up-and-coming national universities. Previously, APU was ranked in the top 25 schools within the Western Universities-Master’s category, enjoying prominent placement and recognition for outstanding first-year and service-learning programs.
According to Diverse Issues in Higher Education magazine, APU ranked number 6 in the nation in awarding the most master’s degrees to Hispanics. In addition, The Princeton Review included APU as 1 of 120 colleges in the 2009 Best in the West category.
