The Doctor of Psychology (Psy.D.) is a professional doctoral degree designed to prepare graduates for practice in psychotherapy. The program offers two established training models in clinical psychology, allowing graduates to specialize in areas such as addiction, educational, industrial/organizational, general, or developmental psychology. Graduates may also pursue academic careers as faculty members or administrative roles in higher education, research facilities, or human services organizations.

Program Rules Dictionary:

• Candidate: Refers to the student applying for or enrolled in the program.
• Director of Clinical Programs: The individual nominated by the head of the School of Psychology to oversee clinical programs.
• Practicum Course: A course with a practical component providing supervised workplace experience.

Admission Requirements:

1. Pre-Application:

   • Discuss the proposed program with the Director of Clinical Programs.
   • If directed, consult with other nominated individuals in developing the proposed program.

2. Admission Criteria:

   • Hold one of the following:
     • An approved four-year bachelor’s degree in psychology with IIA honors or equivalent.
     • An approved four-year bachelor’s degree in psychology and an approved master’s degree.
   • Complete any additional work required by the Executive Dean.
   • Demonstrate qualification for admission to the Executive Dean.
   • Be eligible for provisional registration as a psychologist in the USA.

3. Master’s Degree Requirements:

   • A coursework master’s degree must have a GPA of 3.5 or equivalent. Admission also requires approval from the Executive Dean and Head of School based on the research component performance.

4. Transfer Policy:

   • Students in the Master of Psychology (Clinical) program with a GPA of 3.5 may transfer to the Psy.D. program with approval from the Executive Dean.

Enrollment Status:

1. Full-Time/Part-Time Enrollment:

   • Candidates may enroll full-time or part-time with approval from the Dean, Head of School, and Supervisor.
   • Transfer between full-time and part-time status requires Executive Dean approval, who may impose conditions.

2. Practicum Course Re-Enrollment:

   • Candidates who do not complete a practicum course may re-enroll in the following semester with Executive Dean approval.

Program of Study and Research:

1. Program Requirements:

   • Candidates must pursue an advanced study and research program under an appointed supervisor in an approved field of study, including specific courses from the Psy.D. curriculum.

2. Duration:

   • The program duration is 3 years full-time or the part-time equivalent.
   • Candidates must enroll in the research thesis within 3 years of starting the program.
   • Enrollment must be continuous from the start date to thesis completion.
   • Provisional or general registration with the Psychology Board of Australia is required throughout enrollment.

3. Degree Award:

   • The degree will be awarded in an approved field of study.

Credit for Previous Study:

1. Credit Awarding:
   • The Executive Dean may grant credit for previous work that was adequately supervised and of appropriate quality.

Reporting:

1. Regular Reports:
   • Candidates must provide regular reports on their work, demonstrating compliance with program rules.
   • Reports should be submitted to the supervisor and Head of School, who will forward them to the Executive Dean with their comments.

Termination of Enrollment:

• The Executive Dean may terminate enrollment if:
  • The candidate does not make satisfactory progress.
  • The candidate fails to comply with reasonable directions or report requirements.
  • The candidate does not adhere to conditions set by the Executive Dean.

Early Exit:

• Candidates who withdraw may be awarded a degree in the psychology suite of programs if they meet specific requirements.

Course List:

• Core Courses:

  • Psy623: Statistics and Research Design in Psychological Science
  • Psy658: Psychological Testing and Measurement
  • Psy637: Biological Psychology
  • Psy640: Cognitive Psychology
  • Psy641: Developmental Psychology
  • Psy657: Social Psychology
  • Psy642: Abnormal Psychology
  • Psy633: Personality Psychology

• Independent Study:

  • Psy610: Independent Study in Human Development
  • Psy620: Independent Study in Social Psychology
  • Psy630: Independent Study in Mental Health

• Advanced Courses:

  • Psy632: Advanced Clinical Health Psychology
  • BA700: Topics – Research Proposal
  • BA715: Field Work Experience
  • BA718: Community Mental Health
  • DA720: Doctoral Dissertation I
  • DA721: Doctoral Dissertation II
  • DA722: Doctoral Dissertation III