School of Graduate Psychology

Lynette BikosWelcome to the School of Graduate Psychology (SGP) within the College of Health Professions at Pacific University’s campus in Hillsboro, OR. 

At SGP, we offer three distinguished programs in clinical psychology, all tailored to advance both scholarship and practice. Our Doctor of Psychology (PsyD) and Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) programs in clinical psychology are accredited by the American Psychological Association (APA), while our Master of Arts in Applied Clinical Psychology holds accreditation from the Masters in Psychology and Counseling Accreditation Council (MPCAC).

Our school is also home to the Pacific Psychology & Comprehensive Health Clinic, with locations in downtown Portland and Hillsboro. Here, our students gain their initial clinical experiences under supervision, with more advanced placements available in diverse settings throughout the broader community.

I began my tenure as dean in 2024, motivated by the exceptional qualities I saw in both our programs and the institution as a whole:

  • Our clinical psychology programs are uniquely positioned within a College of Health Professions, providing valuable interprofessional training alongside students and professionals in fields such as physician assistant studies, physical and occupational therapy, dental hygiene, audiology, pharmacy, and healthcare administration.
  • The Pacific Psychology & Comprehensive Health Clinic allows our students to provide supervised psychological services to the community, fulfilling critical needs while fostering diverse, hands-on training opportunities.
  • SGP is proud of its accomplished faculty and clinicians, who are not only esteemed researchers and practitioners but also recipients of local, state, and federal grants. This support enables them to address pressing mental health issues through innovative projects.
  • As shown in the reports of programmatic outcomes, our graduates meet and exceed expectations for obtaining accredited internships (PsyD and PhD programs) and post-degree licensure.  They are making meaningful contributions, working in fields that bring healing and compassion to communities in need.

I invite you to explore our website and discover more about the achievements and distinctive qualities of our programs. 

Lynette H. Bikos, PhD, ABPP
Dean
School of Graduate Psychology

Academic Programs

All career paths and services in School of Graduate Psychology reflect core values of compassion, integrity, diversity, and discovery. Our programs lead to meaningful careers that allow students to apply their skills and knowledge acquired in the program in work that can range from clinical service to administration to teaching to research and more. Our graduates report that they are able to establish successful and fulfilling careers that allow them to continue to grow, contribute, and make a difference.

Clinical Strength

The school offers internship opportunities, as well as services to the public through the Pacific Psychology & Comprehensive Health Clinic in two locations. The school also has partnerships with more than 70 practicum sites, including Juvenile and County Correction Centers, Oregon State Hospital, Oregon Health & Science University and local counseling centers.

Pacific University Hillsboro Campus

Study in Hillsboro, Oregon

The School of Graduate Psychology is located on Pacific University's Hillsboro Campus, a suburb of Portland, Oregon. Founded as the home of Pacific University's College of Health Professions, students enjoy a close connection with students in other health programs. 

The Pacific University Hillsboro Campus is ideally situated in the heart of downtown Hillsboro’s Health and Education District, creating strong partnerships with businesses and local leaders in healthcare and education. Its location right along the MAX light-rail line also makes the campus an easy commute for graduate and professional students throughout the Portland area.

Interprofessional Education

Patient-Focused Care

From case conferences to optional certificates and concentrations, Pacific University provides future healthcare providers with the well-rounded preparation to become collaborative members of an interprofessional healthcare team. Develop patient-focused models of care as you work with fellow students and practitioners across the healthcare spectrum.

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About the School of Graduate Psychology

Mission

Striving for excellence, the faculty at Pacific University’s School of Graduate Psychology prepare psychological professionals who foster collaborative relationships, have inquiring minds, create meaningful change, and dedicate themselves to models of health and well-being that support diversity and social justice.

Core Values

  • Compassion
  • Integrity
  • Diversity
  • Discovery 

Professional Readiness

Practice and Scholarship

School of Graduate Psychology provides a comprehensive and integrated educational experience that offers an extensive psychological knowledge base and fosters the development of applied clinical and research competence.  SGP curricula are designed to build and integrate the many components and aspects of psychological practice. SGP emphasizes community involvement and flexible, diversity-appropriate, practical applications of scientific psychology.

Depending upon the program or area of emphasis, students learn how to apply and contribute to knowledge of human behavior to resolve problems and improve conditions. The programs offer broad and general doctoral education and training that includes preparation in health service psychology. Our PsyD program places relatively greater emphasis on training for engaging in professional practice and our PhD program places relatively greater emphasis on training related to research. The PsyD program presents students with a broad range of theoretical perspectives and exposes them to assessment, intervention, research/evaluation, consultation/education, and management/supervision. Students in the PhD program are trained to integrate the science and practice of psychology by completing specific coursework, producing original empirical research, and engaging in clinical practicum placements.

Graduates of each program, however, must demonstrate a fundamental understanding of and competency in both research/scholarly activities and evidence-based professional practice. The goal of the master’s program in applied clinical psychology is to foster learning of and competence in skills necessary for responsible and ethical professional practice in a variety of contexts and settings.

Practicum and Internship Flexibility

Doctoral and clinical master's students complete an internship during their last year of the program. Doctoral students complete practica throughout their second and third years in the program, with the option of a fourth-year field placement. Training helps integrate scientific knowledge with clinical application, and you will gain supervision experience with a range of client populations in a variety of clinical settings. In addition, there are dozens of practicum and internship sites where you can further develop your interests.

The school offers its own American Psychological Association-accredited internship program for doctoral internship training. We successfully place interns at approved sites across the country that match their interests, including hospitals, academic counseling centers, Veterans Administration facilities, community mental health centers and military internships that prepare you for entering with the rank of captain after graduation. During your internship, you will learn under clinical supervision and be prepared to practice, teach or conduct research upon graduation.

 

 

Accreditation

Academic programs in the Pacific University School of Graduate Psychology are accredited by the American Psychological Association’s Commission on Accreditation (APA CoA). Additional student outcome information is available on each program webpage and in the academic catalog.