Why Earn a PsyD in Clinical Psychology?
Students in Pacific’s PsyD program are exposed to a broad, flexible model of practice including new service delivery models, which reflect changing needs and opportunities for clinical psychologists. Successful completion of the program results in a versatile degree for practice, teaching, or research. The program’s in-house clinical psychology training facilities provide the opportunity for doctoral students to build their skills with patients.
The coursework in the PsyD program reflects the latest empirical findings in the field of clinical psychology and includes courses, practicum placements, and a dissertation with professional support. Varied faculty interests provide students with exposure to a broad range of theoretical perspectives and assessment, intervention, research/evaluation, consultation/education and management/supervision skills. Four emphases within the PsyD program allow students to focus training on a specific area with its own defined curriculum, research programs, and clinical practica.
With diverse classes, students, and professional interests students will easily find classmates and colleagues who share their interests in clinical psychology. Student-led groups offer mentoring support to incoming students, making them feel welcome from the start.
The aim of Pacific’s PsyD program is to prepare competent, ethical, and socially responsive practitioner-scholars who are committed to the lifelong learning and collaborative practice of psychology.
What Can You Do with a PsyD in Clinical Psychology?
Pacific graduates with a PsyD in clinical psychology have the knowledge and the skills to provide psychological services, including traditional areas of psychological assessment, psychotherapy, and applied research. Graduates are prepared to enter the process of licensure as doctoral-level psychologists. They are employed in a wide variety of clinical and institutional settings in addition to independent and consultative practice. The PsyD program also provides students with business and organizational skills so that students can seek innovative leadership roles, launch a private practice, or take on a supervisory position at a mental health facility.
Emphasis Tracks
Pacific University's PsyD program is a generalist program, providing students with exposure to a broad range of perspectives, and techniques for assessment, intervention and research. Our diverse faculty interests and expertise also allow students to choose from four emphasis tracks focusing on specific areas, each with their own defined curriculum, research programs, and practicum experiences. Choose from tracks in adult, child, health psychology, and neuropsychology.
Psychology & Comprehensive Health Clinic
The School of Graduate Psychology operates the Pacific Psychology & Comprehensive Health Clinic, a training clinic with sites in Portland and Hillsboro.
Pacific Psychology & Comprehensive Health Clinic provides outpatient assessment, therapy, medication management and speech language pathology services to children, adults, and families at our clinics in downtown Portland and Hillsboro. Our providers are advanced level graduate students working under the supervision of licensed clinical psychologists.
These clinics offer a wide range of psychological services to the community. Most students gain some practicum experience at the program's own training clinics; other community sites in the Portland area are also available, allowing for exposure to varied sites and populations.
Interprofessional Concentration
Pacific’s School of Graduate Psychology provides opportunities for students to explore models of person-centered healthcare and gain the skills to practice in a changing healthcare environment. Students who choose to pursue interprofessional experiences beyond what is required by their degree program can earn the Concentration in Interprofessional Education, offered by the College of Health Professions. This formal recognition is documented on transcripts as a specialization, indicating that students have gained specific competencies in interprofessional education.
School of Graduate Psychology
503-352-7277 | Fax: 503-352-7320
190 SE 8th Ave., Ste. 260
Hillsboro, OR 97123
Jenni Gottschalk | Assistant Director of Graduate and Professional Admissions
800-933-9308 Ext 7225 or 503-352-7225 | PsychDoctorate@pacificu.edu
Pacific University’s Doctor of Psychology (PsyD) program is accredited by the American Psychological Association’s Commission on Accreditation (APA CoA). The Phd is designed to meet the educational requirements for applying for licensure in these states. Student outcome data is available here. Student learning outcomes and additional curriculum information is available in the academic catalog.
