Department of Clinical Psychology

CIIS' Psy.D. in Clinical Psychology program is a five-year graduate degree program at the doctoral level. It requires the completion of a minimum of 90 semester credits of core classes in addition to the units for practical training and dissertation.

We provide specialized training in clinical psychology that combines the principles of integral education with the clinical efficacy of contemporary psychodynamic psychotherapy. We promote an ethos of open and holistic inquiry and emphasize the centrality of relationships in people's lives.

It is not. CIIS is accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges–Senior College and University Commission (WSCUC), a federally recognized regional accreditation body. This accreditation meets the standard to apply licensure in California and some other states.

The Psy.D. program’s mission of training students in a depth-oriented oriented approach that integrates psychodynamic theory, humanistic and transpersonal orientations, and a social justice stance does not fit within the APA’s emphasis on short-term behavioral treatment modalities.

Students must complete a total of 90.0 semester credit hours. This consists of:    

• 85.0 required units
• 5.0 elective units
• 6.0-11.0 units of practicum
• 3.0-4.0 units of internship

In addition to clinical training and other non-course degree requirements, including 45 hours of personal therapy, students must write and successfully defend a dissertation. 

The minimum time to complete the degree is five years. The first three years are course work and practicum training in preparation for the internship. The internship is 2000 hours and may be completed full-time in one year or part-time in two years. The dissertation is allotted one year for completion outside of all other requirements and may be done before or after the internship.

Clinical training consists of:

• Foundations Practicum in spring and summer of the first year (2.5-5.5 hours per week)
• Two year-long practicums at community agencies in the Bay Area during your second and third year, each consisting of 16-24 hours per week. All practicum placements are a part of the Bay Area Practicum Information Collaborative (BAPIC).
• One 2000-hour predoctoral internship that can be completed full-time in one year or part-time in two years. All internship placements are part of The California Psychology Internship Council (CAPIC). 

The dissertation is a five-chapter, scholarly document of approximately 150-250 pages, written in APA style. Students are supported in creating the first three chapters through three 1.0 unit core classes, which result in their initial dissertation proposal. The dissertation is completed under the guidance of the student’s dissertation chair, who is a member of the Psy.D. core faculty.

It is generally not possible to maintain full-time employment while enrolled in the Psy.D. program. You may be able to work part-time, but bear in mind that from the second semester onward, you will have practicum-related hours to complete each week. In the first year, this is not a huge commitment, but practicum placements that begin in the second year are 16–24 hour per week trainings over and above your courses.

Students who hold a B.A. or B.S. degree may apply for the Psy.D. program. An M.A./M.S. is not required, nor is a background specifically in psychology. We encourage applicants from many fields to apply, and are primarily looking to enroll those who are interested in reflecting on their internal processes, external relations, past experiences, and positionality/intersectionality and how these influence one’s perspectives, choices, and behaviors.

We look for people who are interested in reflecting on their internal processes, external relations, past experiences, and positionality/intersectionality and how these influence one’s perspectives, choices, and behaviors.

In California, the Board of Behavioral Sciences regulates master’s-level practitioners (i.e., LMFT, LPCC and LCSW), and the Board of Psychology regulates doctoral-level practitioners (i.e., Psy.D., Ph.D.).

Though both require completion of a qualifying degree and meeting other eligibility requirements, including the successful completion of a fingerprint and background check, the requirements for each license and the scope of practice and competence are different.

In considering which degree you should pursue, it is important to consider carefully what your plans are once the degree has been completed. Please see information table below comparing the Psy.D. to the master’s:

It is important to note that while a Master of Clinical Psychology is available as an interim degree in the Psy.D. program, this degree does not meet the California academic requirements for the LMFT, LPCC, or LCSW licenses.