Degree Requirements

The program curriculum includes sequential research courses, practicum experience and an internship in the field.

• Five-year program with a traditional semester format
• 114 course credits required
• Three areas of focus:
  • Six core courses
  • Research
  • Practical skill development courses
• Includes three years of practical training (one year at Cal Lutheran)
• One year of internship
• Pathway Master's degree available
• Clinical Competency Exam
• Dissertation

View the Student Handbook (2025-08-08)

Note:  The PsyD Program at California Lutheran University strives to offer all training activities in an in-person format, including courses, practicum, clinical supervision, and advising.  However, remote learning for courses may be used when required for ensuring adequate coverage by qualified instructors.  Additionally, some practicum sites offer only remote supervision through videoconference but those placements are optional.  Lastly, faculty and students may agree to use videoconference for advising (for example, when helping with dissertation), though the faculty are also available in person when requested.  

Required Courses (number of credits)

• PSYD 701 Research Seminar 1 (1)
• PSYD 705 Research Methods 1 (3)
• PSYD 706 Statistics and Data Analysis (3)
• PSYD 716 Biological Aspects of Behavior (3)
• PSYD 717 Human Development (3)
• PSYD 718 Cognitive-Affective Aspects of Behavior (3)
• PSYD 719 Social Psychology (3)
• PSYD 721 Practicum 1 (2)
• PSYD 722 Practicum 2 (2)
• PSYD 723 Practicum 3 (2)
• PSYD 724 Practicum 4 (2)
• PSYD 725 Practicum 5 (2)
• PSYD 726 Practicum 6 (2)
• PSYD 728 Case Conference 1 (1)
• PSYD 729 Case Conference 2 (1)
• PSYD 740 Diagnostic Interviewing (2)
• PSYD 741 Basic Attending Skills (2)
• PSYD 743 Child & Adolescent Interventions (2)
• PSYD 745 ABA and CBT Interventions (3)
• PSYD 746 Couples and Family Therapy (2)
• PSYD 747 Group Psychotherapy (2)
• PSYD 750 Child & Adolescent Disorders (3)
• PSYD 751 Psychodynamic Treatment of Personality Disorders (3)
• PSYD 752 Mood and Anxiety Disorders (3)
• PSYD 753 Gender & Sexual Disorders (2)
• PSYD 754 Eating Disorders/Substance Abuse/Somatoform Disorders (2)
• PSYD 755 Schizophrenia and Other Cognitive Disorders (2)
• PSYD 761 Professional Seminar (2)
• PSYD 762 Tests and Measurement (3)
• PSYD 763 Ethics (3)
• PSYD 770 Assessment: Cognitive (3)
• PSYD 771 Assessment: Personality (3)
• PSYD 780 History and Systems (3)
• PSYD 781 Consultation/Supervision (3)
• PSYC 782 Multiultural Psychology (3)
• PSYD 783 Dissertation: Design and Method I (2)
• PSYD 784 Dissertation: Design and Method II (1)
• PSYD 785 Dissertation: Scientific Writing (1)
• PSYD 786 Dissertation: Proposal Draft (1)
• PSYD 787 Dissertation Proposal (1)
• PSYD 788 Dissertation: IRB, Data Management, and Data Collection (1)
• PSYD 789 Dissertation: Data Collection, Analysis, and Results (1)
• PSYD 790 Dissertation: Discussion and Defense (1)
• PSYC 791 Psychopharmacology (2)
• PSYC 798 Internship (2)
• PSYD 7CO Clinical Competency Exam (0)
• PSYD-7XD Dissertation Completion (0)