Doctor of Psychology in the Field of Clinical Psychology

Entering its 30th year, GW's Professional Psychology program trains students using the practitioner–scholar model. Students receive a clinical and theoretical immersion in approaches to psychotherapy, assessment, and clinical consultation, with roots in psychoanalytic psychology, and culturally thoughtful and responsive approaches to understanding the whole person and the social worlds they navigate. The program’s Center Clinic, now in its 20th year of operation, is led by program faculty and students, and dedicated to offering affordable and accessible psychotherapy and psychological assessment to diverse members of the Washington, DC, community. Program faculty are committed to the support of students' scholarship and clinical training while maintaining their own clinical work, scholarship and research. The program has trained generations of effective psychotherapists, assessment psychologists, consultants, teachers, and leaders who are grounded in advanced psychoanalytic theory, strong assessment skills, and culturally responsive and ethical practice. The program is accredited by the American Psychological Association.

Visit the program website for additional information.

This Bulletin covers the degree requirements for students matriculating in the current academic year. Students who matriculated before the current year can find their requirements in the relevant archived Bulletin.

The following requirements must be fulfilled:

The general requirements stated under Columbian College of Arts and Sciences, Graduate Programs.

Satisfactory completion of at least 83 credits in approved graduate coursework. A maximum of 12 credits can be taken in courses offered by the other affiliated members of the Consortium of Universities of the Washington DC Metropolitan Area. Doctor of psychology students must complete all degree requirements within five years of matriculation in the program.

Successful completion of required courses, practical requirements, general examination, and major area paper.

Course List

Code	Title	Credits
Required
Core courses
PSYD 8201	Psychological Assessment I
PSYD 8202	Psychological Assessment II
PSYD 8203	Practicum in Clinical Psychology
PSYD 8204	Biological Bases of Clinical Psychology
PSYD 8205	Psychodynamic Psychopathology
PSYD 8206	Cognitive and Affective Bases of Clinical Psychology
PSYD 8207	Social Psychology and Group Theory
PSYD 8209	Statistics and Quantitative Methods
PSYD 8210	Ethical and Legal Issues in Psychology
PSYD 8220	Psychodynamic Psychotherapy I
PSYD 8221	Psychodynamic Psychotherapy II
PSYD 8222	Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies
PSYD 8225	Theories of Mind I
PSYD 8226	Theories of Mind II
PSYD 8227	History and Systems of Clinical Psychology
PSYD 8231	Short-Term Psychotherapy
or PSYD 8240	Group Psychotherapy
PSYD 8246	Community Intervention (Consultation)
PSYD 8261	Life Span Development
PSYD 8270	Current Topics in Clinical Psychology
Topics offered annually under PSYD 8270 include Psychological Assessment III, Empirical Research, Prevention, and Supervision.
Additional coursework
Sufficient courses chosen from one of three tracks (adult, assessment, or child and adolescent) to complete the minimum requirement of 83 credits in graduate courses.

Practical requirements

Practicum

Successful completion of the practicum seminar PSYD 8203 in the summer of the first year and each fall and spring semester thereafter, as well as an additional practicum during a summer session.

Externship

Successful completion of an externship comprising a year-long, part-time supervised clinical assignment in two years of the program. A failed externship can, in exceptional circumstances and with the approval of the program director, be repeated. If the student fails a second time, no further opportunity will be provided, and the student’s degree candidacy is terminated.

Internship

Successful completion of a one-year, full-time internship at an institution approved by the program faculty is required.  If the student fails the internship, no further opportunity will be provided and the student's degree candidacy is terminated.

General Examination

Satisfactory completion of the general examination.

Major area paper

Satisfactory completion of a major area paper.