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Curriculum

Doctoral students must complete a minimum of 119 credits, successfully pass the Clinical Competency Examination, and complete a one-year internship to be eligible for the degree. The program is offered on the Fort Lauderdale-Davie campus only. Courses are taken in general psychology, assessment, intervention, and methodology. Some courses have specific prerequisite requirements that students must meet; these should be checked to ensure compliance. Required and Elective Courses.

First Year (Fall Semester)

Course Name Credit
PSY 1403: Adult Psychopathology 3
PSY 1405: Developmental: Child and Adolescent  1.5
PSY 1407: Developmental: Adult & Older Adult 1.5
PSY 1417: Ethics and Professional Issues 1.5
PSY 1418: Ethics and Legal Issues 1.5
PSY 1501: Assessment: Intelligence Testing with Lab 3
PSY 1603: Systems of Psychotherapy 1.5
PSY 1605: Diversity in Assessment & Intervention 3

First Year (Winter Semester)

Course Name Prerequisites Credit
PSY 1401: History & Systems of Psychology   3
PSY 1408: Child and Adolescent Psychopathology PSY 1405 3
PSY 1502: Assessment: Interviewing  PSY 1403 3
PSY 1610: Adult Intervention I PSY 1403/1407 3
PSY 1703: Pre-Practicum Co/Pre-Req PSY 1605 1
PSY 1806: Intermediate Statistics w/Lab 3

First Year (Summer Semester)

Course Name Credit
PSY 1416: Cognitive/Affective Bases of Behavior 3
Elective* 3

Second Year (Fall Semester)

Course Name Prerequisites Credit
PSY 2507: Objective Personality Assessment  PSY 1503-5 3
PSY 2602: Systems/Family Therapy   3
PSY 2604: Child and Adolescent Intervention  PSY 1408 1.5
PSY 2701: Clinical Practicum I (All first year except
PSY 1412/1416)
3
PSY 2703: Supervision I   1
PSY 2809: Research Design   3
PSY 2107: Theories of Measurement  PSY 1806 3

Second Year (Winter Semester)

Course Name Prerequisites Credit
PSY 2112: Psychobiology   3
PSY 2509: Behavioral Assessment   3
PSY 2511: Projective Personality Assessment PSY 1503-5, PSY 2507 3
PSY 2606: Case Conceptualization PSY 1610, 2603-4, 2701-3 3
PSY 2702: Clinical Practicum II PSY 2701 3
PSY 2704: Supervision II PSY 2703 1

Second Year (Summer Semester)

Course Name Prerequisites Credit
PSY 2406: Psychopharmacology PSY 2112 1.5
PSY 270A: Summer Practicum I PSY 2702 3
PSY 270B: Summer Supervision I PSY 2704 1

Third Year (Fall Semester)

Course Name Prerequisites Credit
PSY 4607: Group Theory/Processes   3
PSY 3501: Integrated Report PSY 2511 3
PSY 3701: Clinical Practicum III PSY 2507-9-11, PSY 2603-4-6,
PSY 2702-4, PSY 270A
3
PSY 3703: Supervision III Co/Pre Req 3501 1
PSY 5890: Directed Study: Research  PSY 2704 2

Third Year (Winter Semester)

Course Name Prerequisites Credit
PSY 3403: Social Aspects of Behavior   3
PSY 3702: Clinical Practicum IV PSY 3701 3
PSY 3704: Supervision IV PSY 3703 1
PSY 5890: Directed Study: Research   2

Third Year (Summer Semester)

Course Name Prerequisites Credit
PSY 370A: Summer Practicum II PSY 3702 3
PSY 370B: Summer Supervision II PSY 3704 1
Elective*   3

Fourth Year (Fall Semester)

Course Name Prerequisites Credit
Clinical Competency Exam     
PSY 4499: Advanced Professional Development 1
2 Elective*   6

Fourth Year (Winter Semester)

Course Name PREREQUISITES Credit
PSY 4402: Consultation & Supervision PSY 2701-4, 270A/B 3
Elective* 3

Fifth Year

Course Name Prerequisites Credit
PSY 5700: Internship
(.5 credit per semester summer, fall, winter & summer)
All course work including PSY 5890: Directed Study: Research 2

*For the 15 credits of electives, students must complete 6 credits of intervention (PSY 46XX and some PSY 47XX) electives and 9 credits in any area. Students admitted into a concentration should follow concentration requirements.

Total Degree Credits: 119

There are some required courses (e.g., History and Systems of Psychology, Diversity in Assessment & Intervention, Group Theory and Process) that may require some personal disclosures by the student as part of the course requirements. Other elective courses (e.g., Advanced Group Theory and Process) may require a higher level of ongoing self- disclosure as part of the class process.

Although the college's doctoral programs are committed to the general training of clinical psychologists, we also give students the option of beginning to specialize. Concentrations and tracks have been developed in recognized areas of psychology. Each concentration accepts a limited number of students at admission or during the first or second year of study and therefore a student is not guaranteed a slot in a particular concentration. Students are permitted to participate in one concentration only. Each concentration consists of a set of electives, a practicum in an approved clinical program related to the concentration, and research activities with faculty in the concentration.

  • Clinical Forensic Psychology Concentration
  • Clinical Health Psychology Concentration
  • Clinical Neuropsychology Concentration
  • Psychodynamic Psychotherapy Concentration
  • Serious Mental Illness Concentration
  • Child, Adolescent, and Family Psychology Track
  • Multi-Cultural/Diversity Track

Concentrations/Tracks with required courses

Clinical practice provide students with conceptually and empirically based assessment, intervention, and consultation experiences. Students have the opportunity to review the list of school-approved placements and indicate their preferences. The director of clinical training makes assignments, taking student preferences into account. Students are required to complete two full years of practicum, usually during their second and third years of residence. Each practicum placement is for 12 months, beginning in late August for most students, but in late May or early June for others. Students are required to meet all clinical obligations, some of which occur on evenings and weekends and during holidays and session breaks. Students' practicum activities are covered by the college's professional liability insurance.

The Clinical Competency Examination must be completed no later than 30 days before the end of the fall semester of the calendar year preceding the internship year. The examination evaluates the students' understanding of, and skills in assessment and intervention, along with applicable ethical knowledge. Clinical Competency Examination procedures are outlined in the Clinical Competency Examination Guidelines.

The internship of 2,000 hours is the culmination of clinical training. Students can apply to any APA-approved training site in the country. Intern supervisors provide evaluation of the student. Internships typically are salaried positions and last one calendar year.

  • Selected Internship Site Placements

Psy.D. students are expected to demonstrate a capacity for critical thinking and gain an understanding of appropriate methodology for empirical inquiry and the utilization of its results. Psy.D. students are expected to successfully complete a Directed Study: Research, which is intended to provide the student with the opportunity to participate in sophisticated research and to engage in dissemination of research.

Licensure of psychologists is regulated at the state level and as such may vary from state-to-state. Degree conferral from an APA-accredited program does not ensure automatic acceptance of program curricula by a given state for the purpose of licensure. Individual eligibility should be verified through careful review of the state licensure regulations for the state in which you plan to reside to determine their specific requirements.

Admissions

Students are able to be admitted to the M.B.A. program during their second year.  Current College of Psychology (COP) doctoral students interested in admittance to the MBA program should contact the COP Director of Academic Affairs. There are no additional requirements for admission to the M.B.A. program. The student will fulfill the typical clinical psychology admissions process by completing the application packet obtainable at the College of Psychology. Typically students will begin M.B.A. classes during the third year of their psychology studies, if they are in good standing and will pay respective current tuition rates for both the clinical psychology program and the M.B.A. program.

Coursework to Complete the M.B.A.

Three psychology courses can be transferred into the M.B.A. program.

  1. PSY 2806 Intermediate Statistics with Lab will transfer in place of GMP 5040 - Quantitative Thinking
  2. PSY 1409 Professional Issues and Ethics will transfer in place of GMP 5015 - Legal, Ethical and Social Values of Business
  3. PSY 4693 Application of Psychology of Organization Settings will transfer in place of GMP 5020 - Managing Organizational Behavior

While the transfer of credits will be awarded, it is recommended that the student take the appropriate business courses.  Students may elect to take classes online or in the traditional classroom setting which is also available in a weekend format.  In addition, it is recommended that Capstone GMP 5102 Leadership & Values Management be taken in place of GMP 5100 Master's Project or GMP 5101 Master's Thesis.

Visit the H. Wayne Huizenga College of Business & Entrepreneurship website for more details.

Contacts:

Tom Kennedy, Ph.D.
Director Academic Affairs, College of Psychology
Telephone: (954) 262-5807
Email: ktom@nova.edu

J. Preston Jones, D.B.A.
Associate Dean for Accreditation, Outreach & Engagement, H. Wayne Huizenga College of Business & Entrepreneurship
Telephone: (954) 262-5127
Email: prestonj@huizenga.nova.edu

Doctoral Program Information
(800) 541-6682, 27563 or (954) 262-7563
gradschool@nova.edu

Registration and Residency

All students must be in full-time residence for the first three academic years to be eligible for the doctoral degree. This requirement, which is independent of the number of transfer credits the students may receive, is defined as completion of a minimum of 18 credits each year. Students who have completed the minimum of the first three years in residence should refer to their model curriculum for their fourth and fifth year requirements. After the residency requirement is met, students must enroll for at least one credit each semester. All enrolled students must be in continuous registration every fall and winter semester until they receive their degree, unless a leave of absence has been granted. 

Candidacy

Upon admission, students are admitted to degree candidacy.

Students admitted to the doctoral program must have access to a computer and their own internet service provider account. Students will be required to demonstrate technological competence and computer literacy during the program, including the use of the electronic library. NSU requires that all students maintain one official university-assigned computer account that is used to access major computing resources, including electronic mail. All official electronic mail communications directed to College of Psychology students will be sent exclusively to NSU-assigned computer accounts to ensure timely and accurate delivery of information. Students may forward their NSU generated electronic mail to external locations, but do so at their own risk.

En Route Master's Degree

Students enrolled in the Psy.D. programs in Clinical Psychology may earn, as an intermediate degree, a Master of Science in Clinical Psychology. The curriculum for this degree consists of all courses in the first two years of the model doctoral curricula. Courses transferred into Nova Southeastern University’s program do not count toward this degree. Any doctoral course with a comparable number of credit hours may be substituted for a transferred course. Graduates with the degree will not have met the educational requirements for certification or licensure in Florida and should not expect to provide psychological services as an independent practitioner. Rather, this degree should demonstrate master’s-level achievement and enhance employment opportunities.

Time Limits

Students are required to complete their program and be awarded a doctoral degree within seven years from the time of first enrollment. Students who do not complete all requirements within the seven-year time limit (excluding approved leaves of absence), must enroll in the center and complete 18 credits (at least six credits each fall and winter semester unless a defense is scheduled), as specified in the doctoral students' Policies and Procedures Handbook and approved by the Office of Academic Affairs. Failure to remain in continuous registration will be deemed as the student's withdrawal from the program. Students whose dissertation advisor becomes unavailable after the seven-year limit will have to start their dissertation over with a new chair.

Evaluation of Doctoral Students

Each student is evaluated on an ongoing basis while enrolled in the program. Included are evaluations during each course, the Clinical Competency Examination, directed study completion, and while on internship. In addition, each student receives annually a written evaluation of progress in the program. The purposes of such evaluations are to provide students with relevant and timely feedback, to formulate plans for improvement or remediation if needed, and to serve as a screening procedure for maintaining high-quality standards in the profession of psychology. Candidates for the degree must possess, with or without reasonable accommodation, multiple abilities and skills, including intellectual, conceptual, integrative and quantitative abilities. Areas of evaluation include academic achievement, responsible behavior, ethical behavior, interpersonal behavior, emotional self awareness and emotional maturity.

Professional Standing Committee

The Professional Standing Committee of the College of Psychology is appointed by the dean of the college and serves in a variety of capacities related to the review of student professional standing matters. The committee consists of faculty, a student representative and other members as appointed by the dean.

The committee may be asked to review alleged violations of the University Student Code of Conduct, including academic standards and ethical standards of the field. In addition, the committee may conduct reviews concerning emotional behavior problems serious enough to suggest interference with professional functioning, academic performance, or performance in a clinical practicum or internship setting.

The purpose of the committee’s review and recommendations are not limited to disciplinary actions, but may encompass efforts to remediate a deficiency or problems so that the student can continue his or her education and function competently as a professional. Committee activities are designed to insure a process by which all relevant facts can be determined, including providing the student with full opportunity to present important information. Actions the committee may recommend to the dean could include, but are not limited to remediation, referral, warning, or sanctions up to suspension or termination.

In instances of complaints regarding violations of Student Conduct and Academic Responsibility, the dean may charge the committee with conducting a formal investigation into the facts pertaining to allegations of misconduct. In such cases, the committee will adhere to professional standing committee guidelines that insure a timely and complete review of the facts. The process will insure that the student and involved parties have opportunity to present relevant information.

Grading and Academic Standing

The doctoral programs in the College of Psychology assign grades to course work according to the following system: A, A-, B+, B, B-, C+, C, C-, and F, except for dissertation and directed Study: research, which receive P, F, or PR, IP (in progress). A grade of I (incomplete) is given only with instructor's approval and under exceptional circumstances.

The College of Psychology doctoral programs require that, to remain in good academic standing, a student must maintain a minimum cumulative grade point average of 3.0. In addition, other minimum requirements exist that are described in detail in student handbooks. Failure to meet these requirements will result in academic probation or dismissal, as detailed in the student handbook. A student is allowed one year (two full semesters excluding summer session) to remove probationary status. Automatic dismissal will occur when any of the following conditions exist: academic probation extends beyond one year; more than two grades below B- are received; two grades of F are received; the Clinical Competency Examination is failed a fourth time; received a grade of Fail for internship (internship cannot be repeated); being dismissed from or having employment involuntarily ended on internship. Students who are academically dismissed will not be considered for re-admission.

Attendance

Students are required to attend all scheduled learning activities, including classes, lectures, seminars and exams. Anticipated absences should be cleared in advance with the instructor. Excessive absences may result in a lower grade at the instructor’s discretion or may necessitate a withdrawal from the class. However, it is the policy of the university to excuse, without penalty, absences due to religious observances and allow students to make up missed work. First year doctoral students are required to attend incoming student orientation and regularly scheduled brown bags during the first year in the program.

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