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Curriculum
The Radford University PsyD Program in Counseling Psychology is closing and no longer accepting students. The Program has been granted “Accredited, Inactive” status by the American Psychological Association’s Commission on Accreditation.
The curriculum for the Psy.D. Program consists of an integrated, organized sequence of study. Students are required to complete three years of full-time study in courses in addition to an internship. All three years of coursework must be completed at the Radford University main campus.
In the sections below we provide some detail about the curriculum. First there is an overview of the program semester-by semester. Then we provide a weekly schedule to demonstrate how the courses and practicum placements are generally done. Finally, we illustrate how the courses in the curriculum meet a variety of oversight bodies’ requirements.
Doctor of Psychology Degree
Recommended Four Year Program of Study
Descriptions of the Psy.D. courses can be found in the College of Graduate and Professional Studies Graduate Catalog.
Fall 1 (12 credits) | Spring 1 (12 credits) | Summer 1 (12 credits) |
612 Psychometrics | 628 Biological Foundations | 660 Human Growth and Lifespan Development |
800 Introduction to Counseling Psychology | 802 Ethical, Legal, and Professional Issues | 806 Advanced Personality Assessment |
801 Multicultural Counseling | 809 Supervision and Consultation | 811 Health Psychology |
840 Practicum 1(a) | 840 Practicum 1(b) | 843 Summer Practicum |
| Fall 2 (12 credits) | Spring 2 (12 credits) | Summer 2 (9 credits) |
774 Psychopharmacological Medications | 772 Couples and Family Systems Therapy | 773 Assessment and Treatment of Addictive Disorders in Rural Settings |
777 Multivariate Analysis | 785 Neuropsychological Assessment | 803 Vocational Psychology |
| 805 Advanced Cognitive and Intellectual Assessment Techniques | 808 Advanced Research Methods in Counseling Psychology | 843 Summer Practicum |
841 Practicum 2(a) | 841 Practicum 2(b) |
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Fall 3 (10 credits) | Spring 3 (13 credits) | Summer3 (3credits) | |
623 Advanced Social Psychology | 622 Historical Foundations of a Scientific Psychology | 843 Summer Practicum | |
630 Cognitive and Affective Bases of Behavior | 810 Rural Program Evaluation |
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842 Practicum 3(a) | 771 Group Dynamics in Processing and Counseling |
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899 Dissertation | 842 Practicum 3(b) |
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| 899 Dissertation |
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Fall 4 (1 credit) | Spring4 (1credit) | Summer4 (1credit) | |
870 Doctoral Internship | 870 Doctoral Internship | 870 Doctoral Internship |
There are a few prerequisite courses. Radford’s PSYC 610 (Analysis of Behavioral Data) and PSYC 611 (Methodology and Program Evaluation in Psychology), or equivalent courses, that have been taken within the last five years, are required prior to enrolling in the PsyD program. If courses were not taken at Radford, the PsyD faculty (in consultation with the appropriate RU course instructors when necessary) will determine whether non-RU courses are equivalent to those taken at Radford. There are several courses for which a background in research design and statistics is necessary, including Psychometrics (Fall, Year 1) and Multivariate Analysis of Behavioral Data (Fall, Year 2), or else students will have a very difficult time with the class material. To see a recent syllabus for PSYC 610 you can go to http://www.radford.edu/~tpierce/psyc_610.htm; similarly, to review a recent syllabus for PSYC 611 you can go to http://www.radford.edu/~jaspelme/611/Spring-2007/Psych_611_spring_2007.htm
We expect that students will have had a foundational ethics and professional issues course, a theories of counseling course, and a techniques of counseling course prior to having seen clients in their Master’s program but, if not, these would need to be taken prior to enrolling in the Psy.D. program. We place students in community sites seesing clients within a month of starting classes so students must have a solid foundation to be able to practice independently (although under supervision of a faculty member)
If you do not have one or more of these courses you will need to remediate (i.e., take these prerequisite courses prior to enrolling in the Psy.D. program), which may mean your needing to defer entry into the program for a year. Obviously, if faculty have a choice of two otherwise equal students, the one who is able to enroll right away will have an advantage over the one who would need to defer for a year.
There are some additional courses that it would be helpful for you to have because, if you do and they appear to be substantially equivalent to courses we require, you may be able to waive the Psy.D. Program course (up to a total of 5 courses can be wiaved).
Model Weekly Schedule
A proposed weekly schedule can be viewed by clicking here.
How the Psy.D. Program Curriculum Meets the Requirements of Various Oversight Bodies
The American Psychological Association will only accredit programs that prepare students who achieve competence in a number of different areas. The most common way of demonstrating that these areas are covered is by including coursework on the topics. This approach also meets Virginia licensure requirements and the requirements for Designated Program status by the Association of State and Provincial Psychology Boards/National Register of Health Service Providers in Psychology. Because the program itself must meet APA accreditation and state licensure and Designated Program requirements, we must include coursework (or other ways of helping students achieve competence) in all the following areas. Some students may be able to waive a required course if they have taken a prior course that is substantially equivalent to the Psy.D. course but the course designed to help students meet the competence or licensure requirement must still be a part of the Psy.D. curriculum.
The table below lists the APA accreditation competence areas and Virginia state licensure and Designated Program requirements (we are a Designated Program – see the discussion on the Accreditation page) and shows how the courses in the curriculum helps students meet these requirements. The table also includes unique aspects of the Model Training Program in Counseling Psychology and shows how the curriculum fits within what is expected of Counseling Psychology programs. Unfortunately, the groups do not necessarily define areas in the same way (e.g., individual differences and human development do not have the same courses across organizations), so it may appear that there are inconsistencies in the table but that is a function of the way each group defines the categories.
Requirement | Psy.D. Course |
APA Accreditation |
|
Biological Aspects of Behavior | 628: Biological Foundations of Behavior 774: Introduction to Psychopharmacological Medications |
Cognitive/Affective Aspects of Behavior | 630: Cognitive and Affective Aspects of Behavior |
Social Aspects of Behavior | 623: Advanced Social Psychology |
History and Systems of Psychology | 622: Historical Foundations of a Scientific Psychology |
Psychological Measurement | 612: Psychometric Theory, Assessment, Appraisal, and Application (Note: This course has a prerequisite of a foundational research methods and foundational statistic courses) |
Research Methodology | 808: Advanced Research Methods in Counseling Psychology 899: Dissertation |
Techniques of Data Analysis | 777: Multivariate Analysis of Behavioral Data (Note: This course has a prerequisite of a foundational statistics course) 899: Dissertation |
Individual Differences in Behavior | 801: Multicultural Counseling
|
Human Development | 660: Human Growth and Lifespan Development |
Dysfunctional Behavior/Psychopathology | 840: Practicum I (Fall): Adult Psychopathology 841: Practicum II (Fall): Child Psychopathology (Also infused into other courses) |
Professional Standards and Ethics | 802: Ethical, Legal, and Professional Issues in Psychology (Also infused into other courses) |
| Theories and Methods of Assessment and Diagnosis | 773: Assessment and Treatment of Addictive Disorders in Rural Settings 785: Neuropsychological Assessment 805: Advanced Cognitive and Intellectual Assessment Techniques 806: Advanced Personality Assessment 840: Practicum I (repeated 2X) 841: Practicum II (repeated 2X) 842: Practicum III (repeated 2X) 843: Summer Practicum (repeated 2X) 870: Internship (repeated 3X) |
Effective Intervention | 771: Group Dynamics in Processing and Counseling 772: Couples and Family Systems Therapy 803: Vocational Psychology 811: Health Psychology 840: Practicum I (repeated 2X) 841: Practicum II (repeated 2X) 842: Practicum III (repeated 2X) 843: Summer Practicum (repeated 2X) 870: Internship (repeated 3X) (Also infused into other courses) (Evidence-based practice in psychology is one of the four major emphases of the program) |
Consultation | 810: Rural Program Evaluation |
Supervision | 809: Supervision and Consultation |
Evaluating the Efficacy of Interventions | 772: Couples and Family Systems Therapy 803: Vocational Psychology 811: Health Psychology in Rural Areas 840: Practicum I (repeated 2X) 841: Practicum II (repeated 2X) 842: Practicum III (repeated 2X) 843: Summer Practicum (repeated 2X) 870: Internship (repeated 3X) (Also infused into other courses) (Evidence-based practice in psychology is one of the four major emphases of the program) |
Issues of Cultural and Individual Diversity that are Relevant to All of the Above | 801: Multicultural Counseling (Diversity and Rurality are two of the major emphases of the program) |
Attitudes Essential for Lifelong Learning, Scholarly Inquiry, and Professional Problem-Solving | 800: Introduction to Counseling Psychology 801: Ethical, Legal, and Professional Issues in Psychology 840: Practicum I (repeated 2X) 841: Practicum II (repeated 2X) 842: Practicum III (repeated 2X) 843: Summer Practicum (repeated 2X) 870: Internship (repeated 3X) (Also infused into other courses) |
ASPPB/National Register Designated Program |
|
Scientific and Professional Ethics and Standards | 801: Ethical, Legal, and Professional Issues in Psychology |
Research Design and Methodology | 808: Advanced Research Methods in Counseling Psychology and the prerequisite statistics course for 777 (below) |
Statistics | 777: Multivariate Analyses of Behavioral Data (Note: This course has a prerequisite of a foundational statistics course) |
Psychometric Theory | 612: Psychometric Theory, Assessment, Appraisal, and Application (Note: This course has a prerequisite of foundational research methods and a foundational statistics course) |
Biological Bases of Behavior | 628: Biological Foundations of Behavior 774: Introduction to Psychopharmacological Medications |
Cognitive-Affective Bases of Behavior | 630: Cognitive and Affective Aspects of Behavior |
Social Bases of Behavior | 623: Advanced Social Psychology |
Individual Differences | 660: Human Growth and Development 801: Multicultural Counseling 840: Practicum I (Fall): Adult Psychopathology 841: Practicum II (Fall): Child Psychopathology |
Virginia Licensure Requirements (3+ hours in all of the following, except practicum) |
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Biological Bases of Behavior | 628: Biological Foundations of Behavior 774: Introduction to Psychopharmacological Medications |
Cognitive-Affective Bases of Behavior | 630: Cognitive and Affective Aspects of Behavior |
Social Bases of Behavior | 623: Advanced Social Psychology |
Psychological Measurement | 612: Psychometric Theory, Assessment, Appraisal, and Application (Note: This course has a prerequisite of a foundational research methods and a foundational statistics course) |
Research Methodology | 808: Advanced Research Methods in Counseling Psychology |
Techniques of Data Analysis | 777: Multivariate Analyses of Behavioral Data (Note: This course has a prerequisite of a foundational statistics course) |
Professional Standards and Ethics | 801: Ethical, Legal, and Professional Issues in Psychology |
Individual Differences in Behavior | 801: Multicultural Counseling |
Human Development | 660: Human Growth and Development |
Dysfunctional Behavior | 840: Practicum I (Fall) – Adult Psychopathology 841: Practicum II (Fall) – Child Psychopathology |
Theories and Methods of Intellectual Assessment and Diagnosis | 805: Advanced Cognitive and Intellectual Assessment Techniques |
Theories and Methods of Personality Assessment and Diagnosis (including its practical application) | 806: Advanced Personality Assessment
|
Effective Interventions and Evaluating the Efficacy of Interventions | 771: Group Dynamics in Processing and Counseling 772: Couples and Family Systems Therapy 803: Vocational Psychology 811: Health Psychology 840: Practicum I (repeated 2X) 841: Practicum II (repeated 2X) 842: Practicum III (repeated 2X) 843: Summer Practicum (repeated 2X) 870: Internship (repeated 3X) |
Consultation and Supervision | 809: Supervision and Consultation 810: Rural Program Evaluation |
Applicants who graduated from programs which meet the criteria [above] shall submit documentation of having successfully completed practicum experiences in assessment and diagnosis, psychotherapy, consultation and supervision. The practicum shall include a minimum of nine graduate semester hours or 15 or more graduate quarter hours or equivalent in appropriate settings to ensure a wide range of supervised training and educational experiences. | 840: Practicum I (repeated 2X) [3 credits each] 841: Practicum II (repeated 2X) [3 credits each] 842: Practicum III (repeated 2X) [3 credits each] 843: Summer Practicum (repeated 2X) 3 credits each] Total: 27 semester credit hours
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Counseling Psychology Model Program (Note: Only the areas in the “Professional Core in Counseling Psychology” are listed here because the other areas overlap with APA accreditation requirements) |
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Professional Issues in Counseling Psychology | 800: Introduction to Counseling Psychology |
Theories and Techniques of Counseling Psychology | 771: Group Dynamics in Processing and Counseling 772: Couples and Family Systems Therapy 803: Vocational Psychology 841: Practicum II (Spring): Positive Psychology 842: Practicum III (Fall): Brief Therapy 843: Summer Practicum |
Legal and Ethical Issues | 801: Ethical, Legal, and Professional Issues in Psychology |
Individual and Cultural Diversity | 773: Assessment and Treatment of Addictive Disorders in Rural Settings 802: Multicultural Counseling 810: Rural Program Evaluation 811: Health Psychology |
Practicum and Internship Training | 840: Practicum I (repeated 2X) 841: Practicum II (repeated 2X) 842: Practicum III (repeated 2X) 843: Summer Practicum (repeated 2X) 870: Internship (repeated 3X) |
Psychological Assessment, Diagnosis, and Appraisal | 612: Psychometric Theory, Assessment, Appraisal, and Application (Note: This course has a prerequisite of a foundational research methods and a foundational statistics course) 773: Assessment and Treatment of Addictive Disorders in Rural Settings 785: Neuropsychological Assessment 805: Advanced Cognitive and Intellectual Assessment Techniques 806: Advanced Personality Assessment 840: Practicum I (repeated 2X) 841: Practicum II (repeated 2X) 842: Practicum III (repeated 2X) 843: Summer Practicum (repeated 2X) 870: Internship (repeated 3X) |
Career Development and Counseling | 803: Vocational Psychology 840: Practicum I |
Consultation | 810: Rural Program Evaluation |
Program Evaluation | 810: Rural Program Evaluation |
Supervision and Training | 809: Supervision and Consultation |