PsyD/Master of Business Administration
PsyD/Master of Business Administration in Health & Medical Service

Purpose

These dual degree programs lead to the Doctor of Psychology offered by Widener’s Institute for Graduate Clinical Psychology and one of the following offered by Widener’s School of Business Administration: (1) the Master of Business Administration (PsyD/ MBA), or (2) the Master of Business Administration in Health and Medical Services Administration (PsyD/MBA-HMSA). The programs are based on the premise that health care organizations, as well as the mental health and health care fields at large, are in need of well-trained leaders and advocates who integrate psychological and business-organizational knowledge.

The programs train clinical psychologists/health care managers, integrating the two fields to deal more effectively with issues related to managing, programming, and advocating for services for health and mental health patients; addressing complex organizational/professional needs; and dealing with and promoting regulations as they have an impact on professional organizations and their needs and resources.

The psychological training for these programs is designed to enable graduates to pursue a variety of career choices, including that of director-administrator, teacher, consultant, advocate, policymaker, and practicing clinical psychologist.

Training

Students spend five years in full-time residence at the Institute for Graduate Clinical Psychology leading to the PsyD Within that same time frame, through the addition of summer courses and field practice experience, the MBA or MBA-HMSA program may also be completed. In addition to fulfilling the essential requirements of the separate degrees, students are required to participate in a number of noncredit learning experiences that are specifically designed to help them integrate their training and develop unique skills. Students are encouraged to earn their PsyD/MBA or PsyD/MBA-HMSA degrees within five years of study.

Admissions

The applicant must possess a BA or BS degree from an accredited institution. A major in psychology is desirable but not essential. Evaluation of the student's ability to do graduate work will be based upon academic performance and scores on either the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) or the Miller's Analogies Test (MAT). Personal character and attributes of emotional maturity, stability, and capacity for relating to and working with other people are major factors evaluated in reviewing applicants. Evidence for these attributes is sought from records of past performance, letters of reference, work history, and a personal interview. Applicants to the joint program must be accepted by both the Institute for Graduate Clinical Psychology and the School of Business Administration. Acceptance in the business program need not coincide with acceptance in the PsyD program; however, clearance from the Institute for Graduate Clinical Psychology must be obtained before submitting an application to the School of Business Administration. In any semester, students must be in good standing in the clinical psychology program to take business courses.

Tuition

Students pay a total of five years of full-time tuition at the rate of the Institute for Graduate Clinical Psychology. PsyD/MBA candidates who complete School of Business Administration courses within the 18 credits allowable per semester (except during the first two years, during which students are allowed to take only 15 credits per semester) will do so without added tuition. All School of Business Administration courses above 18 credits, those taken during summer sessions, and those taken after five years in the PsyD program will be subject to additional tuition charges at the School of Business Administration rate per semester hour. Tuition amounts per semester are calculated on a per-credit-hour basis and therefore vary as a function of the total number of credits taken. A fee will be charged each semester (fall or spring) in which the student is enrolled in the joint degree program.

Accreditations

The School of Business Administration programs are accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB) International. In addition, the MBA (HMSA) program is accredited by the Accrediting Commission on Education for Health Services Administration and are full members of the Association of University Programs in Health Administration. The PsyD program and its exclusively affiliated internship are fully accredited by the American Psychological Association (750 First Street NE, Washington, DC 20002-4242; phone (202 336-5979).