Practicum and Internships
- Inpatient/outpatient clinics & hospitals
- School counseling centers
- Private practice settings
- Forensic-related placements
Doctoral Program
PsyD Program: Doctorate of Clinical Psychology
Our doctoral program in clinical psychology (PsyD) provides the expertise and experience you need to excel as a clinician and leader in a broad range of clinical settings.
At a Glance
Click to Open
Offered as
Doctorate
In Person
Credits
120
Avg. Time to Completion
5 years
College/School
Campus Location
- Chester, PA
Explore Our Clinical Psychology Doctoral Program
In Widener's clinical psychology doctoral (PsyD) program, you’ll prepare for success as a scholar-practitioner-psychologist. Not only will you delve into the science of psychology, you’ll also apply newfound knowledge in assessment, intervention, consultation, and supervision. Through a practicum placement, paid internship rotations, and rigorous dissertation research, you’ll gain on-the-job training for a rewarding career in the field of clinical psychology.
The doctoral degree in clinical psychology program and exclusively-affiliated internship are accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of the American Psychological Association (750 1st Street, NE, Washington, DC 20002, 202-336-5979).
- Student Admissions, Outcomes, and Other Data for the doctoral program
- Internship Admissions, Support, and Initial Placement Data for the internship program
PsyD Program Information
View the Loading... for information regarding the clinical psychology doctoral (PsyD) program as well as certificate track and concentration requirements.
Biofeedback
Explore how to use biofeedback data such as heart rate, galvanic skin response, and brain waves to inform mental health intervention. This one-year, two-semester track pairs didactic learning with hands-on clinical application at Widener’s Biofeedback Clinic and leads to certification with the Biofeedback Certification Institute of America.
Neuropsychology
Become an expert in brain-behavior relationships as you prepare for certification in clinical neuropsychology. We provide the coursework, placement, and research experience you need to become certified in clinical neuropsychology after completion of our program and the required postdoctoral experience.
School Psychology
Interested in working in schools and obtaining child clinical training? This track integrates field experience that will lead you to becoming a certified Pennsylvania state school psychologist and can be applied to certification in other states. This program is approved by the Pennsylvania Department of Education.
- Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy/Acceptance & Commitment Therapy (CBT/ACT)
- Psychodynamic Psychology
- Cross-Cultural & Diversity Psychology
- Child, Adolescent, & Family Psychotherapy
- Forensic Psychology
- Health Psychology
- Consulting Psychology
Detailed information about our concentrations, including courses and requirements, can be found in the Concentrations Manual.
At Widener, a unique clinical and internship experience is embedded in the PsyD degree curriculum.
Year 1: Pre-Practicum
The pre-practicum training is multi-modal and experiential. It offers students opportunities to learn and practice skills that are foundational to the practice of professional psychology.
Years 2–3: Practicum Training
The practicum-level placements are designed to familiarize the students with a variety of clinical settings. Each practicum offers progressively more responsibility and patient–staff interaction.
Years 4 & 5: Internship Training Program with three day a week clinical rotations
Most doctoral students in clinical psychology enter the Association for Psychology Postdoctoral and Internship Centers (APPIC) match process to find a pre-doctoral internship. In contrast, our PsyD program offers a unique and fully integrated internship that is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of the American Psychological Association (750 First Street NE, Washington, DC 20002, 202-336-5979).
This means that rather than enter the APPIC match to find an internship; our students are guaranteed a local internship placement through our in-house network of outstanding internship rotations.
Take an interdisciplinary approach to clinical psychology. A unique opportunity to obtain a master's degree in a related area of psychology, expanding your marketability and professional network as you prepare for a well-rounded career.
The clinical psychology doctoral degree program is designed to afford an opportunity for doctoral level nonclinical psychologists to shift their career focus to the professional practice of clinical psychology. Students must have a PhD in psychology from an accredited university. The Loading... is typically 3 years of study, including the internship.
FAQs
Q: Can the program be completed in less than three years?
A: No. Due to the needs of licensure and our APA Accredited internship, which is part-time for two years, the respecialization program takes three years to complete.
Q: Can I do this program remotely?
A: No. This is a full-time in-person program, so respecialization students need to be in the area to complete it.
Q: How can I apply for the respecialization program?
A: Our respecialization students apply using the PsyCAS application and submit all of the same materials that the general PsyD applicants submit.
Q: How do I know what courses I will take?
A: Our faculty work with respecialization students individually to determine a course ladder. We take a look at the courses you’ve taken, courses needed for the professional practice of clinical psychology included in our curriculum, and licensure requirements.
Doctoral education alone is not sufficient for licensure in the United States. In addition to requiring specific educational criteria, all states require candidates for licensure to pass a national exam after completing graduate education (the Examination for Professional Practice in Psychology [EPPP]), and many states also require additional experiences for licensure, including supervised post-doctoral experiences, criminal history background checks, and personal ethical/moral references. Specific requirements for each state vary, and are developed and monitored by State Boards of Psychology. A general list of State Boards and contacts can be found on the website of the Association of State and Provincial Psychology Boards.
The curriculum provided by Widener’s Institute for Graduate Clinical Psychology meets state educational requirements for licensure as listed below. It is strongly recommended that students who expect to pursue licensing in a particular state reach out to the licensing board to confirm specific licensing requirements. The information below is accurate, as best as could be determined based on published records of state licensing requirements, as of June 2021.
Widener’s PsyD curriculum meets educational requirements for licensing in the following states
It is still being determined whether Widener’s PsyD curriculum meets educational requirements for licensing in the following states
Widener’s PsyD curriculum does not meet educational requirements for licensing in the following state
Doctorate of Psychology Outlook & Outcomes
Why Study Clinical Psychology at Widener?
Gain Clinical Experience from Day One
You’ll hit the ground running. In your first year, you’ll dive into clinical training that includes courses on theory and technique, laboratory activities to practice basic skills, and discussion groups to process the nuances and challenges of clinical work. Practicum placements continue the intensive clinical training through the third year of the program. All students are also admitted to our APA-accredited internship at the time of doctoral program admission, which translates to a placement in our exclusively-affiliated and integrated internship in years four and five.
Engage in Next-Level Research
Through your rigorous research and dissertation experience, you’ll enhance your approach and understanding of scholarly literature and theory as you anticipate new innovations and developments in psychology. When you graduate, you’ll excel as a scholar-practitioner who asks the right questions and uses creative problem-solving solutions.
Make an Impact on Your Community
You’ll encounter countless opportunities to serve. Whether you engage in service projects with local organizations or serve community members in one of our on-campus clinics, you’ll go beyond your formal training in psychology as you meet the needs of your new neighbors.
Doctorate of Psychology Program Highlights
Our Faculty
The clinical training and supervision that you're most likely to receive here could be invaluable to your development as a clinician. The partnerships that you could make in the tri-state area and beyond would be lifelong, diverse, and in line with your future areas of focus or expertise.
Someone can only connect with you at the level in which they have connected with themselves.” Many people are drawn to the field of psychology because they possess a natural, healing energy. A doctoral degree in psychology will challenge your understanding of humanity while providing you with the skills to help others elevate their lives.
Recent News
The Future of Widener’s Health Science Programs Is Bright, and Integrated
The expansion of health science programs in the College of Health & Human Services and School of Nursing is bolstering Widener’s interprofessional learning approach that has set the programs apart and put students on track to becoming competent and compassionate clinicians.
After COVID Hardships, PsyD Alumni Sponsor Hoods for Graduating Class
After trying final semesters during COVID-19, alumni from the Institute for Graduate Clinical Psychology offer their support for students through sponsoring doctoral hoods for each graduate.
Clinical Psychology Students Advocate for Teachers amid Vaccine Roll-Out
Students in the graduate clinical psychology program launched an advocacy campaign to support prioritizing COVID-19 vaccinations for teachers in Delaware County.
Admissions & Aid
Admissions Information
- Complete online application and pay application fee through PsyCAS.
- Please also pay the supplemental Widener application fee.
- Applicants must hold a bachelor of arts or a bachelor of science degree from an accredited institution. A major in psychology is desirable, but not required.
- Transcripts are required from all attended institutions. A minimum GPA of a 3.0 is preferred, competitive applicants have a 3.5 GPA or higher.
- All entering students must have completed a course in statistics, abnormal psychology or psychopathology, and research design or experimental psychology by the time they matriculate in the fall.
- Personal character and attributes of emotional maturity and stability, as well as a capacity for relating to and working with other people, are also major factors in reviewing the credentials of applicants. Evidence for these attributes is sought from records of past performance, letters of reference, autobiographical statement, and work history.
- All applications are reviewed holistically and no strict cutoffs are utilized. We aim to understand your story, motivation, and passion for this career choice via the application process, and later via on campus interviews.
Applicants are not required to take the GRE or submit scores from the GRE.
Deadline
The online application opens September 8th, 2023.
An online application, including all supporting credentials, must be received by 11:59 pm EST, December 11th, 2023 to be considered for acceptance into the program. We encourage all applicants to submit their application as early as possible, especially as applications are only complete once verified by PSYCAS. All acceptance decisions are made by April 1.
Supplemental Materials
All supplemental materials must be submitted through the online PSYCAS (Psychology Centralized Application Service) system:
- Essays
- 3 letters of recommendation
- Transcripts
- Optional scholarship essays (to be considered for service-related tuition scholarships)
If you are selected as a top candidate for the PsyD program, you will receive an invite to one of four Admissions Interview Days, which will include an individual interview, tour, and information sessions. Interviews will be held in person.
Financial Aid
Because Widener is a private institution, we're able to offer financial assistance that brings our education within reach for individuals who might otherwise not be able to afford it.
You might be surprised how much we are able to offer.
Getting started is easy. Simply apply to Widener and submit your FAFSA to be automatically considered for scholarships and grants. "FAFSA" stands for the Free Application for Federal Student Aid and helps identify whether you are eligible for aid awarded by Widener, the government, and other sources. Our school code is 003313.
In order to receive a financial aid offer, students must meet certain eligibility requirements. Here are the general eligibility requirements for most financial aid programs:
- Must demonstrate financial need
- Be a U.S. citizen or eligible noncitizen
- Be enrolled or accepted for enrollment as a regular student in an eligible degree or certificate program
Learn more about applying for financial aid as a graduate student
Paths to Savings
85% of Full-Time Grad Students Receive Aid
Simply apply to Widener and complete the financial aid process to be automatically considered for scholarships and grants. Because Widener is a private institution, we are able to offer financial assistance that brings our education within reach for individuals who might otherwise not be able to afford it. You might be surprised at how much we are able to offer in assistance.
Applying For Financial Aid as a Graduate Student
In order to receive your part of the financial aid pie, all you have to do is submit your FAFSA. "FAFSA" stands for the Free Application for Federal Student Aid and helps identify whether you are eligible for aid awarded by Widener, the government, and other sources.
Graduate Assistantships
Widener offers a limited number of graduate assistantships to enrolled students. GAs receive tuition assistance for their work. Once you're a student, contact your program director for more information.
Employer Discounts & Tuition Reimbursement
Widener University also partners with many local organizations and corporations to offer discounted tuition and other incentives to their employees. Don't see your company on the list? Ask them to become a partner. In addition, employers often offer educational reimbursement benefits. We encourage you to explore these opportunities and will be glad to provide any necessary documentation.
Widener Scholarships
A limited number of university-based scholarships are made available to enrolled graduate students made possible directly from our academic department or thanks to the generosity of university donors. No extra steps are needed to be taken prior to admission. Once enrolled, contact your program director to learn more.
20% Discount for Widener Alumni
(some restrictions apply)
If you graduated with a degree from Widener, you may qualify for a 20% tuition discount. The first step to see what you qualify for is to submit your application. Widener offers students many paths to savings, and while we don't offer "double discounts", we'll make sure you'll get the biggest financial benefit you're eligible for. Only students who have completed an associate's, bachelor's, master's, or doctoral degree are eligible. Students who have pursued a 4+1, 4+2, or 3+3 pathway, graduate assistantship, Widener-funded scholarship, or other tuition discount may not be eligible if the financial discount granted surpasses 20%.
Program Cost
| Psychology (Full-Time Doctoral) | Per Semester | Annual |
| Psychology - First Year | $19,352.00 | $38,704 |
| Psychology - Fall 2022 Cohort | $18,697.50 | $37,395 |
| Psychology - Fall 2021 Cohort | $18,170.50 | $36,341 |
| Psychology - Fall 2020 Cohort | $17,814.50 | $35,629 |
| Psychology - Fall 2019 Cohort | $17,465.00 | $34,930 |
Tuition rates are subject to change. Official costs for your first year will be determined at time of enrollment.
Institute for Graduate Clinical Psychology
-
Bruce Hall
- 610-499-1206
- mrourke@widener.edu
Kat LeConey
Assistant Director of Admissions & Enrollment
-
Hyatt Hall, Office #320
- (610) 499-1388
- ksleconey@widener.edu
