Graduate Studies

PsyD Program: Doctorate of Clinical Psychology

Partner with powerhouse faculty while you prepare to make a lasting impact as an outstanding clinician and leader.

PsyD Classroom

Program Overview

In the clinical psychology doctoral (PsyD) program, you’ll take the inside track to a future 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 to excel 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).

PsyD Program Options

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 23: 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.

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 

Admissions Requirements for the PsyD Program

  • 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 8, 2022.

An online application, including all supporting credentials, must be received by 11:59 pm EST, December 9, 2022 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. Our plan is to hold interviews in person.

Various types of financial support are available to PsyD graduate students through university-based scholarships and the generosity of our university donors.

  • Admissions & merit-based scholarships are available upon application.
  • Additional scholarships may be available for matriculated students. 

Doctorate of Psychology Program Highlights

With a PsyD degree from Widener, you’ll leverage classroom and clinical experiences as you embark on an applied career in clinical psychology.

Ranked 11 out of 50

On the list of Editors' Choice 50 Best Accredited PsyD Programs for 2022

90%+ Five-Year Graduation Rate

for PsyD students

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.

PsyD Classroom

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.

Biofeedback Clinic Testing

Opportunities to Serve

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.

Faculty

As insiders in the field of clinical psychology, our PsyD faculty infuse their research and clinical experience into every class they teach.

Your Inside Track to Success

Your Inside Track to Success

Our PsyD graduates are ready to practice psychology and obtain prestigious jobs and postdoctoral fellowships. As a top-notch program with an excellent track record, we maintain a strong national reputation.

Outlook & Outcomes

Practicum and Internships

  • Inpatient/outpatient clinics & hospitals
  • School counseling centers
  • Private practice settings
  • Forensic-related placements

Recent Employers

  • University of Pennsylvania
  • North Shore Medical Center
  • South Woods State Prison
  • Sheppard-Pratt Health System
  • Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia

Take the Next Steps

Apply

Visit our online application system to complete your app and share supplemental materials. There is a $35 application fee to apply to Widener.