Mar 29, 2024  
Academic Catalog 2020-2021 
    
Academic Catalog 2020-2021 [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

School of Graduate Psychology


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Faculty     APS program      PsyD program     PhD program

The School of Graduate Psychology (SGP) educates and trains empirically-informed professionals who choose careers in practice, research, teaching, health, or organizational service, or a combination of these in a variety of settings. SGP is an academic community that fosters collaborative inquiry, encouraging faculty and students to work together on program development, clinical research, and governance. There is an emphasis and commitment to evidence-based and culturally-informed work that is relevant to diverse populations at the individual, family, group, and community levels.

Mission

Striving for excellence, the faculty at Pacific University’s School of Graduate Psychology prepares psychological professionals who foster collaborative relationships, have inquiring minds, create meaningful change, and dedicate themselves to models of health and well-being that support diversity and social justice.

SGP, as part of the College of Health Professions, complements Pacific University’s traditional liberal arts and sciences undergraduate offerings. The distinctive interprofessional learning environment, coupled with SGP’s emphasis on diversity, community involvement, and practical applications, creates a unique learning opportunity in the Pacific Northwest. SGP offers the following degrees:

  • Doctor of Psychology in Clinical Psychology (PsyD)
  • Doctor of Philosophy in Clinical Psychology (PhD)
  • Master of Arts in Clinical Psychology (PsyD program students)
  • Master of Science in Clinical Psychology (PhD program students)
  • Master of Arts in Applied Psychological Science (APS)
  • Master of Science in Applied Psychological Science (APS-currently not accepting applications)

SGP prepares students for mastery and success in a rapidly evolving, demanding profession. Clinical and applied psychology require a solid grounding in the science of psychology, sound ethical judgement, strong interpersonal and research skills, and the ability to work in a variety of professional roles with clients and communities of a diverse range of backgrounds in a variety of settings. SGP’s curriculum provides students with a solid foundation for psychological practice and continuing professional growth. Graduates are encouraged to seek out new and innovative professional roles. Doctoral graduates are prepared to enter the post-doctoral licensing process and the APS program prepares students for employment as masters-level professionals or for further training in psychology at the doctoral level. 

SGP provides a comprehensive and integrated educational experience that offers an extensive psychological knowledge base and fosters the development of applied clinical and research competence. SGP curricula are designed to build and integrate the many components and aspects of psychological practice. SGP emphasizes community involvement and flexible, diversity-appropriate, practical applications of scientific psychology. Students learn how to apply and contribute to knowledge of human behavior to address problems and improve conditions. The programs offer broad and general education and training that include preparation in health service psychology.

SGP faculty orient students to scholarship that contributes to an understanding of human behavior, to research that informs the clinical endeavor, and to services for diverse populations. SGP programs are responsive to the needs of many diverse peoples in a rapidly changing society; to that end, faculty, staff, and students maintain close connections with the communities they serve. In addition to teaching and developing students’ skills, faculty serve as models for the ideals of professional behavior and service to the public.

Accreditation

SGP programs are regionally accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NWCCU). Additionally, the PsyD Program in Clinical Psychology is accredited by the American Psychological Association (APA) and the PhD Program in Clinical Psychology is accredited, on contingency by APA. The APS program is accredited by the Master’s in Psychology and Counseling Accreditation Council (MPCAC).


American Psychological Association (APA)
Office of Program Consultation and Accreditation
750 1st Street, N.E.
Washington, DC, 20002-4242
Tel: (202) 336-5979; email: apaaccred@apa.org

Masters in Psychology and Counseling Accreditation Council (MPCAC)
595 New Loudon Road #265
Latham, New York 12110
Tel: (518) 785-1980; email: oconnp@sage.edu

Training Clinics and External Practicum Opportunities

SGP maintains the Pacific Psychology & Comprehensive Health (PCH) Clinics, with locations in Hillsboro and Portland. A wide range of psychological services are available to the community. Services are provided by PsyD and PhD student clinicians under the supervision of licensed psychologists. Both clinics offer evidence-based interventions for a wide range of psychological problems, as well as cognitive, personality, neuropsychological, and psychological assessments. PCH also offers individual therapy, marital and family therapy, group therapy, Parent-Child Interaction Therapy, and consultation. In addition to psychological services, PCH also offers integrated healthcare services including primary care through community and university partnerships. Services are also available in Spanish. 

SGP students in the three programs also benefit from over one hundred community practicum sites located throughout the Portland metropolitan area and nearby communities. Some of the practicum settings include community mental health centers, hospitals, residential and day treatment facilities, college counseling centers, correctional facilities, and local K-12 schools.

Clinical PsyD and PhD Internships

To obtain the Doctor of Psychology or the Doctor of Philosophy degree, each student must complete an internship at sites throughout the United States and Canada. Internships are obtained through a competitive, national application process that is administered independently of SGP. SGP students have been successfully placed in hospitals, university counseling centers, mental health centers, and other institutional settings.

Sabiduría Latinx Psychology Emphasis

“Sabiduría” in Spanish means wisdom, knowledge, learning and understanding, not only of oneself but also of others. It means using knowledge and understanding to attain balance, health, wellness, to reach goals and help others to do the same. Sabiduría states that the healing and spiritual development are interconnected, that people can live life with meaning and purpose, that illness offers an opening for integration and personal growth and that life setbacks are opportunities for growth and self-improvement (Ruiz, 1997, Coma-Diaz, 2010).

Overview

The Sabiduria Latinx psychology emphasis allows students from all SGP programs to gain competencies in Latinx psychology and culturally informed work/psychology that can be adapted or translated and applied to other multicultural groups. The emphasis is ideal for students with different levels of Spanish proficiency who want to be trained in Latinx culture and/or multicultural areas. The emphasis allows students the opportunity to focus their training on culturally informed services with Latinx and individuals from diverse cultural backgrounds, while at the same time working on improving their Spanish proficiency, whatever their Spanish level may be. It is not required, but it is desired, that students have Spanish language skills.

The emphasis provides students with classes, clinical practicum, and research experiences that focus on working with Latinxs and/or Spanish-speaking individuals. Outreach, health and wellness, and community psychology components and service are integrated through all the emphasis requirements.

For the PsyD program, students can choose the Sabiduria emphasis in combination with their admitted emphasis (e.g., health with the Latinx psychology emphasis). Similarly, students from the APS program can choose the emphasis in combination with their specialty (e.g., clinical psychology with a Latinx psychology emphasis). The PhD program students can pursue the Latinx psychology emphasis to supplement their academic, clinical, and research training

Benefits of Joining the Sabiduría Latinx Psychology Emphasis

The Latinx psychology emphasis provides students with specialized training to work with Latinx and other individuals from diverse cultural backgrounds in the most culturally sensitive manner. Our training includes courses in culturally and linguistically focused assessment and treatment, clinical supervision in Spanish, Latinx and bilingually focused clinical training placements, multiple community outreach opportunities, cultural and international experiences, and Spanish language support. Our cohesive and supportive learning community provides students with an opportunity for faculty mentorship, close peer relationships, and lifelong professional relationships. Our emphasis is community focused, and we have an extensive community network that provides students professional and personal opportunities beyond our academic program.

Course Requirements (Minimum 3 credits total)

  • Depending on a student’s Spanish language skills, the student can either take the Basic Clinical Skills Bilingual Lab (equivalent to 1-credit course for students who have Spanish skills at the intermediate-mid level or intermediate-high level) or the Basics of Mental Health Spanish I (1-credit course for students who have Spanish skills at the intermediate-low or low level). Either course is required in first year.
  • Depending on a student’s Spanish language skills, the student can either take the Treatment Planning and Intervention Bilingual Lab (equivalent to 1-credit course for students who have Spanish skills at the intermediate-mid level or intermediate-high level) or the Basics of Mental Health Spanish II (1-credit course for students who have Spanish skills at the intermediate-low or low level). Either course is required in first year.
  • Sociocultural Foundations of Latinx Mental Health (2 cr).
  • Participation in one Latino Cultural Experience, Immersion, or International Study (1 credit – recommended in summer prior to the second year of graduate study).

Recommended courses:

  • Intermediate to Advanced Spanish Language Courses (when needed and available), recommended during the third and/or fourth year.
  • Clinical Interventions with Latinx (2 cr).

Clinical Requirements

For doctoral students and APS students in the clinical psychology specialty, their first clinical experience (Practicum I at the PCH Clinics for doctoral students) must include working with Latinx and/or Spanish speaking populations, participating in the Interprofessional Diabetes Clinic (IDC), and performing outreach activities with the Latinx community. Additionally, for doctoral students, at least one of the community clinical training experiences (either Practicum II or Advanced Practicum) must be focused on Latinx populations as combined with their interest or emphasis. Only students who want to work with Spanish-speaking clients must be tested on the OPI of the ACTFL test and score at the Intermediate-high level before Practicum I (or before internship for APS students). Priority will be given to clinical training placements supervised by bilingual and/or culturally focused supervisors. Students working with the Latinx community either at PCH Clinics or in the community must participate in a monthly cultural and linguistic consultation group provided by PCH Clinics.

Research

For doctoral students and APS students, the dissertation or thesis must be completed within an area of Latinx mental health, in accordance with primary emphasis or program research requirements. Students conducting research with the Latinx community must participate in at least one cultural research consultation meeting in each stage of their research process (e.g., topic/research question development, measure selection, data collection, data analysis, etc.)

Faculty and Mentors

Faculty and Mentors in the Latinx psychology emphasis include a mix of core and adjunct faculty in addition to community psychologists who provide teaching, supervision, and research mentoring to emphasis students. Faculty areas of specialization include mental health evaluation; neuropsychological assessment; individual, child, family, group, and couple psychotherapy; integrated health care; treatment of anxiety, depression and trauma, eating disorders, and obesity; parent-child relations; child and adolescent behavior problems; cross-cultural interventions, mindfulness and cultural adaptations; stress management and body-mind integrated treatments; and community psychology and wellness practices.

Admission & Selection

Application to the Sabiduría Latinx Psychology Emphasis occurs after students are selected into their respective School of Graduate Psychology program (usually during the summer before their first year). Students are identified on the basis of academic strength and fit with the emphasis based on the admission selection process. If space is open, a second wave of admissions and selection for students who are already part of the School of Graduate Psychology will occur at the end of each fall semester.

Students interested in the emphasis must send the application and a letter of interest to the Sabiduría director before the Sabiduría admissions deadline (end of summer and fall). Students will receive an email with the application requirements, and the deadline.

Upon admittance into the emphasis, students who wish to complete clinical training with Spanish-speaking clients must take the OPI Spanish Placement appropriate for the student. Students identified to be part of the emphasis are invited to participate in first-year bilingual labs and/or Spanish courses.

Policies: School of Graduate Psychology

Catalog Year and Readmission

The catalog in effect at the time of a student’s initial enrollment indicates the specific requirements for that student. Students leaving the program for more than 3 terms (Leaves of Absence; Administrative Withdrawals are case-by-case) must apply for readmission to return, and would re-enter the program under the requirements in effect at the time of readmission.

Students who have left the program voluntarily are welcome to reapply through the regular application process. This, along with official transcripts from all colleges attended during the absence from Pacific must be submitted to the Graduate Admissions office.

Academic Year

The academic year, comprised of two 15-week semesters and one 12-week term, begins in late August and continues through July. Required courses are typically offered one time per year; elective courses may be offered alternate years. Both clinical and required courses continue through the summer term. Clinical training activities begin in August of the first year and may extend beyond term dates subsequent to this.

Time to Complete Degree

PsyD and PhD students must complete all degree requirements within eight (8) years of enrollment. Students entering the PhD Program with an approved Master’s Degree and transferred Thesis requirement have seven (7) years from matriculation to complete degree requirements.

Students must complete all degree requirements for the Master of Arts/Master of Science in Clinical Psychology within three (3) years of initial enrollment. All requirements for the Master of Arts/Master of Science degree in Applied Psychological Science must be completed within four (4) years of initial enrollment.

Credit Load

Full-time enrollment is defined as 9-15 hours per term. Permission by petition is required for enrollment of fewer than nine credits. Students participating in student loan programs may lose student payment deferment status if they fall below half-time enrollment (6 credits). A leave of absence must be requested, by petition, if a student does not maintain continuous enrollment

Permission to exceed 19 credits per term must be obtained by petition from the academic advisor and program director, in consultation with the Director of Academics. Additional tuition beyond the full-time consolidated tuition (see below) will be charged per credit above 15 credits as applicable for any given term in which a student enrolls.

Registration and Auditing

Changes in course registration (cancellations, additions, or changes in credits or audit/credit status) may be made during the first two weeks of Fall and Spring semesters. (Refer to the Student Handbook for deadlines for Summer term.) Changes made after this time (except withdrawals) are subject to a fine. Refund of tuition will be according to the University refund policy.

Students may request to audit didactic coursework, with the understanding that if it is required for their degree they will need to re-take the course for credit. If a student is enrolled to Audit a class, they are not allowed to change that registration to credit until the next time it is offered. The Audit request must be completed by the add/drop deadline for the term in which the course is being audited. Research, Clinical Training, and required coursework cannot be audited.

Only students seeking a degree may enroll in courses.

Add/Drop/Withdrawal Schedule

Students may drop a semester-long course through the 10th day of the semester without having the course appear on the transcript. After this point, and through the 10th week of the semester (Fall and Spring; between the 2nd and 8th week in summer), students may withdraw from a course through BoxerOnline registration management system and a “W” is posted on the transcript. Withdrawals after the 10th week normally are not permitted unless approved by the Director of Academics.

Requests for changes in registration after the second week of class must be in writing and have the approval of the Director of Academics. Registration changes that occur beyond the add/drop deadline in any given term may be subject to a fine.  See SGP Student Handbook for more information.

Students may not withdraw from a clinical training placement or end the placement before the previously authorized end date without approval from the Director of Clinical Training, the Clinical Mentor, and the site supervisor; unapproved and/or early withdrawal will be considered an issue of professional concern and may result in failure of the placement.

Repeated Courses

If a course taken at Pacific University is repeated at Pacific University the higher grade is counted in the grade point average.  Both grades remain on the student record.

Courses taken at another institution following matriculation at Pacific University will not count toward graduation requirements without prior approval of the Program Director and Director of Academics.

Remediation

Students who do not earn a “B” or better in any required course must re-take that course for credit to meet graduation requirements.  As most SGP courses are offered once per academic year, a student may need to wait until the following year to remediate a course, thus delaying their degree completion.  Questions regarding the need for remediation should be addressed to the Program Director.

Continuous Enrollment/Leave of Absence

A formal leave of absence must be requested by petition for any term a student does not enroll. Students are allowed three total (consecutive or non-consecutive) leaves of absence during their matriculation. The time-to-completion deadlines for degrees (e.g., 4 years for APS, 8 years for PsyD and PhD) do not change with a leave of absence. Students with a break in enrollment of more than three consecutive terms are considered to be withdrawn from the program.

Grading

Courses are graded with a letter grade and supplementary comments from the instructor. Grades used are A, B, C, and F. Students must earn “B” or better in program requirements to continue progressing through their respective programs. Internship, Laboratories, Research Projects, and all Clinical Practica are graded on a Pass/No Pass basis (P=B or above). X is used for continuing enrollment courses; the X converts to P or N when the course is completed.

Incomplete Grades

An instructor may issue a grade of Incomplete (I) only when the major portion of a course has been completed satisfactorily but health or other emergency reasons prevent the student from finishing all requirements of the course. Prior to submitting an Incomplete grade, the instructor and the student complete an Incomplete/WP Grade Contract detailing the required completion and submission of all remaining work, as well as the timeline. After submission of the work, the instructor completes a Grade Change form and submits it to the Director of Academics for approval; the form is then processed by the Registrar.

An extension to the original Incomplete or Work-in-Progress grade may be requested via an Extension Form (available on Moodle). The faculty instructor and student will agree upon the new deadline. This is submitted to the Director of Academics for review and approval.

Latest Completion/Expiration Dates

Fall Incompletes: April 15 of the following year

Spring Incompletes: July 15 of the same year

Summer Incompletes: November 15 of the following academic year

If agreed-upon work is not completed and no grade change submitted by the deadline (and an extension has not been granted), when the Incomplete expires the grade becomes an F or N.

Work in Progress Grades

Occasionally, situations arise where it is not possible to submit a course grade at the end of a term because a curricular component is planned to occur after the term ends (external research sites, for example) or an unanticipated situation arises preventing completion within the term (such as broken equipment). The WP grade was created as a placeholder to be used until a permanent grade is submitted. The WP grade is to be used for an entire course or group within a course, not an individual. The WP must be replaced by a permanent grade before the end of the term immediately following (e.g., the end of Summer term for Spring courses), or it will turn to N or F (depending on the grade scheme for the course).

For both Incomplete and WP Grade requests, instructors complete the Incomplete/WP Grade Contract with the student and submit to the Director of Academics, who will process it with the Registrar’s office for determination of appropriate grade.

Satisfactory Academic Progress

Good academic standing in the School of Graduate Psychology is defined as continued enrollment, satisfactory academic progress, appropriate interpersonal functioning, sound clinical skills, and appropriate professional/ethical conduct and attitudes. Students are evaluated at least annually.

Students will be given regular reports on their progress in the program. A student who is not performing adequately according to the standards will receive notification through written feedback and/or individual advisement. After receiving such feedback, failure to improve performance before the next scheduled evaluation may result in academic probation.

Students placed on academic probation will receive formal written notification outlining the reasons for probation and expectations that must be met in order for probation to be lifted. Failure to meet the requirements of probation in a timely manner may result in removal from the School.

Faculty will evaluate academic performance, clinical skills, research progress, and professional development and behaviors demonstrated in the educational environment and in clinical performance according to standards set forth in the University Catalog, the SGP Student Handbook, the Ethical Principles of Psychologists and Code of Conduct, and elsewhere.

In the case of flagrant and intentional violations of the Code of Academic Conduct, or the Ethical Principles of Psychologists and Code of Conduct students may be removed from the School without previous warning at any time in their academic career.

Information regarding review of student progress is detailed in program-specific student handbooks.

Appeals

In general, program decisions regarding academic standing are final. A decision may be appealed only if the student can show that:

  • there was an error in the procedure used by the faculty,
  • there is new evidence sufficient to alter the decision, or
  • the sanction imposed was not appropriate to the severity of the violation of professional or academic standards.

Details of professional and academic standards, evaluations procedures, and the appeals process are available in the Professional Programs Catalog, the University Student Handbook, the PsyD, PhD, and MA/MS in Applied Psychological Science Student Handbooks, and additional resources available from the school’s administrative office.

Grade Changes

Once a course grade has been submitted to the Registrar, it is considered final and may be changed only for the following reasons: to correct a recording, posting, or computational error; to change an Incomplete or WP grade to a final letter grade; to adjust a disputed grade after the appeal process has come to a close (see SGP General Student Handbook); or if a documented illness/emergency prevents a student from requesting and receiving an approved Incomplete Grade Contract before final grades are due.

Official grades (BoxerOnline) and E*Value comments may be revised by the Director of Clinical Training (DCT) if the supervisor or DCT learns information about student performance during the term that was not available at the time of the evaluation.

Faculty members submit Grade Change Request forms to the Director of Academics for approval; Grade Change forms are available on Moodle.

Transfer Credit

Students may apply to transfer credits earned for graduate work in psychology taken at a regionally accredited college or university if the course is equivalent to a course in the program of matriculation. The instructor of the proposed equivalent course will evaluate the syllabus documentation to determine whether credit will be awarded. An “A” grade must have been earned; in no case will credit be given for work that was not graded or formally evaluated. In cases of courses graded on a Pass/No Pass system, course performance will be carefully evaluated.

For the PsyD Program a maximum of 21 course credits may be transferred. For the PhD Program, 15 credits of graduate coursework may be transferred, an additional 3 credits of history of psychology (at the undergraduate [waiver] or graduate level), and 6 credits of Thesis may be transferred. All credits must have been taken within the four years immediately preceding admission to the School.  For the Master’s in Applied Psychological Science Program, the same requirements apply, but a maximum of 12 credits may be transferred.

Practicum and internship credits are not transferable, and the Thesis may be transferred in the PhD program with approval.

Students coming from an APA-accredited doctoral program into the PsyD or PhD program may transfer in additional credits. See program-specific transfer form or contact the Program Director.

Commencement:

Commencement for all SGP programs occurs in August, although degree conferral can occur in January, May, or August depending upon when degree requirements are met. Students are not required to participate in the commencement ceremony. All degree requirements must be completed except for internship to be allowed to participate in commencement ceremony.  Questions of eligibility to participate should be directed to the Program Director.

Honors

The School of Graduate Psychology does not award graduation honors.

Tuition and Fees: School of Graduate Psychology

PsyD and PhD  
Annual (Fall, 2020, Spring, 2021, Summer 2021) $36,936
Per semester $12,312
Part-time, per credit $1,254
Audit, per credit hour $627
Student Health & Counseling fee $282
Dissertation/Doctoral Research Fee $75
Graduation Application Fee $100
PsyD-only One-time fee  
Internship Prep Fee (upon enrollment in GPSY 790) $150
APS  
Annual (Fall 2020, Spring 2021, Summer 2021) $27,417
Per semester $9,139
Part-time, per credit $1,110
Audit, per credit hour $555
Student Health & Counseling fee $282

Students enrolled for 9-15 credits are charged full-time tuition. Students enrolled for more than 15 credits are charged the full-time rate plus the per credit rate for each credit over 15. Students enrolled in fewer than 9 credits are charged the per credit rate.

Financial Aid

Graduate AssistantshipsOutstanding applicants to the MA/MS (APS) and PsyD Programs may be offered Graduate Assistantships with admission. These positions offer an opportunity to work directly with a full-time faculty member of the School. A payment of $3,000 per year is offered. These are a one-year appointment with the option to renew for an additional year (see SGP Handbook for additional information). This award is contingent upon maintaining good academic standing and doing quality work as judged by the respective faculty member.

Teaching Assistantships
Returning students in the PsyD and PhD Programs in Clinical Psychology and in the MA/MS Program in Applied Psychological Science may apply for positions to assist course instructors in preparation of course materials and in facilitation of course mastery by students. A payment of $1,200 per course is offered.

Research Assistantships
All students in their first and second year in the PhD Program in Clinical Psychology receive Research Assistantships of $5,000 per year. Students are assigned to a faculty member who oversees the assistantship, and for whom they work up to 7 hours per week during the 11-month academic year. This award is contingent upon maintaining good academic standing and doing quality work as judged by the respective faculty member.

Diversity Scholarships
Applicants to the PsyD Program in Clinical Psychology may apply for multi-year Diversity Scholarships, which are awarded at the time of formal notification of admission. These scholarships are initially typically in the amount of $3,000-$4,000 per year and are for a 3-year period. 

Calendar: School of Graduate Psychology

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Programs

    Master of ArtsMaster of Arts or Master of ScienceMaster of ScienceDoctor of PhilosophyDoctor of Psychology

    Courses

      Psychology, GraduatePage: 1 | 2

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