Doctoral students may elect to choose a concentration as part of their doctoral studies that provides education and training in a focal area of study. They may also earn the Master of Arts in Counseling Psychology degree while pursuing the Psy.D. degree. Students can earn these additional credentials by satisfying the admission and graduation requirements for predoctoral concentration areas or the Master of Arts degree as specified in those program sections of this Catalog. Many graduates report that these additional credentials enhanced their value to internship directors and employers. The attainment of the Master of Arts degree has assumed increased importance in recent years for students seeking internships in certain settings that require a graduate degree for reimbursement of services. Course and practicum requirements for successful completion of a Masters Degree or concentration area vary depending on the training necessary for this additional qualification. As a result, pursuing the M.A. in Counseling Psychology degree or a concentration area in addition to the doctorate typically will result in longer completion times for the doctoral degree. Doctoral graduates may continue in certain concentration areas following graduation.

The concentration areas available to doctoral students include the following:

• Art Therapy
• Marriage & Family Counseling
• Substance Abuse Counseling
• Clinical Hypnosis
• Clinical Neuropsychology
• Group Psychotherapy
• Adlerian Psychotherapy

For requirements for these concentrations, please see the appropriate sections of this catalog.

• Child and Adolescent Psychology
• Primary Care Psychology

Students interested in the above two concentrations are required to take a total of 15 credit hours devoted to the area of study. In order to complete this requirement, doctoral student must use the required courses to satisfy the requirements in the doctoral curriculum for an advanced assessment/therapy elective (3 credits) and general electives (9 credits). Thus, these two concentrations require completion of three credits beyond the 114 required for the doctoral degree. Students who opt for either of these concentrations are required to complete one of their two required practica in a related training setting. They are also required to choose a topic related to the concentration area for their doctoral dissertation.

The Child and Adolescent Psychology concentration is designed for students with an interest in working with these populations. Required courses provide students with knowledge and skills pertinent to issues of health and dysfunction with children and adolescents; assessment and intervention methods appropriate to these types of clients; and the broader structural and sociocultural factors that impact on their well being. The courses necessary for completion of this concentration are the following:

The Primary Care Psychology concentration is designed for students interested in the integration of psychology and behavioral medicine with a particular focus in working in primary care health settings such as hospitals, group practices, HMOs and family practice centers. Required courses provide students with knowledge and skills pertinent to mind/body interaction; the role of behavioral factors in physical well-being; the application of psychological assessment and intervention techniques to acute and chronic illness; and an understanding of the impact of broader structural and systemic factors on physical well-being and health care delivery. The courses necessary for completion of the concentration are the following:

Students interested in choosing a concentration or in adding a Masters degree should contact the Concentration Coordinator or Program Director for further information. Students must complete a form that requires the signature of the Coordinator or Program Director available from the Office of Admissions in order to add a concentration or degree.