The Year One curriculum (post B.A. entry) consists of 3 quarters of Pre-PsyD coursework (and a total of 150 hours of supervised experience to be acquired during the spring and summer quarters) as follows:
Fall Quarter

PSC601 Psychotherapy Theories (3 units)
In this course, students learn the concepts and techniques used in traditional theories of psychotherapy and examine the social, cultural and historical contexts that produced them. Theories are read in their originals sources and the emphasis is on a critical examination of their relevance to practice with contemporary populations.

PSC603 Research Methods (3 units)
This course examines different approaches to the generation and evaluation of psychological theory and data. The strengths and weaknesses and ethical practice of quantitative and qualitative methods are examined with attention to the descriptive and inferential statistical methods used in hypothesis testing and psychological assessment.

PSC 605 Multicultural Competence (3 units)
This experiential course fosters multicultural awareness, teaches students about the impact of multiple cultural influences and identities on clinical issues, and introduces students to culturally responsive assessment practices and clinical skills. Cultural influences and identities include: age, disability, religion/spirituality, race/ethnicity, socioeconomic status, sexual orientation, indigenous heritage, national identity and gender.

PSC607 Family Systems Theories (3 units)
This course examines the major concepts of family systems theories and helps students conceptualize systemically. The history, premises, cultural influences and approaches of family therapy are explored. The application of systems theory with couples and families is also considered.

WRK601 Human Sexuality (0 units)
In this workshop, students examine current topics including biological, psychological, psychosocial and cultural aspects of sexuality. Students explore their own sexual identities and their values regarding sexual behavior. In order to receive credit with the Board of Psychology or the Board of Behavioral Sciences for the Human Sexuality requirement for licensure, students must attend all ten hours of instruction.

Winter Quarter

PSC 602 Academic Writing (3 units)
The purpose of this course is to develop skills in academic writing, critical analysis and professional literature review. Students learn how to search psychology literature, write using APA style, and acquire other skills needed to produce graduate level papers.

PSC606 Psychopathology (3 units)
This course provides a survey of the major theories, categories and treatment of psychopathology including psychopharmacological approaches. Students develop their diagnostic skills and a mastery of the categories and concepts of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (DSM IV-TR).

PSC620 Psychotherapy Relationship and Process Skills (3 units)
This course provides an introduction to basic psychotherapeutic concepts and skills, with particular attention to the nature of the relationship between psychotherapist and client. Students practice fundamental psychotherapy skills in the roles of therapist, client and observer. Students also learn to attend to process variables in psychotherapy, to differentiate between content and process, and to work with client affect, resistance and defense, transference and counter transference. Basic ethical and legal standards are explored.

PSC 650A Prepracticum (3 units)
In this preparatory class for supervised experience, students view a live psychotherapy session conducted by the instructor during the first hour of class. The remaining class time is devoted to a discussion of the case and the interventions implemented by the therapist/instructor. Through their participation, students demonstrate their readiness to engage with clients in agency settings. Ethical and legal issues are reviewed.

WRK602 Child Abuse Reporting (0 units)
In this workshop, students learn how to assess for and report incidents of child abuse (sexual, physical, emotional or child neglect). The course considers indicators of abuse, crisis counseling techniques, community resources, the rights and responsibilities of reporting, the consequences of failure to report, how to care for a child’s needs after a report is made, sensitivity to previously abused children and adults and the implications and methods of treatment for children and adults. In order to receive credit with the Board of Psychology or the Board of Behavioral Sciences for the Child Abuse Assessment Training requirement for licensure, students must attend all seven hours of instruction.

WRK603 Introduction to Legal and Ethical Issues (0 units)
This course provides an organized introduction to ethical, legal, and professional issues that affect psychological practice, including issues such as confidentiality, privilege, standards of care, multiple relationships, duties imposed on therapists such as the duty to protect and warn, and child, elder adult, and dependent adult abuse reporting mandates.

Spring Quarter

PSC604 Human Development (3 units)
This course examines the process of human growth and development throughout the life span. Development is examined from the perspectives of psychodynamic, cognitive, and social psychological theories with an emphasis on applying developmental concepts to clinical cases.

PSC 608 Psychological Assessment (3 units)
This course provides an overview of the domains of psychological assessment and the assessment techniques that are commonly used by psychologists. Students will learn the process of formulating assessment questions, selecting instruments, critiquing assessment instruments, basic interpretation of test data and writing up their results.

PSC621 Group Psychotherapy (3 units)
Students are introduced to the concepts and theories of group process, group membership and behavior. All students participate in the classroom group process under the leadership of the instructor, where opportunity is provided for learning group facilitation skills.

PSC622 Case Conceptualization and Treatment Planning (3 units)
In the class, students integrate the theoretical knowledge and clinical skills that they have been developing into case conceptualization and treatment planning skills. Learning objectives include formulating a theoretical conceptualization that also addresses developmental, multicultural and systemic factors. Students also learn to formulate short and long term therapy goals appropriate to the various phases of psychotherapy. Use of the clinical supervision and the development of a professional identity are also addressed.

PSC652 Supervised Experience*
Field experience takes students out of the classroom and brings them into the community to work with clients, professional psychotherapists and peers from other schools and disciplines. The experience allows students to develop psychological knowledge and psychotherapeutic skills by providing services in a variety of settings.

Summer Quarter

PSC652 Supervised Experience*
Field experience takes students out of the classroom and brings them into the community to work with clients, professional psychotherapists and peers from other schools and disciplines. The experience allows students to develop psychological knowledge and psychotherapeutic skills by providing services in a variety of settings.

*Consisting of a total of 150 hours of supervised experience to be acquired during the spring and summer quarters.

WRK 701 – Psychopharmacology for Psychologists  (0 units)
This supplementary course is a 6 hour workshop that will review principles of neurotransmission, and investigate the role of pharmaceuticals in the treatment of mental disorders. Topics to be discussed include: depression, anxiety, schizophrenia, insomnia, bi-polar disorder, attention-deficit disorder, and dementia. Current research and pharmacological treatment of these and other disorders will be discussed in lecture, case study and vignette format.

PSC 701-The Roots of Modern Psychology (3 units)
An overview of the philosophical and historical origins of the discipline of psychology and of the perspectives which have shaped contemporary psychology. The course includes the various schools of thought associated with the field of psychology and the impact of these schools on contemporary practice in psychology. Family psychology as a synthesis of empiricism, systems thinking and clinical psychotherapy

PSC 702-Individual and Family Development through the Lifespan (3 units)
This course considers both individual theories of development throughout the lifespan and theories of the family life cycle and their interactions. Special attention is paid to issues of aging and long-term care.

PSC 703-Social Systems (3 units)
This course focuses on the interrelationships between individuals and the social environment. Traditional approaches to understanding social behavior are examined within a systemic paradigm. Topics include attitude and attitude change, socialization, attribution theory, social influence theory, interpersonal attraction, small group interaction and prejudice and discrimination.

PSC 704-Psychopathology (3 units)
This course reviews the etiology and classification of individual psychological disorders. These disorders are considered within the context of the interaction between individual, family, biological and environmental factors. Through case studies, students develop clinical interviewing and diagnostic skills and learn to use the DSM-IV TR.

PSC 705-Human Learning and Cognitive Processes (3 units)
This course reviews theories of learning, memory and cognition and their application to psychotherapeutic change.

PSC 706-Psychobiology and Psychopharmacology (3 units)
This course provides an overview of the biological and neurological bases of human behavior. Central nervous system and organically-based dysfunctions and the implications for psychopharmacology are examined. The effects of trauma, head injury, and the neurological aspects of psychological disorders are discussed in a systemic context. The role of medication in the treatment of psychological disorders is considered.

PSC 707-Research Methods in Clinical Psychology (3 units)
The course provides an overview of basic conceptual and methodological issues related to conducting research in clinical psychology. Both quantitative and qualitative approaches are considered. Examples of types of clinical dissertations are presented to assist students in developing their clinical dissertation proposal.

PSC 708-Data Analysis Strategies in Clinical Psychology (3 units)
This course focuses on data analysis strategies used in both quantitative and qualitative research. Traditional statistical approaches to research and the computer application of statistical software are considered. Qualitative analytic strategies as well as the use of computer software for qualitative analysis are also reviewed.

PSC 710-Advanced Family Systems (3 units)
This course provides an introduction to the discipline of Family Psychology and the theoretical orientation of the Psy.D. curriculum. It includes an overview of systems concepts and their application to psychotherapy. The functioning of the individual and the family within the larger context (eco-systemic) is inherent in the course approach. Examination is made of other psychological theories from a systemic perspective.

PSC 711-Family Therapy (3 units)
The course reviews current theories and methods of family intervention. The application of family systems models includes transgenerational approaches, systems structural models, experiential approaches, family behavioral and cognitive-behavioral approaches, brief and postmodern approaches. Students analyze case material and develop interventions based on these approaches.

PSC 712-Couples Therapy (3 units)
The literature on couples relationships and the application of couples’ interventions is reviewed. Students examine relationships of intimacy in order to understand the characteristics and processes in functional and dysfunctional relationships as well as the extrarelationship factors that influence them. Assessment, treatment planning and intervention skills from multiple theoretical perspectives will be covered through case studies, simulations and demonstrations.

PSC 713-Child and Adolescent Psychotherapy (3 units)
This course covers the major intervention techniques for working with child and adolescent clients in the systemic context. Distinctions between normal and pathological behavior are drawn for the purposes of selecting appropriate treatment.

PSC 714-Family Violence (3 units)
Violence in the family is considered from a number of theoretical and psychotherapeutic perspectives. Assessment and treatment issues related to child physical and sexual abuse, intimate partner abuse and elder abuse are the primary focus of the course with students learning through case material and simulations. Legal and ethical responsibilities are also reviewed.

PSC 715-Addictive Behaviors (2 units)
The etiology and progression of addictive behaviors provide the core of this course. Assessment of and treatment models for addictive behaviors including substance abuse, eating disorders, sexual addictions and other high risk behaviors (e.g., gambling and spending addictions) are considered.

PSC 720-Cognitive Assessment (2 units)– : Taken in conjunction with PSC 720L, Cognitive Assessment Lab: This course covers the theory of test construction and psychometrics as the first course in a series on assessment. The use of cognitive tests such as the Wechsler Intelligence Scales with children and adults for purposes of assessing intelligence, development, learning and emotional disorders. Cultural issues in testing are considered.

PSC 720L-Cognitive Assessment Lab (1 unit)–Taken in conjunction with PSC 720, Cognitive Assessment: Students practice the administration of cognitive tests in a laboratory setting and prepare test reports.

PSC 721-Psychodiagnostic Assessment (2 units)–Taken in conjunction with PSC 721L, Psychodiagnostic Assessment Lab: This course focuses on objectives measures of personality and psychopathology, such as the Millon, the MMPI and symptom inventories. Administration, scoring, interpretation and report writing are emphasized.

PSC 721L-Psychodiagnostic Assessment Lab (1 unit)–Taken in conjunction with PSY 721 Psychodiagnostic Assessment: Students practice the administration of objective personality tests and symptoms inventories and the production of test reports in a laboratory setting.

PSC 722-Projective Testing (2 units)–Taken in conjunction with PSC 722L, Projective Testing Lab: This course focuses on projective tests such as the Rorschach and the TAT. Administration, scoring and interpretation are emphasized.

PSC 722L-Projective Testing Lab (1 unit)– Taken in conjunction with PSC 722, Projective Testing: Students practice the administration of projective personality tests and the production of test reports in a laboratory setting.

PSC 723-Neuropsychological Assessment (2 units)–Taken in conjunction with PSC 723L, Neuropsychological Assessment Lab: This course focuses on screening and assessing for neurological impairment. Selection of appropriate neurological tests is included. The use of tests covered in other assessment courses in the series is also considered for neuropsychological purposes.

PSC 723L-Neuropsychological Assessment Lab (1 unit)–Taken in conjunction with PSC 723, Neuropsychological Assessment: Students practice the administration of neurological tests and the production of test reports in a laboratory setting.

PSC 730-Introduction to Family Forensic Psychology and Family Law (3 units)
The course considers the role of the psychologist in applying a family systems perspective to assessment and intervention with individuals and families who interact with the legal system. Family forensics involves such areas as child custody, family violence, alternative families, elder law, and family businesses. The course provides an overview of the field of family forensics, introduces students to the legal system and to the relevant laws impacting the area.

PSC 731-Assessing Families and Children in the Legal Context (3 units)
This course considers the specific assessment issues encountered in family forensic settings and introduces students to the special assessment tools available for children and families. Students are taught to present psychological data in a format meaningful to the court.

PSC 732-Expert Testimony (1 unit): This course provides skills for psychologists to feel comfortable participating in the legal system as an expert witness (in contrast to providing testimony as a treating psychologist). Awareness of the various legal documents encountered (e.g. subpoenas, depositions, pleadings etc.) is also included.

PSC 733-Child Custody Evaluation (2 units)
Critical issues related to the well-being of children in the context of custody and visitation disputes are covered in this course. The course will consider how to do interviews of adults and children involved in such disputes, (including collateral parties), the type of psychological testing necessary and the need for home visits. Collaboration of the psychologist with other forensic team members is emphasized.

PSC 734-Mediation and Conflict Resolution (3 units)
This course considers ethical, professional and legal issues in conducting mediation and using conflict resolution strategies. The application of unique family law issues to this area is examined. Also, students develop effective mediation and conflict resolution skills. Different models used in approaching mediation and conflict resolution and the different stages in these processes are included.

PSC 740-Integrating Science and Practice (3 units)
Today’s psychologist must be well versed in the science behind psychology as well as in practice-related issues. This course examines the interface between the scientific data base of psychology and its application to clinical work. In particular, we will consider empirically supported treatments and the need to defend clinical interventions from a scientific perspective. Outcome research and its application to practice will also be reviewed. Students will apply multicultural and other forms of critique to these data.

PSC 741-Clinical Issues in Multicultural Psychology (3 units)
Continual demographic changes in client populations have made cultural competence an essential aspect of ethical psychotherapeutic practice. This course builds on students’ basic ability to work with multicultural clientele and focuses on the integration of culture into clinical assessment, intervention, treatment planning, and evaluation. Students learn to integrate culture into traditional approaches to treatment and are introduced to culturally-specific models and techniques.

PSC 742-Legal and Ethical Issues (3 units)
This course reviews ethical guidelines and legal issues in professional psychology. Topics include confidentiality and privilege, family laws regarding divorce and child custody, relevant court decisions, involuntary hospitalization, suicide assessment, the APA Ethics Code and policies of the California Board of Psychology.

PSC 743-Teaching Psychology (2 units)
This course focuses on strategies for teaching psychology at the university level. Students will learn skills including preparing a course, delivering effective classroom presentation, designing student centered learning activities, fostering academic integrity, teaching with technology, and evaluation and documentation of learning.

PSC 744-Advanced Clinical Skills (2 units)
Electives are offered according to current student and faculty interest. Possible offerings include: focus on specific disorders (e.g. affective disorders, anxiety and stress disorders, eating disorders, personality disorders, etc.), on specific clinical problems (e.g. sexual dysfunction, impact of chronic illness on individual and family functioning, etc.), or on particular approaches to clinical intervention (e.g. consideration of certain theoretical orientations, such as postmodern approaches or techniques such as psychodrama). Students enroll for a minimum of two of these electives.

PSC 750-Case Conference (3 units)
The case conference is the first course in the clinical sequence. Students view a psychotherapy session during the first hour of class. The remaining class time is devoted to a discussion of the case and the interventions implemented by the therapist/instructor.

PSC 751-Practicum I (3 units)
Students practice basic skills in assessment, interviewing, conducting mental status exams, and crisis management with culturally diverse clients in a clinical agency and receive consultation from the practicum instructor and student peers in class. The role of the psychologist is distinguished from other mental health professionals.

PSC 752-Practicum II (3 units)
Students receive consultation from the practicum instructor and student peers while discussing legal, ethical and clinical issues which emerge in the course of their clinical field placement. Professional development is also addressed.

PSC 753-Practicum III (3 units)
Students receive consultation from the practicum instructor and student peers while discussing legal, ethical and clinical issues which emerge in the course of their field placement. Professional development is also addressed and issues of gender receive special consideration.

PSC 754-Practicum IV Supervision and Consultation (3 units)
Students receive consultation from the practicum instructor and student peers while discussing clinical issues based on their clinical field placement and related legal, ethical and professional issues. Models of supervision will be considered and students will discuss opportunities for consultation in outside agencies.

PSC 755-Practicum V Integrating Family Forensics (3 units)
Students receive consultation from the practicum instructor and student peers while discussing clinical issues based on their clinical field placement and related legal, ethical and professional issues. Issues of Family Forensics will be the primary focus of this practicum and students will be encouraged to obtain clinical training at sites that provide experience with family forensic clients. Special issues related to ethics, practice and supervision in the family forensic field will be highlighted.

PSC 760-Clinical Dissertation I (3 units)
Students enroll for dissertation credit while they work with their advisor and committee on the Clinical Dissertation. Development of a research proposal and completion of a literature review constitute the specific tasks which must be accomplished in order to receive credit for this course.

PSC 761-Clinical Dissertation II (3 units)
Students enroll for dissertation credit while they work with their advisor and committee on the Clinical Dissertation. Data collection constitutes one of the specific tasks which must be accomplished in order to receive credit for this course.

PSC 762-Clinical Dissertation III (3 units)
Students enroll for dissertation credit while they work with their advisor and committee on the Clinical Dissertation. Completion of the dissertation write up, in publication-ready format, constitutes the specific tasks which must be accomplished in order to receive credit for this course.

PSC 763-Dissertation Continuation (1-3 units)
Only students who have not completed the Clinical Dissertation prior to the predoctoral internship should enroll in this course. Students enroll for dissertation continuation each quarter until the dissertation is complete. Students who are continuing to complete their dissertation after they proceed to internship are required to enroll in this course each quarter until the dissertation is completed. Students will continue to meet with the dissertation chair and committee to facilitate completion of the dissertation.

PSC 790-Internship (1 unit): A one year predoctoral internship is required prior to graduation. Students must complete this internship at a site approved by the Clinical Training Committee. Internship training sites are usually accredited by the American Psychological Association (APA), are members or meet membership criteria of the Association of Pre- and Post-Doctoral Internship Centers (APPIC) or the California Psychology Internship Council (CAPIC The internship is an integral part of doctoral degree requirements and must be completed regardless of whether the student intends to obtain a license as a psychologist and independent of any previous clinical licenses obtained (e.g. MFT, LSCW, etc.). Prerequisites—Completion of all AUSB Psy.D. courses, completion of a minimum of 1000 hours of practicum at external sites and successful completion of a Professional Competence Evaluation, demonstrating students’ skill and knowledge in the field of psychology.

The Clinical Dissertation is intended to demonstrate that students have integrated the material they have learned during the first two years in the doctoral program. Early in their program, students will select an appropriate project. The Research Methods course will introduce students to models of clinical dissertations. Beginning in the third year, students will register for 9 units of Doctoral Project (3 units in each quarter) in order to carry out and complete the project. It is expected that students will complete the project prior to beginning their internship. Students who have not completed the clinical dissertation during Year 4, will be required to enroll in PSY 763, Dissertation Continuation for 1 to 3 units.

We are interested in stimulating student creativity, therefore the options for completion of this project vary. The Psy.D. is an applied degree, thus the clinical dissertation will involve the investigation of a practical application, either through empirical (quantitative or qualitative), theoretical or clinical evaluation strategies. Unlike the Ph.D. dissertation, the clinical dissertation has an immediate practical application. Students will be guided in their work by their dissertation advisor, a second faculty member, a student member and an outside expert.

Students are required to complete a full-time internship during the 5th year of the academic program. Internship training sites are usually accredited by the American Psychological Association (APA), are members or meet membership criteria of the Association of Pre-and Post-Doctoral Internship Centers (APPIC) or the California Psychology Internship Council (CAPIC).

The Director of Clinical Training will help students with the identification of appropriate internships. Students will earn one unit of academic credit during the internship year.

“During Practicum IV, students will identify and conceptualize a case which is then developed for presentation as part of the PCE. The PCE is intended to demonstrate students’ skill and knowledge in the field of psychology and to integrate their academic and clinical learning. The PCE must be completed prior to engaging in the application process for internship.”

Students are required to complete a comprehensive examination the summer following Year 3. This examination measures knowledge of multiple content areas in clinical psychology and is evaluated as pass/fail. Students failing any component of the comprehensive evaluation must submit remediations. A passing evaluation on all components of the exam is required for students to advance to candidacy and be eligible to apply for internship.