alliant international university phd psychology

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About Our Clinical Psychology Program

A psychology school is only as good as the psychologists it trains. Founded in 1969, the California School of Professional Psychology (CSPP) has educated over 16,000 psychology graduates as one of the nation’s first free-standing schools of professional psychology. Today, CSPP continues its commitment to preparing the next generation of mental health professionals and advocates. Our dedication to ensuring every community’s access to quality mental health care extends from integrated care to inclusive family therapy, and our students and alumni begin making an impact in the communities they serve from the moment they set foot in our classrooms. 

Why CSPP San Diego?

Hands-On Experience

Each of our students have a plethora of opportunities to get professional practice through practica and internships with thousands of practice sites including hospitals, mental health organizations, prison and correctional systems, and more.

Mentorship Opportunities

Become a professional before you graduate. Accelerate your growth with individual attention in a small class setting and form strong relationships with accomplished faculty in the mental health field.

APA-Accredited

Each of our Clinical Psychology PhD and PsyD programs is individually accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of the American Psychological Association.

Notable Faculty

Alliant's Psychology program professors have included: Abraham Maslow, Victor Frankl, Carl Rogers, and more.

Our Programs

Clinical Psychology (PsyD)

The Clinical Psychology doctoral programs prepare students to function as multifaceted clinical psychologists through curricula based on an integration of psychological theory, research, and practice. The program is a practitioner and scholar oriented program. The curricula have four major areas of study: foundations of psychology, clinical and professional theory and skills, applied clinical research, and professional growth.

Clinical Psychology (PhD)

The program develops competent professional psychologists skilled in delivering a variety of clinical services to diverse populations in varied settings. The program’s most distinctive component is its dual emphasis on clinical practice and clinical scholarship. Our students take courses in a wide range of subjects, including statistics, theories of personality, psychological assessment, multicultural issues, and psychological practice.

“I couldn’t have asked for more of CSPP - the training opportunities, the practicum, the number of sites that you are given access to - it really delivers in terms of the clinical training… it’s spectacular.”

- Anna Jacques

“I deliberately chose CSPP because it is a professional school, I knew I wanted to be a practitioner, and I went to Alliant for that unique model. The school provided a good balance for making you a good consumer of data and science, yet also preparing you to work as a professional.”

- Mark Blankenship, CSPP Alumnus

“I realized that it was the perfect place to challenge my skills and experience working with different populations - I knew that no matter where I went after - I would have experience working with several diverse populations.”

- Trisha K.

What Our Students Are Saying

Explore Our San Diego Campus

• 10 emphasis areas, including Integrated Health

• 100 practicum sites across San Diego County

• Strong emphasis on support and/or student success

• Diverse faculty expertise in: Sports, Neurological, and Health Psychology

San Francisco Bay

• 17 emphasis areas, including Social Justice

• Over 40 CSPP San Francisco presenters at last year's APA convention

• Over 150 practicum sites offered in the SF Bay Area, including the SF Department of Public Health

Los Angeles

• Nearly 100 practicum sites in LA, Orange, and San Bernardino counties

• Nationally Recognized Training in Multicultural Psychology—Recipient of Suinn Minority Achievement Program Award for Commitment for Cultural Diversity

• Abundant opportunities to partner with faculty in research labs

• On-site Psychological Services Center for practicum placements

• Renowned Forensic Psychology emphasis area with practicum opportunities at state prisons and hospitals

• 100% student placement in APA-accredited internship sites over the last two years

Your Career in Clinical Psychology Begins Today

Alliant is a private university accredited by the WASC Senior College and University Commission (WSCUC). We are an equal opportunity employer and educator. Please note that not all programs are available at every campus, online, or to residents of every state. For our graduation rates, the median debt of students who completed the program, and other important information, please go to our website at www.alliant.edu/consumer-information . All Clinical Psychology Programs are Accredited by APA — the American Psychological Association. The California School of Professional Psychology’s Clinical Psychology PhD and PsyD programs offered on the Fresno, Los Angeles, San Diego, Sacramento, and San Francisco campuses are individually accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of the American Psychological Association (APA). *Questions related to a program’s accredited status should be directed to the Commission on Accreditation:

Office of Program Consultation and Accreditation American Psychological Association 750 1st Street, NE, Washington, DC 20002 Phone: (202) 336-5979 Email: [email protected] Web: https://www.apa.org/ed/accreditation

Earn Your Clinical Psychology Degree at CSPP San Diego

Take your psychology degree, and your future, to the next level in one of the top ranked APA-Accredited Clinical Psychology Programs at our local San Diego campus.

Speak With An Admissions Counselor

By submitting this form, I am giving Alliant International University my express written consent to contact me about its educational service by email, telephone and/or text messaging using automated technology at the address and telephone number(s) provided above, including my wireless. I understand that consent is not required to attend Alliant International University and I can always contact directly at 866-825-5426 to request additional information. I agree to the Alliant  Terms of Use  and  Privacy Policy .

For new students who meet all admission requirements and have been fully admitted into an academic program within CSPP for the Fall 2021 term.

The California School of Professional Psychology is offering more than $1,000,000 in scholarships!

Alliant has established a scholarship for newly admitted clinical psychology students at our Sacramento and Fresno campuses to support the demand for the future behavioral health workforce in California’s Central Valley.

Learn more! 

Sacramento and Fresno Campus Scholarships

IMPACT Scholarships

Special IMPACT Scholarships for Psi Chi Members

Of the IMPACT scholarships being offered for the 2021–2022 academic year, $100,000 dollars is designated specifically for Psi Chi members. 

CSPP Scholarship Opportunities

Apply by the Deadline on March 1, 2021

Apply by the Priority Deadline on Jan. 24, 2021

(480) 351-6636

866-825-5426

The W. Gary Cannon Psychological Service Center

Students in the clinical psychology doctoral programs at the Fresno campus have exceptional opportunities to gain practical skills as they provide crucial mental health services to under-served populations at the W. Gary Cannon Psychological Services Center.

The Forensic Psychology Experience Area

The Forensic Psychology Experience Area in Fresno includes courses and a practicum experience designed to prepare students for working with clients in forensic settings

Renowned Forensic Psychology emphasis area with practicum opportunities at state prisons and hospitals

On-site Psychological Services Center for practicum placements

100% student placement in APA-accredited internship sites over the last two years

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Online and on-campus psychology programs, many of which are APA, CACREP, and COAMFTE accredited.

Need additional help or information?

Clinical psychology.

Each of our APA-accredited programs in clinical psychology are unique, as are their emphasis, specialization, and track offerings. In them we’ll teach you the essential skills needed to work in the field of psychology. You’ll gain clinical practice experience, which helps to prepare you before entering the field as a clinical psychologist.

Clinical Counseling

In this CACREP-accredited program, you’ll develop skills and expertise in diagnosing, treating, and guiding individuals and groups as they work to overcome disability, grow, and embrace change. You’ll gain hands-on experience, counseling individuals who are struggling and get the training you need to become an outstanding clinical mental health counselor.

Marital and Family Therapy

In these couples and family therapy (MFT) programs, you’ll explore the relationships of family members and how their behaviors affect the family as a whole. You’ll also learn to work with diverse individuals, couples and families, regardless of their structure or circumstance, and find ways to assist them in navigating challenging times.

Clinical Psychopharmacology

This program will prepare you to become a licensed psychologist with the ability to prescribe psychotropic medications safely and effectively in states and federal jurisdictions where you have prescriptive authority. The program is designed for licensed clinical psychologists who want to improve the mental health of individuals suffering from a mental illness.

Organizational Psychology

Organizational or I/O psychology (also known as industrial organizational psychology) helps organizations by applying psychological principles and theories to better their establishment. In these programs, you’ll learn to apply theory, state-of-the-art research, and best practices to improve the health and well-being of the people who work within the business world.

Social Work

Expand on your bachelor’s degree and prepare to take a professional role in helping others manage mental health and substance abuse as a social worker with a master’s degree from CSPP.

Psychology Certificates

The doctoral respecialization program (DRP) in clinical psychology is for students who hold a relevant doctorate and wish to re-specialize in clinical psychology. The LGBT Human services and mental health certificate is designed to meet the growing need for behavioral health professionals working with LGBTQ individuals, couples, and families.

Start Your Educational Journey With Our Psychology Career Quiz!

Discover the best psychology degree that fits your interests and goals through our 8-question quiz.

Take the Quiz

"I couldn’t have asked for more of CSPP—the training opportunities, the practicum, the number of sites that you are given access to— it really delivers in terms of the clinical training. It's spectacular."

California School of Professional Psychology (CSPP)

At Alliant we’re proud to offer a wide variety of graduate and certificate programs in psychology, a number of which are offered online. Many programs are APA- and COAMFTE-accredited, and our small class sizes ensure that you’ll have access to your professors and resources you need to succeed.

Whether your passion lies in the analysis of the human subconscious, or you just want to help people improve their personal relationships, a degree in psychology is the right place to start.

Working in the field of psychology offers many career opportunities, and with a graduate psychology degree, you'll be equipped with deep knowledge about mental health, counseling, critical thinking, and other psychological principles—setting you up for career success. If you’re interested in a psychology degree program, now is the perfect time to start.

For more than 50 years, the California School of Professional Psychology (CSPP) at Alliant International University has responded to this demand by transforming over 16,000 students into working professionals of different expertise such as general psychology, organizational psychology, and more. Graduates from our psychology school are now making an impact in people's lives through their professions as:

• Clinical psychologists
• Marriage and family therapists
• Clinical counselors
• Organizational psychologists
• Organizational behavior psychologists
• Organizational development psychologists
• Psychopharmacologists

Learn about CSPP

Speak with an Admissions Counselor.

Whether you’re looking for in-person or online psychology programs, our graduate degree programs are the perfect place to start. As one of the leading California colleges in psychology, our experienced faculty members help each of our students gain valuable problem-solving skills and hands-on experience that sets them up for success in a career in the field of professional psychology.

Start on your path to succeed on purpose

Request information.

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The Los Angeles PsyD program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of the American Psychological Association (750 First Street NE, Washington, DC 20002-4242; Phone: 202-336-5979; Email: [email protected] ; Web: www.apa.org/ed/accreditation ).

Program Outcomes

Goal 1: To develop graduates who have mastered the scientific foundations of clinical psychology and who apply this knowledge to their work. 

Objectives for Goal 1: Students will:

• Acquire knowledge of psychology as a scientific discipline that serves as the basis for professional practice.
• Integrate, synthesize, and critique scientific knowledge from multiple sources, taking into account and weighing the significance of multiple determinants of human behavior.
• Apply scientific knowledge to the practice of clinical psychology.

Goal 2: To develop graduates who understand research methods and skillfully apply them to significant human problems.

Objectives for Goal 2: Students will:

• Be knowledgeable about test construction and quantitative and qualitative research methods.
• Be able to critically evaluate literature in terms of its scientific rigor and attention to diversity issues.
• Understand that research informs effective practice and that useful research often arises from clinical work.
• Master the scientific literature on a clinical topic, identify lacunae, and then design and create a scholarly product for professional dissemination.
• Communicate research findings at an appropriate level to both professional and non-professional audiences.

Goal 3: To develop graduates who identify as clinical practitioners and who use ethical and legal principles to guide professional practice, self-evaluation, and professional growth.

Objectives for Goal 3: Students will:

• Acquire knowledge of and adopt values and ethical principles of professional practices as outlined in the APA Ethical Principles of Psychologists and Code of Conduct.
• Understand legal and state regulations pertaining to psychological practice and research.
• Apply ethical principles of practice in the various roles of a clinical psychologist (therapist, manager, consultant, educator, supervisor, researcher).
• Take responsibility for their own professional behavior and actively seek supervision when appropriate.

Goal 4: To train students to understand clinical phenomena within social and cultural contexts in order to apply this understanding in evaluation/assessment, consultation/education, and supervision/management.

Objectives for Goal 4: Students will :

• Possess an in-depth understanding of clinical phenomena that integrates social and cultural considerations (e.g., psychopathology, therapeutic processes, and associated phenomena).
• Identify assessment tools appropriate to the clinical questions and the target population, and be able to administer an assessment battery, interpret results, and complete a psychological report in an objective, accurate, and culturally competent manner.
• Understand that assessment is not a discrete event but is an ongoing process informing practice and research.
• Understand the role of the psychologist in complex systems and the general principles of consultation, education, supervision, and management.

Goal 5: To develop graduates who are able to intervene using multiple methods, with diverse populations, across populations, across many settings and in changing and evolving contexts.

Objectives for Goal 5: Students will:

• Demonstrate knowledge of the theoretical and research bases of interventions in professional psychology.
• Establish and maintain productive and respectful working relationships with clients, colleagues, and supervisors from diverse social and cultural contexts.
• Understand the needs of clients on individual and systems levels and within social and cultural contexts.
• Demonstrate the ability to create treatment plans that are culturally appropriate and informed by current evidence-based clinical research and utilize multiple intervention strategies consistent with these treatment plans and with standards of practice.
• Evaluate the efficacy of their interventions and use this information to continuously assess the treatment plan and intervention methods.

Goal 6: To develop graduate students with the attitudes, knowledge, and skills to work professionally in a multicultural society.

Objectives for Goal 6: Students will :

• Understand the presuppositions of their own culture and attitudes towards diverse others as mediators of their worldview.
• Develop knowledge of themselves as cultural beings in assessment, treatment, consultation, and all other professional activities.
• Integrate knowledge, sensitivity, and relevant skills regarding individual and cultural differences into all aspects of their work.
• Possess the ability to articulate an integrative conceptualization of diversity as it impacts self, clients, colleagues, and larger systems, and an ability to engage in effective dialogue about multicultural issues.

Goal 7: To train students who engage in lifelong learning and professional development.

Objectives for Goal 7: Students will:

• Develop positive attitudes about life-long, self-directed learning, and take responsibility for their ongoing development as professionals.
• Be able to identify challenges and problems in clinical practice and to undertake self-directed education to resolve these challenges and problems.
• Present the results of self-directed education in educational presentations verbally and/or through written documents incorporating scholarly integration of practice, theory, and/or research findings.
• Inform clinical practice with the results of self-education and using both traditional tools and contemporary technologies.

Training Model

The PsyD program in clinical psychology addresses the societal need for professionals who deliver or facilitate the delivery of psychological services to diverse populations and to underserved or poorly-served populations. This societal need is for practitioners and programs that are culturally aware, culturally sensitive, and responsive to human problems of developmental deprivation, dysfunction, and trauma.

The PsyD program includes multicultural training to address issues of diversity in regard to race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, disability, age, social class, inherent-psychometric-intelligence variances, and religion. This is reflected in the required course Intercultural Processes/ Human Diversity as well as through the integration of multicultural perspectives in all core and elective courses. Additionally, elective courses and the availability of field training sites that provide experience with diverse groups offer opportunities to develop skills that enhance work with culturally diverse clients. Finally, diversity is a major focus of faculty and student research in the Clinical PsyD program at the Los Angeles campus.

Field Training

At the predoctoral stage, students’ professional development occurs within the context of both formal coursework and clinical training experiences supervised by faculty and professionals in the field. Students develop and acquire clinical skills through professional training experiences in a variety of mental health service settings in the community.

Each student is assigned an academic advisor and field training liaison who assist the student to develop and implement an individualized training plan designed to assure (a) that the student receives a solid base of clinical experiences with a variety of clientele and professional role models and (b) that professional training experiences are well-matched to the student’s level of skill and longer-term professional goals.

In the first year of the PsyD program, students take their first practicum through CSPP-LA’s Professional Services Center (PSC). In this practicum, students spend 5 hours per week in a school-based mental health experience.

In their second and third year practica, the Los Angeles campus PsyD students are placed for 15-18 hours per week of professional training in diverse agencies in the Los Angeles area. All professional training programs are carefully reviewed and continually monitored by the Los Angeles campus Office of Professional Field Training to assure consistent and high quality training.

Students complete a full-time internship in their fourth year. The internship is a culminating experience that integrates the students’ academic and clinical experiences and prepares them for their professional role as a psychologist. As an alternative, students can pursue a half-time CAPIC internship in the fourth and fifth years.

Students should be aware that various postdoctoral training positions and some employers (e.g., the Veterans Administration) require that successful applicants have APA-accredited internships. Students have extensive opportunities to discuss with their academic advisor and assigned clinical field training liaison the various internship options available and develop a training plan that assures that students’ needs and goals are met.

The majority of affiliated practicum training sites exist within a 40-mile radius of the campus. Many students leave the Los Angeles area for their final full-time internship experience in order to gain specialized training at APA and APPIC accredited internship sites. Full-time APA and APPIC accredited internships provide a stipend to students during their internship year. The majority of half-time internships and virtually all practica do not offer stipends. Students should not count on training stipends as a means of financing their education.

Research Training

The PsyD program trains practitioners to be critical reviewers and consumers of research. Students begin their Clinical Dissertation development in their second year, and are expected to complete their dissertation by the end of their third year, before the commencement of their internship training. These clinical dissertations involve mentoring by a Clinical Dissertation Chair and an academic consultant (i.e., dissertation committee member) and involve interaction with at least three field consultant-practitioners who are experts on the dissertation topic. Upon thoroughly reviewing and critiquing the professional literature and interviewing experts to gain input on current clinical perspectives, students are expected to demonstrate their ability to professionally apply and disseminate the knowledge that they have gained to the mental health community. The method by which students demonstrate this competency will be determined by the student’s dissertation committee.

Specialized Admissions Requirements: Credit for Previous Graduate Work

Students may submit requests for transfer credit for some previous graduate work. The maximum allowed for transfer credit is 30 semester units of graduate level courses, involving mostly foundational courses (i.e., transfer credit will not be considered for core and/or elective courses). Students may apply for transfer credit for those courses in the CSPP-LA Clinical PsyD Program which are designated as transfer credit-eligible. For credit consideration, these graduate courses must have been taken at a regionally accredited graduate institution in a related field, and the student must have passed with a grade of “B” or better. Courses must also have been completed within seven years previous to matriculation to CSPP. The actual class syllabus for each of the courses taken at the previous graduate institution must accompany the application paperwork for content review, and there must be at least an 80% overlap between the CSPP course and the course taken elsewhere according to syllabi content. Contact the program office for a list of courses that are eligible for transfer credit, as well as information on the paperwork that is needed for this review request.

Curriculum and Degree Requirements

The CSPP-LA Clinical PsyD Program involves a 4-year (for full-time APA/APPIC/CAPIC students) or a 5-year (for students opting to do two half-time CAPIC internships) academic curriculum. Both are 120 units total; all coursework is taken during the first three years with concurrent practicum training leading up to final internship training(s). At the end of Spring semester of the first year, students must pass an Assessment Comprehensive Exam. At the end of Fall semester of the second year, a Research Comprehensive Exam is given covering the content of the Statistics course and Research & Test Design course. At the end of the third year, a written and oral Clinical Proficiency Assessment examination is given in the areas of assessment and testing, case conceptualization, treatment planning and intervention strategy, legal and ethical issues, therapeutic relationships, self-examination, and multicultural competency.

Finally, 45 hours of individual psychotherapy with a psychologist licensed in California are required prior to graduation.

Curriculum Plan

• PSY 6529 - Clinical Interviewing (year long class) (3 units)
• PSY 6531 - Ethics and Professional Development A (year long class) (1 unit)
• PSY 7515 - Psychodiagnostic Assessment (year long class) (3 units)
• PSY 6119 - Intercultural Processes/Human Diversity A (year long class) (3 units)
• PSY 6523 - Advanced Psychopathology (year long class, Emphasis Area Related) (3 units)
• PSY 6541 - PsyD Practicum (1 unit)

Intro to Emphasis are (Choose one):

• PSY 6522 - Introduction to Emphasis Area (Multi-Interest Option LA)* (3 units)
• PSY 7627 - Psychology of Health and Illness (CH emphasis) (Health Emphasis)* (3 units)
• PSY 6607 - Systems Theory and Assessment (FACE emphasis)* (3 units)
• PSY 6608 - Community Clinical Issues (MCCP Emphasis) * (3 units)

* choose 1 from list of 4

• PSY 6542 - PsyD Practicum (1 unit)
• PSY 6533 - Clinical Interviewing (continued) (3 units)
• PSY 6532 - Ethics and Professional Development B (continued) (1 unit)
• PSY 7516 - Psychodiagnostic Assessment (continued) (3 units)
• PSY 6120 - Intercultural Processes/Human Diversity B (continued) (3 units)
• PSY 6523 - Advanced Psychopathology (continued, Emphasis Area Related) (3 units)
• PSY 6109 - Human Development (2 units)
• PSY 6101 - Cognitive and Affective Bases of Behavior (2 units)
• PSY 6112 - Social Bases of Behavior (2 units)
• PSY 7112 - History and Systems of Psychology (2 units)
• PSY 7553 - Field-Based Practicum (year long class) (2.5 units)
• PSY 6041 - Statistics (PsyD) (3 units)

Intro to Intervention (choose one):

• PSY 7537 - Psychodynamic Approaches to Intervention (3 units)
• PSY 7529 - Cognitive-Behavioral Approaches to Interventions (3 units)
• PSY 7543 - Systems Approaches to Interventions (3 units)

FACE Emphasis must take FACE’s System Approaches.  Health Emphasis must take Cognitive Behavioral.

• PSY 7554 - Field-Based Practicum (continued) (2.5 units)
• PSY 6042 - Research and Test Design (PsyD) (3 units)
• PSY 6105 - Biological Aspects of Behavior (3 units)
• PSY 8600 - Pro-seminar (1 unit)

Intro to Intervention (choose one not taken in the Fall)

A third Intervention may be taken in place of an elective during G3 year.

• PSY 7605 - Clinical Elective - Practice Seminars (3 units)
• PSY 7113 - Evidence-Based Practice in Psychology (2 units)
• PSY 8453 - Practicum III (2.5 units)
• PSY 8901 - Doctoral Project (year long class) (2 units)
• PSY 9556 - Professional Roles (3 units)
• PSY 9500 - Advanced Clinical Elective (3 units)
• PSY 7605/8625 - Emphasis Area/Multi-Interest Area Clinical Elective/Course (3 units)

PSY8600 can be taken anytime during G3 and G4 year.

Emphasis Area/Multi-Interest Area Related Elective/Course:

All students are required to take three PSY7605 Electives during their four year program. These courses are to be taken preferably during the G3 year but can also be taken during the G4 year.

For those students in an emphasis area: FACE, Health, or MCCP, two of these electives are to be within your emphasis area.

For Health Students one of these courses must be Loss, Grief, and Bereavement. The second course can be any Health elective.

Multi-Interest students may select from Health, MCCP, and Multi-Interest for all of their electives.

• PSY 8454 - Practicum III (2.5 units)
• PSY 8902 - Doctoral Project (continued) (2 units)
• PSY 9556 - Professional Roles (continued) (3 units)
• PSY 9500 - Advanced Clinical Elective (continued) (3 units)

Clinical Elective - Practice Seminar: Health Emphasis Students may be required to take Loss Grief and Bereavement in order to complete requirements by the emphasis area.

• PSY 9585 - Full-time Internship
• PSY 8573 - Half-Time Internship (7 units)
• PSY 9586 - Full-time Internship (14 units)
• PSY 8574 - Half-Time Internship (7 units)
• PSY 9581 - First Half-time Internship (7 units)
• PSY 9582 - Second Half-time Internship (7 units)

Emphasis Areas

Clinical health psychology emphasis.

The World Health Organization (WHO) defines health “as a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity.” The Clinical Health Psychology emphasis in Los Angeles embraces WHO’s comprehensive definition of health in identifying clinical health psychology as the application of psychological principles to achieve the goals of total “physical, mental, and social wellbeing.”

The Clinical Health Psychology emphasis in Los Angeles offers cutting-edge education and training in the 21st century mind-body approach to health care while giving students thorough preparation for clinical and community practice. Students in the Clinical Health Psychology emphasis cultivate innovative knowledge and skills for service in a variety of clinical settings. They learn highly practical interventions that promote mental and physical health, prevent illness, and restore functioning.

Employment prospects for psychologists with advanced skills in behavioral medicine and health psychology are manifold and involve a range of possible settings. Some recent graduates emphasize private practice, while others serve as a sport psychologist (for an NFL team), run corporate wellness programs, lead primary prevention research at a major university, serve as CEO of a health psychology corporation, administer community mental health centers and HIV/AIDS centers, work at medical centers and in outpatient practices, practice pain management, and work as psychologists in law enforcement agencies. Graduates take on various roles in psychological and medical group practices, hospitals, medical centers, universities, clinics, hospices, government agencies, rehabilitation centers, community-based organizations, school clinics, employee assistance programs, trauma centers, consulting firms, and public health agencies.

Students in the Clinical Health Psychology emphasis are prepared for a variety of opportunities in the rapidly evolving psychological and physical health care systems. While some of our graduates practice traditional clinical psychology, others serve as valued members of teams of professionals dedicated to promoting the mind-body health of individuals, families, and communities in our multicultural society.

Family and Couple Clinical Psychology Emphasis

Our goal in the Family and Couple Clinical Psychology Emphasis (FACE) is to introduce graduate students to the theory, research, and clinical practice of family and couple psychology. This is accomplished through coursework in which students learn about families, couples, adults, and children from diverse backgrounds. Students are taught to work with families, couples, and individuals from a systemic perspective. Skills are developed in the assessment, diagnosis, and treatment of relationship systems. In the first two or three years of the FACE emphasis, students learn how to conceptualize, assess, and interview families and couples. FACE students take four family systems courses. The family systems theory and assessment course prepares students for an advanced FACE family systems intervention course taken exclusively by FACE students. The Family and Couple Clinical Psychology Emphasis is for students who are dedicated to learning family and couple psychology intervention. The emphasis area also provides a choice of one of two sets of courses as follows:

Family Therapy: Students may take the following two courses: Clinical Interventions with Children and Families and Interventions with Adolescents and Families. Other courses offered periodically are: Child Assessment, Family Violence and Sexual Abuse, Family of Origin Therapy, Advanced Family Therapy, Divorce Theory, Therapy with Alternative Families, and Group Psychotherapy.

Couple Therapy: Students examine relationship dynamics through either the year-long Integrated Approach to Sex, Intimacy and Relationship Problems course or the one-semester Couple Therapy and Sex Therapy courses. Other courses offered periodically are Family Violence and Sexual Abuse, Family of Origin Therapy, Advanced Family Therapy, Divorce Theory, and Group Psychotherapy.

Students meet with their FACE academic advisor to determine which other advanced clinical electives and seminars best fit into their plan of study so their career goals are met. Creating a niche entails taking courses as well as networking in the community.

Multicultural Community-Clinical Psychology Emphasis

The Multicultural Community-Clinical Psychology (MCCP) emphasis area was established at the Los Angeles campus in 1990. A synthesis of the previous ethnic minority mental health and community clinical proficiencies, MCCP reflects the state-of-the-art in training philosophy, curriculum, and applied experiences relevant to training clinical psychologists with special competence in multicultural and community psychology. The year-long course required of clinical psychology students in all emphasis areas, Intercultural Processes and Human Diversity, provides basic competence in multicultural issues. The MCPP emphasis area provides the additional opportunity for students to develop (1) more advanced conceptual and intervention skills relevant to psychotherapy with culturally-diverse populations; (2) competence beyond individual psychopathology that includes conceptualization and intervention with community-level distress and social problems; (3) an understanding of sociopolitical and sociocultural influences on psychological functioning and well-being; (4) skills to develop programs and activities focused on the prevention of psychopathology and social problems; and (5) knowledge of community psychology theory and practice.

The mission of the training is to nurture the development of clinical psychologists who will work to understand, prevent, and reduce psychological and community distress, as well as enhance the psychological well-being of historically underserved, stigmatized, and oppressed groups. In doing this, special attention is paid to the cultural and sociopolitical context of the individuals, families, and communities we serve. Faculty members in the emphasis area are committed to fostering a climate of inclusion, respect for differences, and a sense of community both within and outside of CSPP. Ultimately, faculty members strive to empower individuals and communities and to facilitate personal and social healing.

Through coursework, field experiences and mentorship by our faculty, students learn theory, research, and intervention strategies applicable to working with adults, adolescents, children, families, groups, and communities. Students share the core curriculum in clinical psychology with students from all emphasis areas. MCCP students build upon this basic curriculum by learning alternative theories and strategies for intervention with communities, institutional systems and specific multicultural groups. Faculty focus on training clinical psychologists who are critical thinkers about the etiology of psychological distress and who can conceptualize multiple pathways to healing individuals, families, and communities.

Required courses unique to MCCP students:

• Seminar in Community-Clinical Psychology
• Psychopathology: Etiology and Diagnosis in Sociocultural Context

Examples of MCCP Advanced Clinical Electives:

• Advanced Psychodynamic Interventions with Multicultural Populations
• Alternative Intervention Strategies
• Belief Systems and Psychotherapy
• Clinical Interventions with Lesbians and Gay Men
• Community Consultation
• Interventions with Victims of Violence
• Multicultural Couple Therapy
• Multicultural Family Therapy
• Pediatric Neuropsychology and Culture
• School and Community-Based Interventions for Children and Adolescents
• Spirituality and Spiritual Development in Psychotherapy

MCCP students also choose several advanced clinical electives available to all students such as Group Therapy, Dream Interpretation, Sex Therapy, Neuropsychological Assessment, Object Relations, Forensic Psychology. MCCP students participate in professional field training experiences that emphasize clinical services to multicultural and under- or inadequately-served populations. Settings can range from hospitals and mental health clinics to community-based agencies or university counseling centers. Students’ PsyD doctoral projects must reflect an aspect of multicultural and/or community psychology.

Multi-Interest Option (Non-Emphasis)

The Multi-Interest Option (MIO) is designed for students who do not choose to enter one of the three above-mentioned emphasis areas. The Multi-Interest Option offers students flexibility in their choice of elective courses and topics for their clinical dissertations and other scholarly and field training interests. The faculty and students affiliated with the Multi-Interest Option offer colloquia and social gatherings that, like those sponsored by the emphasis areas, are open to all members of the Los Angeles campus community. MIO have sponsored presentations that promote awareness of diverse roles in professional psychology by enlisting alumni to discuss their career trajectory, offering an introduction to grant writing, and hosting a panel discussion on professional consultation as a professional activity. The MIO faculty members seek to encourage students’ scholarly and professional growth in a wide range of interest areas.

Clinical PsyD Program Faculty: Los Angeles

Core faculty for the Los Angeles PsyD program are listed below:

John Bakaly, PhD , Associate Professor

John Caffaro, PhD , Distinguished Professor

Victor Cohen, PhD , Associate Professor

Ronda Doonan, PsyD , Assistant Professor

Krystel Edmonds-Biglow, PsyD, Associate Professor

Judith Holloway, PhD , Associate Professor

Erica Holmes, PsyD , Assistant Professor

Beth Houskamp, PhD, Professor and Interim Program Director

Cristina Magalhaes, PhD , Assistant Professor

Joan Murray, PhD , Associate Professor

Randy Noblitt, PhD , Professor

Erin O’Callaghan, PhD, Assistant Professor

Rumiko Okada, PhD, Associate Professor

Lekeisha Sumner, PhD, Associate Professor

For a detailed description of program faculty background and research interests, please see the alphabetical listing of faculty   for the California School of Professional Psychology.

APA Education and Training Outcomes

The CSPP Los Angeles Clinical Psychology PsyD program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of the American Psychological Association (APA) and publishes the following outcome data as required by APA:

• Time to Completion
• Program Costs
• Internship Placement Rates

Please visit the “About CSPP Programs” section of our website ( www.alliant.edu/cspp ) to view these data.

Questions related to the program’s accredited status should be directed to the Commission on Accreditation:

Office of Program Consultation and Accreditation American Psychological Association 750 1st Street, NE, Washington, DC 20002 Phone: (202)336-5979 Email: [email protected] Web: www.apa.org/ed/accreditation

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Psychology at Alliant International University

Go directly to any of the following sections:

• Available Degrees
• Student Demographics

Psychology Degrees Available at Alliant

• Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology
• Graduate Certificates in Psychology
• Master’s Degree in Psychology
• Doctorate Degree in Psychology

Alliant Psychology Rankings

Alliant is in the top 10% of the country for psychology. More specifically it was ranked #72 out of 989 schools by College Factual. It is also ranked #14 in California .

Popularity of Psychology at Alliant

During the 2020-2021 academic year, Alliant International University handed out 6 bachelor's degrees in psychology. This is a decrease of 63% over the previous year when 16 degrees were handed out.

In 2021, 92 students received their master’s degree in psychology from Alliant. This makes it the #61 most popular school for psychology master’s degree candidates in the country.

In addition, 206 students received their doctoral degrees in psychology in 2021, making the school the #2 most popular school in the United States for this category of students.

Alliant Psychology Students

Take a look at the following statistics related to the make-up of the psychology majors at Alliant International University.

Alliant Psychology Bachelor’s Program

Of the 6 students who earned a bachelor's degree in Psychology from Alliant in 2020-2021, 33% were men and 67% were women.

The majority of the bachelor's degree graduates for this major are Hispanic or Latino. In the most recent graduating class for which data is available, 67% of grads fell into this category.

The following table and chart show the ethnic background for students who recently graduated from Alliant International University with a bachelor's in psychology.

Alliant Psychology Master’s Program

During the 2020-2021 academic year, 92 psychology majors earned their master's degree from Alliant. Of these graduates, 12% were men and 88% were women.

The following table and chart show the ethnic background for students who recently graduated from Alliant International University with a master's in psychology.

Psychology Majors

Psychology students may decide to major in one of the following focus areas. Individual majors may not be available for all degree levels.

• National Center for Education Statistics
• O*NET Online

More about our data sources and methodologies .

Popular Reports

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• PsyD vs PhD

Alliant International University Psy.D. Psychology Review

With a vast network of campuses throughout the largest U.S. state, Alliant International University’s California School of Professional Psychology offers a range of options for prospective psychologists looking to earn a Doctor of Psychology (Psy.D.) degree.

Interested students should learn more about the positive (and not-so-positive) aspects of the locations in California offering this degree.

About the Program

Before we begin discussing the best aspects of Alliant’s offerings in California, learn more about the programs and how the campuses vary.

• Institution type: Private, for-profit
• Main campus: San Diego, California
• Accreditation: APA
• First year of program: Los Angeles 1991; Fresno, Sacramento, San Diego 1994; San Francisco 1995

Tuition and fees

• Full-time, in-state tuition: $39,200
• Full-time, out-of-state tuition: $39,200
• Per credit-hour tuition for part-time students: $1,225
• Institution fees: $1,140
• Los Angeles
• Full-time, in-state tuition: $49,000
• Full-time, out-of-state tuition: $49,000
• Institution fees: $840
• Full-time, in-state tuition: $37,975
• Full-time, out-of-state tuition: $37,975
• Institution fees: $660
• San Francisco
• Full-time, in-state tuition: $41,460
• Full-time, out-of-state tuition: $41,460

Student outcomes

• Median years to completion: 4 (2009-2019)
• Percentage completing in <5 years: 82% (2018-19)
• Percentage completing in 7+ years: 0% (2018-19)
• Degrees conferred, 2010-2019: 109
• Percentage of students obtaining internships: 100% (2018-19)
• Percentage of graduates earning professional licensure: 56% (2009-2019)
• Median years to completion: 8 (2009-2019)
• Percentage completing in <5 years: 42% (2018-19)
• Degrees conferred, 2010-2019: 461
• Percentage of students obtaining internships: 76% (2018-19)
• Percentage of graduates earning professional licensure: 69% (2009-2019)
• Median years to completion: 6 (2009-2019)
• Percentage completing in <5 years: 86% (2018-19)
• Degrees conferred, 2010-2019: 120
• Median years to completion: 5 (2009-2019)
• Percentage completing in <5 years: 33% (2018-19)
• Percentage completing in 7+ years: 23% (2018-19)
• Degrees conferred, 2010-2019: 364
• Percentage of students obtaining internships: 87% (2018-19)
• Percentage of graduates earning professional licensure: 76% (2009-2019)
• Median years to completion: 9 (2009-2019)
• Percentage completing in <5 years: 37% (2018-19)
• Percentage completing in 7+ years: 7% (2018-19)
• Degrees conferred, 2010-2019: 503
• Percentage of students obtaining internships: 80% (2018-19)
• Percentage of graduates earning professional licensure: 75% (2009-2019)

Degrees & requirements

• Psy.D. degrees offered: Psy.D. in Clinical Psychology (all campuses), Psy.D. in Educational Psychology (online), Psy.D. in Marital and Family Therapy (Los Angeles, Sacramento, San Diego), Psy.D. in Organization Development (Fresno)
• Non-Psy.D. degrees offered: Certificates in Clinical Psychology (San Francisco) and LGBT Human Services in Mental Health (online)
• Number of credit hours required: 120 total (90 academic, 30 internship)
• Application method: Online
• Application fee: $65
• Admission requirements: Bachelor’s degree in psychology; GRE subject test, 80th percentile or better; resume; two letters of recommendation; faculty interview (for most programs); admissions essay

Biggest Pros

What are the biggest selling points for students interested in earning their Psy.D. from an Alliant campus in California?

Broad coverage

With a network of campuses stretching from Sacramento to San Diego, a distance of about 500 miles, Alliant’s California School of Professional Psychology offers Psy.D. degrees across five locations, as well as one degree that can be completed online.

While each campus has a different set of student outcomes, tuition and academic details, much of the curriculum is standard, and the geographic diversity of such a broad network of sites will be attractive to many students in the state.

Online degree option

The clinical Psy.D. degree from Alliant can’t be earned online, but that doesn’t mean that students who need that level of flexibility are out of luck. That’s because in addition to a varied roster of clinical psychology concentrations offered on-campus, Alliant also offers a Psy.D. in Educational Psychology entirely online.

Additionally, though it varies by campus and academic term, students who do attend on-campus may have the option of taking certain courses online, which provides a best-of-both-worlds education.

Emphasis areas

These vary depending on the campus, but chances are good there’s a population or method focus that will appeal to most students. With traditional options like child and family psychology to new and emerging options like forensics, integrated health and correctional psychology, Alliant’s campuses are helping contribute to the cutting edge of modern psychology.

Biggest Cons

What factors might make students less inclined to consider earning their Psy.D. at one of Alliant’s five California campuses?

Limited degree options

While it’s true that many academic tracks are available, they mostly lead only to a Psy.D. in Clinical Psychology, though other options are available at certain campuses. Expanding degree types to more campuses could help boost Alliant to the top of the list for California students.

Relatively low licensure rates

It’s important to note that these figures tend to run a few years behind, but only two Alliant campuses have broken the professional licensure rate of 75% over the past decade. It’s also possible that many students have chosen not to practice professionally, but for students who are set on the clinical practice of psychology, these relatively low rates could be a warning sign.

The Bottom Line

So how can you decide if this program is right for you? Every learner’s needs are unique, but here’s a quick breakdown to help you decide whether pursuing a Psy.D. at Alliant International University in California is a good option for you.

A for-profit education isn’t right for everybody, but Alliant International University’s California School of Professional Psychology’s APA-accredited degree programs provide students with a wide range of focus areas at a price that’s consistent with many other educational institutions in the space, and their network of campuses all over the state of California put a Psy.D. degree within in reach of millions of people in the most-populous U.S. state.

This Psy.D program made our Editors’ Choice  Best Accredited Psy.D. Programs for 2020 .

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MA in School Psychology w/PPS Credential - Alliant Int'l University

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Get inspired to become a School Psychologist! Join Dr. Muller, Program Director for the MA in School Psychology program, for an inspiring and informative discussion about the role of a School Psychologists.

About: Alliant is a private university accredited by the WASC Senior College and University Commission (WSCUC), offering graduate study in psychology, education, business management, and forensic studies. Alliant specializes in preparing students to enter professional careers that require both advanced knowledge and highly specialized skills. Degree programs emphasize practical applications of theory and research. Alliant operates programs in San Diego, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Sacramento, Fresno, Irvine, and Mexico City.

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Health, Brain, and Cognition Lab

Persistence pays: successful applicant to a clinical psychology phd. program tells what it’s like.

In the Voss lab, we have a diverse range of graduate students earning a PhD in either Behavioral and Cognitive Neuroscience, Neuroscience, or like our newest graduate student addition Liam, in Clinical Science. Applying to a PhD program can be incredibly confusing as the process varies depending on the program type and the specific school. For the sake of this post, I will be focusing on the application process to clinical psychology (aka clinical science) programs specifically. 

Clinical psychology PhD programs are unique as they can produce individuals who conduct research, practice as a clinician, or do a little bit of both in a multitude of settings. This is unlike a Master’s program where the training is much shorter and allows graduates to practice just as a clinician or requires additional training in a PhD program to be able to conduct research. Further, PsyD programs are similar to PhD programs, however they differ as their primary focus is on clinical practice and typically produce sole clinicians. The combination of training to reach expert levels in both clinical work and research conduction is specific to clinical psychology programs. 

Clinical psychology programs are rigorous and commonly last 6 years where 5 years are a combination of classes, clinical work, research, and working on and defending your dissertation. The 6 th year is spent ‘on internship’ where an in-depth clinical training experience, typically at a different institution, takes place. It is common to find clinical psychologists in academic medical centers, hospitals, colleges, or universities, primary or secondary education schools, and private practices. Whether conducting research in a laboratory setting or working with patients in a clinical setting, clinical psychologists typically work in the realm of assessment, diagnosis, and treatment of mental, emotional, and behavioral disorders in a range of individuals (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2023). 

Each program will provide students with clinical and research training, but each program has its own training model: some schools emphasize research relatively more than clinical training, clinical over research, or have an even split between the two. Deciding where to apply typically depends on one’s career goals. When applying, the applicant technically first must meet the requirements of the program although they are more so applying to a specific lab within the program. The options of where to apply can be limited depending on the application cycle as: 1) the school must have a clinical psychology training program, 2) the lab one is interested in needs to be accepting a student (labs do not take a student every year, typically due to funding), and 3) the lab should ideally fit with the applicant’s prior experiences and/or research interests. In my experience, I have seen clinical programs report receiving anywhere from 300-800 applications. The number of applications a program receives is the cumulative number of applications each lab at the school receives that year. On average, I have seen schools report taking cohort sizes of around 8-12 students. Typically, specific labs say that they receive at least 100 applications and usually have spots for only 1 or 2 students. Averaging these numbers makes a 1.8% chance of being accepted into a program and about a 1% chance of being accepted into a specific lab (this is the number that matters as you have to be accepted into a lab to be in the program). 

The application process can be expensive costing anywhere from $30 to more than $100 per application. In my experience, individuals apply to upwards of 8-12 schools but I have heard of individuals applying to as many as 20 schools in a given application cycle. Additionally, with the odds of being admitted into a program being so low, it is typical to not get accepted the first or even second time applying to programs, making repeat applicants common. To be as competitive as possible it is recommended (not required) to have postbaccalaureate research experience. Typically, you need to be in this position long enough to produce independent research projects to present as a poster or an oral presentation at national or international conferences. Additionally, it is common to see individuals with first author publications. Getting these experiences typically takes 2+ years with substantial time dedicated to research. 

Filling out applications is not a streamlined process. Each program has its own unique application form. In addition to asking for basic information such as your name, address, schools attended, classes taken, GPA, etc., it is standard for programs to ask for transcripts, 3 letters of recommendation (at least one is expected to be written by the supervisor of a lab you worked in or supervisors from clinical experience), a curriculum vitae, and perhaps the most important piece, the personal statement. 

The personal statement is typically 2-3 pages where you explain  why  you are interested in earning a PhD in clinical psychology,  what   area of research you’d like to pursue,  why   you are applying to this particular program and lab, and  how  your past experiences fit this narrative. This is perhaps the most important part of the application process, and it can take months to come up with a final draft. This statement typically has slightly different requirements per school and certainly needs to be unique to the lab you are applying to. This is an opportunity to convince the lab that you have experiences that relate to their work and offer a unique perspective that wins you an interview. For this reason, it is good to identify programs you are most interested in early, being the summer and the fall before you apply, so that you can reach out to the lab and the program. This ensures the lab you are interested in is taking a student this cycle and to assess your fit.

I personally found it impactful to email early, keep it short by briefly mentioning who I work with, my career goals, the broad scope of my projects, what I hope to do in graduate school in relation to their lab specifically, and find a way to include a fact that will help them remember me! For example, for one of the labs I ended up interviewing with, I mentioned how I am familiar with their work as the Voss Lab modified one of their cognitive computer tasks that I know well as I have administered and scored it. 

Typical due dates for clinical psychology applications are either November 15 th or December 1 st . Once materials are submitted, schools will reach out within a month or two. At this point, more and more labs are conducting ‘preliminary interviews’ where you ‘interview’ to get a spot for the official interview day, which can be virtual or in person. 

Given you are lucky enough to be offered a spot at one program or a few, it is time to decide if their stipend, program, research, location, etc. will be something you are happy with for at least 5 years. If you do not get any offers, it is time to decide if you want to go through this again and if so, start preparing for next year. 

As a multi-time applicant, I believe I made the biggest impact on my application in between the 2022 and 2023 application cycle (the most recent cycle). Everyone’s journey into a PhD program is unique and there is no one correct way to get in, which can be frustrating. In my personal experience the accomplishments that were most positively commented on by interviewers were: my diversified lab experiences, my submitted co-first author paper, giving a presentation at a high-profile conference in my field, submitting my first grant (National Science Foundation- Graduate Research Fellowship Program), and my plethora of experiences with research participants and clinical populations. Lastly, my network of individuals who are currently in PhD programs, are in the field of clinical psychology or related fields, or those who are just great at writing, has grown. Because of this, I was able to receive numerous different perspectives on how to best convey my experiences in a persuasive, clear, and professional way. I cannot thank all of the participants, patients, mentors, friends, and family enough who have supported me in my journey of applying to PhD programs!

Kelsey Baller has recently been accepted into the clinical psychology PhD program at Washington University in St. Louis. A graduate of the University of Iowa with a Bachelor of Science degree in psychology and a minor in Spanish, she has worked as a post-baccalaureate research assistant at the Health, Brain, and Cognition Lab for the past three years.