A Doctor of Psychology (Psy.D.) in Clinical Psychology is for those seeking to address mental health solutions at the highest level. Our fully in-person program equips students with skills in psychotherapy, clinical decision-making, research interpretation, and diagnosis using intentional care. Built on the practitioner-scholar model, the program guides students through four years of coursework and supervised clinical training, followed by a year-long, full-time doctoral internship.
A Psy.D. in Clinical Psychology prepares health service psychologists through hands-on, evidence-based practice with integrated training in psychological science, ethical and culturally responsive care, dissertation research and scholarship, and whole-person care based on a scientific model. This five-year program equips you with more than a degree; it prepares you for a lifelong calling of service.
Relational and Experiential Learning
During your time at PLNU, you’ll learn clinical skills in the ways they are practiced in real-world settings. From supervised clinical training to a full-time internship, you’ll gain experience designed to prepare you for a career in psychological care.
A foundational component of the program is the intentional community you’ll join — shaped by a small cohort of peers and faculty dedicated to your professional and personal growth. From your second through fourth year, you’ll also participate in a research group under the guidance of a faculty mentor.
Whole-Person Development
Within PLNU’s College of Health Sciences, the Psy.D. in Clinical Psychology joins a robust slate of health science programs at PLNU, with an established network and deep connections in San Diego. Learning from faculty across health sciences disciplines, you’ll be equipped for whole-person care that intentionally meets the needs of patients. In a variety of settings, cultural backgrounds, and languages, PLNU psychology students receive a well-rounded education that prepares you to apply leading practices in primary care, hospitals, and interdisciplinary teams.
Clinical Psychology Paving the Future
As a graduate from PLNU, you’ll be prepared to confidently and purposefully step into a calling to serve others for a lifetime. Many psychologists go on to work in a variety of fields dedicated to understanding, assessing, diagnosing, and treating mental health concerns.
Clinical psychologists practice in settings such as:
- Individual, group, and couples therapy
- Psychological testing
- Program evaluation and consultation
- Supervision
- Teaching
- Research
Work That Is Authentic and Sacred
PLNU is a Christian university of Wesleyan heritage, where grace is foundational and service is understood as an expression of faith. Students learn to bring spiritual attentiveness into their clinical work in ways that honor professional ethics and the dignity of every client. At PLNU, preparation for a career in psychology is also an invitation to consider your work as a vocation and lifelong calling — with a particular care for communities that have long been marginalized and underserved.
Professional Licensure
Our program is pending WSCUC and American Psychological Association (APA) approval — preparing you for the requirements for official licensure as a Clinical Psychologist through the California Board of Psychology.
To be eligible for licensure, you’ll need the Psy.D. in Clinical Psychology degree, complete the exam with under passing requirements, and fulfill all hours for the external doctoral internship — completed in your fifth year. For information about PLNU programs and out-of-state educational requirements for professional licensure or certification, please refer to our disclosures page.
