Psy.D. Program

History

The Psy.D program originated from a longstanding and dire need for licensed psychologists in rural, underserved areas of the United States, most specifically in the rural South. The mission is consistent with Georgia Southern University’s commitment to serve the needs of the southeastern region of the country. The program has an ongoing mission to increase awareness of diversity, especially related to rural and underserved populations. The first cohort was accepted in 2007 and the first student graduated in December 2012. The Psy.D. program at Georgia Southern is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of the American Psychological Association*.

APA Accreditation

The Psy.D. Program at Georgia Southern University is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of the American Psychological Association. Questions related to the program’s accredited status should be directed to the Commission on Accreditation:

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

Office of Program Consultation and Accreditation
American Psychological Association
750 1st St., NE, Washington, DC 20002
Phone: (202) 336-5979 / E-mail: apaaccred@apa.org
Web: www.apa.org/ed/accreditation

Philosophy

Georgia Southern psychology faculty are dedicated to preparing students for clinical psychology work, focusing especially on clinical practice in rural settings. We work closely with students, give feedback regularly, and pride ourselves on giving students a “small school” experience in a 20,000-student university.

The doctorate program in Clinical Psychology at Georgia Southern University is a full time, day program offering a course of study leading to the Doctor of Psychology (Psy.D.) degree. The program’s curriculum prepares graduates for the practice of Psychology with a special focus on practice in rural areas. Coursework and training prepare students for licensure as psychologists, with an emphasis on educating emerging psychologists for the underserved areas in the state of Georgia and adjacent regions in the Southeast.

The program trains students according to the practitioner-scholar model. Students are taught to become generalists effective in the delivery of psychotherapy, psychological assessment, and psychological consultation services in rural areas. Consistent with the framework of a generalist approach, the curriculum, beginning with foundational courses, strives to create and maintain a dynamic and integrative program, emphasizing behavioral, cognitive, existential, family systems, humanistic, and psychodynamic approaches to service. View the Psy.D. Goals, Objectives, and Competencies, more information about practical training experiences, the clinical qualifying exam, and the dissertation on the Files and Links page.

The program is designed to foster the academic, professional and personal development of each student. This process is aimed at helping students cultivate balance within their personal and professional growth. In addition to academic requirements, students are encouraged to take initiative and responsibility for personal and professional growth through independent readings, interaction with fellow students and faculty, attendance at colloquia, and additional elective research and practica opportunities. Students are encouraged to seek experiences that enhance personal growth and awareness through self-exploration. To this end, all students are required to complete a minimum of 10 sessions of personal psychotherapy (individual, group, or family) with a licensed therapist during their time in the program. The sessions need not be continuous, with the same therapist, nor with the same style of therapy for the entire time. All psychotherapy issues are confidential and not shared with program faculty.

The Psy.D. is a professional degree, and focuses on the development of applied practice skills. Because the program is an integral part of the College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences in a regional university, doctoral students engage in all aspects of scholarly inquiry, including quantitative research and professional membership in state, regional, and national organizations.

The Psy.D. program aspires to provide quality graduate training to students in the field of clinical psychology. The program espouses goals, objectives, and competencies related to the practice of psychology, especially in rural communities. The goals, objectives, and competencies were derived from the program’s faculty, university mission, and community needs of southeastern Georgia, but are influenced by the policies and guidelines put forth by the American Psychological Association (APA). Students are expected to achieve all goals, objectives, and competencies. Click here for the program’s competencies and discipline-specific knowledge.

Admissions Process

• Overview
• Admissions Process
• Student Selection/Admissions Criteria

Overview

Given the ongoing demand for doctoral level training in professional psychology and the limited number of students that we will admit per year, admission to the Psy.D. program is expected to be quite competitive. The Psy.D. program enrolls eight students each year.

To earn a Psy.D. at Georgia Southern University, students must satisfactorily complete a minimum of 114 credits of coursework (a minimum of one year, 12 continuous months of full-time coursework must be done in residency at Georgia Southern), three years of practicum, pass the Clinical Qualifying Examination (written and oral components), complete a dissertation, and complete a 12-month (2000-hour) clinical internship. The dissertation proposal and CQE must be defended before the student may apply for internship. The standard timeline for completion of the Psy.D. is 5 years (including the 12-month internship).

Although academic background, intellectual potential, and professional experience and skills will be key selection criteria, we intend to recruit students who are committed to providing service with predominantly rural and underserved populations. Therefore, students should carefully consider their interest in rural and underserved populations before applying to the program. Applicants will only be considered for admission to the Psy.D. program (i.e., students will not be admitted for a terminal masters degree in clinical psychology).

Undergraduate Prerequisites. To be admitted to the Psy.D. program an applicant need not have an undergraduate degree in psychology. However, the student must have earned a minimum grade of B in the following courses: Psychological Statistics, Research Design, Abnormal Psychology. In addition, students must have taken at least two of the following courses: Personality, Social Psychology, Developmental Psychology, Learning and/or Cognition, Health Psychology, Tests and Measurement, Theories of Psychotherapy, and/or Psychology of Substance Abuse. Additional coursework in psychology and in related disciplines is likely to strengthen a candidate’s application.

Transfer of graduate courses from other institutions. Students may receive credit for graduate courses taken at a regionally accredited institution during the last five years. A maximum of 18 hours of graduate level coursework is allowed. All decisions on exempted courses lie with the Clinical Training Committee, and require any student desiring course transfer to provide documentation (e.g., syllabi, tests, grades) from the previous course.

Credit will not be given for clinical courses, with the exception of Assessment I: Psychometric Theory (PSYC 7231) and Assessment II: Intellectual Assessment (PSYC 7234).

Students wishing to be exempted from these courses must demonstrate proficiency as determined by the clinical committee. Students wishing to transfer these courses must demonstrate proficiency as determined by the Clinical Training Committee. Course equivalencies will be determined on a case by case basis. Any course deficiencies will need to be completed with attention to course sequences and prerequisites before a degree can be awarded.

Part-time Admission. The Psy.D. program is designed to be a full-time program completed in five years. However, we realize some students may desire to do a portion of the program part-time. Students may be admitted to the program with part-time status. The following criteria must be met:

• Students must apply via the same admission procedures as full-time students;
• Students can only begin the program in the Fall semester; and
• Students must be admitted with a minimum of 18 hours of course credit in non-clinical courses (i.e., they must enter the program with the maximum amount of transfer credit).

Once admitted, part-time students must:

• Enroll in a minimum of 6 credit hours of coursework each semester;
• Be enrolled in the program every semester, unless a Leave of Absence is granted;
• Enroll in necessary co-requisite courses when they are required;
• Enroll in Foundations of Psychotherapy I, II, and Group Psychotherapy (PSYC 7232, 7433, and 7235) in consecutive semesters;
• Switch to full-time enrollment (minimum 9 credit hours per semester) for at least one full year to meet the residency requirement; and
• Complete the Psy.D. program within the 8-year time limit allowed for all students.

More information regarding admission to the Psy.D program.

Contact:

Thresa Yancey, Ph.D. (Director of Clinical Training)
psyd@georgiasouthern.edu
912-478-5704

Admissions Process

1. Applications will be evaluated once per year for Fall admissions. The deadline for applications is December 15.
2. Applicants will submit an application online.
3. An admissions committee, consisting of the clinical psychology faculty, will review and rank order applications based on the student selection/admissions criteria.

Student Selection/Admissions Criteria

1. A successful completion of a bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited institution. Students’ academic record will be evaluated based on official transcripts from all previous enrollments in higher education.
   • Grade Point Average (GPA): A minimum undergraduate GPA of 3.30 is required for consideration. The average undergraduate GPA of successful applicants for the Fall 2023 class was 3.70 (on a 4.0 scale).
   • A minimum grade of B in the following undergraduate courses: Psychological Statistics, Research Design, Abnormal Psychology
   • Record of having taken at least two of the following courses: Personality, Social Psychology, Developmental Psychology, Learning and/or Cognition, Health Psychology, Tests and Measurement, Theories of Psychotherapy, Psychology of Substance Abuse.
2. Three letters of recommendation from former professors or appropriate employers/advisors.
3. A written statement of professional goals. Please describe why you want to pursue doctoral training in clinical psychology. Also, describe how Georgia Southern University’s program is a good fit. Finally, please list three (3) Statesboro campus psychology faculty whose research interests are a match to your own. Of these three, please include at least one clinical faculty member and one faculty member who is not clinical.  This statement should be 500 words or less in length.
4. A current Curriculum Vitae or Resume.
5. Optional: Submission of a writing sample of past work provides an opportunity to showcase your writing skills, tone, and style. The sample should be no longer than two double-spaced pages. Consider submitting an excerpt or passage from a research paper or writing assignment for class, a manuscript, or other relevant works.
6. An interview is required. Interviews for Fall 2024 admission will be held on February 16 & 17, 2024. All interview activities will be via video conferencing or other remote means. Applicants selected for interview will be notified by the program in mid-January.

The PsyD program seeks a diverse applicant pool. We welcome applications from under-represented ethnic minorities, women, applicants with disabilities, first-generation college graduates, and non-traditional students.

FAQs

• How long is the PsyD program?

The program takes 5 years to complete, minimum. The first 4 years are on campus and the 5th year is the pre-doctoral internship.

• How many students are admitted each year?

The PsyD program enrolls 8 new students each year. We are unable to enroll more than 8 students per year.

• Do I need a Masters degree before attending the PsyD?

No, you can attend the PsyD after earning a BA/BS.

• If I have a Masters degree, do I still need to submit GRE scores? Are there minimum scores required for the GRE? How much do GRE scores count for admission?

We do not have a minimum GRE score, so we review all complete applications regardless of GRE scores. Our average GRE score for those admitted in the past 5 years is available on our website. GRE scores are only one part of the application, and we examine the entire application when making admission decisions. NOTE: Due to the COVID-19 pandemic and difficulties with testing, the GRE (both general and subject) will be OPTIONAL for applicants applying for Fall 2023 admission. You may still provide GRE scores, but you are not required to.

• What days/times are classes held? Are classes in person or online?

The program is a full time day program with all courses meeting in person. Courses are only held on the Statesboro campus. Students in the first year generally have classes 4 or 5 days a week. In the 2nd year, students are in practicum approximately 12 hours per week, with courses and practicum duties varied throughout the week. In the 3rd-4th years, courses are generally in blocks (each course only meets once a week) and are on 2 or 3 days per week, with 2 days per week at the practicum site (16 hours per week). The 5th year is an internship (full time) applied for via APPIC match. 

• Are there Graduate Assistantships (GAs) available for PsyD students?

Yes! There are 4 GAs available in the Psychology Department for incoming students each year. The other incoming students can apply for GAs in various departments on campus. All GAs (regardless of whether they are in the Psychology Department or in other departments) include a stipend and a full tuition waiver (including out of state tuition) in exchange for 20 hours of work per week. Students are still responsible for university fees.

• My GPA is not quite 3.30. Can I still apply?

We cannot consider any application from a student who has less than a 3.30 GPA. For applicants whose undergraduate GPA is less than 3.30, a Masters degree GPA can be used to meet this application criterion (as long as the Masters GPA is 3.30 or higher).

• What types of clinical training experiences are available for students?

Our students have the opportunity to gain clinical experience in a number of settings. We currently have students placed in Veterans Affairs (VA) facilities, military base hospitals/outpatient clinics, Regional Centers, inpatient hospital settings, community mental health centers, college counseling centers, and private practices.

• Can I transfer any classes from other graduate programs?

Yes, we do allow for limited transfer credits to apply toward degree requirements. If an applicant is granted admission, they may then petition to transfer the courses below. The decision is made by reviewing course materials. The most recent instructor for the course will review the syllabus, etc. to determine if the course is equivalent to the course here at GS. Only the following courses may be considered for transfer: Psychometric Theory, Intellectual Assessment, Developmental Psychology, Statistics, Research Design, Affective & Cognitive Psychology, Physiological Psychology, Social Psychology, and History & Systems.

• Which faculty are taking new students this year?

In general, any faculty member will be willing to mentor the research of an incoming student. We do not accept students to work in any particular faculty member’s lab or under their direction for research. All students are admitted without regard for specific match to one faculty member’s research interests. That said, all clinical faculty (and many of the experimental faculty) take new students into their labs each year. We have not had a problem with students finding research mentors.

Licensure Information

Hello,

As part of the National Council for State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement (NC-SARA), Georgia Southern University is required to notify all prospective and currently enrolled students whether they would be eligible for licensure and/or certification in their home state upon completing their Georgia Southern degree program.

The College of Behavioral and Social Sciences Department of Psychology anticipates that graduates of this program may seek state licensure as a Psychologist, Clinical Psychologist, Registered Psychologist, Psychological Examiner, Licensed Psychologist, Applied Psychologist, or Psychological Assistant.

The Department of Psychology has determined that the required classes and educational activities of this academic program, which is accredited by the APA, will fulfill the educational requirement for licensure in all states. Each state/province has unique requirements to attain licensure, but all require a doctoral degree in the field and record of taking the Examination for Professional Practice in Psychology (EPPP – passing scores vary by jurisdiction). Some jurisdictions have other requirements, such as state jurisprudence exams, and most require supervised clinical practice after the doctoral degree is awarded (postdoctoral training). In addition, some states require a degree from an APA-accredited program. The PsyD program at Georgia Southern University is accredited by the APA. 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 St., NE, Washington, DC 20002
Phone: (202) 336-5979 / E-mail: apaaccred@apa.org / Web: www.apa.org/ed/accreditation

Please see the first link below for information for each jurisdiction. In addition, more resources are available at the following websites:

• Licensure Information for Each Jurisdiction
• http://www.asppb.net/?page=BdContactNewPG
• https://www.asppb.net/page/CandHandbook
• https://www.apa.org/gradpsych/2004/01/get-licensed.aspx

Please let me know if you have any questions concerning this communication. Thank you.

Sincerely,

C. T. Yancey, Ph.D.
Director of Clinical Training, PsyD Program
tyancey@georgiasouthern.edu
psyd@georgiasouthern.edu
912-478-5704