Nov 10, 2024  
2024-2025 General Catalog [Current] 
    
2024-2025 General Catalog [Current]

Doctorate of Psychology in Clinical Psychology (Psy.D.)

Location(s): Main Campus


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Program Admission

See Admissions Requirements  for this program.

Program Summary

The Doctorate of Psychology (Psy.D.) in Clinical Psychology at Southern Utah University is a full-time, in-residence (in-person) scholarly course of study that prepares graduates to practice professional psychology with an emphasis on meeting the needs of rural and underserved communities. Based on the practitioner-scholar model, coursework and training prepares emerging psychologists for state licensure in the field of Health Service Psychology. The program trains students to become culturally and ethically competent generalists who engage in evidence-based practices (psychotherapy, psychological assessments, program evaluations, supervision, professional collaboration, consultation). The program emphasizes a commitment to diversity, inclusive practices, social justice, and evidence-based systemic improvements.

Program Information

  • Consistent with the Practitioner-Scholar training model (Vail Model), the Doctorate of Psychology (Psy.D.) program at Southern Utah University trains professional, doctoral-level practitioner-scientists who specialize in clinical practice. Located in rural southwestern Utah, the program is founded on principles of community and rural mental health. Extensive practical placements afford professional experience in a variety of settings, including schools, residential treatment centers, community mental health settings, substance abuse treatment programs, native health centers, homeless resource centers, crisis centers, community clinics, public hospitals, and government agencies (see Practicum Manual). The scientific foundations of psychology provide the philosophical grounding, and evidence-based practices are at the core of our clinical training. Through this program, students become informed consumers of scientific inquiry, educators, and skilled clinicians.
  • The program is a full-time program offering a course of study leading to the Psy.D. degree. Coursework and practical training prepare students for licensure as psychologists, with an emphasis on educating emerging psychologists for the underserved areas of rural and frontier southern Utah, and adjoining regions. The program’s goals and objectives are based on the American Psychological Association’s profession-wide competencies of clinical education and training, required accreditation domains, and discipline-specific professional knowledge areas.
  • All courses must be passed with a “B-“ (2.7) or better to be counted in the program.
  • Students must earn a minimum overall GPA of 3.0 (“B” average) out of a 4.0 scale to graduate.
  • Students must complete of all degree requirements within a 7-year time frame (not including an approved Leave of Absence), with all coursework and practicum completed by the end of the fifth year and before starting the predoctoral internship.

Clinical Psychology Curriculum (100+ Credits)


Required Courses (97-98 Credits)


Elective Courses (3 Credits)


Each student is required to complete a minimum of 3 credit hours of elective credit. Students may take more than 3 credits of elective courses if they are in good standing with the program. Elective courses offered vary year-to-year depending on faculty availability, needs of the program, or context-specific opportunities.

Total Credits, Psy.D. Degree: 100+


Licensure Notification


This program typically leads to licensure/certification and was designed to meet such qualifications for the state of Utah. Students who are or may be planning to pursue licensure/certification in any other U.S. state or territory may need to meet additional education requirements. This is not a reflection of SUU’s accreditation or quality, as each state and territory regulates their own education requirements for occupational licensure.

Students enrolled in a teacher preparation program may potentially be able to use a Utah educator license to obtain licensure through reciprocity. Additional information may be found through the Department of Teacher Education’s reciprocity table.

An overview of all of SUU’s programs that lead to licensure/certification and the programs’ current determination statuses may be found at www.suu.edu/provost/licensure.html.

Program Learning Outcomes


At the conclusion of the Psy.D. program, all successful students will be trained as:

  1. Ethical and culturally sensitive emerging psychologists who pursue state licensure in Health Services Psychology.
  2. Scientifically informed emerging psychologists who consume, incorporate, and disseminate psychological research and scholarly knowledge in all of their professional endeavors.
  3. Competent, self-aware, and reflective emerging psychologists who are appreciative, respectful, professional, and who are committed to diversity, inclusive practices, social justice, and working with rural communities.

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