Psy.D. Curriculum

The Psy.D. program is a full-time program. Students take four/five courses per semester and devote 10 - 16 hours per week to clinical training. Classes typically begin the last week in August or the first week of September and end by the middle of May.  Students are expected to fulfill some program requirements such as comprehensive examinations and dissertation preparation during the summer in addition to clinic and clinical placements, and some required courses (e.g., PY 602).

Students complete four years of coursework on the Baltimore campus. First and second year students complete their clinical placements at the Loyola Clinical Centers. Third and fourth year students complete their clinical placement hours at various placement sites.

For all students entering first year of curriculum Fall 2021 and beyond (131 Credits)

*All requirements for the Psy.D. program, including the dissertation and internship, must be completed within seven years of enrollment in the program. This necessitates that students apply for internship no later than the fall of their sixth academic year.*

FIRST YEAR

Fall Term (18.5)

• PY 601 COgnitive Assessment (3cr)
• PY 615 Advanced Psychopathology (3cr)
•  PY 620 Theories of Counseling & Psychotherapy (3cr) 
• PY 810 Psychological Measurement (3 cr)
  
  
• PY 704 Introduction to Clinical Experiences: Community Outreach Rotation (3cr) or
• PY 707 Introduction to Clinical Experiences: Adult Intake Rotation or
•  PY 708 Introduction to Clinical Experiences: Child/Adolescent Intake Rotation (3cr)
• PY 925 Clinical Applications Assessment (2 cr)
  
  
•  PY 912 Colloquium (0cr)
• PY 918 Professional Development & Case Conceptualization (1.5cr)

Spring Term (18.5)

• PY 602 Personality Assessment (3cr)
• PY 621 Principles & Practices of Psychotherapy (3cr)
• PY 832 Research Methods in Clinical Psychology (3cr)
• PY 870 Diversity Seminar (3cr)
• PY 890 Dissertation Guidance (0cr)
  
• PY 704 Introduction to Clinical Experiences: Community Outreach Rotation (3cr) or 
• PY 707 Introduction to Clinical Experiences: Adult Intake Rotation or
• PY 708 Introduction to Clinical Experiences: Child/Adolescent Intake Rotation  (3cr)
• PY 925 Clinical Applications Assessment (2 cr)
  
• PY 912 Colloquium (0cr)
• PY 918 Professional Development & Case Conceptualization (1.5cr)

Summer Term (3)

• Students may take electives (PY 845 and/or PY 886 courses)
  
  
• PY 704 Introduction to Clinical Experiences: Community Outreach Rotation (3cr) or         
• PY 707 Introduction to Clinical Experiences: Adult Intake Rotation or                                         
• PY 708 Introduction to Clinical Experiences: Child/Adolescent Intake Rotation  (3cr)
• PY 931 Clinical Applications Assessment Summer (0cr)

SECOND YEAR

Fall Term (15.5)

• PY 800 Professional, Legal & Ethical Issues (3cr)
• PY 802 Principles & Methods of Assessment (3cr)
• PY 815 Psychopathology Seminar (3cr)
• PY 890 Dissertation Guidance (0cr)
  
  
• PY 920 Clinical Placement I (3cr)
• PY 925 Clinical Applications Assessment (2cr)
  
  
• PY 912 Colloquium (0cr)
• PY 918 Professional Development & Case Conceptualization (1.5cr)

Spring Term (12.5)

• PY 816 Lifespan (3cr)
• PY 833 Research Methods & Data Analysis in Clinical Psychology (3cr)
• PY 890 Dissertation Guidance (0cr)

• PY 920 Clinical Placement I (3cr)
• PY 925 Clinical Applications Assessment (2cr)

• PY 912 Colloquium (0cr)
  PY 918 Professional Development & Case Conceptualization (1.5cr)

Summer Term (0)

• Students may take electives (PY 845 and/or PY 886 courses)

   

• PY 930 Clinical Placement Summer (0cr)
• PY 931 Clinical Applications Assessment Summer (0cr)

THIRD YEAR

Fall Term (13.5)

• PY 814 Biological Bases of Behavior (3cr)
• PY 820 Cognitive and Affective Aspects of Behavior (3cr)
• PY Elective #1* (3cr)
• PY 890 Dissertation Guidance (0cr)
  
  
• PY 921 Clinical Placement II (3cr)
  
  
• PY 912 Colloquium (0cr)
• PY 918 Professional Development & Case Conceptualization (1.5cr)

Spring Term (16.5)

• PY 813 Seminar on Social and Cultural Bases of Psychology (3cr)
• PY 842 Supervision Theory and Practice (3cr)
• PY Elective #2* (3cr)
• PY Elective #3* (3cr)
• PY 890 Dissertation Guidance (0cr)
  
  
• PY 921 Clinical Placement II (3cr)
  
  
• PY 912 Colloquium (0cr)
• PY 918 Professional Development & Case Conceptualization (1.5cr)

+Dissertation proposal must be passed by March 30th of this year, and the written comprehensive exam and oral clinical competency examination must be passed, to be eligible to apply for internship in fall of the following academic year.

Summer Term

• Students may take electives (PY 845 and/or PY 886 courses) and may also be required to complete or start clinical placements (PY 930)

FOURTH YEAR

Fall Term (13.5)

• PY 819 Historical & Philosophical Bases of Psychology * (3cr)
• PY Elective #4* (3cr)
• PY 891 Clinical Dissertation  (3cr)
  
  
• PY 922 Clinical Placement III (3cr)
  
  
• PY 912 Colloquium (0cr)
• PY 918 Professional Development & Case Conceptualization (1.5cr)

Spring Term (13.5)

• PY 840 Consultation Theory and Practice (3cr)
• PY Elective #5* (3cr)
• PY 891 Clinical Dissertation  (3cr)
  
  
• PY 922 Clinical Placement III (3cr)
  
  
• PY 912 Colloquium (0cr)
• PY 918 Professional Development & Case Conceptualization (1.5cr)

Summer Term

• Students may take electives (PY 845 and/or PY 886 courses)
• Students beginning internship in June or July will need to register for PY 949 Internship Summer I (0 cr)

FIFTH YEAR

Fall Term

• PY 892 Dissertation Continuation (0cr)
• PY 950 Clinical Internship I (0cr)

Spring Term

• PY 892 Dissertation Continuation (0cr)
• PY 951 Clinical Internship II (0cr)

Summer Term

• Students completing internship after June 1 will need to register for PY 952 Internship Summer II (0 cr)

OR

Fall and Spring Terms

• PY 900 Dissertation Extension (3cr)
• PY 901 Clinical Placement Extension (3cr)

*Students must take a minimum of 5 electives over the course of the program. Electives can be taken in the suggested semesters but are not limited only to those semesters. Students may take the electives in summer session or any fall or spring semester where their schedules allow. Note that students may elect to take PY 845 courses in lieu of PY 886s if they choose.

Revised 1-6-2026 (format and content)

*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: apaaccred@apa.org
Web: www.apa.org/ed/accreditation