Clinical Psychology Doctoral Degree

Our Psy.D. program in clinical psychology is firmly situated in the human science tradition, which means that we attempt to take a genuinely holistic, contextualized, and maximally reflexive stance toward human beings and their problems in living.  Specifically, our approach assumes that efforts to understand human beings are fundamentally different than efforts to understand naturalistic phenomena.  As such, they require an interpretive, meaning-focused epistemology as opposed to the more causal, predictive approach that is more often found in psychological study. We take a depth-oriented and critical lens to studying the human person, which is grounded in our profession’s philosophical roots.

Importantly, mainstream paradigms of psychological inquiry can frequently distort or attenuate our portrait of human existence by reducing it to either biology, sociology or the acontextual, isolated individual.  We aim to train students to understand the role of temperament and genetic inheritance without assuming that biology is destiny, to understand that people are socially and culturally embedded creatures without eliminating human dignity and agency, and perhaps most importantly, to offer an appreciation of individual idiosyncrasy that does not understand this as simply the product of an isolated mind.        

We are one of only a few doctoral-level programs in the nation to teach psychology from such a human science perspective, and we are certain that the flexibility and theoretical reflexivity inherent in this approach equips students with the skills necessary to pursue a variety of career paths in professional psychology and related professions. Our Psy.D. program also brings a human science approach to situating experience in communal contexts, understanding people as embedded in families, communities, societies, culture, and ecosystems.

Our faculty are influenced by myriad theoretical orientations, and students can expect to be exposed to psychoanalytic, humanistic, phenomenological, feminist, community-focused, contemplative, hermeneutic and entheogenic perspectives on clinical practice while at Point Park. In addition, our faculty specialize in interpretive, qualitative research methodologies, including interpretive phenomenological analysis, discourse analysis, metabletics, case study and creative arts-based methods.

To apply for admission into Point Park’s Psy.D. program, applicants must:

• Complete the online application for admission. Application fee waived if submitted online. 
• Request official transcripts from all previous institution(s) attended and have them sent to Point Park University. 
• Completion of undergraduate degree. Students in the process of completing an undergraduate degree can apply. However, if accepted prior to completion of the undergraduate degree, admission is conditioned upon successful completion of the undergraduate degree by the start of the fall semester for the year in which the applicant applied for admission.
• A minimum 3.25 cumulative G.P.A. at the undergraduate and, if applicable, graduate level is preferred for consideration for admission to the program (i.e., students may apply directly to the Psy.D. program with only a B.A. or B.S. level degree).
• Psychology, social science or philosophy background (with a minimum of four psychology courses overall) is also required.
• Students should understand that admission to the program is competitive, and that the average G.P.A. of students admitted is typically much higher. Successful applicants will typically have a strong academic background, at least one letter of reference from a prior faculty member, and also some type of experience working/volunteering with people in a "helping" context.
• Please respond to the essay prompt: In referencing the full program description, describe why you are attracted to graduate clinical study in a human-science oriented program. Also tell us a bit about what thinkers or writers have been most influential in driving your interest in psychology. A two-page minimum, three-page maximum description should be emailed to gradadmission@pointpark.edu.
• Please describe your thoughts about conceptualizing and working with people who are individually and culturally different than you. Please tell us about experiences when you have been successful in working across difference, broadly understood. A two-page minimum, three-page maximum description should be emailed to gradadmission@pointpark.edu.
• Submit a current CV.
• Submit three letters of recommendation. All letters should address your ability to work successfully under multiple demands. Recommenders may be contacted by Point Park University.
• Once all materials have been received and reviewed, selected applicants will be invited to participate in a required, on-site interview.

The decision to admit a student is based on a variety of factors including: 

• Possession of minimum qualifications necessary to succeed in doctoral education (i.e., written and verbal communication skills, history of academic success, etc.) as determined through the application and interview process.
• Fit with the program’s philosophy and training goals (i.e., demonstrated interest in and/or experience with humanistic/phenomenological and/or psychodynamic approach to psychology, a demonstrated interest in and/or experience with community engagement/activism, and career goals consistent with the practice of clinical psychology in a variety of settings, including community settings).
• Social skills and emotional stability required of competent professionals in psychology (i.e., demonstrated through application, references, interview process and based on the professional judgment of clinical faculty members).

The clinical Psy.D. program is committed to creating and fostering an educational atmosphere that reflects and respects diversity. As such, the program actively encourages students from diverse backgrounds, in every sense of the term, to apply.

To further encourage a diverse educational atmosphere, the program has a limited number of graduate assistantships that are awarded annually on a competitive basis to the most qualified applicants representing diversity.

This policy affirms Point Park University's commitment to nondiscrimination, equal opportunity and the pursuit of diversity. Point Park University does not discriminate on the basis of: sex, race, ethnicity, religion, color, national origin, age (40 years and over), ancestry, individuals with disabilities, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, height, weight, genetic information, marital status, caregiver status or familial status, in the administration of any of its educational programs, activities or with respect to employment or admission to the University’s educational programs and activities.

This policy is in accord with local, state and federal laws, including Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, the Americans with Disabilities Act, Age Discrimination Act of 1975 and the Pittsburgh Human Relations Act. Inquiries regarding these regulations and policies, or complaints, should be referred to Point Park’s vice president of human resources, equity and inclusion, phone number 412-392-3952. Complaints of discrimination can be filed via the Incident Reporting Form online at PointPark.edu/IncidentReport; and will be processed by the University Office of Compliance and Integrity according to Point Park’s policy on discrimination and harassment. Complaints may also be emailed to equity@pointpark.edu. 

Inquiries regarding Title IX and the Title IX regulations should also be referred to the University’s Title IX coordinator. The Title IX coordinator, Stephanie Stark Poling, J.D., may be reached at sstarkpoling@pointpark.edu, 412-392-8158 or 201 Wood Street, Student Center, Room 104A, Pittsburgh, PA 15222. A Title IX incident report can be filed via the Incident Reporting Form online at PointPark.edu/IncidentReport.

Our Psy.D. program is a program in clinical psychology with special focus on the principles and practices of community psychology.

Clinical psychology is a subfield of psychology that is concerned with nurturing mental health and well-being.

Community psychology is focused on social and cultural influences on personal well-being, which include research and engagement at the community level to remedy unnecessary human suffering. Our program, therefore, teaches a clinical approach to psychology that emphasizes better understanding the role of socio-cultural factors in mental health and well-being, including the diagnosis, prevention and treatment of mental illness.

Ultimately, our program’s approach is one that seeks to enhance the well-being of individuals, groups and communities through clinical practices, research, and community intervention. 

The aims of the Psy.D. program in clinical psychology are informed by the values of the American Psychological Association (APA). They are designed to prepare clinical psychologists for state licensure as practitioners informed by the community and cultural context of clinical issues. They are based, in part, on the “Standards of Accreditation for Health Service Psychology” (SoA) by the APA Commission on Accreditation (CoA; http://www.apa.org/ed/accreditation/).

The aims of the Psy.D. in clinical psychology program are as follows:

• PROGRAM AIM 1: To prepare practitioner-scholars who are well grounded in the discipline of psychology conceived broadly as a human science. 

• PROGRAM AIM 2:  To educate and train students to apply the core components of clinical psychology for the prevention and amelioration of psychological struggles as well as the improvement of over-all health and well-being.  

• PROGRAM AIM 3: To prepare students to be practitioner-scholars who select and employ research methods and skills to explore questions and help solve problems facing individuals and communities as well as disseminate this work. 

• PROGRAM AIM 4: To educate students to conduct themselves with a professionalism appropriate to the complex nature of clinical psychology, and that is founded on reflexivity, interpersonal competence, ethical principles, and a deep respect for cultural diversity. 

• PROGRAM AIM 5: To train students to engage with and assist communities by working collaboratively with members of the community and their existing resources, including programs already in existence, to reduce or eliminate social antecedents to psychological struggles and impoverished well-being.