Doctor of Psychology Program (PsyD)

MSPP distinguishes itself by its integrative philosophy of professional training. For over 30 years, MSPP has refined the integration of applied experience and knowledge as the core of our education model. For students who aspire to careers in professional psychology, MSPP extends the integrative teaching philosophy to actively engage the development of the “professional self”, as well. Integration occurs in the classroom, at practica and internships and through self-observation and awareness as reciprocal and essential elements necessary in creating thoughtful, sensitive and effective professional psychologists. The professional school model, developed in Vail, Colorado in 1973, finds its synthesis in the integrative learning and training experience throughout the Doctoral Psychology Program at MSPP.

Several characteristics distinguish MSPP’s Clinical Training from the traditional Ph.D. model.

•  Course content is designed to provide a foundation for professional practice.
• Students are required to be in field placements at each level of the PsyD program, with most courses designed to integrate course work with clinical experience.
• The approach of the Doctoral Project (the major research project) is broad in scope allowing students to choose among research designs which include quantitative analysis, phenomenological research, demonstration projects, theoretical analysis or case studies.  The project generated by a students unique professional interest and supervised by a committee of professionals.

Students are taught by skilled practitioners experienced in the application of their knowledge and qualified to teach at the graduate level.

Doctor of Psychology Program Objectives

In keeping with the School’s philosophy of training psychologists to be capable of providing high quality human services, graduates of the MSPP Doctorate in Psychology program are taught to:

1. Evaluate, ameliorate and help prevent human psychosocial problems;
2. Help individuals, families, groups, organizations and communities function effectively and creatively;
3. Be competent in the practical application of existing psychosocial knowledge, and assume responsibility for imparting this knowledge;
4. Develop new professional roles, service models, and service delivery systems capable of meeting the changing needs of society.

Specifically, the educational objectives are to prepare students to become:

1. Aware of the legal, moral and ethical standards of the profession, and to practice psychology accordingly;
2. Knowledgeable about the theories and models of psychology and their relation to psychosocial assessment and intervention;
3. Able to evaluate advances in the profession in order to increase the effectiveness of the methods and practices in applied psychology;
4. Skilled in assessment and evaluation of individual, group, and social dysfunction, as well as human service interventions and programs;
5. Able to recognize and evaluate the changing needs of society and capable of functioning as versatile and creative change agents, who are able to suggest and apply a wide variety of preventive and corrective intervention strategies for individuals, groups, and social systems;
6. Knowledgeable in areas that support and facilitate primary service and direct practice, such as supervision, consultation and education, administration, program development, and advocacy;
7. Active in the promotion of psychological knowledge and human welfare;
8. Sensitive to underserved populations and committed to acknowledging cultural and individual differences and who are skillful and competent in providing services to communities of need.

Effective in critical self-evaluation as a basis for self-directed, continuous, and personal growth.

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Updated 11/19/07