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Doctor of Philosophy in
Psychology (Ph.D.)
The Psychology Department offers a Ph.D. in Psychology
that emphasizes the ability of psychologists to design,
conduct, and apply clinical research in administration,
treatment, teaching, and supervision.
Clinical Psychology
A Clinical Psychology doctoral offered to those with a
baccalaureate or master's degree in psychology or an allied
area. Admission to the Ph.D. program is based on an overall
assessment of an applicant's potential for successfully
completing the program and making a contribution to the
discipline of Clinical Psychology.
The advent of managed care has resulted in significant
changes in the mental health care delivery system and the
role of clinical psychologists in that system. It is believed
that Ph.D. psychologists will be utilized less for the delivery
of psychotherapy and more for performing professional duties
such as administration, development of programmatic treatments,
program evaluation, supervision, and research. Thus, there
is a need to change the training for the professional roles
of the clinical psychologist of the twenty-first century.
The Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology is designed to respond
to these changing roles by inclusion of unique, niche course
work and practical in the areas of administration, supervision,
treatment development, and teaching. In combination with
these unique emphases, training in research methods, experimental
psychology, psychotherapy and psychological assessment prepares
students for their careers in the changing mental health
care field.
Admission Requirements/Application Procedure
Priority to the Ph.D. program is given to graduates
of accredited master’s degree programs in psychology.
Individuals admitted with a bachelor's degree in business
administration are required to complete a program of
master’s courses in psychology at the American
Liberty University as a requisite to entry into doctoral
courses. Applicants must provide evidence of the following:
- Complete the Application for Admission and submit
it with a non-refundable check or money order for
$110.00 payable to American Liberty University
- A master’s degree in psychology (or equivalent);
or a Bachelor of Art degree in psychology from an
accredited or recognized institution.
- Three letters of reference affirming the applicant's
potential for scholarly, investigative, and creative
endeavors regarding psychology
- Submit official transcripts from the previous
colleges and/or universities.
- A statement of educational objectives, specific
focus of research, and program and career goals.
- Provide two current color passport size photos.
- Optional: It is recommended that applicants submit
course descriptions of Masters Degree courses to
assist the Admissions Committee in determining if
prerequisites have been met.
Ph.D. Graduation Requirements
A student is eligible for graduation in the Ph.D. program
when the following requirements have been met.
- Satisfactory completion of all requirements in the program
of study developed in consultation with the faculty members.
- Satisfactory completion of 63 credit hours, including
a dissertation.
- Maintain a cumulative 3.2 GPA or higher.
- Satisfactory performance on the Comprehensive Examination.
- Successful completion and defense of the dissertation.
- File a petition to graduate.
- Fulfillment of all financial obligations to the University.
Prerequisite Requirements
Applicants must have either a baccalaureate degree with
a major in psychology or a baccalaureate degree and completion
of undergraduate or graduate courses in statistics/research
methodology, and six additional upper division courses in
core content areas of psychology (i.e., personality theories,
abnormal psychology, learning, physiological psychology,
developmental psychology, social psychology).
Degree Requirements
There are a total of 55 semester hours of courses, practical,
and research required. Courses are presented in sequential
fashion and students entering with a baccalaureate degree
will earn the M.S. degree enroot to the Ph.D. A dissertation,
which represents a significant contribution to the discipline,
is required.
DISSERTATION
Each doctoral candidate is required to complete a dissertation
that embodies original and independent research and demonstrates
advanced scholarly achievement. As soon as possible after
a student’s admission to candidacy, and during or before
enrollment in Dissertation Course, the student forms a dissertation
committee.
The dissertation committee consists of a minimum of three
members. Two shall be chosen from the faculty of the Department
of Psychology; the third may be a member of the faculty
of another Department within the American Liberty University,
or an appropriate doctorally prepared person outside the
University. The Chairperson and committee are chosen by
the student, approved by his/her advisor, and then formally
appointed by the Associate Dean or Director of Department
of Psychology.
The candidate in a public oral examination
shall defend the dissertation. Official approval of the
dissertation committee is required; committee members certify
their acceptance by signing the title page of the dissertation.
Three signed copies of the dissertation, one original and
two clear copies should be filed in the Department of Psychology.
The submitted dissertation becomes the property of American
Liberty University, but the University does not limit the
author’s right to publish the results.
Ph.D. Courses
Psychology Foundation Courses 9 Semester Units
SOP 5059 Advanced Social Psychology 3 units
PSY 5604 History and Systems of Psychology 3
units
PSB 5005 Physiological Psychology 3 units
Research Courses 9 Semester Units
PSY 6217 Advanced Research Methodology II 3 units
PSY 6946 Research Practicum 6 units
Clinical Courses 15 Semester Hours
CLP 6441C Individual Psychological Assessment I 3
units
CLP 6445C Individual Psychological Assessment II 3
units
CLP 6456C Individual Counseling – Theory and Practice
3 units
PSB 6446 Advanced Abnormal and Clinical Psychopharmacology
3 units CLP 6932 Ethical and Professional Issues in
Mental Health Practices 3 units
Dissertation I 9 Units
Dissertation II 12 Units
Electives 9 units
Minimum Hours Required for the Ph.D. 63 Semester Units
Electives
CLP 6441C Individual Psychological Assessment I 3 units
CLP 6445C Individual Psychological Assessment II 3
units
CLP 6456C Individual Counseling -- Theory and Practice
3 units
PSY 6217 Advanced Research Methodology II 4 units
DEP 5007 Developmental Psychology 3 units
CLP 6457C Group Psychotherapy 3 units EIN 6938
Ergonomics in Virtual Environments 3 units
EXP 6541 Advanced Human-Computer Interaction 3
units
PPE 5055 Personality Theories 3 units
PSY 5937 HCI Design: Team Approach 3 units
Examinations
The Candidacy Examination will consist of a major area paper.
The purpose of the paper is to enable students to develop
and demonstrate a broad understanding of course material
and an ability to apply the concepts and knowledge acquired
in the first year of the Ph.D. program. The major area paper
will be a comprehensive review of the literature in the
student's primary area of interest. The paper will include
a broad overview and integration of applicable theoretical
concepts and relevant empirical literature. Students will
be required to orally present and defend the paper to a
committee of at least three members, one of whom will be
the student's major adviser. There will be no Qualifying
Examination in the Clinical Ph.D.
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