Program History

Program Brochure

Recognizing the need to educate practicing psychologists in the scientific foundations and clinical applications of psychopharmacological management of mental disorders, the California School of Professional Psychology at Alliant International University developed the Postdoctoral Master of Science Program in Calinical Psychopharmacology in 1998. Since then, over 400 psychologists in 32 states have graduated from or are currently enrolled in our program.

In addressing the need for extensive postdoctoral training in psychopharmacology, the program takes into account several developments affecting the delivery of mental health services:

1. the rapid expansion in knowledge of biological origins of mental disorders, and the need to integrate pharmacological and psychological treatments; 
2. the practices of managed care dictating that the majority of psychotropic medications are prescribed by primary care physicians who have neither specialized training in mental health, nor sufficient time to evaluate mental health needs; 
3. state legislation encouraging psychologists at both the doctoral and postdoctoral levels to obtain additional training in the areas of biological psychology, medical psychology, and behavioral neuroscience in order to collaborate more effectively with primary care physicians in treating patients with mental disorders; 
4. statistics showing that fewer psychiatrists are being trained by U.S. medical schools, with almost 50% of psychiatric residencies filled by graduates of medical schools outside the U.S.; and 
5. the documented shortage of mental health professionals trained to meet the psychopharmacological needs of rural and under-served populations.

Pioneers in Psychopharmacology Education

At the 2004 convention of the American Psychological Association (APA), two Alliant administrators were given awards by APA Division 55 (American Society for the Advancement of Pharmacotherapy) in recognition of their roles as “pioneers” in postdoctoral psychopharmacology education.

In 2004, Louisiana became the second state to grant prescription authority to psychologists. The first 50 Louisiana psychologists to qualify for prescription authority all graduated from our Program. On February 18, 2005, as shown above, one of our graduates (and current faculty member), John Bolter, PhD, became the first civilian psychologist to write a prescription.

APA Division 18 Selects Alliant Psychopharmacology Program as Partner

Also in 2004, the CSPP Psychopharmacology Program was selected by APA Division 18 (Psychologists in Public Service) to partner with them on a nationwide project to train 100 public service psychologists to prescribe psychotropic medications. We were honored to be selected for this program, and look forward to working with Division 18 on this historic project.