Doctor of Psychology Degree in Educational Psychology
Los Angeles, San Diego, San Francisco and Irvine Campuses

Having found this webpage, the chances are that you are already on the job as a school psychologist and hold a master's degree - or are well on the way to being there. If that describes your career trajectory, there are multiple good reasons to consider adding a doctorate to your credentials:

• For your own professional growth – It’s a great way to learn about ground-breaking research and advances in the ever-evolving field of school psychology such as: assessment, psychopharmacology, neuropsychology, Ed law, consultation, organization psych, program evaluation, etc.
• To open career opportunities in higher education – It enables you to teach at the college or university level.
• To open still broader opportunities - A doctorate open a path to career opportunities not just in education, but also in broader areas such as government, private businesses, non-profit organizations at the local, state or national level.

The Doctor of Psychology in Educational Psychology Program at the Shirley Hufstedler School of Education (HSOE) is open to:

• applicants who already hold a master’s degree in school psychology and who either hold a PPS school psychology credential or are in the process of completing it.
  
• applicants who are in the process of completing a master’s degree in school psychology and who either hold a PPS school psychology credential or are in the process of completing it. (The Hufstedler School of education offers a master's degree program in school psychology that enables candidates to move to "advanced standing" and save a full year of study time from starting the master's degree to completing their doctorate.)
  
• School psychology interns are also eligible.
  

The PsyD in Educational Psychology program is offered in an “executive format” for working professionals, with classes meeting on evenings and weekends. It involves coursework, completion of a PsyD project and additional research/applied work.

During the first two years of the three year program, students take advanced theory and assessment skills courses as well as advanced school-based research design, program development and evaluation, psychopharmacology, and developmental psychopathology courses.

In addition, during each of the 6 semesters, students will take a course in a special interest area. These special focus areas will help students decide on a topic for their PsyD projects. At the end of the second year, students will begin to formulate concepts for their PsyD projects, which they will complete by the end of the third year. In addition to working on doctoral projects, the third year includes an optional doctoral level internship, two professional roles courses, and two special focus area courses.

Special Focus Areas

School psychologists work with children who have a wide range of special needs, in a constantly changing, complex society. Appropriate/relevant special topics are continually researched and developed. Students will complete six special focus area courses, selected from list of many topics, which differ from campus to campus. Some current topics include:

1. Adolescent stress, coping and resilience
2. Multicultural Counseling
3. Pediatric psychology
4. Infant and preschool mental health, including assessment and intervention
5. Child neuropsychology
6. Provision of services for children and adolescents in alternative placements

For more information

Southern California Recruiter
Kara Janowsky
(858) 635-4442
kjanowsky@alliant.edu

Northern California Recruiter
Julie Aquino
(415) 955-2087
jaquino@alliant.edu