Admissions & Application
The annual application deadline is January 15. Applications are accepted starting in mid-September for the cohort starting the following August.
Very competitive. We typically receive around 200 applications each year, and the cohort size is 30–35 students.
Yes. A minimum cumulative undergraduate GPA of 3.0 is required for all applicants. We do not make exceptions to this policy. Applicants with an undergraduate GPA below 3.0 must have completed a graduate degree with a minimum GPA of 3.25 to be considered.
No, GRE scores are not required.
Yes. However, you must complete (or be near completion) the five required foundation courses at the time of application. These college-level courses ensure adequate preparation for doctoral-level study in clinical psychology:
- General or Introduction to Psychology
- Abnormal Psychology
- Research Methods or Statistics
- Any additional psychology course
- Any additional psychology course
These undergraduate courses must be completed at a regionally accredited institution and carry at least 3 semester credit hours each. If you’re unsure about course equivalency, please feel free to email [email protected] for guidance.
No, the program only offers Fall entry each year, beginning in late August.
The PsyD program follows a structured annual admissions timeline:
- Mid-September – Applications are open for acceptance for the following fall
- January 15 – Application deadline
- February – Interviews are conducted (by invitation only)
- Mid-March – Admissions decisions are released to all applicants
- April 15 – Tuition deposit deadline for admitted students
Admitted students must submit a $300 non-refundable deposit by April 15 to secure their seat in the incoming cohort. After this date, available seats may be offered to waitlisted applicants.
Strong candidates typically:
- Hold a psychology or mental health-related degree
- Have clinical and/or research experience in the mental health field
- Submit strong letters of recommendation (preferably from psychology faculty or licensed mental health professionals who have supervised the applicant)
- Write a compelling and well-organized personal statement that integrates insights from academic coursework and relevant work experience
- Demonstrate academic excellence — the typical GPA for admitted students is between 3.4 and 4.0 for undergraduate degrees, and between 3.7 and 4.0 for master’s degrees
The decision-making process is quite intricate and involves multiple stakeholders, making it challenging to pinpoint specific factors that may influence the final admission decision. We also take into account the rigor of your academic institutions, your professionalism, and your readiness for doctoral-level clinical training.
Program Structure & Curriculum
The PsyD is a full-time, 5-year program, regardless of whether you enter with a bachelor’s or master’s degree.
No. All courses are on campus and held Monday–Friday, approximately 8:30 AM – 5:30 PM.
You will join a cohort of 30-35 students, all starting in late August and progressing through the program together.
The PsyD program follows a year-round academic calendar:
- Fall and Spring terms are each 16 weeks long
- Summer term is an accelerated 8-week session, ending around July 1st.
- There is typically a 7-week break between the Summer and Fall terms, spanning early-July through mid-late August
This schedule allows for intensive coursework, clinical training, and well-timed breaks to support student well-being and preparation for the next academic phase.
First-year students typically attend class 2-3 days per week with 13 hours of weekly classroom instruction
- Years 2 & 3: Practicum (16–20 hours/week) and 1-2 days/week on campus
- Year 4: Advanced practicum and 1-2 days/week on campus
- Year 5: Full-time pre-doctoral internship
Yes. All PsyD students must complete a doctoral dissertation, which must be successfully defended before beginning the pre-doctoral internship in Year 5. The dissertation is a significant scholarly project that allows students to deeply explore a clinical area of interest, demonstrate advanced critical thinking, and contribute meaningfully to the field of clinical psychology.
Students typically propose their dissertation topic in the Spring of Year 3. After gaining approval from their dissertation chair and committee, the project must be submitted for Institutional Review Board (IRB) approval to ensure ethical and methodological soundness. Students then spend 12–18 months conducting their research and writing the dissertation, completing it during Year 4.
Students may conduct quantitative, qualitative, or mixed-methods research, with topics often aligned with their clinical practicum or future career goals.
Examples of past dissertation topics include:
- Quantitative: The impact of trauma history on emotional regulation in emerging adults
- Qualitative: A grounded theory study of clinicians’ experiences working with Native Hawaiian clients
- Mixed-methods: Exploring the relationship between cultural identity and resilience in adolescents
While publication is not required, students are encouraged to submit their dissertation research for publication or conference presentation, especially if their findings contribute new insights or address underserved populations.
Beyond fulfilling a degree requirement, the dissertation provides students with the opportunity to develop expertise in a specific clinical area, refine their research and writing skills, and demonstrate the ability to integrate theory, evidence, and practice in service of improving mental health outcomes.
Chaminade’s PsyD program is a generalist program. This means there are no formal concentrations or specialization tracks. Instead, students receive broad and comprehensive training across a wide range of clinical areas, populations, and treatment modalities.
The program is designed to prepare students to be versatile, well-rounded clinical psychologists who are equipped to work in diverse settings, including community mental health, hospitals, schools, and private practice.
Chaminade’s program also does not subscribe to a single theoretical orientation. Students are exposed to multiple evidence-based approaches, so they can develop an integrative and flexible clinical style informed by research and best practices.
This generalist model provides a strong foundation for licensure and supports a wide range of career pathways in the field of clinical psychology.
Yes. The PsyD program includes 12 credits of required elective coursework, giving students the opportunity to customize their training by exploring specialized topics or populations of interest.
Electives are typically taken in the later years of the program and are designed to deepen clinical knowledge and broaden professional preparation. While the program does not offer formal concentrations, electives allow students to tailor their experience within the program’s generalist framework.
Common electives offered include:
- Emotion-Focused Therapy
- Human Sexuality
- Health Psychology
- Child Psychotherapy
- Family Systems Therapy
These courses can support specific practicum goals, internship applications, or long-term career interests.
Financial Aid, Scholarships & Employment
The program consists of 103 credits. The current cost per credit hour can be found here: chaminade.edu/financial-aid/cost-of-attendance/graduate
No. Chaminade University is a private institution, so there is no difference in tuition between in-state and out-of-state students. All students at the Chaminade University PsyD program pay the same per-credit tuition rate, regardless of residency.
Yes. A limited number of one-time $2,000 scholarships are awarded to new students.
Teaching Assistant (TA) positions are available beginning in Year 2, and they include a modest stipend each semester. However, these opportunities are competitive and not guaranteed—interested students must formally apply and demonstrate strong academic and professional performance.
Assistantships are not offered to first-year PsyD students, and TA roles are limited based on course needs and faculty availability. Students selected for these roles often show strong leadership potential and communication skills in their first year.
Yes, many students do work part-time while enrolled in the program. In fact, some students find they are able to work more during the first year, when their schedule typically includes 2–3 days a week on campus and no practicum responsibilities yet.
There are no formal restrictions on outside employment. However, students are expected to remain in good academic standing and meet all program requirements, including coursework, attendance, and clinical training.
By Years 2 and 3, students begin practicum placements (16–20 hours per week), which reduces scheduling flexibility. At that stage, students may still work part-time, but they must ensure their job does not interfere with their academic or clinical responsibilities.On-campus jobs may offer helpful flexibility. View current listings here: Chaminade Employment Opportunities
Practicum placements are unpaid. These are educational training experiences completed under the supervision of licensed psychologists and are required for program completion.
The pre-doctoral internship in Year 5 is generally a full-time, paid position. Most students complete their internship through APA-accredited or APPIC-member sites, many of which offer a modest stipend to support students during this intensive training year.
No. Practicum placements must be separate and distinct from your current place of employment. These clinical training experiences are designed to provide new learning opportunities under the supervision of a qualified licensed psychologist, in settings approved by the program. This ensures that all students receive a standardized and developmentally appropriate training experience aligned with the program’s goals.
Transfer, Deferral & Waitlist Policies
You may transfer up to 9 graduate credits from a regionally accredited institution, or 15 credits from another APA-accredited PsyD program. Refer to the catalog for transfer requirements and procedures.
Yes. Deferral is possible for one academic year, with the Program Director’s approval. You must submit a formal request. If you complete additional graduate-level coursework during this deferral period, your application will be re-evaluated. Submitting a deferral request does not guarantee approval; all requests are reviewed on a case-by-case basis.
Admitted students must confirm their seats by April 15. If seats open after this date, waitlisted applicants are contacted via phone and email. Offers are made on a rolling basis, sometimes into August. Applicants have 72 hours to submit a tuition deposit once offered a seat.
Mentorship, Support & Student Life
No, the program does not follow a traditional PhD mentorship model. Mentorship is based on clinical development, not research alignment.
During Year 1, you will be assigned a faculty advisor through the Professionalization Group. You may request a new advisor in Year 2 if your interests shift.
Students in the PsyD program are expected to uphold high standards of professionalism, academic performance, and personal conduct. This includes consistently demonstrating professional behavior and appearance, both in academic settings and during clinical training. Students should possess graduate-level academic skills, including strong writing, critical thinking, organization, and the ability to synthesize and apply psychological concepts. Emotional maturity is essential, as students must be able to manage stress, accept feedback, and engage in self-reflection. Interpersonal effectiveness is also a key quality—students are expected to build respectful and collaborative relationships with peers, faculty, supervisors, and clients.
Accreditation, Licensure & Additional Clinical Training Information
Yes. The Doctor of Psychology (PsyD) in Clinical Psychology program at Chaminade University is accredited by the American Psychological Association (APA). We received the maximum 10-year accreditation in 2021, which is the highest term granted by APA’s Commission on Accreditation (CoA). As part of maintaining this accreditation, Chaminade will undergo a comprehensive reaccreditation process in 2030. Accreditation ensures that the program continues to meet national standards for quality and prepares graduates for licensure and professional practice in clinical psychology.
For more information, visit: APA Office of Program Consultation and Accreditation
Practicum begins in Year 2 and continues into Year 3 of the PsyD program. Students spend approximately 16–20 hours per week at approved clinical training sites and typically come to campus one day per week for academic coursework.
- In Year 2, students complete a Diagnostic Practicum requiring a minimum of 720 total hours, including at least 180 direct service hours. This practicum focuses on psychological assessment and testing, such as conducting intake interviews, administering assessments, writing integrated reports, and delivering feedback.
- In Year 3, students complete an Intervention Practicum requiring a minimum of 720 total hours, including at least 300 direct service hours. This practicum emphasizes therapy and clinical intervention, such as providing individual and group psychotherapy, conducting case conceptualizations, and engaging in treatment planning.
Direct service hours refer specifically to face-to-face client interactions where students are actively delivering psychological services (e.g., therapy, assessments, feedback). These are distinct from indirect hours, which may include supervision, documentation, or training activities.
Some practicum placements are completed over a 10-month period, while others extend to 11 months. Students in shorter placements may be expected to complete more hours per week to meet the required totals.
Chaminade’s PsyD Program has a 100% practicum placement rate, and most students receive their first or second choice through a site-matching process (which includes multiple interviews). Supervision is provided by licensed psychologists at the practicum sites, offering rich professional guidance and clinical mentorship.
Most students take the optional Advanced Practicum sequence in Year 4, as they look to broaden their clinical experience or need to complete additional hours.
The pre-doctoral internship takes place in Year 5 and is a full-time, year-long clinical training experience required for both graduation and licensure as a clinical psychologist. Students on internship do not take any on-campus classes.
Students are required to complete a minimum of 2,000 hours during the internship year. The internship is designed to be the capstone clinical training experience, preparing students for licensed practice.
All PsyD students apply through the APPIC national match process to secure an APA-accredited or APPIC-member internship site. These sites are located across the U.S. and provide intensive supervision, didactic training, and diverse clinical experiences.
The PsyD program at Chaminade provides comprehensive, individualized support to students throughout the internship application and match process. While securing a pre-doctoral internship is highly competitive, students are well-prepared through a combination of rigorous coursework, hands-on practicum experiences, faculty mentorship, and clinical supervision.
Chaminade has a strong track record of internship match success, with the majority of students securing placements, often at one of their top-choice sites. The program’s commitment to both academic and professional development ensures that students are competitive candidates in the national match process.
After completing the PsyD program, students must fulfill the licensure requirements set by the state in which they plan to practice. This typically includes:
- Earning a doctoral degree from an APA-accredited program (Chaminade’s PsyD meets this requirement)
- Completing a pre-doctoral internship
- Accruing post-doctoral supervised hours (amount varies by state)
- Passing the Examination for Professional Practice in Psychology (EPPP)
- Completing any state-specific requirements, such as additional coursework or jurisprudence exams
The vast majority of states—including Hawai‘i—recognize Chaminade’s APA-accredited PsyD program as meeting the educational criteria for licensure.
To review licensure requirements by state, visit: State Licensure Disclosures
Scholar-Practioner Model
The Practitioner-Scholar Model (also known as the Vail Model) is a framework for training psychologists that emphasizes the application of research and theory to clinical practice. Students are prepared to become competent, ethical, and culturally responsive practitioners who use research to inform their work with clients.
The Practitioner-Scholar Model (PsyD) emphasizes using psychological research in applied clinical settings. The Scientist-Practitioner Model (PhD) focuses more heavily on conducting original research alongside clinical training.
Yes. While the focus is on applied clinical work, all students complete a doctoral dissertation grounded in research. The goal is to ensure students can critically analyze and apply evidence-based practices in real-world settings.
Graduates of Practitioner-Scholar programs like Chaminade’s typically pursue careers such as:
- Licensed Clinical Psychologist
- Behavioral Health Consultant
- Mental Health Program Director
- Clinical Supervisor
- Private Practice Clinician
- Roles in schools, hospitals, health agencies, and correctional settings
- Early and extensive clinical training
- Emphasis on evidence-based practice
- Faculty with applied clinical experience
- Curriculum designed to serve the diverse communities of Hawai‘i and the Pacific
If your goal is to practice clinical psychology and make a meaningful impact in the community, a Practitioner-Scholar program like Chaminade’s is ideal. It provides the hands-on training, cultural responsiveness, and applied research skills needed for today’s clinical environments.
If you have any questions, please contact us at [email protected].
