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Doctorate of Psychology in Clinical Psychology

School of Education and Behavioral Sciences

Doctorate of Psychology in Clinical Psychology

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School of Education and Behavioral Sciences

Doctorate of Psychology in
Clinical Psychology

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The Doctor of Psychology (Psy.D.) in Clinical Psychology degree program at the Hawaii School of Professional Psychology at Chaminade University of Honolulu is designed to prepare students for both contemporary and emerging roles in the practice of professional psychology. Training is provided so that students have the opportunity to be practitioner-scholars who are skilled in local and contextual investigation and problem solving. The school offers a five-year generalist program that supports the development of core competencies in psychological assessment, intervention, consultation/education, and management/supervision. The curriculum is completely on-ground (not online) and designed to provide for the meaningful integration of theory, research, and practice. The program emphasizes the acquisition of attitudes, knowledge bases, and skills essential for professional psychologists who are committed to the provision of ethical quality services. Both by virtue of the location of Hawaii and by the specific design of the faculty, attention to issues of human diversity occurs throughout the curriculum and within numerous additional learning opportunities outside of the classroom. Work with diverse and marginalized populations is a major focus of the teaching, scholarship, and clinical practice of the faculty at the Hawaii School of Professional Psychology at Chaminade University of Honolulu.

Chaminade University sits on a 65-acre campus of several Spanish mission-inspired buildings along with a number of newer, state-of-the-art structures, including the 30,000-square-foot Sullivan Family Library offering study areas, a 40-station computer lab and more than 70,000 print books, 240 print journals, and 150 testing instruments and kits. As part of the students-first commitment, the Psy.D. program at Chaminade offers a student-to-core-faculty ratio of 10-to-1, an extensive range of student support, including individualized academic advising, Counseling Center support, financial aid advising, and a Psy.D. Student Association. Students in the program have opportunities in various research designs and topics, dozens of practicum sites and experiences, and of course, various internship training sites across the country.

For questions or more information, please contact psyd@chaminade.edu or (808) 739-7424.

Program History

The current Hawaii School of Professional Psychology has had a long history in Hawaii, dating back over 30 years. The program was created in 1988 to help fulfill a growing need for clinical psychologists in the state. After humble beginnings at small campuses (i.e., Kaneohe, Kahala, Kaimuki, Downtown), and after undergoing several name and owner changes (e.g., Forest Institute, ASPP, Argosy), the Hawaii School of Professional Psychology has finally found its permanent home at the sprawling 60-acre campus of Chaminade University.

In 1998, the program received its first APA accreditation and had been continuously accredited through the time of Argosy University’s nationwide school closure in March 2019 (accreditation had been granted through 2023, prior to the closure).  Because of our previous 20 years of accreditation along with the relocation to a campus with improved physical and fiscal resources, APA granted accreditation of our program at Chaminade University for all Argosy University impacted Psy.D. students. The Clinical Psy.D. program under the name Chaminade University/Argosy Teach-Out is “accredited, inactive” by the Commission on Accreditation of the APA. This accreditation status designates an accredited program that is no longer admitting students. This status was granted to accommodate teach-out students from Argosy University. Persons who were not enrolled in accredited Argosy programs are not to be admitted to the Chaminade University/Argosy Teach-Out “accredited, inactive” program. As for new students, we have been approved by the WASC Senior College and University Commission (WSCUC) to admit new students starting Fall 2019 to the non-teach-out part of the program. This applicant program is not APA accredited and is applying for full APA accreditation to establish APA accreditation for new students.

The ability for HSPP to survive a sudden campus closure by essentially moving the entire program (faculty, staff, and students) to a new campus is a testament to Chaminade University’s commitment to service based education in the community and a recognition of HSPP’s critical position to do so.  Over the years, HSPP has trained hundreds of licensed psychologists, and through their work in academia, community mental health centers, correctional facilities, hospitals and medical centers, the military, private practice, psychiatric facilities, school systems, and university counseling centers, our graduates have helped thousands of people.

With a permanent home at Chaminade University, HSPP will continue to graduate mental health professionals to help our communities for many years to come.

The program must disclose its status with regard to accreditation, including the specific academic program covered by that status, and the name, address, and telephone number of the Commission on Accreditation. The program should make available, as appropriate through its sponsor institution, such reports or other materials as pertain to the program’s accreditation status. Questions related to the program’s accredited status should be directed to the Commission on Accreditation:

Office of Program Consultation and Accreditation American Psychological Association
750 1st Street, NE, Washington, DC 20002
Phone: (202) 336-5979
E-mail: apaaccred@apa.org
Web: apa.org/ed/accreditation

Program Information

The Hawaii School of Professional Psychology (HSPP) at Chaminade University of Honolulu’s clinical psychology doctoral program’s aim is to educate and train students employing a practitioner-scholar model so that they will be able to function effectively as clinical psychologists. To ensure that students are adequately prepared, the curriculum is designed to provide for the meaningful integration of psychological science, theory, and clinical practice. The clinical psychology program at the Hawaii School of Professional Psychology is designed to emphasize the development of knowledge, skills, and attitudes essential in the training of health service psychologists who are committed to the ethical provision of quality, evidence based services to diverse populations and who are able to apply multiple theoretical perspectives to clinical issues.

The Hawaii School of Professional Psychology at Chaminade University of Honolulu’s clinical psychology doctoral program subscribes to the American Psychological Association (APA) Standards of Accreditation. As such, students are expected to establish an identity in and orientation to health service psychology by acquiring the necessary discipline-specific knowledge and profession-wide competencies as follows:

  1. Students will demonstrate knowledge of ethical and legal standards relevant to the practice of clinical psychology, including professional ethics that guide professional behavior.
  2. Students will develop both communication and interpersonal skills, to include utilization of clear, informative, well-integrated communication, critical thinking, and effective interpersonal skills in professional interactions.
  3. Students will demonstrate knowledge of professional values and attitudes as well as self-reflective practice and openness to supervision and feedback.
  4. Students will demonstrate competency in individual and cultural diversity, including knowledge of theoretical models and diversity research that serve to guide the application of diversity competence.
  5. Students will have knowledge of the history and systems of psychology as well as the basic areas in scientific psychology, including affective, biological, cognitive, developmental, psychopharmacological, and sociocultural aspects of behavior.
  6. Students will demonstrate competency in the science of psychology, including knowledge and application of psychometrics, statistical analyses, and quantitative and qualitative research methods.
  7. Students will demonstrate competency in psychological assessment, including the ability to administer, interpret, and integrate psychological test results and apply knowledge of strengths and psychopathology to the assessment process.
  8. Students will demonstrate competency in clinical intervention, including case formulation, theoretical conceptualization, developing and applying evidence based treatment plans, and evaluating treatment effectiveness in work with clients.
  9. Students will evidence knowledge of consultation models and practices, and demonstrate interprofessional and interdisciplinary skills in consultative services.
  10. Students will evidence knowledge of supervision models and practices.
  11. Students will understand and apply the Marianist values in their professional practice.

The Hawaii School of Professional Psychology at Chaminade University of Honolulu  program’s training model is sequential, cumulative, increasingly complex, and designed to prepare students for further training, including life­-long education required to maximize success as a professional psychologist. First- and second-year classes provide the foundation of clinical psychology and cover the psychological assessment sequence. Second- and third-year classes cover therapy and research training. Fourth-year classes complete the coursework of the program with more specialized and supplementary courses.

Students enrolled in HSPP are required to satisfactorily complete 98 doctoral-level credit hours, in addition to three CCEs, the Comprehensive Exam, and Internship (see Program Catalog). The program is designed to be an intensive five-year training program. Students must complete all requirements of the program within 7 years. Due to transfer, course, practica, comprehensive examination, and internship application requirements, the program cannot be completed in less than three full-time academic years (plus internship), in less than two years within the program, and in less than one year of full-time residence. The typical study plan is provided below (12 hours of elective requirements can be taken at any time).

First Year Courses
  • PP7110 – Professionalization Group I (1)
  • PP7111 – Professionalization Group II (1)
  • PP7045 – Psychopathology (3)
  • PP7010 – Lifespan Development (3)
  • PP7040 – Cognition and Affective Processes (3)
  • PP7051 – Biological Bases of Behavior (3)
  • PP7100 – Professional Issues: Ethics, Conduct, and Law (3)
  • PP7365 – Clinical Interviewing (3)
  • PP7370 – Cognitive Assessment (3)
  • PP7371 – Objective Personality Assessment (3)
  • PP7372 – Projective Personality Assessment (3)
  • PP8646 – Introduction to Neuropsychological Assessment (3)
Second Year Courses
  • PP7373 – Integrative Assessment (3)
  • PP8010 – Cognitive Behavioral Theory and Therapy (3)
  • PP8030 – Psychodynamic Theory and Therapy (3)
  • PP7342 – Evaluation and Treatment of Diverse and Marginalized Populations (3)
  • PP7041 – Quantitative Inquiry (3)
  • PP7042 – Statistics Laboratory (1)
  • PP8201 – Practicum I (3)
  • PP8202 – Practicum II (3)
Third Year Courses
  • PP8020 – Person-Centered and Experiential Theory and Therapy (3)
  • PP8060 – Group Psychotherapy (3)
  • PP7360 – Clinical Psychopharmacology (3)
  • PP7043 – Qualitative Inquiry (3)
  • PP8203 – Practicum III (3)
  • PP8204 – Practicum IV (3)
  • PP8501 – Clinical Research Project Seminar; Proposal Defense (1)
Fourth Year Courses
  • PP7000 – History and Systems (3)
  • PP7060 – Social Psychology (3)
  • PP7044 – Consultation and Community Mental Health (3)
  • PP7352 – Clinical Supervision (3)
  • PP8501 – Clinical Research Project Seminar; Final Defense (1)
Fifth Year Courses
  • PP8900 – Internship (0); taken in 3 consecutive terms of Fall, Spring, and Summer

Upon completion of the professional doctorate program in Professional Psychology, students will be able to:

  1. Students will demonstrate knowledge of ethical and legal standards relevant to the practice of clinical psychology, including professional ethics that guide professional behavior. 
  2. Students will develop both communication and interpersonal skills, to include utilization of clear, informative, well-integrated communication, critical thinking, and effective interpersonal skills in professional interactions. 
  3. Students will demonstrate knowledge of professional values and attitudes as well as self-reflective practice and openness to supervision and feedback. 
  4. Students will demonstrate competency in individual and cultural diversity, including knowledge of theoretical models and diversity research that serve to guide the application of diversity competence. 
  5. Students will have knowledge of the history and systems of psychology as well as the basic areas in scientific psychology, including affective, biological, cognitive, developmental, psychopharmacological, and sociocultural aspects of behavior. 
  6. Students will demonstrate competency in the science of psychology, including knowledge and application of psychometrics, statistical analyses, and quantitative and qualitative research methods. 
  7. Students will demonstrate competency in psychological assessment, including the ability to administer, interpret, and integrate psychological test results and apply knowledge of strengths and psychopathology to the assessment process. 
  8. Students will demonstrate competency in clinical intervention, including case formulation, theoretical conceptualization, developing and applying evidence based treatment plans, and evaluating treatment effectiveness in work with clients. 
  9. Students will evidence knowledge of consultation models and practices, and demonstrate interprofessional and interdisciplinary skills in consultative services. 
  10. Students will evidence knowledge of supervision models and practices. 
  11. Students will understand and apply the Marianist values in their professional practice.

Time to Completion >>

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Admissions Information

Those interested in applying for the Hawaii School of Professional Psychology at Chaminade University of Honolulu should contact the Admission Department for specific instructions. Admissions requirements are:

  • Possess a bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited institution or an appropriately certified foreign institution
  • Possess an undergraduate degree grade point average of at least 3.0 (on a scale of 4.0) or a graduate grade point average of 3.25 (on a scale of 4.0)
  • Complete the program application (via online form)
  • Submit a personal/professional goal statement with a self-appraisal of qualifications for the profession
  • Submit a current resume (or career summary)
  • Submit three applicant recommendation letters
  • Submit official transcripts from all post-secondary schools attended

Complete an in-person (or web-based) interview with members of the faculty

Some applicants may be admitted as unclassified students, which allows them to take up to five 3-credit courses in the program. The selection of courses for unclassified students is limited, but if the student is later admitted as a classified student, those courses may be transferred into the doctoral program. Unclassified students do not qualify for financial aid. Unclassified students who wish to become degree-seeking students, should apply as such later in the Spring semester, after completing enough class time to adequately demonstrate their abilities as a graduate student. Unclassified students have a period of one year to take the maximum five courses.

The Hawaii School of Professional Psychology at Chaminade University of Honolulu requires applicants to successfully complete, five undergraduate (with a C or better) or graduate (with a B or better) courses that serve as a basic foundation for coursework in clinical psychology. Foundation courses must be completed prior to starting the program. Several of these courses serve as direct prerequisites to the HSPP courses. The following undergraduate or graduate courses are required:

  • Introduction to psychology or general psychology (this course may be waived if the applicant has completed a Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Psychology)
  • Abnormal psychology, psychopathology, or maladaptive behavior
  • Statistics or research methods
  • Two additional courses in the field of psychology

The Hawaii School of Professional Psychology at Chaminade University of Honolulu does not automatically transfer credit from graduate coursework taken at other institutions. Students who have taken graduate courses elsewhere may petition to have these courses apply toward transfer credit for courses in the curriculum. Course transfers are not reviewed or granted until the student has been accepted into the program and has paid the initial deposit following admission to the program.

For a course to be considered eligible for transfer credit, the following conditions must be met:

  • The course must have been taken no more than five years before entry to HSPP.
  • The course grade must be a grade of “B” or higher.
  • The course must have been a graduate-level course, taken for graduate-level credit from a regionally accredited college or university. In the case of institutions outside the U.S., the appropriate state or national accreditation is required.
  • As this is an on-ground Clinical Psychology program, peer and instructor face-to-face interactions are critical to instruction and evaluation. Transfer requests for online courses will be heavily scrutinized. Transfer of online assessment and therapy courses is prohibited.
  • Any course submitted towards a transfer of a 3 credit hour course must carry 3 or more graduate credit hours. In special circumstances, a maximum of two courses can be submitted to transfer as one 3 credit hour course. The total number of credit hours of the two courses must be equal to, or greater than 3 credit hours.
  • A maximum of five (5) courses (15 credit hours) may be transferred towards the program.
  • Transfer courses must be equivalent in content, and it is the responsibility of the student to demonstrate course equivalency. As determined by the HSPP faculty, there must be an 80 percent overlap in course content and objectives between the course submitted for transfer credit and the course offered.

HSPP does not accept any credit hours earned as military credit, credit hours by examination, credit hours by correspondence, credit hours for life experience, or graduate credit hours from non-accredited schools. For certain assessment and therapy classes, a student may be required to complete the above-mentioned review process, and, if they are determined to be eligible, may be required to pass a practical competency exam in order to be granted a course transfer.

The following is a list of courses that may not be transferred into the Hawaii School of Professional Psychology at Chaminade University of Honolulu:

  • PP7100 – Professional Issues: Ethics, Conduct, and Law
  • PP7110 – Professionalization Group I
  • PP7111 – Professionalization Group II
  • PP7342 – Evaluation and Treatment of Diverse and Marginalized Populations
  • PP7365 – Clinical Interviewing
  • PP7373 – Integrative Assessment
  • PP8201 – Practicum I
  • PP8202 – Practicum II
  • PP8203 – Practicum III
  • PP8204 – Practicum IV
  • PP8501 – Clinical Research Project
  • PP8900 – Internship
  • All Electives

The Fall 2020 application is now closed. Fall PsyD classes begin in August.  The Fall 2021 application will open in September.

Tuition and Fees

Detailed information regarding student account billing, financial responsibility, reinstatement, payment options, payment plans, the delinquent accounts policy, and the withdrawal credit policy is available in the Chaminade University of Honolulu Catalog.

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Accreditation

Chaminade University of Honolulu is accredited by WASC Senior College and University Commission.

Faculty

Our faculty members are leaders in their fields. They believe in the power of personal experience—stressing mentorship, collaboration and project-based learning inside and outside the classroom.

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