National University

What you'll study

The programme requires completion of 120 semester credit hours and includes a mix of foundational, assessment, clinical skills, and practicum coursework. Examples of required course content given in the programme materials include:

• Historical and theoretical foundations—study of the evolution of modern psychology, its philosophical and sociopolitical contexts.
• Group therapy foundations—models of group process, leadership roles, group dynamics, conflict resolution and the impact of diversity; experiential role-play to develop group clinical skills.
• Clinical interviewing—basic attending skills (empathy, listening, reflecting), informed consent, confidentiality, suicide assessment, interviewing couples and younger clients, case formulation, report writing, and mental status examination.
• Diagnosis and assessment sequence—a two-course sequence using DSM-5-TR for diagnostic classification, introduction to WHO’s ICD and International Classification of Function, application of formal diagnostic classification to case examples, and attention to historical and contextual issues in diagnosis.

The programme also offers optional specialized coursework in concentration areas such as forensic/correctional psychology, neuropsychology, or integrated health psychology.

Entry requirements

Students must matriculate to the in-person Pleasant Hill campus and reside in Northern California. After admission, all academic requirements must be completed in residence except for any approved transfer credit. A full-time load of 24 semester credit hours is required for at least one year (preferably the first year).

Career prospects

Graduates are prepared for clinician roles as well as positions as program administrators, evaluators, consultants, educators, and scholars. Completion of the PsyD makes students eligible to sit for the national licensing exam in professional psychology; clinical and practicum training components prepare students for supervised practice and internship placement.

Scholarships & funding angle

The programme page does not list specific scholarships. Prospective applicants should consult National University’s central financial aid and scholarships offices for institutional funding opportunities, external grants, and typical doctoral funding paths such as assistantships, loans, and fellowship support.