Curriculum and Field Education

Clinical Psychology PsyD Curriculum

Our rigorous and relevant curriculum will prepare you with a strong theoretical foundation and the hands-on experience you need to launch your career in Clinical Psychology with confidence. As a doctoral student, you will complete 134 credits taken over five years, the first four of which must be in residence at William James College.


For Students Entering 2020-2021 and later

Foundational Courses (26 credits):
CLI CC522 - Diversity and Cross Cultural Psychology (credits: 3)
CLI LS659 - Lifespan Development (credits: 3)
CLI PS603 - Social Bases of Behavior (credits: 3)
CLI NP550 - Functional Neuroanatomy (credits: 3)
CLI CA601 - Cognitive and Affective Bases of Behavior (credits: 3)
CLI PS600 - History and Systems (credits: 2)
CLI PS801 - Ethics, Standards, and Professional Practice (credits: 3)
CLI PY521 - Psychopathology of Childhood and Adolescence (credits: 3)
CLI PY522 - Adult Psychopathology (credits: 3)

General Clinical Practice Competencies (10 credits):
CLI CS606 - Intro to Clinical Practice I (credits: 2)
CLI CS607 - Intro to Clinical Practice II (credits: 2)
CLI CS706 - Clinical Practice I (credits: 2)
CLI CS707 - Clinical Practice II (credits: 2)
CLI CS806 - Advanced Clinical Practice (credits: 2)

Assessment Competencies (12 credits):
CLI PA601 - Cognitive Assessment (credits: 3)
CLI PA602 - Personality Assessment (credits: 3)
CLI PA801 - Integrated Assessment: Adult (credits: 3)
OR CLI PA802 - Integrated Assessment: Child (credits: 3)

Specialized Assessment Elective (one required):
CLI NP601 - Neuropsychological Assessment (credits: 3)
CLI MH625 - Forensic Assessment (credits: 3)
CLI PM625 - Projective Methods in Psychological Assessment (credits: 3)
CLI PA604 - Psychological Assessment of Child and Adolescent Disorders (credits: 3)

Intervention Competencies (11 credits):
CLI SB700 - Treatment of Substance Use Disorders (credits: 2)
CLI BX701 - Adult CBT Theory and Practice (credits: 3)
OR CLI BX702 - Child/Adolescent CBT Theory and Practice (credits: 3)
CLI FX701 - Family Systems Theory and Practice (credits: 3)
CLI PT701 - Contemporary Psychodynamic Theory and Practice (credits: 3)

Research Competencies (11 credits):
CLI RS501 - Introduction to Psychological Research (credits: 2)
CLI RS526 - Statistics (credits: 3)
CLI RS525 - Research (credits: 2)
CLI RS535 - Research (credits: 2)
CLI PA603 - Psychometrics (credits: 2)

Advanced Competency Courses (8 credits):
CLI ST850 - Leadership and Management of Systems (credits: 2)
CLI PD850 - Program Development and Evaluation (credits: 2)
CLI SU900 - Supervision (credits: 2)
CLI CN900 - Consultation (credits: 2)

Doctoral Project (10 credits):
CLI PR800/CLI PR801 and CLI PR901/CLI PR904 - Doctoral Project I-IV sequence (credits: 10)

Field Education (34 credits):
CLI FP630/CLI FP635 and CLI FP750/CLI FP755 - Practicum I and II (credits: 12)
CLI FP830/CLI FP835 - Advanced Practicum I (credits: 10)

APA-Internship Track
CLI FP850/CLI FP855 - Advanced Practicum II (credits: 10)
CLI FP960/CLI FP965 - APA Internship Year (credits: 2)

WJC APA Accredited Consortium Internship Track
CLI FP940/CLI FP945 - Clinical Internship I (credits: 6)
CLI FP950/CLI FP955 - Clinical Internship II (credits: 6)

Electives (12 credits)
Total for Degree: 134 credits


Curriculum Map

Highlighted Courses must be taken during the semester listed
* Required during that year in the programs
**Required in the first or second year

FALL YEAR ONE (15 credits)
CLI CS606 - Introduction to Clinical Practice I (credits: 2)
CLI PA601 - Cognitive Assessment (credits: 3)*
CLI PY521 - Psychopathology of Childhood and Adolescence (credits: 3)*
CLI PS600 - History and Systems (credits: 2)**
CLI RS501 - Introduction to Psychology Research (credits: 2)
CLI FP630 - Clinical Practicum I (credits: 3)

SPRING YEAR ONE (17 credits)
CLI CS607 - Introduction to Clinical Practice II (credits: 2)
CLI LS659 - Lifespan Development (credits: 3)**
CLI PY522 - Adult Psychopathology (credits: 3)*
CLI NP550 - Functional Neuroanatomy (credits: 3)
CLI RS526 - Statistics (credits: 3)*
CLI FP635 - Clinical Practicum I (continued) (credits: 3)

SUMMER YEAR ONE (6 credits)
CLI PS603 - Social Bases of Behavior (credits: 3)**
CLI CC522 - Diversity and Cross Cultural Psychology (credits: 3)**

FALL YEAR TWO (15 credits)
CLI CS706 - Clinical Practice I (credits: 2)
CLI RS525 - Research (credits: 2)
CLI SB700 - Treatment of Substance Use Disorders (credits: 2)
CLI PT701 - Contemporary Psychodynamic Theory and Practice (credits: 3)
CLI PA602 - Personality Assessment (credits: 3)*
CLI FP750 - Clinical Practicum II (credits: 3)

SPRING YEAR TWO (16 credits)
CLI CS707 - Clinical Practice II (credits: 2)
CLI RS535 - Research (credits: 2)
CLI BX701 - Adult CBT Theory and Practice (credits: 3)*
OR CLI BX702 - Child/Adolescent CBT Theory and Practice (credits: 3)*
CLI PA801 - Integrated Assessment: Adult (credits: 3)*
OR CLI PA802 - Integrated Assessment: Child (credits: 3)*
CLI PS801 - Ethics, Standards, and Professional Practice (credits: 3)*
CLI FP755 - Clinical Practicum II (continued) (credits: 3)

SUMMER YEAR TWO (5 credits)
CLI FX701 - Family Systems Theory and Practice (credits: 3)*
Elective (credits: 2)

FALL YEAR THREE (14 credits)
CLI CA601 - Cognitive and Affective Bases of Behavior (credits: 3)
Specialized Assessment Elective (credits: 3)*
CLI ST850 - Leadership and Management of Systems (credits: 2)
CLI PR800 - Doctoral Project I (credits: 1)
CLI FP830 - Advanced Clinical Practicum I (credits: 5)

SPRING YEAR THREE (13 credits)
CLI CS806 - Advanced Clinical Practice (credits: 2)*
CLI PD850 - Program Development and Evaluation (credits: 2)
CLI PA603 - Psychometrics (credits: 2)
CLI PR801 - Doctoral Project II (credits: 2)
CLI FP835 - Advanced Clinical Practicum I (credits: 5)

SUMMER YEAR THREE (5 credits)
Elective (credits: 3)
Elective (credits: 2)

FALL YEAR FOUR (13 credits)
CLI CN900 - Consultation (credits: 2)*
Elective (credits: 3)
CLI PR901 - Doctoral Project III (credits: 3)
CLI FP850 - Advanced Clinical Practicum II (credits: 5)

SPRING YEAR FOUR (13 credits)
CLI SU900 - Supervision (credits: 2)*
Elective (credits: 2)
CLI PR904 - Doctoral Project IV (credits: 4)
CLI FP855 - Advanced Clinical Practicum II (continued) (credits: 5)

FALL YEAR FIVE (1 credit)
CLI FP960 - Internship (credits: 1)

SPRING YEAR FIVE (1 credit)
CLI FP965 - Internship (continued) (credits: 1)


For Students Who Entered Fall 2015-2018
Required Courses:

First Year Students
CLI CP500 - Fundamental Clinical Practice Skills (credits: 0)
CLI PS600 - History and Systems (credits: 2)
CLI PS603 - Social Bases of Behavior (credits: 3)
CLI LS659 - Lifespan Development (credits: 3)
CLI PA601 - Cognitive Assessment (credits: 3)
CLI RS526 - Statistics (credits: 3)
CLI CS600/CLI CS605 - Clinical Seminar I (Fall and Spring Semesters) (credits: 2)
CLI FP630/CLI FP635 - Clinical Practicum I (Fall and Spring Semesters) (credits: 3)
Additional Required Course or Elective

Entering students may register for a maximum of five courses in addition to Field Placement for the first term. With advisor approval, first year students may add an additional academic course during the spring term bringing spring enrollment to a maximum of six courses in addition to field placement.

Second Year Students
CLI BX500 - Learning Theory (credits: 2)
CLI PT700 - Psychodynamic Theory (credits: 2)
CLI PA602 - Personality Assessment (credits: 3)
CLI FX515 - Family and Systems Theory (credits: 2)
CLI RS525/CLI RS535 - Research (Fall and Spring Semesters) (credits: 2)
CLI CS706/CLI CS707 - Clinical Practice I and II (Fall and Spring Semesters) (credits: 2)
CLI FP750/CLI FP755 - Clinical Practicum I and II (Fall and Spring Semesters) (credits: 3)
Additional Required Course or Elective

Third Year Students
CLI CA601 - Cognitive and Affective Bases of Behavior (credits: 3)
CLI ST810 - Systems Theory and Practice: Psychological Interventions in the Community (credits: 2)
CLI PS801 - Ethics, Standards, and Professional Practice (credits: 3)
CLI PA617/CLI PA618 - Integrated Assessment: Adult/Child (Fall and Spring Semesters, any order) (credits: 2)
CLI PR800/CLI PR801 - Doctoral Project I and II (Fall and Spring Semesters) (credits: 1 and 2)
CLI FP830/CLI FP835 - Advanced Clinical Practicum I and II (Fall and Spring Semesters) (credits: 5)
Additional Required Clinical Practice courses* (Fall and Spring Semesters)
Additional Electives (Fall and Spring Semesters)

*Students are required to take two (2) Clinical Practice courses which may be taken in the 3rd or 4th year of the program.

Fourth Year Students
CLI PR901/CLI PR904 - Doctoral Project III and IV (Fall and Spring Semesters) (credits: 3 and 4)
CLI FP850/CLI FP855 - Advanced Clinical Practicum II (APA-Internship Track) (credits: 5)
CLI FP940/CLI FP945 - Clinical Internship I (WJC APA Accredited Consortium Internship Track) (credits: 3)
Any Additional Required courses or electives

Students who have not completed the doctoral project by the end of year four must enroll in Continuing Project.


Additional Course Requirements

Cross Cultural Requirement
CLI CC522 - Diversity and Cross Cultural Psychology (credits: 3)

Biological Bases of Behavior (3 credits required)
CLI PP520 - Physiological Psychology (credits: 3)
SCH BL622 - Biological Basis of Behavior and Learning (credits: 3)
CLI NP550 - Functional Neuroanatomy (credits: 3)

Psychological Measurement (minimum of 11 credits required)
CLI PA603 - Psychometrics (credits: 2)
CLI PA601 - Cognitive Assessment (credits: 3)
CLI PA602 - Personality Assessment (credits: 3)
CLI NP625 - Adult Neuropsychological Assessment (credits: 3)
CLI NP615 - Pediatric Neuropsychological Assessment (credits: 3)
CLI MH625 - Forensic Assessment (credits: 3)

Clinical Practice Courses (minimum of 4 credits required)
CLI BX700 - Clinical Practice of Cognitive Behavioral Therapies (credits: 2)
CLI FX615 - Clinical Practice of Family and Systems Therapy (credits: 2)
CLI PT800 - Clinical Practice of Psychodynamic Therapy (credits: 2)

Psychopathology Requirement (6 credits required)
CLI PY521 - Psychopathology of Childhood and Adolescence (credits: 3)
CLI PY522 - Adult Psychopathology (credits: 3)