Train to lead. Prepare to heal. Practice with purpose.
As awareness of mental health needs continues to grow, so does the demand for well-trained clinical psychologists. Sacred Heart University's Doctor of Psychology (Psy.D.) in clinical psychology prepares compassionate, skilled clinicians to serve diverse individuals and communities across a wide range of settings.
Built on the practitioner-scholar model, SHU’s Psy.D. program integrates rigorous academic study with immersive clinical training to prepare you for licensure as a clinical psychologist. Through extensive supervised clinical experiences, you'll develop the knowledge, assessment and intervention skills, and professional identity needed to assess, diagnose, and treat clients with confidence and compassion.
Sacred Heart University's Doctor of Psychology in clinical psychology places you in a strategic position for clinical training, given its location in Fairfield County and established relationships with area practicum and internship sites throughout the region. SHU is a uniquely accessible option for students throughout southern Connecticut and the greater New York metropolitan region.
Your clinical training is shaped by where you train. SHU has an extensive network of practicum relationships located within a 60-mile radius of campus. Examples include:
Practicum placements are matched to your career goals, giving you hands-on experience with the populations and settings that matter most to you.
You will move through the program alongside a close-knit group of peers, building professional relationships that extend well beyond graduation. The cohort structure fosters peer support, collaborative learning, and a sense of shared purpose that prepares you not just for clinical work, but for the professional community you will enter.
Consistent with Sacred Heart University's mission, the program integrates a commitment to social justice, diversity, equity, and inclusion throughout its curriculum. Courses prepare you to serve diverse populations with cultural competence, ethical integrity, and a dedication to human dignity.
The Psy.D. in clinical psychology follows a practitioner-scholar model, balancing rigorous academic coursework with extensive supervised clinical training. Coursework covers the foundational and applied knowledge areas required for doctoral-level clinical practice, including:
Sacred Heart University’s Doctor of Psychology in clinical psychology is designed for psychology graduates, master's degree holders, career changers, and early- to midcareer professionals who aspire to become licensed clinical psychologists. Whether you are beginning doctoral study after earning a bachelor's degree or advancing your clinical training with a master's degree, you will develop the clinical knowledge, assessment skills, and professional experience needed to provide evidence-based psychological services in various settings.
Applicants with bachelor's or master's degrees in psychology or related disciplines who meet the program's admission requirements are encouraged to apply.
Graduates of the Psy.D. in clinical psychology are prepared for careers across many roles and settings, such as:
Graduates will be eligible to sit for the Examination for Professional Practice in Psychology (EPPP) and, for those choosing to practice in Connecticut, the Connecticut jurisprudence examination.
Doctor of Psychology in Clinical Psychology students benefit from a dedicated career team with industry experience and employer partnerships that connect top talent to a range of professional settings, including health care organizations and academic institutions. Students and alumni enjoy lifetime access to the Center for Career & Professional Development, where expert coaches provide personalized support with résumés, interviews, and job placement.
The demand for licensed clinical psychologists continues to grow as communities face increasing mental health needs and a shortage of qualified providers. In Connecticut, more than half of the state’s residents live in federally designated Mental Health Professional Shortage Areas, making access to behavioral health services a critical challenge. At the same time, demand for mental health care continues to rise, creating opportunities for well-trained clinicians to make a meaningful impact.
Sacred Heart University's Doctor of Psychology in clinical psychology prepares graduates to meet this need through rigorous academic training, extensive supervised clinical experience, and a commitment to ethical, evidence-based practice.
Our faculty members bring extensive clinical experience, research expertise, and professional insight into the Psy.D. program. With diverse backgrounds in clinical practice, psychological assessment, research, and specialized areas of mental health care, faculty members prepare students to become skilled and compassionate clinical psychologists.
Through mentorship, hands-on training, and a commitment to evidence-based practice, faculty members help students develop the knowledge, skills, and professional competencies needed to serve diverse populations and address today’s evolving mental health needs.
Beginning in year two, you will complete year-long supervised clinical practicum experiences at approved community sites, dedicating 16 to 20 hours per week to direct clinical work. In total, you will complete a minimum of 1,800 supervised clinical hours before your internship year.
Practicum experiences are integrated with professional seminar (pro-aem) and case conceptualization coursework, ensuring that what you learn in the field is actively connected to faculty supervision and clinical reflection.
Core coursework in psychopathology, assessment, ethics, personality theory, and evidence-based psychotherapy lays the groundwork for clinical competence.
You will begin supervised clinical practicum placements while advancing coursework in lifespan development, group therapy, psychopharmacology, and case conceptualization.
Practicum continues alongside advanced courses in research design, family systems therapy, and specialty electives. The year concludes with the Clinical Competency Exam (CCE), a case presentation that demonstrates your readiness for doctoral-level practice.
Under faculty supervision, you will complete a doctoral-level dissertation that demonstrates your capacity for independent scholarly inquiry in clinical psychology.
You will complete a full-time, yearlong clinical internship through the Association of Psychology Postdoctoral and Internship Centers (APPIC) Internship Matching Program, gaining advanced clinical experience in an approved setting.
In accordance with American Psychological Association (APA) accreditation standards, programs are required to make certain data available to prospective students. Because this program is pending APA accreditation approval, the table below will be updated as program data becomes available.
| Data Category | Information |
|---|---|
| Time to Completion | To be reported |
| Program Cost | To be reported |
| Internship Placement Rates | To be reported |
| Attrition | To be reported |
| Licensure Rates | To be reported |
This program is currently seeking APA accreditation. Data will be posted upon program launch and updated annually in accordance with APA Standards of Accreditation.
The practitioner-scholar model is the guiding philosophy of the Psy.D. in clinical psychology program at Sacred Heart University. It means your training emphasizes clinical skill development and the direct application of research to practice. While the program includes rigorous academic coursework, the primary goal is to prepare competent, evidence-based clinicians who can serve effectively in a wide range of professional settings.
The Psy.D. focuses primarily on clinical practice rather than research production. Graduates of Psy.D. programs receive more extensive practicum and internship training than their Ph.D. counterparts. If your goal is direct clinical work, consultation, or leadership in a clinical setting rather than an academic research career, a Psy.D. is typically the more appropriate path.
The Clinical Competency Exam is completed at the end of year three and is a standard milestone in APA-accredited Psy.D. programs. You will present a case before a panel of two to three doctoral faculty members. Your presentation must include a theoretical conceptualization, clinical elements such as assessment and treatment planning, video or recorded documentation, and an oral defense of your clinical work.
Your fifth-year internship is secured through the APPIC Internship Matching Program, which connects students with approved sites across the country. The process is similar to residency matching in medicine and dentistry. Program faculty and the clinical training coordinator will guide you through the application and matching process beginning in year four.
The Psy.D. in clinical psychology is seeking accreditation from the American Psychological Association. Accreditation review will occur upon program launch. Graduates will also be prepared to meet the standards of the National Council of Schools and Programs of Professional Psychology (NCSPP).
This program welcomes bachelor’s graduates, recent master's graduates, mid-career professionals, and career changers who are ready to commit to full-time, on-campus doctoral training. Strong candidates demonstrate prior clinical or research experience, a clear interest in psychology, and professional goals that align with becoming a licensed clinical psychologist.
Connecticut needs more trained clinical psychologists. This program is designed to prepare you for that critical work. Whether you are ready to apply or want to learn more, the path forward starts here.
