4-year programs?

[psych00]

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Hello. I have heard about some PsyD programs that have tracks allowing their students to finish in 4 years including internship. I just found out that technically, if I took extra credits each semester it might be possible to do that also. The only thing is that I would think people have a hard time finding internships with only the practicum hours from years 1, 2, and 3rd year fall semester when you would apply. Does anyone have experience with this or know the pros/cons of people who have done that before? Just curious 🙂

 

[JockNerd]

I've only ever heard of people finishing a PsyD or PhD in 3 if they came in with a masters. Don't you still have to do a dissertation?

 

[BellaPsyD]

I'm in a four year program. You get your MA after year 2 (and a thesis), then your doctorate after year 4 (internship and dissertation). It's accelerated

 

[psych00]

Yes we have a dissertation (I'm guessing it is only possible for people who are willing to drive themselves crazy cramming 100+ credits into 3 years?). BellaPsyd, have you heard about problems with internship sites, as the practicum hours must not be as high as other programs I'm guessing?

 

[deleted176373]

Hello. I have heard about some PsyD programs that have tracks allowing their students to finish in 4 years including internship. I just found out that technically, if I took extra credits each semester it might be possible to do that also. The only thing is that I would think people have a hard time finding internships with only the practicum hours from years 1, 2, and 3rd year fall semester when you would apply. Does anyone have experience with this or know the pros/cons of people who have done that before? Just curious 🙂

USUHS is a 4 Year Ph.D. program, plus 1 year internship for the military students.

Mark

 

[Jon4PsyD]

I always just figured I'd be doing no more than 4 years if I get in somewhere since I'll have my Master's. About the practicum hours influencing internship..I'll have 1300 when I'm done with my Master's..is that good, poor, enough, not enough, going to require more years in a doctoral program, etc...?

Jon

 

[JockNerd]

I'm in a four year program. You get your MA after year 2 (and a thesis), then your doctorate after year 4 (internship and dissertation). It's accelerated

They structure it to have you doing internship and diss at the same time? To me that sounds like a recipe for disaster and ABD. Especially since many sites want applicants to have dissertations proposed, if not defended, when internship starts.

I always just figured I'd be doing no more than 4 years if I get in somewhere since I'll have my Master's. About the practicum hours influencing internship..I'll have 1300 when I'm done with my Master's..is that good, poor, enough, not enough, going to require more years in a doctoral program, etc...?

Most people in my program apply with about 400 prac hours and we do great at match time.

 

[Therapist4Chnge]

I always just figured I'd be doing no more than 4 years if I get in somewhere since I'll have my Master's. About the practicum hours influencing internship..I'll have 1300 when I'm done with my Master's..is that good, poor, enough, not enough, going to require more years in a doctoral program, etc...?

Jon

The APPI form should have terminating MS and Doc hours split up, though I'm not sure if programs put more weight on one than the other, I do know that most sites look at hours over a certain amount as a wash....so 1200 is just as good as 1400, etc. The FIT of your training and their site is important (For instance, if you are going for a college counseling site, you need to have hours in that area [some get by without, but that is rare]. How many assessment hours do you have? How many total integrated reports have you written?) Just some things to think about.

 

[Katpsych]

The two programmes that I have come across that offer a four year curriculum including dissertation are: the Massachusetts School of Professional Psychology (Boston) and the Wright Institute (Berkeley). And yes you would have to combine the dissertation with the internship in the 4th year. According the statistics on the MSPP website, a fair share of students manage to finish in 4 years.

 

[lakan]

also has a 4 year psyd

 

[Sarahanne]

University of Texas Southwestern is a Ph.D. and not a Psy.D. but it only takes four years to complete, and that includes the internship. They have a captive internship, which allows them to integrate the hours third and fourth year. Both the internship and the program are APA approved.

 

[causeeffect]

U. Of Hartford has a 4 year Psy.D

 

[psych00]

I know there are 4-year programs out there, I guess my curiosity is just in wondering about how that is legitimately possible and how prepared people are for internship after just 3 years of graduate school? Just kind of confusing to me. Of course I understand how this works for people transferring credits from master's programs...I guess I am a little surprised that it is a possibility for those straight from undergrad. Just thinking out loud I guess 🙂

 

[Therapist4Chnge]

I know there are 4-year programs out there, I guess my curiosity is just in wondering about how that is legitimately possible and how prepared people are for internship after just 3 years of graduate school? Just kind of confusing to me. Of course I understand how this works for people transferring credits from master's programs...I guess I am a little surprised that it is a possibility for those straight from undergrad. Just thinking out loud I guess 🙂

I am concerned with this too. I think the current setup of 4 years of training, internship, etc....isn't enough to squeeze in everything we 'should' do, and I am concerned with not only keeping everything the same, but actually doing less. Obviously it varies by program, but after 3 years I know I didn't feel ready to move on (at least in retrospect). After 4 I feel much better, though there are *still* areas where I want/need to learn more. Just my 2 cents.

 

[deleted176373]

I know there are 4-year programs out there, I guess my curiosity is just in wondering about how that is legitimately possible and how prepared people are for internship after just 3 years of graduate school? Just kind of confusing to me. Of course I understand how this works for people transferring credits from master's programs...I guess I am a little surprised that it is a possibility for those straight from undergrad. Just thinking out loud I guess 🙂

I see that as a problem too... Three years is incredibly short. They are cramming so much into 4 years at USUHS that it's hard to believe. The work load is pretty high. Current schedule for this quarter/semester consists of:

Professional Seminar M 12-1:30
Ethics II M 1:30-4:30
Cultural Diversity W 9-12
Cognition T 1-4
Medical Psychology Th 7:30-10:30
Health Psychology W 1-4
Clinical Assessment II F 10-1
Clinical Assessment Lab T 10-11:30
Research Lab (Your free time.)

Ummm, ya, that should keep you busy... Add on case conceptualization and military meetings and the fun is just beginning! 😉

I kid you not, that is our schedule! Nice eh?

Mark