Perception of PsyD vs. PhD

[coloradocutter]

---

Members do not see this ad.

There are alot of posts discussing the debt issue between PsyDs and PhDs and the clinical vs. research issue, but I am wondering if there is a distinction made in the real world between the two degrees by clients. I have a law degree and would be interested in doing forensic work at least as one of my specialities. I am looking at a nonfunded reputable PsyD at a university with a forensic track and tons of forensic faculty and a funded PhD program with one forensic faculty member (my POI) and no specific coursework in forensics. If I want to do expert witness work and forensic assessments, will the PsyD hurt me.

What about obtaining lecturer positions at universities or community colleges? Could I teach with a PsyD as long as I wasn't interested in tenure track?

What about the consulting world?

Thanks for any thoughts. This decision is so hard....

 

[PsyDr]

all my opinions from my experience:

1) the professional psychology world is much easier to divide into a "idiots" and "not-idiots" dichotomy. the phd simply pushes your slightly closer to the not idiot side of things. that being said, there are tons of idiots on both sides. i have always had offers because of the perceived quality of my work. i know of equally good phds who get offered the same jobs as me. i also know of terrible phds who cannot make ends meet. and terrible psyds who are doing the same.

2) if you want to do expert witness work, you'd better super specialize. one of my favorite experts only testifies on a specific part of the brain in a specific population accused of specific offenses. he makes bank. a psyd will only hurt you so much as getting into the forensic specialty of your choice. then your ability to be an awesome witness and to market yourself effectively is all on you.

3) getting a position at a community college is not hard. i would rate it about as hard as getting a job at starbucks once you have a doctorate.

4) a psyd would count against you at universities. you would have to over come that adversity through your own hard work. not impossible, but hard. however, i would doubt you would lose against a post doc for tenure if you came in with 30 first authorships and a $3mil NIH grant.

oh and the lecture-ship positions at universities are not worthwhile in my experience. i had an offer the other day to lecture in

 

[Jon4PsyD]

The Psy.D. will not hurt you at all. The Ph.D. will give you more versatility and the ability to change your mind should you eventually want some type of tenure-track position. But, I'd go with what PSYDR said it's pretty much right on.

And the Community Colelge thing..I don't know about Starbucks but from what I've seen most CC professors/chairs hold Master's degrees so it probably would not be difficult - and the pay is pretty decent.

Jon

 

[Therapist4Chnge]

I agree with PSYDR.

 

[psychmama]

I'd pretty much echo what's already been said. A Psyd from a reputable program like Denver will not limit future professional opportunities that much, unless you want a tenure track professorship.

Also, since I also have a law degree, I can add that I think it has given me a leg up in certain situations. I hear things like "oh, with a J.D and a Psy.D, we know you can handle a lot -- you've already proven that." I think my law background helped me match at my current internship site, which is a state psychiatric hospital with a sizable forensic population.

 

[terpskins10]

all my opinions from my experience:

3) getting a position at a community college is not hard. i would rate it about as hard as getting a job at starbucks once you have a doctorate.

What about teaching at a liberal arts college? Would a PsyD be acceptable for that type of work?

 

[psychmama]

What about teaching at a liberal arts college? Would a PsyD be acceptable for that type of work?

I think it depends. At a smaller liberal arts college where teaching is emphasized over research, I think a Psyd might be competitive. Also, lecturer or adjunct positions would probably be possible. In terms of tenure track professorships, my guess is that the PhD would have an advantage.

Having said the above, I know of several graduates of my PsyD program who teach at universities. In most of these cases they've developed a specialty area and have some record of publications. So the PsyD is not an absolute bar to getting hired in higher ed -- but it does make it more difficult. You have to figure that you're competing against a lot of PhDs, who are presumed to have better preparation for academia.

 

[ladysky61]

One of my professors (not sure if tenured) has only a masters in education. So I would say its possible.

 

[terpskins10]

Having said the above, I know of several graduates of my PsyD program who teach at universities.

May I ask what PsyD program you are enrolled in? If you prefer to PM me, that's fine. Thanks!