Degree Programs
You gain a firm foundation of scripture and the great historic doctrines of the Christian church and the ability to apply these truths to the issues and needs of today's world through psychological research, theory, and clinical practice. More importantly you will gain the benefit of a life and ministry built on the enduring Word of God.
Rosemead's rich interdisciplinary study addresses the human condition through 31 units of theology courses and integration seminars. Taught by Christian psychologists and philosophers who hold biblical degrees, our coursework is founded upon a distinctly Christian world view. This commitment extends the doctoral track approximately one year beyond most secular four-year clinical programs. You will graduate with a minor in theology and biblical studies in addition to your master's and doctoral degrees in clinical psychology.
Rosemead requires the highest number of integration seminars of any Christian psychology program in the nation. Through these seminars, you will weigh psychological concepts in light of God's revealed Word about man and his condition with the ultimate goal of healing people. Such courses may be applied with specific interests within integration including human nature, the mission field, sin, and maturity.
Training Models in Clinical Psychology
In the past 40 years there has been discussion and debate by psychologists over appropriate training models and degrees in clinical psychology. During the 1950s and 1960s, most doctoral training in psychology followed the scientist professional model and culminated in the awarding of the Ph.D. These programs were designed to train scientifically oriented researchers and professionals.
During the 1960s and 1970s the need for training programs with stronger professional orientations became apparent. Institutions like the University of Illinois, the California School of Professional Psychology, the University of Denver, Baylor University, Rutgers University and the Rosemead Graduate School of Psychology were among the first to offer programs designed explicitly to provide doctoral training following either a professional (practitioner) or a professional-scientist (practitioner-scientist) model of training.
Without rejecting the need for training in the basic science areas of psychology, these programs began placing proportionately greater emphasis on the professional aspects of training. After four decades of discussion, debate and innovation, graduate training programs in clinical psychology now cover a broad range of emphases from highly professional to highly scientific.
Rosemead's doctoral programs continue in the professional orientation tradition with the Ph.D. following a practitioner-scientist model, and the Psy.D. following a practitioner model.
Degrees Offered
Master of Arts
A master's degree is awarded as a student progresses in the doctoral program. Special application for a terminal master's degree must be approved on an individual basis.
Doctor of Psychology & Doctor of Philosophy
Rosemead's doctoral programs in clinical psychology are designed primarily to train practitioners in professional psychology. They are designed for students interested in pursuing careers in applied areas of clinical psychology. While all students receive training in the basic areas of scientific psychology relevant to the practice of psychology, the focus of Rosemead's doctoral training is on the development of professional skills and the utilization of theory and research in professional practice. Within this focus students may select either the Psy.D. or the Ph.D. program. Approximately 67% of Rosemead's students are enrolled in the Psy.D. and 33% in the Ph.D. Except in unusual circumstances, students do not change programs after admission.
While both the Psy.D. and Ph.D. have a common core of basic science and clinical courses, students selecting Rosemead's Psy.D. are generally preparing for full-time positions as psychological practitioners. Those choosing Rosemead's Ph.D. are interested in combining clinical work with other psychological competencies, such as teaching and research. Research training in Rosemead's Ph.D. program is strong in selected areas of ongoing faculty research. Thus the Ph.D. is particularly appropriate for students who desire both to develop quality clinical skills and to develop research skills related to clinical practice.
Program Characteristics
The two programs (Psy.D. and Ph.D.) are very similar with regard to cost, time to completion, attrition, and internship placement. Specific information regarding tuition and fees may be obtained in the Financial Information section of this catalog or on the Rosemead website (www.rosemead.edu). Scholarships, grants, loans, and teaching assistantships are available to Rosemead graduate students. Some of these are need-based (e.g., grants); some of them are competence-based (e.g., teaching assistantships). If you would like to apply for financial support, visit http://www.biola.edu/grad/financial%5Faid/.
Most students complete their program in 5 (37%) or 6 (30%) years (Mean = 5.9, Mdn = 5.7). About 35% of the doctoral students in each program elect to spread coursework across 5 years rather than completing it in 4. A few students (about 15%) finish in less than 5 years; a few (10%) finish in 7 years; and a very few (7%) take longer than 7 years to complete all degree requirements. Across the past 7 years, the attrition from each program (i.e., students leaving the program before graduation for any reason: changed field of study, personal events) has been 12%. About 5% of students leave their program due to poor performance.
Rosemead students compete very well in the national system of internships in clinical psychology. The internship is a year of full-time training in a professional psychology role that comes after all coursework is complete. All of our students who complete the eligibility requirements obtain an internship. In the past 7 years we have placed 107 Psy.D. students and 56 Ph.D. students in internships. Of these, 97% were placed in an internship of their choice in the first year they applied, the other 3% chose to wait another year for the internship they wanted. The Ph.D. interns obtained APA-approved internship at a slightly higher rate (88%) than did the Psy.D. interns (77%) because of the differences in their career goals and aspirations. In most of the internships (93%), the students received funding from the internship agency. A very few students (3%) obtained internships arranged on a 2-year, half time schedule. Some of the internship agencies are in the Southern California area, but many of them are in other reputable institutions across the country (see Practicum and Internship Agencies listing). The internship experience greatly enriches the professional development of the Rosemead students and prepares them for the next step in their careers.
The alumni of our doctoral programs carry into their professional lives the practitioner emphasis of both degrees. Current psychology licensure rates (80% for the PhD alumni of the past decade; 75% for the PsyD alumni of the past decade) are high. Some of our alumni use their training internationally or in the U.S. in careers for which licensure is not necessary. Rosemead alumni success is most clearly seen in the fact that rates for current employment in psychologically related careers are very high, indeed (95% for PhD alumni of the past decade; 93% for PsyD alumni for the past decade). These licensure and employment rates clearly demonstrate the value our alumni find in their professional training.
Integration Emphasis
Rosemead requires the highest number of integration seminars of any Christian psychology program in the nation.