The Coursework Curriculum of the CCP Program

Program Overview

The CCP Program is comprised of a series of training activities that are sequential, cumulative, and graded in complexity. The program is designed to ensure that students are trained and demonstrate a Minimum Level of Achievement (MLA) in the Domain Specific Knowledge (DSK) areas and Profession Wide Competencies (PWC) set forth by the APA Commission on Accreditation. Training in the CCP Program occurs within a defined coursework curriculum, applied clinical training experiences, and research and applied training activities demonstrated through Program Milestones.

The coursework curriculum begins with Foundational and Core courses focused on broad and general aspects of psychology, which are followed by specialized courses and experiences related to the understanding of research and practice in clinical and counseling psychology in subsequent years. In developing professional competencies, exposure to professional practice begins in the first year when students enroll in core skill-based and pre-practicum course work while working under the close supervision of CCP Core Faculty. Introductory courses in psychological assessment and psychopathology are also taken. During the second year, students enroll in an integrated practicum at the USA Psychological Clinic where they treat clients across the spectrum of psychological disorders and problems of living and conduct psychoeducational and personality assessments. Students ultimately complete six semesters working as a provider in the USA Psychological Clinic as part of the CCP program curriculum. Students are closely supervised by Core Faculty in individual and group settings. During their third year and beyond, students are placed in field-based settings where more specialized work occurs, (usually work deriving from their major professor’s research and clinical interests,) and where they continue to receive intensive supervision by Core Faculty, particularly from their major professor/mentor. In their advanced years, students work in settings that require more in-depth service delivery with clients presenting with more complex mental health and/or psychoeducational needs, and in ways that are increasingly specialized.

The coursework curriculum of the CCP Program has been carefully designed to maximize the progressive building of knowledge and skills; therefore, the sequence of courses is structured. This sequencing is separated into two related but distinct Programs of Study; one for students who enter following completion of their bachelor’s degree (the MS Program of Study), and a second for students who enter following completion of a master’s degree (the PhD Program of Study). Students are provided with a Course Schedule that maps their projected coursework for the duration of their study in the CCP Program during their New Student Orientation Meeting. Each student also meets with the DCT annually (typically following the conclusion of the spring semester) to review their progress and receive an updated Course Schedule. Regardless of which Program of Study students enter in, all must satisfy the Foundational Content Areas and Core Content Areas.

The CCP MS Program of Study was designed to provide training in the necessary Foundational Content Areas that are required for, and should be satisfied prior to entering the PhD Program of Study. Students who enter the program in the PhD Program of Study (i.e., post-masters) satisfy Foundational Course Content Areas either through obtaining a course waiver (see below) or by taking the corresponding course at USA during their time in the PhD program.

The CCP PhD Program of Study was designed to provide training in the necessary Core Content Areas. All students regardless of their Program of Study at entry will complete the Core Course Content Area courses. The PhD Program of Study assumes that all Foundational Course Content Areas have been completed.

Course Waivers for Foundational Course Content Areas

Students may submit course waiver requests to satisfy Foundational Content Areas based on prior graduate coursework. The DCT will email all incoming students during the summer to solicit applications for course waivers. Students who wish to obtain course waivers will indicate the courses they wish to be waived and submit the corresponding syllabi from their prior graduate coursework along with transcripts indicating successful completion of the course. These materials will be initially reviewed by the DCT and will then be submitted to one or more core and/or affiliate faculty members for review. The faculty members reviewing the syllabi for consideration of the course waiver are typically the faculty who teach the corresponding course in the CCP MS Program of Study. The reviewing faculty member(s) will submit a recommendation for approval or denial to the DCT, who will make the final determination whether to approve the course waiver request. All course waiver requests are subject to the following rules:

Course waiver requests can only be made for prior graduate-level coursework in which the student earned a grade of B or higher.
Course waiver requests can only be made for prior graduate-level coursework in which the student completed a degree. Students who completed graduate coursework, but were not awarded a degree are not eligible for direct entry into the PhD Program of Study.
No more than 15 credit hours (or 5 courses) can be waived.
Only Foundational Content Area (i.e., MS Program of Study) courses are able to be waived. No PhD Program of Study courses can be waived.

There is no guarantee that classes taken at another institution will satisfy the required Foundational Course Content Areas. The DCT may deny any such requests at their discretion.

CCP MS Program of Study Coursework

The CCP MS Program of Study consists of 47 hours of required courses. Courses are typically completed within two years of program entry. This requirement includes a minimum of 6 hours of thesis credits (PSY599) and a minimum of 9 hours of practica credits (PSY556). There are no elective requirements for the MS degree. The required courses for the MS Program of Study are listed in Table 1. The typical sequence and timing of these courses are detailed in the Sample Schedule (Table 3).

CCP PhD Program of Study Coursework

The CCP PhD Program of Study consists of a minimum of 57 credit hours of coursework, not including Foundational Content Areas (i.e., the MS Program of Study). This requirement includes 21 hours of core courses, 3 hours of approved elective coursework, 15 hours of practica, and 9 hours of dissertation (CCP799). Students must also enroll in the internship course (CCP797) throughout their internship year (i.e., three courses). CCP797 can be taken as a zero-credit course. The required courses for the PhD Program of Study are listed in Table 2. The typical sequence and timing of these courses are detailed in the Sample Schedule (Table 3).

Elective Coursework. Students are required to complete 3 credits of elective coursework to supplement their learning in an area outside of the Core Course Content Areas. Elective courses are regularly offered by CCP core faculty, often as special topics (CCP790) courses. Students may also complete graduate courses in other departments or colleges to satisfy this requirement with the prior approval of the DCT in consultation with the CCP Program Core Faculty. Such courses must be related to the student’s plan of study and must be approved before the student registers. Requests must be submitted to the DCT for evaluation by the core faculty using this form. Examples of elective courses are listed below. Note, this is not an exhaustive list, merely the courses most frequently offered and approved as electives.

CCP 742 – Advanced Psychological Assessment

CCP 752 – Clinical Neuropsychology

CCP 772 – Child & Family Psychopathology & Intervention

CCP 777 – Seminar on Suicide: Risk Assessment & Clinical Management

CCP 790 – Religion & Spirituality in Psychological Practice

CED 562 – Addictions Counseling

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