Doctoral Program

​Reiss-Davis Graduate School offers the Doctor of Psychology (PsyD) in Psychodynamic Child Psychology and Psychotherapy. The PsyD is a professional doctorate, designed to enable graduates to apply advanced knowledge and skills in effectively working psychotherapeutically with clients and to generate new knowledge through primary research, synthesis of the scientific literature, and critical reflection on theories and techniques. Graduates are prepared to become advocates for the mental health concerns of infants, children, adolescents, adults, and their families from all communities, and to operate from a position of cultural awareness and humility.

​The PsyD is designed for professionals who are licensed or license-eligible by an appropriate state agency or board to provide mental health care services.

Reiss-Davis Graduate School Informational Flyer

Program Format

The Reiss-Davis doctoral program employs blended instruction, which combines online learning and face-to-face classes, in which instructors and students meet in person. Students are required to enroll on a full-time basis (eight quarter units), with one 2-unit course and two 3-unit courses each quarter term. Each quarter is scheduled to last for ten weeks, except for the winter quarter which includes a holiday break.

• The online portion of a course consists of readings, asynchronous discussion board posts with one’s peers and faculty, viewing of instructional videos, and submission of written assignments. Students can schedule their online work at their own convenience during the week.
• All courses include attendance at a face-to-face session on campus. For one weekend per month – a total of three weekends each term – students meet in class with their faculty and cohort members on Friday evening, and all-day Saturday and Sunday.
• Student enrollment is on a full-time basis for the first three years of the program (8 units per term): during each residential weekend, the 2-unit course meets on Friday evening and each 3-unit course meets all-day on either Saturday or Sunday.

Instruction is based on a variety of teaching models, methods, and academic assignments conducive to the needs of adult learners. A small class size provides individualized attention and allows faculty to optimally monitor and support student progress. The seminar and cohort format in all courses promotes ongoing interaction between each student and instructor and among the students within a cohort. Coursework specific to the dissertation process guides students in planning, completing research, and writing the dissertation.

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​Internship

The Reiss-Davis PsyD does not require a practicum or internship for degree completion. However, as part of their enrollment in the Reiss-Davis doctoral program, students in the fourth year may elect to begin to accumulate hours of supervised professional experience toward licensure in Psychology. The Registrar assists students with the supporting documentation to apply and register as a Psychological Associate with the State of California Board of Psychology for purposes of accruing hours of supervised professional experience towards meeting licensure requirements.

For information about requirements for licensure in the State of California, including supervised clinical hours, visit: https://psychology.ca.gov/

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​Timeframe

​The PsyD program consists of three years of coursework (96 quarter units) followed by one year dedicated to the completion of the dissertation (8 quarter units) for a total of 104 quarter units. Courses develop students' increasing knowledge and skill in four key learning outcomes across the doctoral program.

​In the third year, students select the members of their Dissertation Committee, who guide them in the dissertation process. In the fourth year, students are academically supported towards degree completion by Reiss-Davis’s academic leadership, the staff, and a distinguished faculty of licensed professionals and leading experts in their field. Students who do not complete the dissertation in the fourth year may enroll in an ongoing Dissertation Continuation course.

Students must complete the program within eight years of their start date.

More information about the time to completion and academic policies more generally can be found in the Academic Catalog.

Dean & Chief Academic officer

Jens Schmidt, PhD

​Contact the Dean

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Program Chair

Paulo Yañ​ez, PsyD

​Contact the Chair