J o h n F K e n n e d y U n i v e r s i t y

Pre-Doctoral InternshipTrainees apply for pre-doctoral internship when they are inthe third year of the full-time curriculum. Trainees need to beregistered in the relevant number of internship units for eachquarter in which they are accruing internship hours.JFK University PsyD trainees may apply for full-time orpart-time internship programs that are accredited by CAPIC,APPIC, or APA. To be considered full time, trainees mustwork a minimum of 35 hours per week. A full-time internshipis completed in 4 quarters at 9 units per quarter for a total of36 units.Comprehensive Written ExaminationThe Comprehensive examination is similar to the writtenexamination for California licensure. A comprehensivewritten exam consisting of 200 multiple choice questions isadministered at the end of the second year.Clinical Proficiency ExaminationIn the spring of year three, students present a written clinicalcase report to two faculty members who examine the studenton the case.Satisfactory ProgressSatisfactory levels of proficiency in all competency areas incoursework and practica must be met by each student toproceed to the next year of the program. Failure to meetrequirements for advancement to the next year may result ina student’s being required to supplement or repeat certainareas of the program or a student’s termination from theprogram.MA Degree in Clinical PsychologyA student will be awarded a MA degree in ClinicalPsychology when he or she has satisfactorily completed allfirst- and second-year courses, is a student in good standing,and has passed the comprehensive written examination. Thisdegree is non-terminal and non-licensable.Clinical Dissertation ProjectThe clinical dissertation project is an intensive study inan area of interest. Projects must reflect the program’semphasis on diverse or underserved populations as well asthe Doctor of Psychology’s clinical focus. The dissertationshould integrate research findings, relevant literature, andoriginal thought, deriving input from the population understudy and contributing to the field of applied psychology.Although traditional quantitative methodologies may beutilized, students are also encouraged to explore and utilizeother research forms. Projects may take the form of aprogram evaluation, theoretical exploration, meta-analysis,case study or series of case studies, phenomenologicalstudy, ethnography, grounded-theory exploration, or otherqualitative methodology. The dissertation proposal must becompleted prior to accepting a pre-doctoral internship.Dissertation ExtensionStudents who have not completed a clinical dissertationproject prior to beginning the internship must register forPSD 7302 Dissertation (0.5 units) and pay a dissertation feefor each quarter that the dissertation remains unfinished.PSD 7302 may be taken a maximum of four times for credit(2 units). The student must continue retake PSD 7302 untilthe dissertation is complete, but will not receive more than 2units in total.Advancement to CandidacyIn order to advance to candidacy at the end of year threeof the program, each student must have satisfactorilycompleted all coursework, practica, the Clinical ProficiencyExam, and yearly reviews and successfully defended theclinical dissertation proposal. The student may then enterinto an approved internship and begin the final phase of theprogram.GRADUATE SCHOOL OF PROFESSIONAL PSYCHOLOGY 189