| The emergence of the Psy D degree in | | | | held in Vail, Colorado in 1973, which |
| recent years has brought about change in | | | | resulted from a disagreement from an |
| the way psychology students approach | | | | earlier conference traditionally held in |
| earning a doctorate degree. A | | | | Boulder, Colorado (hence, the Boulder |
| traditional PhD program focuses on the | | | | model). The Vail attendees endorsed an |
| scholar-practitioner model while Psy D | | | | alternative training model that would be |
| programs are aimed at those who wish to | | | | used to distinguish the scientist role |
| tailor their careers less toward | | | | from the clinical and counseling |
| research and more toward clinical and | | | | practitioner role. |
| counseling psychology. | | | | In its earliest stages, the Psy D |
| Recognized by the American Psychological | | | | program was only offered by private |
| Association, Psy D programs have | | | | colleges and universities. Today, |
| steadily grown in popularity since their | | | | several state schools offer Psy D degree |
| acceptance into mainstream academia. As | | | | programs in addition to the traditional |
| PhD graduates in the field of psychology | | | | PhD in psychology. Public University |
| often enter into purely research | | | | Psy D programs are some of the most |
| oriented, clinical and research or | | | | competitive of all available doctorate |
| teaching positions, the need for a | | | | degree options as a result of their |
| program that could adequately prepare | | | | relative newness. Entering classes at |
| graduate students for the specialized | | | | some institutions can be as few as 5 to |
| area of clinical and counseling | | | | 10 students, compared to substantially |
| psychology has been ever present. Many | | | | larger numbers for well established PhD |
| who earned PhD programs before the | | | | programs. |
| advent of the Psy D program found | | | | As of this writing, Psy D degree |
| entering the profession in a counseling | | | | programs from any accredited institution |
| capacity to be difficult. Simply | | | | are accepted by licensing boards from |
| meeting state licensure requirements and | | | | all 50 states. Recognition from the |
| setting up a private practice or working | | | | APA, state licensing boards and the |
| for an established practice does not a | | | | American Board of Professional |
| clinical or counseling psychologist | | | | Psychology is a good indication of level |
| make. | | | | of acceptance regarding the validity of |
| The extensive coursework and | | | | Psy D programs from the profession as a |
| dissertation work involved in a doctor | | | | whole. |
| of psychology degree program is geared | | | | To learn more about Doctorate Degrees |
| toward the hands on instruction of the | | | | Online visit our site. You can also |
| "Vail model" as opposed to the "Boulder | | | | obtain online learning information on |
| model" associated with a PhD in | | | | our blog as well as additional online |
| psychology. The Vail model is named | | | | and campus based degree program |
| after a national training conference | | | | information at Search for Classes. |