Psy.D. Program Delivery

Distributed Learning Model
The Psy.D. program uses a blended or distributed learning model to provide academic training in clinical psychology. The distributed learning model includes on-the-ground (face-to-face) courses, online courses, and an integration of the two. During the first three years, students attend monthly day-long meetings on a Saturday (Professional Development Seminars) with faculty, colleagues, and other professional psychologists and attend nine Academic Meetings: these include week-long meetings in Brattleboro, VT in the fall and in Cincinnati, OH in the spring, and four-day meetings at the beginning of the winter term simultaneously held in both Brattleboro and Cincinnati. In the first year, students also attend courses on seven Sundays following their Professional Developmental Seminars, plus a weekend in July. The program presents courses in an organized, sequential manner, with each semester and year building upon prior learning experiences.  In addition to courses, students engage in supervised clinical training experiences (see Psy.D. Practicum and Internship), as well as completing a Clinical Review and Dissertation.

The Doctorate of Psychology (Psy.D.) Program Uses Three Delivery Models
Classroom courses:  These courses are held on campus on weekends and during the six (6) required week-long Academic Meetings in Brattleboro and Cincinnati.

These include, but are not limited to, required courses such Professional Development Seminars, Clinical Psychology & System Theory, Group Psychotherapy, Foundational Clinical Skills, Dissertation Proposal Development and Cultural Influences on the Self. In addition, several electives offered in this manner, such as Mindfulness in Clinical Practice, Child and Adolescent Psychotherapy, Sex Therapy, and Dialectical Behavioral Therapy.

Hybrid or blended courses: These courses typically begin with a face-to-face on ground session during the Academic Meetings or meet during the term and have an accompanying online component.

For example, in the first year these include the following required courses: Cognitive Assessment (three Sunday day-long class meetings during the winter term, following Saturday Professional Development Seminars); Cognitive Assessment Laboratory (two days of class meetings during the Academic Meeting); Personality Assessment (two days of class meetings during the Academic Meeting plus an additional Sunday in June); Foundations of Psychological Assessment and Adult Psychopathology (include four hours face-to-face class meetings during the Academic Meeting); and Individual Psychotherapy (fours hours at the Academic Meeting and two days of class meetings in July).

Online courses: These courses can be accessed 24/7 and have structured "Units" that are completed within time frames specified in the syllabus. These courses include full-featured communication resources, allowing for both synchronous and asynchronous interaction between and among students and faculty. Online courses typically include all of the content and material included in equivalent on ground courses. These include all course requirements as defined in the syllabus, live interactions with faculty in real-time communication, audio and/or video recorded lectures/presentations, links to readings in the UI&U Library, exams, class discussions, faculty office hours, etc.

Courses that are offered online are selectively chosen as ones in which the content can be comprehensively delivered at a doctoral level in this manner.

For an overview of curriculum and the delivery of courses, see: UI&U PsyD Curriculum Delivery Chart

Psy.D. Program Contact
For further information contact us at:  admissions.psyd@myunion.edu or 888.828.8575 or 802.257.9411 x8902.