Doctor of Psychology (Psy.D.) in Counseling and School Psychology

Angela Mousseau, Ph.D.
Director of Training
Office: The Benoit Education Center
Phone: (603) 897-8593
Email: amousseau@rivier.edu 

Rivier University’s Doctor of Psychology (Psy.D.) in Counseling and School Psychology provides individuals who already hold a Master’s degree, Certificate of Advanced Graduate Study (C.A.G.S), or Ed.S. degree in a mental health related field or school psychology with an opportunity to obtain advanced training in their respective fields. Students may also enter the program with a bachelor’s degree in psychology or a closely related field. The Psy.D. program has been designed with professional standards and licensing requirements in mind, providing a sequential, cumulative, and unified approach to broad and general doctoral level training in the traditional practice areas of counseling and school psychology.

The Rivier University combined Doctor of Psychology in Counseling and School Psychology follows the practitioner-scholar model. Students are prepared as critical thinkers and problem solvers who work in applied settings and draw upon the theory and knowledge of psychology and education to deliver a continuum of empirically supported services. Students are prepared in a cohort model to be consumers of research to inform practice as highly skilled professionals delivering assessment, intervention, consultation, and preventive services to their clients and constituents.

The doctoral program has been accredited, on contingency by the American Psychological Association (APA); which grants national accreditation for programs in health service psychology. The program’s current APA accreditation status of accredited, on contingency expires on April 7, 2024. The University will apply for full accreditation before this time. The curriculum meets the State of New Hampshire licensing requirements for Psychologists.

APA grants “Accredited, on contingency” only if the program meets all standards except for the inclusion of all required outcome data on students in the program and after program completion. To move from “accredited, on contigency” status to fully accredited, the program must provide the required data within three (3) years of receiving “accredited, on contingency” status.

Questions related to the program’s accredited status should be directed to the Commission on Accreditation:

Office of Program Consultation and Accreditation
American Psychological Association
750 1st Street, NE
Washington, DC 20002
(202) 336-5979
apaaccred@apa.org
www.apa.org/ed/accreditation

Student Learning Outcomes:

• To graduate professional psychologists competent as reflective practitioner-scholars;
• To graduate professional psychologists who are knowledgeable about and clinically competent in the areas of assessment, diagnosis, treatment, and supervision and consultation;
• To graduate professional psychologists competent in the conduct, comprehension, and application of research to professional practice;
• To graduate students with a strong commitment to the ethical practice of psychology and their professional identity as psychologists.

Admissions and Coursework

Doctoral applicants may hold a master’s degree in counseling or a related field; however, this is not required for admission into the PsyD program. Students with bachelor’s degrees may apply directly to the program. Students are required to complete 57 credit hours in foundation courses and the equivalent of 3 credit hours in supervised practicum/internship experiences before they can begin taking the PsyD Core Requirements. Foundation courses and practicum/internship experiences may have been completed at another university and/or towards another graduate degree. PsyD program Core Requirements include 43 credits from required doctoral courses, 9 credits from doctoral elective courses, 3 credits from required doctoral practicums, and a minimum of 5 credits from doctoral dissertation research.