Note: Professional Liability Insurance for Doctoral Candidates

All doctoral candidates in professional psychology are strongly recommended to purchase American Psychological Association sponsored Professional Liability Insurance. This provides coverage while performing professional duties as a psychologist in training. Such coverage should be obtained at the very beginning of training. For information, contact the director of the doctoral program in which you are enrolled, or apply directly through the American Psychological Association.

Selection of Doctoral Students

Students who are considered for interview and possible admission to the program must have the required academic background and test scores as detailed in the Admission Requirements listed below, and in our program brochure: Doctor of Psychology, Program in School-Community Psychology and on our program website PsyD Program in School-Community Psychology under the heading of Admission Requirements. Applicants must have at least a baccalaureate degree from an accredited institution and have taken courses in Human Development, Statistics, and Experimental Design or Research Methods all of which have been completed with a grade of B or better. Three letters of recommendation and a personal statement are also required. We are looking for students who have a strong commitment to the betterment of the emotional and behavioral needs of children. This commitment most often encompasses a concern for that child’s family and the community.

Applicants meeting the above requirements are called by phone and invited for an individual interview. The interview is with program faculty and program doctoral students. When an applicant shows interest in the research of a given faculty member, we attempt to pair that student with the faculty member for the interview. Once the interviews have been completed, each faculty member ranks the applicants and a meeting takes place to obtain a consensus on who should be offered admission. Students showing strong academic backgrounds, self-discipline, and a commitment to children, families and the community are contacted by the faculty member who interviewed them and are invited into the program.

Admission Requirements

Program Requirements - Total Semester Hours: 100

Graduation Requirements

1. Completion of the 100-credit program with a cumulative grade point average of B or better. Advanced students will be given transfer credit based on an individual analysis of their prior graduate academic record.
2. Successful completion of a qualifying examination which must be taken and passed following the first year in the program. This examination is given in May of each year. Students who fail the qualifying examination twice will be dropped from the program.
3. Students must maintain a B average each semester, and receive no more than one C per semester and no more than three C’s in total toward the PsyD. 
4. If a student earns a grade of D in a course, the instructor of that course will inform the Program Director who will then convene a meeting of the Core Program Faculty to discuss the circumstances under which the D was earned. If this is the first D earned during his or her course of study, the student will be immediately placed on probation and a remedial plan for the student will be developed by the faculty. In the case of a D, course credit will not count toward the degree being sought but the grade is included in determining the cumulative grade-point average. The course or its equivalent, must be repeated. A second grade of D received in any course while enrolled in the program is grounds for immediate dismissal. The Core Program Faculty will decide if the dismissal is warranted. A letter which reviews the discussion and outcome of the meeting will be generated by the Program Director with a copy sent to the student. 
5. A grade of F in any class is grounds for immediate dismissal from the program. If a student earns an F, the instructor of that course will inform the Program Director who will then convene a meeting of the Core Program Faculty to discuss the circumstances under which the F has been earned. A letter which reviews the deliberations of the Core Program Faculty will be generated by the Program Director with a copy sent to the student.
6. Students are expected to behave in an ethical and professional manner according to the guidelines for student conduct and academic honesty at Hofstra University, and the Ethical Standards for Psychologists published by the American Psychological Association. Satisfactory interpersonal behavior and professional performance in classes and meetings, on practica and internships, etc. is expected. If a report of an ethics violation or an interpersonal problem which may be impeding professional growth is received, the Program Director will convene a meeting of the Core Program Faculty to discuss the circumstances under which the violation or problem arose. After a faculty investigation, a report will be issued that may clear the student of any wrongdoing, place the student on probation with a plan for remediation or dismiss the student from the program. A letter, which reviews the deliberations of the Core Program Faculty, will be generated by the Program Director with a copy sent to the student.
7. Successful completion of an approved doctoral dissertation.
8. Satisfactory performance at an oral defense of the doctoral dissertation.

MS in School-Community Psychology

In the process of completing the requirements for the Doctoral degree, students will earn the MS in School-Community Psychology after completing 36 semester hours in the following courses with a B or better:  Psy 201, 201, 210, 220, 224, 227, 231, 232, 233, 251, 253, 258A, 280.  Advanced students may have received transfer credit for some of these courses.

Advanced Certificate in School-Community Psychology

To earn the Advanced Certificate in School-Community Psychology, students must have received the MS in School-Community Psychology as above; must have completed three years of the program;  and completed a school psychology internship.  Advanced level students may have received transfer credit and their previously completed internship in school psychology may be accepted.   All students must have a B average or better in all courses and  be a citizen of the United States.

Footnotes (*/**)

*A student who has not made sufficient progress on the dissertation to gain permission of the members of the committee to begin collecting data, will have to repeat the course, paying full fee. A student must maintain continuous enrollment in this course, registering for it during the fall and spring semesters. A student must complete the work for this course within two semesters. If sufficient progress has not been made by the end of this period, the student will have to enroll in PSY 603A - Extended Dissertation Advisement . This course may be taken only once. If the student does not complete the work for this course by the end of the semester, the student will be dropped from the program.

**A student who does not complete the dissertation during the semester of enrollment in PSY 604 - Dissertation Advisement , will have to repeat the course, paying full fee. Once PSY 602 - Dissertation Proposal Preparation  or PSY 603A - Extended Dissertation Advisement  has been completed, a student must enroll in 604, Dissertation Advisement, the following semester and maintain continuous enrollment in this course during the fall and spring semesters. A student must complete the work for this course within three semesters. If the dissertation is not completed by the end of this period, the student must immediately enroll in PSY 605A - Dissertation Extension . The student will be dropped from the program if all requirements for the dissertation are not fulfilled by the end of 605A. Once a candidate has begun work on the dissertation, a leave of absence from the program will not be granted, except in highly unusual circumstances.