Clinical Psychology Programs

Degree Descriptions and Requirements

Master of Arts in Clinical Psychology
(Specialty in Prenatal and Perinatal Psychology or Somatic Psychology)

Degree Description
The Master of Arts Degree in Clinical Psychology is a two-year graduate program specifically designed to meet the educational requirements of clinical licensure as a Marriage, Family Therapist (MFT) in the State of California. It is designed for the student who wants to obtain a more comprehensive clinical psychology education while specializing in prenatal and perinatal psychology or somatic psychology. It provides important clinical and therapeutic skills as well as a solid foundation in the theory and application of the specialty. Graduates are prepared as therapists to work with individuals, couples, children, families and groups inclusive of a somatic psychology or a pre-and perinatal psychology perspective.

During the two years of study, students attend classes three 4-day weekends per quarter and one 8-day session per summer. After the successful completion of coursework, the student completes the Master’s Project.

Requirements for Graduation
To be eligible for graduation, the following requirements must be successfully met:

• 88 quarter units coursework and credits
• 40 hours of personal therapy
• 150 hour clinical traineeship
• An original Master's Project submitted, presented and accepted by SBGI faculty and administration
• All financial commitments to SBGI, including tuition and fees

Clinical Traineeship
During the second year of study, in conjunction with clinical practice course work, students arrange and complete 150 hours of supervised clinical traineeship in their home community. Working as trainee volunteers at an approved site, e.g. hospital, social service, non-profit organization, or another approved facility, students receive supervision and apply skills and knowledge in direct work with clients.

Master's Project
One goal of the Master's Project is to assist students to effectively develop, initiate, implement and evaluate practical applications of the area of specialty in their lives, their work, and in their communities. We also encourage students to develop a professional area of expertise. The Master's Project is designed to meet this goal.

Students define their project and its purpose and goals, design the project, review the pertinent literature and provide a personal experience and perspective synopsis relevant to their project, as well as plan the implementation and method of project evaluation.

In order to support students in developing their professional ability to articulate and convey their area of expertise effectively, students present their Master's Project during the day of presentations before their graduation. This culminating experience provides a forum for students to professionally present their Master's Project to the educational community.

Curriculum 2004-2005
MA in Clinical Psychology
(Specialty in Prenatal and Perinatal Psychology or Somatic Psychology)

In addition to the above core classes, students complete either the somatic (SOM) or prenatal and perinatal (PPN) courses listed below.

Degree requirements are subject to change.

Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology
(Specialty in Prenatal and Perinatal Psychology or Somatic Psychology)

The Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology is a specialized graduate program specifically designed to meet the educational requirements of clinical licensure as a Marriage, Family Therapist (MFT) in the State of California. It is designed for the student who wants to obtain a more comprehensive clinical psychology education while specializing in prenatal and perinatal psychology or somatic psychology. It provides important clinical and therapeutic skills as well as a solid foundation in the theory and application of the specialty. Graduates are prepared as therapists to work with individuals, couples, children, families and groups inclusive of a somatic psychology or a pre-and perinatal psychology perspective.

In this program, students not only receive solid theory and therapeutic applications in their area of specialty, but also go further to develop research skills and execute their own original research in clinical, prenatal and perinatal or somatic psychology.

During the first two years of study, students attend classes three four-day weekends per quarter and one seven-day session per summer. During the third year classes are held over three three-day sessions each quarter and one four-day session in the summer. At the beginning of the second year, students begin to work toward the 450-hour traineeship requirement.

Ph.D. program applicants may possess a Master’s Degree or Bachelor’s Degree. If the student is applying to a Ph.D. program with only a Bachelor’s Degree, they will earn the Master’s Degree along the way. After the student completes requirements for the MA Degree, including the Master’s Project, they are allowed to enroll in doctoral level study. If the student chooses both the MA and Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology, further coursework is required in the fourth year. (See below.)

Requirements for Graduation
To be eligible for graduation, the following requirements must be successfully met:

• 137 quarter units coursework and credits
• 60 hours of personal therapy
• 450 hour clinical traineeship
• Written comprehensive examination at the end of the third year
• An original research dissertation submitted and accepted by SBGI faculty committee and administration
• Oral defense of dissertation
• All financial commitments to SBGI, including tuition and fees

Clinical Traineeship
Beginning in the second year of study, in conjunction with Professional Practice Coursework, students arrange and complete a minimum of 450 hours of a supervised clinical traineeship in their home community. Working as trainee volunteers at an approved site, e.g. hospital, social service, non-profit organization, or another approved facility, students apply skills and knowledge in direct work with clients and develop their area of expertise. Sites with a multidisciplinary and multicultural orientation are highly encouraged.

Doctoral Dissertation
In order to be eligible to enroll in dissertation writing, students must successfully complete all required coursework for the doctoral degree plus successfully pass the written comprehensive examination, and be a student in good standing.

Students are then invited to enroll in the dissertation-writing course. This is a full year’s course. During this fourth year, students complete a proposal, select and have their committee approved by administration, carry out their research and complete their dissertation.  Upon final approval of the dissertation by the committee and administration, students complete their Ph.D. requirements by oral defense of their research. If the process is not completed within the fifth year, students must enroll in PPN 950, Dissertation Writing II, as they complete their dissertation.

Degree requirements are subject to change.

Combined Master’s and Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology
Students entering the doctoral program directly from the Bachelor’s Degree who want to earn both a Master’s and Doctoral Degree in Clinical Psychology must complete a fourth year of academic and clinical work. All requirements for the MA in Clinical Psychology degree must be met, including the Master’s Project plus all the requirements for the Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology including the dissertation. The fourth year brings a continuing focus on clinical work and support in beginning the dissertation research.

Specifically, in addition to the aforementioned requirements for graduation, Combined MA and Ph.D. students must successfully complete a total of 40 units of coursework and credits and a total of 600 hours of clinical traineeship. These extra units are completed in the fourth year and may be done on campus or in the home setting.

Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology
(Specialty in Prenatal and Perinatal Psychology or Somatic Psychology)
Curriculum 2004-2005

The following required courses comprise the Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology Program (Specialty in Prenatal and Perinatal Psychology or Somatic Psychology). These courses may change. Each unit represents 10 clock hours of instruction.

In addition to the above core classes, students complete either the somatic (SOM) or pre-and perinatal (PPN) courses listed below.

Marriage, Family Therapist License

There are two degree programs at SBGI that prepare students in the coursework and traineeship required by the State of California for the Marriage and Family Therapist (MFT) License:

• MA in Clinical Psychology
• Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology

The scope of practice is limited to relationship issues by the licensing body, the Board of Behavioral Sciences (BBS). The BBS mandates specific course requirements for inclusion in the curriculum of a program leading to Master of Arts or Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology in order for students to apply for the MFT license. To apply for the MFT license, students must complete a minimum of a Master of Arts in Clinical Psychology, as well as other applications, traineeships, and internships. At this time, the BBS also requires successful completion of a written examination. Receipt of the Degree does not guarantee receipt of the MFT license, but rather fulfills the academic requirement for license.

The MA and Ph.D. Programs in Clinical Psychology are designed to meet the California educational requirements for licensure as a Marriage and Family Therapist. Students from other states will need to check regulations for licensure in their state.

The California Board of Behavioral Sciences Requirements

The MA or Ph.D. Programs in Clinical Psychology meet or exceed the educational requirements for the Marriage and Family Therapy license by the Board of Behavioral Sciences (BBS) in the State of California. The programs provide the “integrated course of study and appropriate professional training” specified in current law, and allows for “innovation and individuality in the education of marriage and family therapists.” An example of how SBGI programs meet or exceed the qualifications for the MFT follows. Additional information about how SBGI specifically meets the BBS requirements is available upon request.

As required by law, SBGI’s Clinical Psychology programs’ instruction includes no less than 18 quarter units of coursework in the areas of marriage, family and child counseling and marital and family systems approaches to treatment, as defined in Business and Professions Code Section 4980.40(a)(1-4) inclusive.

The programs in Clinical Psychology meet this requirement in the following manner: