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Overview

SCU鈥檚 distinctive Reiss-Davis Doctor of Psychology (PsyD) in Psychodynamic Psychology听is designed for master鈥檚-level mental health professionals who seek to deepen their expertise in psychological theory, human behavior, and systems of care. The program offers advanced training in psychodynamic principles and technique, trauma-informed practice, and the developmental and sociocultural foundations of mental health.

Unlike many PsyD programs, SCU鈥檚 curriculum does not include clinical practicum hours or internships, which makes it shorter to complete. Graduates who plan to pursue psychology licensure can still obtain the required supervised professional experience (SPE) hours after finishing the program. However, most graduates choose to continue practicing under their existing master鈥檚 level mental health license. They often go on to careers in private practice, higher education, consulting, program development, or leadership roles within community mental health, agencies, and organization settings where advanced clinical knowledge is highly valued.

Our PsyD program traces its roots to the highly respected former Reiss-Davis Graduate Center for Child Development and Psychotherapy, established in 1976 which offered master鈥檚, doctoral, and continuing education and mental health care services to the community until 2025. Grounded in contemporary psychodynamic theory, the curriculum integrates the most current understanding of the neurobiological and developmental underpinnings of mental health with trauma-informed perspectives into the teaching and training of culturally competent treatment approaches.

Program at a Glance

• Full-time, hybrid program (3 years and 4 months)
• Convenient for working professionals, combining online coursework with on-campus weekend classes 听that occur nine times per year
• Designed for students with a master鈥檚 degree in psychology or in a 听related mental health field (e.g., MA/MS/MSW, etc.)
• Meets the degree requirement for pursuing California Psychology licensure as a psychologist.听(Note that there are additional requirements beyond the doctoral degree; individuals interested in psychology licensure should contact the California Board of Psychology.)
• Fixed tuition guarantee, federal financial aid for those who qualify, and a range of scholarship opportunities.

Upcoming Start Dates

Fall: September 8th, 2026

What Sets Our Program Apart?

FASTER, MORE FLEXIBLE FORMAT

While many PsyD programs in the U.S. take five to seven years to complete, our PsyD requires just three years and four months. You鈥檒l complete online coursework and assignments whenever it works best for you in a given week and will come to campus just one weekend per month for in-person instruction and learning with your peers.

A Psychodynamic focus

Based on the former Reiss-Davis Doctor of Psychology curriculum, our PsyD program is anchored in psychodynamic theory, which focuses on unconscious processes, psychosocial development, and early life experiences that shape a person鈥檚 behavior, thoughts, and relationships. At the heart of the curriculum is the PNT model, which includes:

• Psychodynamic principles:听focusing on unconscious motivations, early relational patterns, and intrapsychic conflict.
• Neurobiological perspectives:听understanding how brain development, affect regulation, and relational experiences shape psychological function.
• Trauma-informed approaches:听appreciating how adversity, especially early attachment trauma, affects mental health across the lifespan.

No practicum or internship Requirements

Unlike most other PsyD programs, the PsyD in Psychodynamic Psychology at SCU does not require a practicum or internship. All our doctoral students enter with a master鈥檚 degree, and most are already licensed as mental health professionals to provide psychotherapy; therefore, most graduates do not intend to pursue additional licensure in clinical psychology. To graduate, you will complete an enriching Doctoral Project of your choosing, such as a comparative case study, a clinical pilot program, the design of an innovative treatment manual, a policy/advocacy proposal, etc. This practical, real-world project will enable you to make a difference in the field and community according to your specific interest.

Should you wish to become a licensed Clinical Psychologist after earning your doctoral degree, you should contact the听听for guidance.

UNIQUE INTERPROFESSIONAL EDUCATION.

Most of today’s healthcare colleges offer an “interprofessional education鈥� through which students learn with, from, and about other disciplines. But at SCU, we do it differently. Unlike other colleges, we teach you about both conventional and complementary disciplines鈥攏ot just one or the other鈥攂ecause we believe in both and we teach both, all under one roof.

An integrative, whole health approach.

All too often, healthcare providers “stay in their lanes鈥� rather than building comprehensive care plans that include other disciplines, professionals, and approaches. In addition, they look strictly at the physical body as opposed to all the factors that may be influencing a patient’s health and well-being鈥攇enetics, lifestyle, mental health, relationships, physical environments, community support, and beyond. But at SCU, no matter what program you are in, you’ll learn to blend the best of conventional and complementary approaches (integrative healthcare) and to treat the entire mind, body, and spirit (whole health)鈥攆or true lasting wellness.