Graduate courses completed at other institutions, if they would normally form a part of the student`s field of concentration, may be accepted for credit toward the doctorate. Transfer of credit cannot be granted until the student has completed at least one full term of course work at GSAPP with satisfactory grades. The responsibility for requesting transfer of credit lies with the student, in consultation with his or her adviser. Research, independent study, internship, practicum, or courses with a grade lower than B are not transferable. A maximum of 30 graduate credits may be transferred.
Advanced school psychology students (those who are certified school psychologists with a minimum of three full years of experience) may apply for a waiver of the practicum for their second year in the program. If the waiver is granted, students may take a part-time internship and register for 1 credit in the fall term and 2 credits in the spring term, earning 750 hours of the 1,750 hours needed to complete the internship. The additional 3 credits can only be taken after all course work has been completed and comprehensive examinations taken.
Advanced clinical psychology students may apply for a waiver of practicum credits for those experiences that have been supervised by licensed, doctoral-level psychologists. Decisions about practicum waivers are made by the practicum coordinator and the department chairperson. It is strongly urged that students not waive the practicum, as this is the context in which they practice what they learn in the classroom.
An internship is considered part of the total supervised training experience required by each program. The objectives of these programs differ in several important respects. For example, a school psychology internship normally would not substitute for a clinical psychology internship, nor would an organizational psychology internship substitute for one in school psychology. It is possible that each program might accept some portion of an internship from the other area, but this would not be acceptable for a total internship experience. The extent and nature of the internship requirements for the transfer student are individually planned in consideration of the student`s total program.
For the advanced student, the required minimal 51 GSAPP credits include 9 credits for dissertation and 36 didactic course credits. Internship credits are not allowed as part of the 51 credits. To meet the GSAPP residence requirements, advanced students must register for the minimum 51 credits of approved course work within three consecutive academic years.
