The amount of time needed to complete a program varies with the student's background, academic progress, and extent of practicum training or assistantship aid, but cannot exceed university-imposed time limitations.
The programs require a minimum of four years of full-time study from the bachelor's level of entrance: three years of graduate coursework and practicum placement, including summer sessions, plus a year of internship. With the faculty's encouragement, many students choose to spread their coursework and dissertation over four years, accepting an internship in their fifth year. The internship requires a minimum of 10 months of full-time work.
All beginning-level applicants, including applicants with advanced degrees in allied mental health fields but not in psychology or with nonpractitioner master's degrees in psychology, should be prepared to attend the Graduate School of Applied and Professional Psychology (GSAPP) on a full-time basis for at least the first three years.
Students who have completed some previous graduate work in psychology usually are able to transfer courses. This allows greater freedom for the student in the choice of electives or the option of a lighter course load in the later semesters.
Academic Programs 
