McKay School of Education > CPSE > Ph.D Program > Supervised Practical Experiences

PhD Program: Supervised Practical Experiences

Supervised practical experience in providing professional services is an integral part of a doctoral training program in counseling psychology. Consistent with APA standards, each doctoral student must complete the following minimum requirements for practicum, clerkship, and internship experiences. However, to be competitive for APA-approved internships, students are encouraged to seek additional supervised clinical experience beyond these minimum requirements. In order to provide clinical service (including clinical employment), students must be registered for the appropriate class and supervised as noted below.

Practicum in Counseling (CPSE 679R)

PhD students are required to enroll in this 3-credit-hour experience during their first winter semester. This practicum includes a weekly minimum of 1-2 client contact hours (12-24 hrs. per semester), one hour of individual supervision, and one hour of group supervision, conducted at the Counseling Psychology Center in 350 MCKB. If the minimum client load requirement is not satisfied, students will be required to extend or repeat the practicum. 

Advanced Practicum I (CPSE 776R)

During the second year, all students are required to enroll in this 3-credit-hour experience during scheduled fall and winter semesters (total of 6 credits). This practicum requires a weekly minimum of 4-5 client contact hours (50-60 hrs. per semester), one hour of individual supervision, one hour of group supervision, and attendance at weekly counseling team meetings. This practicum is conducted at the BYU Counseling and Career Center (CCC) in 1500 WSC. At least 40 hours per semester must be devoted to individual counseling interventions. If the minimum client load requirement is not satisfied, students will be required to extend or repeat the practicum.

Advanced Practicum II (CPSE 777R)

During the following year, students are required to enroll in this 3-credit-hour experience  during both the fall and winter semesters (total of 6.0 credits). This practicum includes a weekly minimum of 4-5 client contact hours (50-60 hrs. per semester), one hour of individual supervision, one hour of group supervision, and attendance at weekly counseling team meetings. At least 40 hours per semester must consist of  individual counseling interventions. If the minimum client load requirement is not satisfied, students will be required to extend or repeat the practicum experience. This practicum will be conducted at the BYU Counseling and Career Center (CCC) in 1500 WSC.

Off-campus Counseling Psychology Clerkship (CPSE 778R)

During the following year, students are required to enroll in a 3-credit-hour clerkship during both fall and winter semesters (total of 6.0 credits). This clerkship experience must include a weekly minimum of at least 4-5 client contact hours (50-60 hrs. per semester), one hour of individual supervision, and one hour of group supervision. If the minimum client load requirement is not satisfied, students will be required to extend or repeat the clerkship. Off-campus clerkship placement sites include a variety of clinical settings, such as hospitals, community mental health centers, schools, residential treatment centers, and private practice arrangements, which must be approved in advance by the coordinator of clinical training. An evaluation of students' work during clerkship placements will be completed by each on-site supervisor.

University Teaching Practicum  (CPSE 779R)

During the clerkship year, students are also required to enroll in a 3-credit-hour supervised teaching practicum during either fall or winter semester.  Doctoral students will teach or team teach one undergraduate or graduate course during the designated semester, as approved by the teaching practicum coordinator. This requirement may be fulfilled earlier in the program by students seeking to gain additional college teaching experience.

Supervision and Consultation Class (CPSE 746)

Also during the clerkship year, doctoral students will have the opportunity to provide supervision to graduate students doing counseling at the Counseling Psychology Center in 350 MCKB. They can expect to supervise cases in career, academic, and personal counseling, as well as assessment cases. This supervision is part of a 3-credit-hour course taught during winter semester. Supervision of doctoral students' supervision will be provided by the course instructor as well as CPSE and Counseling Center faculty.

Predoctoral Internship (CPSE 780R)

Consistent with APA accreditation requirements, all PhD students must serve an internship in professional psychology  consisting of one calendar year of full-time (or two years of half-time) supervised professional work experience for a total of 2,000 clock hours. Students must register for 1 or 2 credit hours each internship semester or term (for a total of 8 hours). Internship placements include a variety of agency, university and institutional settings, as approved by the coordinator of clinical training. Students must receive approval before applying to internship sites. (See doctoral program handbook or department graduate secretary for approval form.) Only Association of Psychology Postdoctoral and Internship Centers (APPIC) internships will be approved (see APPIC Directory); an internship which is also accredited by APA is preferred. To be eligible to apply for this internship, students must have completed all required course work, comprehensive examinations, and the dissertation prospectus defense. Some states count the predoctoral internship as one of the years required for licensing as a psychologist.