Fuller Theological Seminary Psy.D. Psychology Review
Fuller Theological Seminary is home to a Doctor of Psychology (Psy.D.) degree that’s been accredited by the American Psychological Association (APA) since 1972, and the degree is one of the few Christian-centered Psy.D. degrees to earn the APA’s stamp of approval.
Let’s check out all the facts and figures potential students need to know before deciding whether this program should be on their short list.
About the Program
Before we jump into the positive (and not-so-positive) aspects of the program, let’s check out some of its vital statistics.
Basics
- Institution type: Private, not-for-profit
- Main campus: Pasadena, California
- Accreditation: APA
- First year of program: 1972
Tuition and fees
- Full-time, in-state tuition: $33,610
- Full-time, out-of-state tuition: $33,610
- Per credit-hour tuition for part-time students: $NA
- Institution fees: $270
Student outcomes
- Median years to completion: 6 (2009-2019)
- Percentage completing in <5 years: 2% (2009-2019)
- Percentage completing in 7+ years: 10% (2009-2019)
- Degrees conferred, 2009-2019: 130
- Percentage of students obtaining internships: 100% (2018-19)
- Percentage of graduates earning professional licensure: 85% (2009-2019)
Degrees & requirements
- Psy.D. degrees offered: PsyD in Clinical Psychology
- Non-Psy.D. degrees offered: PhD in Clinical Psychology
- Number of units required: 242
Admissions
- Application method: Online
- Application fee: $50
- Admission requirements: Bachelor’s or master’s degree with sufficient psychology coursework, CV, four letters of recommendation, GRE score in past five years (151 verbal, 152 quantitative, 4.0 analytical writing), English proficiency test for international applicants
- Admissions office address: 135 N. Oakland Ave., Pasadena, CA 91182
Biggest Pros
What are some of the biggest reasons why students would be most likely to consider pursuing their Psy.D. at Fuller?
In-house clinic
One of the main reasons for students to seek a Psy.D. degree, as opposed to other types of psychology degrees, including a Ph.D., is that Psy.D. programs tend to ramp up the clinical experience, and at Fuller, students starting in their second year gain real-world experience at an on-site mental health clinic serving the surrounding community. Services include individual therapy, couples counseling, family therapy and more.
APA accreditation
In all states, earning a psychology doctorate is a prerequisite for earning professional licensure, with most states preferring licensure applicants to have earned degrees from APA-accredited institutions. A couple of states accept only these types of degrees, excluding applicants who earned their degrees from non-APA-accredited programs. At Fuller, students can rest assured their doctoral will carry the weight of APA accreditation.
Faith integration
With Fuller’s Christian connection, students learn relevant psychological theory and practice within the context of a nondenominational Christian tradition.
Biggest Cons
Though it has many positive attributes, no program is perfect. Let’s take a look at the less-than-attractive aspects of Fuller’s Psy.D.
Limited specialty tracks
Only two specializations are available in Fuller’s Psy.D. — neuropsychology or culture and community. While both are certainly exciting and challenging, Fuller does fall behind many other programs that offer more diverse focus areas.
No online option
All coursework must be completed in-person, which rules Fuller out for many students who aren’t in a position to relocate to Pasadena, California.
The Bottom Line
So how can you decide if this program is right for you? Here’s a quick breakdown to help you decide whether the Psy.D. at Fuller is right for you.
| Is the Fuller Theological Seminary Psy.D. Program Right For Me? | ||
| Need | Yes | No |
| I need to take my classes online | x | |
| I’m interested in clinical psychology | x | |
| I want to focus on a particular population group | x | |
| I’m interested in applied psychology | x | |
| I’m interested in school psychology | x | |
| I’m interested in industrial-organizational psychology | x | |
| I have a very limited budget for a Psy.D. program | x | |
| A well-established program is important to me | x | |
| I want to work in a real-world mental health clinic | x | |
| I want to contribute to cutting-edge research projects | x | |
| I don’t want to take the GRE | x | |
Conclusion
With its foundation in the Christian tradition, Fuller Theological Seminary offers many programs geared toward those who plan to seek careers focused on faith, and it’s no different for the institution’s Psy.D. While the degree instills in students a foundational and practical understanding of psychology, every aspect of the program carries through the Christian tradition.