Diversity of strong students from all over the U.S. (e.g., UC Davis, Irvine, Los Angeles, Riverside, San Diego,
Santa Barbara; Yale University; The New School) and abroad (e.g., University of London,
University of Guadalajara)
Excellent core psychology faculty who value teaching, research, and service
Opportunities to develop mentoring relationships with the faculty as well as become involved in their research projects
Many faculty with active clinical practices and years of clinical experience and expertise in treating a variety of populations
Attentive and kind administrative staff who are easily accessible
Classes and Curriculum
Very small entering class sizes of 15-17 students per year that allow for personal contact and discussion with professors
(12:1 faculty student ratio) and opportunities to develop close relationships with
classmates and colleagues
Optional concentration areas such as dialectical behavior therapy, forensic psychology, and intimate partner violence
with electives in topics such as Latino/a psychology, attachment, trauma, and psychoanalytic
psychotherapy.
Clinically focused curriculum emphasizing the integration of diagnostics, assessment, and intervention with courses
organized around major diagnostic categories of Personality & Dissociative Disorders,
Mood & Anxiety Disorders, Gender & Sexual Disorders, Eating Disorders/Substance Abuse/Somatoform
Disorders, and Schizophrenia & Other Cognitive Disorders
Curriculum based on new professional standards of competency education developed by the American Psychological Association. Doctoral
program has ASPPB/National Register of Health Service Psychologists designation.
Technology-equipped state of the art classrooms: computers, projectors with writable capabilities, internet access, and video and
sound equipment.
Clinical Training
Two onsite training clinics staffed by our second-year PsyD and M.S. Counseling (MFT) students (with 21 licensed
supervisors) located in Oxnard and Westlake Village that provide extensive low-fee
community services to underserved communities (almost 15,000 scheduled appointments
last year). These centers have computerized scheduling systems, computer workstations,
digital recording in all 28 therapy rooms, the capability of streaming live therapy
sessions, iPad kiosks for clients to complete the OQ-45 evaluation tool (which is
recorded directly to our online database), fully stocked play therapy rooms, family
therapy rooms, and group rooms.
Diverse external practicum settings include university counseling centers, CMHCs, hospital systems, residential facilities,
correctional facilities, schools, and specialized facilities for domestic violence,
addictions, and eating disorders.
Ability to tailor training experiences to your unique interests in working with specific populations or within specific
clinical settings
100% of Cal Lutheran’s PsyD students matched to APA-accredited doctoral internships. This 2018 match rate surpasses the
nationwide PsyD Clinical Psychology APA-accredited doctoral internship match rate
of 87.1%
Research
Develop competence in research and scholarship while emphasizing clinical training
Dissertation classes taken throughout the program with structured tasks directed toward dissertation
completion.
Faculty actively involved in publishing and presenting with many opportunities to join faculty research programs to present and publish
with them
Funding available to student presenters to assist with conference travel
Resources
Updated technology and computer labs with extensive online and physical library resources
Extensive updated resources for personality, cognitive, neuropsychological, and forensic assessment, with assessment
kits for each doctoral student during training
Student Council actively involved in program development, professional development, community service,
and providing programmatic feedback to the Director of the PsyD Program and Dean
Library access to 270 full-text online journals, 2279 physical volumes, 2709 full text e-books, and 2941 online videos for both students
and faculty.
Interlibrary loan is easily accessible from computers on and off campus.
California Lutheran University
Ranked in the top 10 byU.S. News & World Report in Best Colleges 2020 (Ranked 9thamong Western Regional Universities and 4thamong California Regional Universities)
Welcoming of diversity of all types: age, dis(ability) status, ethnicity, gender, gender identity and expression, language,
nationality, political view, race, religion sexual orientation, socioeconomic status,
and spirituality.
Program benefits from the resources and support of the full university (online registration, computer support, academic support services, fitness center,
etc.)
Private, not for profit university
WASC accredited
Ventura County
Thousand Oaks, Oxnard, and Westlake Village are located in Ventura County between Los Angeles and Santa Barbara, CA.
Oxnard campus is 15 minutes from Ventura beach, 40 minutes from Santa Barbara or Malibu. Or 60 minutes from Santa Monica. Temperature
is between 60 and 75 year round.
Biking, hiking, running, swimming, surfing, and farmers’ markets – all possible during study breaks or days off!
In August 2015, Ventura County was ranked in the Washington Post as the most desirable county to live in America. This ranking was based upon natural amenities, such as mild, sunny winters, temperate
summers, low humidity, topographic variation, and access to a body of water.
Cost
Ten or more graduate assistantships available annually
Tuition reduced to less than $1,800 for full doctoral internship year