In general, every effort is made to schedule classes at times that do not conflict with other student responsibilities. Whenever possible, courses required of students in the first two years and taught at SDSU are scheduled to meet on Tuesday and/or Thursday. There is one exception during the second year, when all students complete their practicum experience in the SDSU Psychology Clinic. During that year, practicum supervision is done simultaneously for all supervisors and is scheduled for 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Wednesdays; Wednesdays from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m. are reserved for required didactics and clinic case conferences.

Students also take two courses with the medical students, Mind, Brain, and Behavior I (MBB I, CLIN 227A) taken in the second year, and Mind, Brain, and Behavior II (MBB II, and CLIN 227B) taken in the third year. Both courses are taught Monday through Friday from 8 to noon for five consecutive weeks. MBB I (which focuses on normal development, physiology, and behavior) is typically taught in February-March, while MBB II (which focuses on abnormal development, physiology, and behavior) typically begins the first Wednesday after New Year’s. Second year students taking MBB I may require an adjustment to supervision and/didactics for these five weeks. For third year students, this may require an adjustment to their practicum schedule for the five weeks of MBB II. Effective 2019, Behavioral Medicine (BMed) and Experimental Psychopathology (EP) students will now have the option to take an alternative to MBB I (PSY 860: Seminar in Physiological Foundations of Behavior) that is more specifically designed to meet the needs of BMed/EP students followed by the Psychiatry portion of MBB II (CLIN 228: Mind, Brain, and Behavior II – Psychiatry Emphasis). All students still have the option to take both MBB I & II.

The following provides an overall perspective on the curriculum for each of the five years in residence. Please remember that SDSU is on the semester system and UC San Diego on the quarter system. That means you must remember to register for courses 5 times each year. Although we will endeavor to remind you prior to the end of each registration period, it is ultimately your responsibility to remember to register. Fees that are assessed for failure to register on time, regardless of whether we reminded you or not, will all be paid by the student.

For students interested in pursuing the M.P.H. degree, please contact the SDSU Program Coordinator for more information about a sample curriculum.

First Year
SDSU
UC San Diego
FALL
PSY 770A Experimental Design (3 units)
PSY 850 Clinical Interventions II (3 units)
PSY 856 Assessment II (4 units)
FALL CLIN 296 Independent Study (6 units)
WINTER
CLIN 296 Independent Study (6 units)
SPRING PSY 770B Experimental Design (3 units)
PSY 849 Clinical Interventions I (4 units)
PSY 855 Assessment I (4 units)
SPRING CLIN 296 Independent Study (6 units)
Year 1 Program Milestones
Begin second year project
Second Year
SDSU
UC San Diego
FALL
PSY 801 History & Ethics (3 units)
PSY 820 Cultural Psychology (3 units)
PSY 875 Multivariate Statistics (3 units)
PSY 896 Clinical Practicum (7 units)
FALL CLIN 296 Independent Study (6 units)
WINTER
CLIN 296 Independent Study (6 units)
CLIN 227A Mind, Brain, and Behavior I (6 units) (required for NP students) OR PSY 860
SPRING PSY 840 Seminar in Personality and Social Psychology (3 units)  OR
PSY 843 (BMed students) (3 units)
PSY 860 Seminar in Physiological Foundations of Behavior (3 units) OR CLIN 227A
PSY 896 Clinical Practicum
(7 units)
PSY 887 Seminar in Cognition, Affect, and Cognitive-Affective Interactions – can be taken in 2nd year if space available
SPRING CLIN 296 Independent Study (6 units)
Year 2 Program Milestones
Complete second year project
Obtain M.S. in Clinical Psychology
Third Year
SDSU
UC San Diego
FALL
PSY 897 Doctoral Research (EP/BMed: 3 units, NP: 6 units)
PSY 852 (EP students) (3 units) OR
PSY 842 (BMed students) (3 units)
FALL CLIN 296 Independent Study (6 units)
CLIN 296 Independent Study: Advanced Clinical Practicum (4 units)
CLIN 294A Neuropsychology Proseminar (NP students) (3 units)
WINTER
CLIN 296 Independent Study (6 units)
CLIN 296 Independent Study: Advanced Clinical Practicum (4 units)
CLIN 227B Mind, Brain, and Behavior II (6 units) (required for NP students) OR CLIN 228 Mind, Brain, and Behavior II – Psychiatry Emphasis (3 units)
CLIN 294B Neuropsychology Proseminar (NP students) (3 units)
SPRING PSY 887 Seminar in Cognition, Affect, and Cognitive-Affective Interactions*
PSY 833 (EP students) (3 units) OR
PSY 840 Seminar in Personality and Social Psychology (BMed students) (3 units) OR
PSY 897 Doctoral Research (NP students) (3 units)
SPRING CLIN 296 Independent Study (6 units)
CLIN 296 Independent Study: Advanced Clinical Practicum (4 units)
CLIN 294C Neuropsychology Proseminar (NP students) (3 units)
Year 3 Program Milestones
Complete clinical comprehensive exam
Complete major area of study comprehensive exam
Propose dissertation
Fourth & Fifth Year
SDSU
UC San Diego
FALL
PSY 897 Doctoral Research (6 units) FALL CLIN 296 Independent Study (6 units)
CLIN 296 Independent Study: Advanced Clinical Practicum (4 units)
WINTER
CLIN 296 Independent Study (6 units)
CLIN 296 Independent Study: Advanced Clinical Practicum (4 units)
SPRING PSY 897 Doctoral Research (3-6 units)
PSY 899 Dissertation (3 units) – Semester before internship only
SPRING CLIN 296 Independent Study (6 units)
CLIN 296 Independent Study: Advanced Clinical Practicum (4 units)
Year 4 Program Milestones
Advance to candidacy
Complete dissertation
Apply for internship
Internship Year
SDSU
UC San Diego
FALL
Partner Campus Form (no units) FALL CLIN 296 Independent Study (6 units)
WINTER
CLIN 296 Independent Study (6 units)
SPRING Partner Campus Form (no units) SPRING CLIN 296 Independent Study (6 units)
Internship Year Program Milestones
Complete internship

NOTES:
Students who will be teaching must register for and take PSY 895, Practicum in the Teaching of Psychology. Contact the SDSU Co-Director and Program Coordinator for the suppressed schedule number and to check on the number of units. This is a tuition issue, and is unrelated to the number of supervised hours or the work required.

All second year students’ practicum will be at the SDSU Psychology Clinic. Students should register for 3 units under EACH supervisor and 1 unit under the SDSU Psychology Clinic Director.

§All second year students’ practicum will be at SDSU. After the second year, students must register for CLIN 296 Independent Study: Advanced Clinical Practicum (4 units) under Dr. Tamara Wall until the internship year. This is a malpractice coverage issue for the program and the universities.

*Cognitive Psychology is required for advancement to candidacy. If planning to go on internship in Year 5, Cognitive Psychology course must be taken by Spring of Year 3.

All students on internship must only register for classes at UC San Diego while they are on internship.

Updated 7/15/2024