PhD in Clinical Psychology Minor: Christian Clinical Leadership & Ethical Practice

Program Overview

Degree abbreviation

Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology

Total program length

90 semester credit hours

Maximum approved transfer credit

Up to 40 semester credit hours

Minimum credits completed through the University after maximum transfer

80 semester credit hours

Normal completion time

Four to six academic years, depending on approved transfer credit, enrollment status, research progress, and dissertation completion

Advanced clinical psychology theory and specialization

30 credit hours

Research methods, statistics, and scholarly inquiry

24 credit hours

Professional leadership and higher-education teaching

15 credit hours

Advanced electives and concentration courses

18 credit hours

Scholarly writing and publication

9 credit hours

Comprehensive examination and doctoral candidacy

6 credit hours

Program Details

• Total Credits: 90
• Duration: 3 years
• Degree Level: PhD

Dissertation research and defense

• 18 credit hours
• Total
• 90 semester credit hours
• The PhD in Clinical Psychology with a Minor in Christian Clinical Leadership & Ethical Practice is designed for those who seek to integrate psychological expertise with Christian values in therapeutic settings. Students will learn advanced clinical skills, ethical practices, and leadership principles tailored to faith-based environments. This program prepares graduates for a variety of professional roles in mental health, where they can provide culturally competent care while incorporating spiritual dimensions into their therapeutic practices. Through rigorous coursework, research opportunities, and hands-on clinical experiences, students will develop critical thinking and reflective practices essential for successful careers in psychology. The unique focus on ethical practice rooted in Christian principles enhances the program's value for those wishing to serve communities with integrity and compassion, fostering a holistic approach to mental health care.
• The Doctor of Philosophy in Clinical Psychology is a research-intensive doctoral program emphasizing advanced clinical psychology theory, original research, quantitative and qualitative methodology, scholarly publication, higher-education teaching, ethical leadership, and the development and evaluation of clinical psychology-support programs.
• Students may receive up to 40 semester credit hours of approved graduate or doctoral transfer credit. Accepted transfer credits are applied toward the 90-credit graduation requirement and may reduce the student's remaining coursework and anticipated completion time. A student receiving the maximum transfer-credit award must complete at least 80 semester credit hours through the University.
• The Ph.D. requires successful completion of all required coursework, comprehensive examinations, admission to doctoral candidacy, approval of a dissertation proposal, original scholarly research, submission of an approved written dissertation, and a successful oral defense.
• DOCTORAL TRANSFER-CREDIT POLICY: The Doctor of Education and Doctor of Philosophy programs each require 120 semester credit hours. Students may transfer up to 40 semester credit hours of eligible graduate or doctoral coursework toward either degree. Transfer credit is not automatically awarded. Each request is evaluated individually according to: The academic level of the previous coursework; The relevance of the coursework to the doctoral curriculum; Course content and learning outcomes; Credit-hour equivalency; Grades earned; The age of the coursework; Official institutional documentation; The University's residency and transfer-credit policies. Accepted transfer credit may reduce the number of courses and the amount of time required to complete the degree. Students awarded the maximum 40 transfer credits will have 80 semester credit hours remaining in the 120-credit doctoral program. Comprehensive examinations, doctoral candidacy, doctoral residency, the applied doctoral project, dissertation research, and the final oral defense must ordinarily be completed through the University. These requirements may not be satisfied through transfer credit unless expressly permitted under a published University policy.

Dissertation Seminar & Proposal Development

• 3
• Completion of required coursework in Counseling Psychology
• PHDCL 733 — Clinical Supervision & Consultation: Clinical Supervision & ConsultationThis course prepares students in supporting faith-based, nonprofit, community organizations' missions..
• PHDCP 741 — Advanced Practicum: Supervision & Leadership: Advanced Practicum: Supervision & LeadershipThis course prepares students in supporting faith-based, nonprofit, community organizations' missions..
• PHDCP 742 — Advanced Practicum: Intervention: Advanced Practicum: InterventionThis course prepares students in supporting faith-based, nonprofit, community organizations' missions..
• PHDCP 743 — Comprehensive Exam Seminar: Comprehensive Exam SeminarThis course prepares students in supporting faith-based, nonprofit, community organizations' missions..
• PHDCP 744 — Dissertation Seminar & Proposal Development: Dissertation Seminar & Proposal DevelopmentThis course prepares students in supporting faith-based, nonprofit, community organizations' missions..

Dissertation Research I

• 3
• None
• DISS 802

Dissertation Research II

• 3
• Completion of Dissertation Research I
• DISS 803

Dissertation Research III

• 3
• Completion of Dissertation Research II and prior research methods coursework
• DISS 804

Dissertation Research IV

• 3
• DISS 803 or equivalent dissertation research course
• DISS 805

Dissertation Research V

• 3
• Completion of Dissertation Research IV (DISS 804) or equivalent.
• DISS 801 — Dissertation Research I: Dissertation Research IThis course prepares students in supporting faith-based, nonprofit, community organizations' missions..
• DISS 802 — Dissertation Research II: Dissertation Research IIThis course prepares students in supporting faith-based, nonprofit, community organizations' missions..
• DISS 803 — Dissertation Research III: Dissertation Research IIIThis course prepares students in supporting faith-based, nonprofit, community organizations' missions..
• DISS 804 — Dissertation Research IV: Dissertation Research IVThis course prepares students in supporting faith-based, nonprofit, community organizations' missions..
• DISS 805 — Dissertation Research V: Dissertation Research VThis course prepares students in supporting faith-based, nonprofit, community organizations' missions..

Dissertation Research VI

• 3
• Completion of prior dissertation research courses
• DISS 807

Dissertation Defense Seminar

• 3
• Completion of all required coursework and approval of dissertation proposal
• CCL 820
• Ethics in Pastoral Counseling and Integrated Care
• 3
• PHDCL 701
• CCL 825
• Strategic Leadership for Faith-Based Behavioral Health
• 3
• CCL 710
• PHDCP 850
• Integrated Community Health Capstone
• 3
• DISS 804
• DISS 806 — Dissertation Research VI: Dissertation Research VIThis course prepares students in supporting faith-based, nonprofit, community organizations' missions..
• DISS 807 — Dissertation Defense Seminar: Dissertation Defense SeminarThis course prepares students in supporting faith-based, nonprofit, community organizations' missions..
• CCL 820 — Ethics in Pastoral Counseling and Integrated Care: This course examines the integration of theological ethics within clinical settings and behavioral health systems. It explores the tension between secular mandates and faith-based counseling protocols. This course prepares students in supporting faith-based, nonprofit, community organizations' missions.
• CCL 825 — Strategic Leadership for Faith-Based Behavioral Health: This course focuses on organizational development, strategic planning, and governance within religious institutions providing clinical services. Students engage in case studies regarding administrative leadership in non-clinical environments. This course prepares students in supporting faith-based, nonprofit, community organizations' missions.
• PHDCP 850 — Integrated Community Health Capstone: This capstone course requires students to synthesize clinical research and leadership strategies to address complex psychological needs in underserved community settings. Students develop an implementation project for an identified faith-based stakeholder. This course prepares students in supporting faith-based, nonprofit, community organizations' missions.

Dissertation research and defense | 18 credit hours

• Total | 90 semester credit hours
• Code | Title | Credits | Prerequisites
• PHDCL 701 | Advanced Psychopathology | 3 | Completion of foundational courses in psychology or related fields
• PHDCL 702 | Research Design I | 3 | None
• PHDCL 703 | Advanced Statistics I | 3 | Completion of foundational statistics courses in psychology or related field.
• CCL 710 | Christian Clinical Leadership Foundations (Minor) | 3 | None
• PHDCL 711 | Evidence-Based Psychotherapies I | 3 | None
• Code | Title | Credits | Prerequisites
• PHDCL 712 | Research Design II | 3 | Research Design I or equivalent course
• PHDCP 712 | Research Design II | 3 | Research Design I or equivalent course
• PHDCP 713 | Advanced Statistics II | 3 | Advanced Statistics I or equivalent coursework
• PHDCL 731 | Evidence-Based Psychotherapies II | 3 | Evidence-Based Psychotherapies I
• PHDCL 732 | Neuropsychology Foundations | 3 | None
• Code | Title | Credits | Prerequisites
• PHDCL 733 | Clinical Supervision & Consultation | 3 | None
• PHDCP 741 | Advanced Practicum: Supervision & Leadership | 3 | None
• PHDCP 742 | Advanced Practicum: Intervention | 3 | Completion of foundational courses in Counseling Psychology
• PHDCP 743 | Comprehensive Exam Seminar | 3 | Completion of initial PhD coursework in Counseling Psychology
• PHDCP 744 | Dissertation Seminar & Proposal Development | 3 | Completion of required coursework in Counseling Psychology
• Code | Title | Credits | Prerequisites
• PHDCP 751 | Advanced Clinical Consultation | 3 | Doctoral level standing in Counseling Psychology or related field
• PHDCP 752 | Grant Writing for Behavioral Research | 3 | None
• PHDCP 761 | Leadership in Behavioral Health Systems | 3 | None
• PHDCP 762 | Publication & Peer Review Seminar | 3 | None
• PHDCP 770 | Doctoral Internship/Residency | 3 | Completion of foundational coursework in counseling psychology and approval from faculty advisor
• Code | Title | Credits | Prerequisites
• DISS 801 | Dissertation Research I | 3 | None
• DISS 802 | Dissertation Research II | 3 | Completion of Dissertation Research I
• DISS 803 | Dissertation Research III | 3 | Completion of Dissertation Research II and prior research methods coursework
• DISS 804 | Dissertation Research IV | 3 | DISS 803 or equivalent dissertation research course
• DISS 805 | Dissertation Research V | 3 | Completion of Dissertation Research IV (DISS 804) or equivalent.
• Code | Title | Credits | Prerequisites
• DISS 806 | Dissertation Research VI | 3 | Completion of prior dissertation research courses
• DISS 807 | Dissertation Defense Seminar | 3 | Completion of all required coursework and approval of dissertation proposal
• CCL 820 | Ethics in Pastoral Counseling and Integrated Care | 3 | PHDCL 701
• CCL 825 | Strategic Leadership for Faith-Based Behavioral Health | 3 | CCL 710
• PHDCP 850 | Integrated Community Health Capstone | 3 | DISS 804

Career Opportunities

• Clinical Psychologist
• Christian Counselor
• Mental Health Director
• Academic Researcher
• Clinical Supervisor
• Community Outreach Coordinator
• Policy Advisor in Mental Health
• Executive Director of Faith-Based Organizations

Important Notices

• The program educates ethical professionals who demonstrate technical excellence, servant leadership, professional integrity, and a commitment to apply sound principles to advance faith-based organizations, strengthen communities, and contribute responsibly.
• HBIU is a lawfully operating nonpublic faith-based postsecondary institution that maintains its status under section 1005.06(1)(f), Florida Statutes. The University annually affirms its compliance with the requirements applicable to faith-based institutions in Florida through Commission for Independent Education.
• HBIU accreditation from QAHE (for quality assurance in pre-tertiary and higher education mechanisms). QAHE offers globally recognized accreditation and quality assurance for higher education, training providers, and professional institutions worldwide. Students should consider the nature and scope of this recognition in relation to their individual certification and professional goals.
• Transfer credit is evaluated individually based on course content, credit hours, grades, institutional documentation, program requirements, and applicable university policies. Although HBIU provides academically structured programs, no institution can guarantee that another college, university, employer, licensing board, or credential-evaluation service will accept its credits or credentials. Students are encouraged to obtain advance written confirmation from the intended receiving organization.
• The program develops academic knowledge and applied competencies for service in faith-based organizations, nonprofit institutions, community programs, and related professional environments. Some occupations associated with the subject area may be regulated by governmental or professional authorities. A degree from HBIU demonstrates completion of the University's academic requirements but does not, by itself, confer professional licensure or legal authority to perform regulated services.
• Where a program is related to an external certification, eligibility is determined exclusively by the applicable certifying organization. Certification bodies may establish additional requirements involving education, examinations, experience, background screening, continuing education, or membership. HBIU does not guarantee certification eligibility or examination approval unless a formal written agreement expressly provides otherwise.
• Career and occupational information is provided to help students make informed educational decisions. Employment outcomes depend on factors such as the graduate's experience, geographic location, professional qualifications, employer requirements, economic conditions, interviewing ability, and any applicable licensure or certification requirements. Completion of a program does not constitute a promise of employment, promotion, job placement, or a particular occupational title.
• This program is delivered through online instruction. Students must have access to the technology, equipment, internet service, software, and learning resources identified in the University's technology requirements.
• Internship or field-experience participation is subject to academic eligibility, site availability, supervisor approval, and the requirements of the participating organization. The University assists students with the placement process but cannot guarantee placement with a particular organization, supervisor, location, or schedule.
• Students are responsible for reviewing the catalog, understanding program requirements, providing accurate information, meeting academic and financial obligations, and verifying whether the program supports their intended educational or professional goals.
• Completion of a University program does not authorize a graduate to use a professional title that is protected or restricted by law. Graduates must use titles that accurately reflect their education, credentials, employment role, and current licensure or certification status.
• Degree abbreviation | Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology
• Total program length | 90 semester credit hours
• Maximum approved transfer credit | Up to 40 semester credit hours
• Minimum credits completed through the University after maximum transfer | 80 semester credit hours
• Normal completion time | Four to six academic years, depending on approved transfer credit, enrollment status, research progress, and dissertation completion
• Advanced clinical psychology theory and specialization | 30 credit hours
• Research methods, statistics, and scholarly inquiry | 24 credit hours
• Professional leadership and higher-education teaching | 15 credit hours
• Advanced electives and concentration courses | 18 credit hours
• Scholarly writing and publication | 9 credit hours
• Comprehensive examination and doctoral candidacy | 6 credit hours