Dual degree programs are available for those students wishing to earn the PsyD and the MBA-HCM or the PsyD and the MBA. The student receiving dual degrees can expect a wider range of career opportunities in clinical psychology, business, and health care management.
Students must be admitted by both the College of Health and Human Services and the School of Business Administration.
Purpose
Regardless of which career path a PsyD student is considering (private practice, employed clinician, consultant, organizational psychologist, leadership development in the corporate world) and whether that path occurs in the for-profit or not-for-profit sector of the economy, there is a strong case for pairing clinical psychology skills with business skills.
Every institution (whether for-profit or non-profit; independent practice or large employer) faces resource pressures, which makes it critical to bring in enough revenue to cover operating costs. Doing so requires a deep understanding of the entity’s “business model”: How does the institution generate revenue? Where does it incur costs? And what can be done to boost revenues and reduce costs so that the institution makes enough of a margin to survive and grow? The MBA program provides clinical psychologists with this “strategic business” perspective.
A dual degree program provides several advantages in a competitive job environment. It will give you the operational, financial, marketing, people, and strategic skills needed to boost your organization’s performance, thus bestowing on you the credibility to lead. It will make you a better practitioner by giving you a superior understanding of the healthcare environment and preparing you to take on the changing reimbursement system. It will make you a more effective leadership development consultant by helping you understand the business context in which your client operates. In other words, our multi-accredited competency-based based program will differentiate you in the marketplace.
Course Training
Students spend five years in full-time residence in the Institute for Graduate Clinical Psychology. Within that time frame, the business program can be completed by adding courses in each semester, including summer. In addition to fulfilling the essential requirements of the separate degrees, students are required to participate in a number of noncredit learning experiences that are specifically designed to help them integrate their training and develop unique skills. Students are expected to earn their dual degree within five years of study.
Admission
The applicant must possess a BA or BS degree from an accredited institution. A major in psychology is desirable but not essential. Evaluation of the student’s ability to do graduate work is based upon academic performance and high scores in the Graduate Record Exam (GRE). Personal character, attributes of emotional maturity and stability, and capacity for relating to and working with other people are major factors evaluated in reviewing applicants. Evidence for these attributes is sought from records of past performance, letters of reference, work history, and a personal interview. Applicants to these programs must be accepted by both the Institute for Graduate Clinical Psychology and the School of Business Administration. For admissions information, contact the Institute for Graduate Clinical Psychology, Widener University, One University Place, Chester, PA 19013.
Accreditations
The MBA-HCM and MBA are accredited by AACSB International—The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business. The MBA-HCM is also accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Healthcare Management Education (CAHME). The PsyD program and its clinical internship are fully accredited by the American Psychological Association.