The PhD in Clinical Psychology Blended Academic Year in Residence (BAYR) is a requirement for doctoral training in professional psychology. It offers the opportunity for you to focus on developing your skills and knowledge as well as honing the attributes and attitudes of a professional psychology practitioner. You will work closely with your peers and clinical psychology PhD program faculty members, interacting formally and informally to create a network of colleagues; receive specific feedback on your progress; and practice skills you will need for the future.
Highlights and Benefits
Acquisition and demonstration of clinical skills and knowledge:
- Receive in-residence instruction of skills in clinical assessment and psychotherapeutic intervention.
- Use hands-on exercises such as role play, small-group work, modeling, and application to gain expertise and knowledge.
- Gain practice with assessment instruments and methods, scoring and interpretation of tests, diagnostic formulation, and clinical report writing.
- Learn evidence-based therapeutic techniques that prepare you for supervised practice in the practicum and internship segments of the program.
- Receive feedback on skill development from PhD in Clinical Psychology faculty members.
Socialization into the profession:
- Interact on a regular and consistent basis in-person with faculty members and peers.
- Receive mentoring and academic advising from faculty members to help navigate the clinical psychology PhD program and prepare for career entry.
- Gain insight into your areas of focus through formal and informal conversations with faculty and students on topics of interest in psychology.
- Receive feedback on your professional presentation and the attitudes and attributes of being a psychologist, which you will build and develop over the year.
Practitioner preparation:
- Support your practitioner training with a foundation of theory and knowledge to broaden your understanding of the field.
- Prepare for field training (practicum and internship) through skill development, practice, and feedback from your PhD in Clinical Psychology faculty members.
- Process case examples that include complicated diagnostic, multicultural, and ethical features.
- Study models of consultation and supervision as well as gain skills and knowledge in specialized areas of psychological practice.
Requirements
The Blended Academic Year in Residence (BAYR) typically takes place during the ninth through the twelfth quarters of your clinical psychology PhD program.
Prior to starting your BAYR, you must attend your first doctoral academic residency (which must be completed in quarter two) as well as complete the prerequisite requirements as outlined in the program of study and required doctoral academic residencies.
The PhD in Clinical Psychology BAYR spans 12 consecutive calendar months, a standard requirement for doctoral training in psychology and licensure. Your BAYR comprises eight courses (as listed below), which are completed over four quarters in a blended format. Part of each course has both asynchronous and synchronous requirements, but the majority is taught face-to-face in Minneapolis over seven days during each quarter. You will also experience formal and informal interaction with faculty members, administrators, students, staff members, and other professionals as part of the in-residence year.
Students residing in Illinois are required to complete 45 credits of the Blended Academic Year in Residence (BAYR) to meet licensure requirements in the state of Illinois. Students will automatically be enrolled in the Illinois state-specific courses during the BAYR.
The BAYR comprises the following courses for students in the PhD in Clinical Psychology program:
- Psychotherapeutic Interventions: Psychodynamic and Humanistic
- Projective Personality Assessment
- Psychotherapeutic Interventions: Behavioral and Gestalt
- Objective Personality Assessment
- Cognitive Assessment: Learning & Achievement Testing
- Cognitive Assessment: Intelligence Testing
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
- Consultation and Supervision in Psychology
Costs and Funding
Costs and fees related to the PhD in Clinical Psychology Blended Academic Year in Residence (BAYR) are added directly to your tuition bill. These costs do not include travel, lodging, and most meals during the residency.
If you qualify for financial aid, you may be able to use it to pay residency fees. Travel, lodging, and meals cannot be paid directly from financial aid.
Frequently Asked Questions
The Blended Academic Year in Residence (BAYR) socializes students to the profession of psychology and assesses their progress toward habits, skills, and insights that are necessary for practice and scholarship at the doctoral level. The year in residence is an opportunity to concentrate on skill development, particularly in psychological assessment, diagnostic acumen, and empirically supported interventions designed to treat psychological disorders and problems. You’ll also interact closely with faculty members and peers, participate in formal and informal educational experiences, learn from visiting scholars and speakers, and receive feedback from faculty members in areas of practice-related skills. Research skills are also emphasized and reviewed, helping prepare you to successfully conceptualize and plan the dissertation.
A year in residence, consisting of 12 consecutive calendar months of study, is a standard requirement for doctoral training in psychology in specializations designed to lead to the practice of psychology.
The BAYR is held in Minneapolis. You will be face-to-face with peers, faculty members, and staff members of the university during the in-person portion of your courses.
You’ll begin the Blended Academic Year in Residence in the ninth quarter of the program. As part of the BAYR, you will complete eight courses in a blended, in-residence format (40 quarter credits total). You will take part of each course online, but the majority of the course will occur in person with your classmates and faculty at Walden University in Minneapolis. You will be required to travel to Minneapolis once per quarter during this year to complete the in-residence portion of the courses. Thus, you will travel to Minneapolis four times during the BAYR, once each quarter, for seven-day sessions Monday through the following Sunday.
Once you have completed the necessary prerequisites, you will be automatically enrolled in the Blended Academic Year in Residence (BAYR). You will be required to travel to Minnesota for one week out of each term in order to complete the face-to-face portion of the BAYR. The additional fee will be charged at the time you are enrolled in BAYR. The fee will be applied directly to your tuition statement.
Students must complete the BAYR within 12 consecutive calendar months to complete program requirements. This is a requirement of professional psychology students in general and is not specific or unique to Walden. In unique situations beyond students’ control that result in missing courses, or in the event an BAYR course is not passed, an individual plan will be crafted that will include additional coursework and require additional quarters of residency to ensure a contiguous 12-month academic experience with sufficient in-person, face-to-face components.
Family members, including children, cannot attend an academic residency program or courses with you.
No. The BAYR must be completed within 12 calendar months, and the courses that are part of the BAYR must be successfully completed with a grade of B or better.
Whatever your question is, we’ve got you covered.
Walden’s Enrollment Specialists are trained to help you research, plan, and get started on your academic journey. We can:
- Find the right program option for you.
- Explore scholarships and financial aid.
- Identify prior credits that may transfer.
- Explain the application process
- And more!