J.D./Ph.D

Joint J.D. /Ph.D. Program in Psychology and Law

This program is a collaboration between Pacific Graduate School of Psychology, Palo Alto University (PAU) and Golden Gate University School of Law (GGU) leading to a Ph.D. degree in Clinical Psychology and a J.D. degree. Palo Alto University is accredited by the American Psychological Association and Golden Gate University is accredited by the American Bar Association.

Students must be eligible for admission to both the Ph.D. training program in clinical psychology at PAU and to the J.D. Program at Golden Gate University School of Law. Thus, they are required to take both the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) and the Law School Admissions Test (LSAT).

Psychology and law students are enrolled concurrently in PAU and GGU, taking courses at both institutions for a total of six years, plus a one-year clinical psychology internship. As this program is an integrated joint program, students will be able to complete requirements for both degrees in less time than if they were to pursue each degree separately. Emphasis in the first year is on course work at GGU and in the second year, at PAU. Students who complete the program are eligible for licensure as a clinical psychologist, subject to the post-doctoral statutory requirements in each jurisdiction, and for admission to the bar.

      The Joint J.D./Ph.D. Program in Psychology and the Law has three major training goals:

      1. To develop psychologists who can perform sophisticated social science  research to assist the legal system in making better empirically based decisions;

      2. To educate highly trained psychologists who can contribute to the advancement of forensic psychology;

      3. To produce Legal Psychologists who can participate in the development of data based mental health policy in the legislature and the courts.

More information may be obtained about this program from the Director of the Joint Program in Psychology and the Law, and from the Office of Admissions at PAU and GGU.

Dr. Bruce Bongar, Ph.D. Founding Director, can be reached at bbongar@paloaltou.edu

Dr. Houri Parsi, J.D., Ph.D.,  Alumnae Representative, can be reached at houriparsi@gmail.com