2001 Doctoral Program: Clinical Qualifying Exams

The policies found in section 2001 are specific to the doctoral program and do not apply to master’s students.

2001.1 Overview

Scheduled at the end of the 1st year (except in the case of Clinical Advanced Standing), a written clinical exam is given to assess the student's mastery of 1st year learning objectives and readiness for advanced clinical learning. Exam requirements are conveyed to students by their Practicum Faculty Advisers (PFA's). The oral clinical exam is offered at the end of the 1st year of internship. Both exams are components of the final grade for the 1st year internship.

The Written and Oral clinical exams are graded separately with a final grade of Pass (P) or Fail (F). A student receiving a grade of F in either or both exams would not be permitted to continue on to further academic coursework, and would be dismissed from the Program.

A student whose exam is at the threshold between Pass and Fail would be given one opportunity to re-write the part(s) of the exam(s) found to be unsatisfactory. The re-write is evaluated by the student's Practicum Faculty Adviser and the Director of Practicum Learning, and must be completed and successfully passed before the student would be permitted to continue on to further coursework or clinical internship. The transcript grade for the clinical internship would be I (Incomplete) until the completion and grading of the re-take or re-write of the exam/s.
A grade of PASS on the exam(s) would be required to proceed with further academic coursework.

2001.2 Written Clinical Exam: Procedures & Criteria

The Written Exam consists of a published article and a set of questions related to the article that centers the clinical learning objectives of the 1st year. The exam is taken in early April of the 1st year of the student's clinical internship.Students are given 4 hours to complete the exam..

On the day before the exam the article will be emailed to the student. The next day the exam questions are emailed to the student. The test is completed using the honor system; students are required to exercise academic honesty, without supervision or surveillance, and students are expected to adhere to professional ethics. No books, notes or online material are allowed to be used during the exam. Students will compose their answers on a computer in a Word document. At the end of 4 hours, they will email their exam paper as a Word attachment back to the Administrative and Systems Manager, Ph.D. Program (sswphd@smith.edu) . The exam is read by the student's PFA and the Director of Practicum Learning, and is evaluated based on the following criteria:

Read a published article that combines clinical psychodynamic theory and practice.
Explain the phenomena described in the article from an alternative theoretical position drawn from the four psychologies. Based on evidence in the article, compare and contrast both theoretical positions, discussing the gains and losses inherent in each.
Examine the practice interventions in light of the theory the author uses. Be able to think critically about how a different theory might lead to a different intervention.
Critique the theoretical position taken in the article in terms of its social and historical contexts.
Demonstrate Ph.D. level writing within the constraints of a timed examination.

2001.3 Oral Clinical Exam: Procedures & Criteria

This exam, based on the student's case study, consists of a face-to- face discussion between the student and a committee made up of three members of the School's Ph.D. Program faculty and associates. The Program Clinical Director serves as the ex ofﬁcio member of every exam committee.

The exam takes place via video- conferencing in late April of the 1st year internship. It lasts approximately 2 hours. The oral exam is evaluated on the following criteria:

Present a coherent biopsychosocial-spiritual assessment using those psychodynamic, developmental and social theories that best serve the client, with particular attention given to relevant issues of diversity.
Articulate a treatment plan with speciﬁc goals and interventions, in both Agency-based and theoretical languages, demonstrating how they serve the client.
Select one theory drawn from the four psychologies, apply it to the case, and based on the assessment, defend the rationale for the theoretical position in the treatment of the client.
Compare and contrast the chosen theory with another theory drawn from the four psychologies, noting the gains and losses obtained with each theoretical perspective.
Address goals in terms of the assessment formulation and as demonstrated by evidence in the process recordings.
Evaluate progress in treatment based on a review of treatment goals in relation to client outcome.
Demonstrate understanding of the working alliance, transference, resistance, and countertransference in the therapeutic relationship.
Entertain an alternate point of view and discuss it in a clear and coherent manner.
Address any ethical dilemmas raised by the case.