Stevenson’s Doctor of Psychology (Psy.D.) in Clinical Psychology Program Earns APA Accreditation

Stevenson University is pleased to announce that its Doctor of Psychology (Psy.D.) in Clinical Psychology program has been granted the initial accreditation status of Accredited, on Contingency by the American Psychological Association's Commission on Accreditation (APA CoA), effective as of October 24, 2025.* Stevenson graduates its first Psy.D. candidates this spring and summer, and the program will welcome 21 students for its Fall 2026 cohort.

This accreditation marks a milestone for the University, representing the successful culmination of more than five years of planning, development, and rigorous evaluation. As Stevenson's first doctoral program, the Psy.D. reflects the institution's continued commitment to academic excellence and innovation, and to programs focused on career preparation for professional fields.

"Receiving APA accreditation not only reflects the academic excellence of our Doctor of Psychology program, but is a historic accomplishment for our entire institution," said Meredith Durmowicz, Ph.D., Stevenson's Executive Vice President, Academic Affairs and Provost. "I would like to acknowledge and thank the administrators and faculty of our Psy.D. program: Dr. Marie McGrath, Dr. Soonhee Lee, Dr. Colleen Spada, Dr. Ryan Willard, and Dr. Virginia Iannone, as well as all the students, faculty, and staff from across Stevenson who participated in October's APA site visit. Their hard work and dedication built this program and made this achievement possible."

"Today marks a significant milestone for Stevenson's Psy.D. program," said Marie McGrath, Ph.D., Graduate Program Director and Professor, Clinical Psychology. "This accreditation affirms that our program meets APA's quality standards for training future psychologists in the scientific foundations and best practices of our discipline, preparing them to deliver high-quality clinical services to the public."

Developed in response to the growing demand for highly trained clinical psychologists, Stevenson's Psy.D. program prepares students to serve diverse populations across Maryland and beyond. Since enrolling its inaugural cohort in Fall 2021, the program has grown to 70 students across five cohorts.

Rooted in a practitioner-scholar model, the five-year program emphasizes rigorous academic and clinical training, as well as mentorship by faculty who are licensed psychologists with substantial experience in clinical practice. Throughout the program, students gain hands-on experience through coursework, clinical training, and research experiences, preparing them to attain psychology licensure and to deliver a range of evidence-informed clinical services to individuals and populations with diverse identities and experiences.

As an intermediate milestone, students are eligible to receive a master's degree in Clinical Psychology upon successful completion of their second year. This enables them to pursue registration as a Psychology Associate with the Maryland Board of Examiners of Psychologists and access additional opportunities for supervised professional practice and further clinical training as they complete the program.

To learn more about the Doctor of Psychology (Psy.D.) program in Clinical Psychology at Stevenson University, visit https://www.stevenson.edu/psyd.

About Stevenson University

Founded in 1947, Stevenson University today serves more than 3,700 undergraduate, graduate, and professional students. The University offers a campus-based undergraduate experience on its 200-acre campus in Owings Mills, Maryland; graduate and professional degrees through Stevenson University Online; and the Psy.D. program in Clinical Psychology. For nearly 80 years, Stevenson has been committed to a mission and vision to meet the evolving needs of today's college students and prepare them for success in tomorrow's workforce. To learn more, visit https://www.stevenson.edu.

*American Psychology Association Accreditation Statement

Stevenson University's Psy.D. program in Clinical Psychology is accredited by the American Psychological Association (APA). Specifically, the Psy.D. program has been granted "accredited, on contingency" status by APA with an initial date of accreditation of October 24, 2025. The program's "accredited, on contingency" status will expire on October 24, 2030. Information on accreditation statuses can be found here.

Questions related to the program's accredited status should be directed to the Commission on Accreditation:

Office of Program Consultation and Accreditation
American Psychological Association
750 1st Street, NE, Washington, DC 20002
Phone: (202) 336-5979 / E-mail: [email protected]
Web: www.apa.org/ed/accreditation