Purpose and Outcomes

The Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in Clinical Hypnotherapy is designed for those learners whose focus is on research and teaching as well as professional practice. The doctoral candidate must be professionally oriented and possess the intellectual ability to integrate information for purposes of research and application and present that information in a comprehensive written format. Doctoral learners will be engaged in advanced purposeful study as well as dissertation research. A list of the core or required Doctoral courses is included with your learner packet. After the core requirements are completed, the learner may select electives to reflect a particular special interest within the hypnotherapeutic study. Admissions AmPac welcomes applications for admission from mature adults who are desirous and capable of undertaking its education program. Admission Requirements - A Bachelor’s degree from an approved educational institution. - Evidence of the learner’s ability to complete graduate level work. Limited graduate and postgraduate credit earned at other colleges and universities may be transferred to AmPac with each situation considered individually. Academic credits for transfer must be in hypnosis/hypnotherapy or a closely related behavioral science. A maximum of nine (9) units may be transferred for learners who have completed a master’s degree in a related field. A maximum of twelve (12) units may be transferred for learners who have completed a doctoral degree in a related field. A maximum of fifteen (15) units may be transferred for learners who have completed a Ph.D. degree in a related field. Submission of Coursework Learners may submit a maximum of two (2) papers per calendar month.

Earning Credit for Seminars and Projects

For the purpose of the AmPac degree programs, seminars are defined as presentations by AmPac faculty or AmPac approved or sponsored events. In order to earn credit for a seminar, the learner must create an original presentation paper based on the material taught at the event. Some instructors will have a prepared syllabus much like the one used for AmPac independent study courses. In that case, the learner must prepare the paper according to the directions given by the instructor. Seminar course credit may be used as elective course credit at both the bachelor’s and doctoral level. Projects are created from material or events outside of the assigned curriculum. Projects are allowed only at the doctoral level and a maximum of fifteen (15) units may be earned in this way. All projects must be pre-approved in writing by the AmPac office. The project proposal form is included in the learner binder Time for Completion A learner must complete no less than five (5) courses per year of study. The entire program must be earned in not more than eight-four (84) calendar months. If the program is not completed within the prescribed eight-four (84) months (seven calendar years), the learner will be issued a transcript of credits earned to date and given a dismissal notice from the degree program. The learner may petition AmPac for an extension of time due to extenuating circumstances.

Graduation Requirements

Ninety (90) units of graduate credit are required for the Doctoral degree. Individual programs may vary according to how many courses, if any, are accepted for transfer credit. Learners may also earn elective units by attending seminars approved by AmPac or by doing independent projects. In addition to the independent study courses, the learner must write a 15-unit dissertation as a capstone project. This project must be of sufficient depth and demonstration of personal learning and professional acumen as to clearly reflect proficiency in the hypnotherapeutic area of interest. All Doctoral candidates will be required to pass a comprehensive oral examination to defend their dissertation. For those learners who are unable to take the examination in person, accommodations will be made to administer the exam via telephone.

The Difference between the DCH and the Ph.D.

The only difference between the DCH and the Ph.D. degrees is that the Ph.D. requires a 15-unit dissertation to be written by the graduating learner.