Program Overview

Introduction to the Clinical Psychology PhD Program

The Doctor of Philosophy in Clinical Psychology is a full-time program consisting of 117 credits. The doctoral program in clinical psychology prepares students who have a primary career goal of community and clinical practice. This may be combined with an academic or research career.

Program Overview

The program requires 106.5 credits for graduation, including six elective courses, which permits the curriculum to evolve and stay current with the demands of the clinical psychology field. The clinical psychology program has been APA-accredited continuously since 1957. Students who complete the program are eligible to apply for a New York State psychology license.

Admission Criteria

A minimum GPA of 3.5 is strongly preferred, and quality of undergraduate education, as well as academic awards and honors, will be considered. Graduate degrees will also be factored in. Applicants should have majored in psychology, or at least have completed a minimum set of five psychology courses, including introductory or general psychology, statistics, research or experimental methods, abnormal psychology or psychopathology, and developmental psychology.

Program Goals and Objectives

The program has four broad training goals:

1. Students will achieve foundational and practical knowledge and skills in research methodology and data analysis.
2. Students will be trained at the entry level to diagnose, assess and utilize therapeutic interventions for diverse populations.
3. Students will learn critical inquiry, based upon the current body of knowledge in psychology and the integration of research and practice.
4. Students will attain the ethically based professional skills in research and clinical practice needed for professional competency.

Curriculum

The program's curriculum includes foundational, research and clinical courses that meet the requirements of New York State Department of Education and the American Psychological Association. The curriculum is divided into the following major areas of instruction: foundational psychology, research design and analysis, diagnostic methods, clinical theory and practice, and professional ethics and cultural competence.

Field Placements and Clinical Training

The doctoral program trains clinical psychologists who are competent to work with patients from diverse backgrounds across the lifespan, and with different presenting mental health problems and adjustments to life situations. This involves providing a broad academic, clinical and research training that builds on the strengths trainees bring with them, and on skills acquired while progressing through the program.

Externship Training

Providing doctoral candidates with an introduction to procedures and requirements pertaining to clinical placements outside the program, also known as externships. The doctoral program trains clinical psychologists who are competent to work with patients from diverse backgrounds across the lifespan, and with different presenting mental health problems and adjustments to life situations.

Research Training

Research is an important and integral part of doctoral training at Derner. As such, involvement in research begins with your acceptance into the program at which time you must begin the process of selecting a research mentor. You will work with your mentor throughout your first year (and most often beyond), initially, in developing and conducting the required pre-dissertation research project.

Dissertation Evaluation Procedure

Learn the details of the dissertation process. Research is an important and integral part of doctoral training at Derner. As such, involvement in research begins with your acceptance into the program at which time you must begin the process of selecting a research mentor. You will work with your mentor throughout your first year (and most often beyond), initially, in developing and conducting the required pre-dissertation research project.

• The pre-dissertation project begins in the first year, but is due by the end of the second year.
• The dissertation proposal is due by November 1 in the fall of the fourth year, prior to applying to the internship.
• With the assignment to advisers and workgroups now done prior to the first semester of the first year, as well as the revision of our curriculum which makes the third- and fourth-year course load lighter, students should have more time to complete their dissertations earlier than in the past.

Career Paths

A doctorate in clinical psychology can lead to rewarding careers doing consultation, evaluation or psychotherapy in clinics, hospitals or private practice. You can also pursue a career in academia, focusing on research and teaching. Common career paths for those with a PhD in clinical psychology include:

• Private practice, seeing clients individually or in groups
• Hospitals and clinics, providing therapy to patients with a variety of mental health issues
• Academia, conducting important research and training for the next generation of psychologists
• Government, providing mental health services to veterans, prisoners or other populations
• Business, providing counseling to employees or conducting research on workplace issues

Job Outlook

The job outlook for those with a PhD in clinical psychology is good. The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects that employment of psychologists will grow 8 percent from 2020 to 2030, faster than the average for all occupations. This growth is expected to be driven by the increasing demand for mental health services, as well as the aging population, who are more likely to experience mental health challenges.