Program Overview

Clinical Psychology Program

The Department of Psychology offers a five to seven year doctoral program in clinical psychology, which is an APA-Accredited program based on a clinical science model. The program provides concurrent, integrative training in clinical science and clinical service delivery, preparing graduates to apply current knowledge, theories, and techniques, and to remain at the cutting-edge of the field.

About the Program

The program has three main training objectives:

• To produce clinical scientists with foundational knowledge of the science of psychology and the practice of psychology
• To produce clinical scientists who are capable of contributing to the body of scientific knowledge
• To produce clinical scientists who take an investigative approach to the understanding of psychopathology and the practice of clinical assessment and intervention

The excellence of the program has been recognized by the Association for Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies and US News and World Report.

Clinical Practica

Clinical training occurs through applied experiences or practica that are integrated within the program. The clinical program has its own research and training clinic, where a two-year practicum is required of all students beginning in their second year. The in-house clinic practicum training has several important features:

• All clinical activities are scientifically guided
• The Psychology Clinic is an active place for clinical research
• It provides exposure to a wide variety of outpatient mental health problems and emergencies in a population that represents a fairly broad cross-section of the community
• Nearly all supervisors at the Psychology Clinic are full-time clinical program faculty, each trained in a scientifically-oriented clinical program
• A resident licensed psychologist is available in the clinic for consultation and to provide supervision

Psychology Clinic

The Psychology Clinic provides an excellent environment for an introduction to the practice of clinical psychology and for conducting clinical research. The director of the clinic has implemented policies and procedures aimed at facilitating students' integration of science and practice, including:

• Using empirically supported treatments with patients
• Developing treatment plans with psychological science as the starting point
• Regularly spot-checking patient files to encourage proper documentation, accurate diagnosis, and diagnosis-based and empirically supported treatment plans
• Requiring students to regularly engage in ongoing research based at the clinic

External Placements and Internship

Students are eligible for practicum placements in community agencies beginning in their second year in the program. Supervision at all practicum sites is by psychologists who have been approved by the faculty. Available placements are varied, ranging from child learning disability assessments and outpatient treatment of adjustment disorders to working with chronically disturbed psychiatric inpatients. All graduate students in the clinical psychology program are required to complete an APA-accredited predoctoral internship.

Student Outcomes and Other Program Data

The program tracks student outcomes and other data, including internship placement rates and licensure rates.

Admission Requirements

Students admitted to the clinical psychology program will be required to undergo federal and state criminal background checks prior to first semester registration. Positive results may change a student's admission status due to the practicum requirements of the program.