Program Overview

Psychology Program

The Psychology program at Memorial University is a comprehensive program that offers undergraduate and graduate studies in psychology. The program is designed to provide students with a strong foundation in psychological principles, theories, and methods.

Undergraduate Studies

The undergraduate program in psychology offers a range of courses and programs, including:

• Major in Psychology
• Major in Behavioural Neuroscience
• Honours Program
• Psychology Co-op Program (PCOP)
• Minor in Psychology

Graduate Studies

The graduate program in psychology offers a range of courses and programs, including:

• Masters in Applied Psychological Science (Co-op)
• Experimental Psychology
• Doctor of Psychology (Psy.D.)

Doctor of Psychology (Psy.D.) Program

The Doctor of Psychology (Psy.D.) program is a doctoral program in clinical psychology that is comprised of 11 foundational courses, 10 clinical practicum courses, attending a departmental colloquium, a seminar series devoted to Indigenization, Inclusivity, Diversity, Equity, and Accessibility (IIDEAS), a dissertation, and a year-long full-time internship/residency at a CPA- or APA accredited site (or equivalent).

Timeline

The Psy.D. program is offered on a year-round, full-time basis only. While it is possible to complete the program in four years, the median time to complete the Psy.D. program is five years. Factors that influence program completion time include, but are not limited to: dissertation progress, availability of practicums, and need for clinical skills remediation.

Required Courses and Practica

Students receive core training in psychological assessment, diagnosis, intervention and prevention, psychopathology, ethics and professional issues, diversity issues, research methods and evaluation, supervision, and consultation. The required courses include:

• Psychology 6000: Advanced Statistics
• Psychology 6602: Research Design in Clinical Psychology
• Psychology 6611: Ethics of Professional Practice
• Psychology 6612: Adult Psychopathology
• Psychology 6620: Principles of Adult Assessment and Diagnosis
• Psychology 6623: Child Psychopathology, Assessment and Diagnosis
• Psychology 6630: Principles of Intervention with Adults
• Psychology 6631: Principles of Child Intervention
• Psychology 6633: Psychopharmacology
• Psychology 6650: Clinical Supervision
• Psychology 6670: Interprofessional Education

The required practica include:

• Psychology 7010: Practicum in Ethics and Relationship Skills
• Psychology 7020: Practicum in Adult Assessment and Diagnosis I
• Psychology 7021: Practicum in Adult Assessment and Diagnosis II
• Psychology 7022: Practicum in Child Assessment and Diagnosis
• Psychology 7030: Practicum in Assessment and Intervention I
• Psychology 7031: Practicum in Assessment and Intervention II
• Psychology 7032: Practicum in Assessment and Intervention III
• Psychology 7033: Practicum in Advanced Assessment and Intervention I
• Psychology 7034: Practicum in Advanced Assessment and Intervention II
• Psychology 7035: Practicum in Rural Intervention and Interprofessional Practice

Comprehensive Examination

Students are required to complete a Comprehensive Examination, which typically occurs at the end of the second year of study. This examination is designed to assess mastery of both theoretical and applied knowledge and to examine the clinical application of the knowledge and skills acquired through course work and practica.

Doctoral Dissertation

Students are required to complete and defend a doctoral dissertation under the supervision of a faculty member in the Department of Psychology.

Pre-doctoral Residency

The decision to apply for the pre-doctoral residency is assessed on an individual basis. Students are considered ready to apply for residency after they have completed all required courses, have obtained the minimum number of hours of clinical training necessary for depth and breadth of experience, have made sufficient progress on their dissertation and if they:

1. Possess the emotional stability and maturity to handle the challenges of graduate training in clinical psychology.
2. Possess the theoretical/academic foundation necessary for effective clinical work.
3. Possess the skills necessary for translating theory into integrated practice.
4. Demonstrate awareness of, and practices according to, the current ethical guidelines for psychologists.
5. Demonstrate the capacity to participate in supervision constructively and can modify their behavior in response.

Students take part with other students across North America in the competitive APPIC internship matching program. Internship placements in Newfoundland and Labrador cannot be guaranteed. Applicants are strongly encouraged to apply to internship sites outside the province.