Concentrations/Tracks

Although the center's doctoral programs are committed to the general training of clinical psychologists, we also give students the option of beginning to specialize. Concentrations and tracks have been developed in recognized areas of psychology. Each concentration accepts a limited number of students at admission or during the first or second year of study and therefore a student is not guaranteed a slot in a particular concentration. Students are permitted to participate in one concentration only. Each concentration consists of a set of electives, a practicum in an approved clinical program related to the concentration, and research activities with faculty in the concentration. Below are listed concentrations with their required courses.

Child, Adolescent & Family Psychology Track: Child, Adolescent & Family (CAFP) addresses the assessment and treatment of children and adolescents with significant emotional and behavioral problems and troubled families. The area focuses on empirically supported assessment and treatment methods. In addition, the area is concerned with efforts to promote and better understand healthy child and family development as well as the prevent of psychological problems of youth. Students wishing to specialize in CAFP will complete all existing core requirements. Students will participate in pre-practicum research, and clinical practica with core faculty and will complete 18 hours of specified coursework.

Clinical Forensic Psychology: Recognizing the crucial need for competent clinical psychologists working within the justice system, the Clinical Forensic Psychology (CFP) concentration emphasizes clinical psychological skills applicable in the criminal justice system, which include issues regarding competency and criminal responsibility; psychological damages in civil trials; civil competencies; psychological autopsies and criminal profiling; and child custody and parental fitness. Course work includes: Introduction to Forensic Psychology; Forensic Psychology: Criminal Law; Forensic Psychology Assessment; Psychological Interventions in Forensic Settings; Forensic Psychology: Family Law; Special Issues in Forensic Psychology: Supervision, Consultation, Ethics and Controversial Issues.

Clinical Health Psychology: Clinical Health Psychology (CHP) specializes in the study, treatment, and professional training in the interaction of physical health with the individual's cognitive, emotional, behavioral, and social functions. Its broad scope encompasses intervention for maintenance of good health. Significant contributions have been made in chronic pain management, weight control, cardiovascular rehabilitation, pediatric diseases, and coping with medical procedures. Course work includes: Health Psychology; Clinical Biofeedback; Professional and Ethical Issues in CHP/Medical Rounds; Psychology Interventions with Medical Patients; Anatomy and Physiology; Chronic Pain/Illness Management.

Clinical Neuropsychology: Clinical Neuropsychology (CN) is concerned with the function of the brain and its relationship to all aspects of behavior, as well as the impact of brain dysfunction and injury on individuals' abilities to function. The program not only encompasses the approaches, perspectives, and practice settings of neuropsychology, but also extends to the related disciplines of neuroanatomy, neurophysiology, neuropathology, neurorehabilitation and child neuropsychological assessment. Course work includes: Clinical Neuropsychology, Clinical Neuroanatomy, Behavioral Neuropathology, Advanced Clinical Neuropsychology, Neuropsychological Case Analysis, Child and Adolescent Neuropsychological Assessment. Ph.D. students will complete their research practicums, major papers and dissertation with a neruopsychology faculty member. Psy.D. students will complete four research practicums, a research project equivalent to a major paper, a dissertation-equivalent project in the area of neuropsychology under the direction of a neuropsychology faculty member, as well as the Ph.D. three course statistical sequence.

Multicultural Track:  As society becomes increasingly more ethnically/racially/culturally diverse, psychologists can expect to work with a clientele that are substantively different in terms of values and expectations about mental health treatment. This track is designed to provide coursework, research, and practicum experiences to better enable students to work effectively in a demographically changing society. Students wishing to specialize in the multicultural track will complete all existing core requirements as well as participation in pre-practicum research, research, and clinical practica with core faculty. Students will also complete 12 hours of specified coursework. In addition, research practica, major paper, and dissertation will be completed on a topic in multiculturalism with a track faculty member.

Psychodynamic Psychology: Psychodynamic Psychology (PP) is a discipline of psychology that presents a theory of personality and an explanation of the framework for understanding psychopathology. Psychodynamic theory and technique have demonstrated applicability to conceptualizing and providing treatment for a wide range of interpersonal and intrapsychic difficulties. This program emphasizes contemporary psychoanalytic theories of personality, pathology, and psychotherapy. Course work includes: Psychodynamic Psychotherapy I and II; Narcissistic, Borderline, and Other Character Disorders; Psychodynamic Treatment of Affective Disorders; Psychodynamic Treatment Approach to Family and Group Therapy; Psychodynamic Psychotherapy in Practice. Psychodynamic Concentration

Psychology of Long Term Mental Illness: The Psychology of Long Term Mental Illness (LTMI), an emerging area of specialization in psychology, studies the treatment and evaluation of severely and persistently mentally ill adults and children and their families. The area focuses on specialized assessment techniques of psychopathology and level of functioning, psychotherapeutic interventions and psychosocial rehabilitation, psychopharmacology as well as program development and public policy. Course work includes: Community Psychology with Seriously Mentally Ill; Treatment of Serious Mental Illness; Consultative Psychopharmacology.

Doctoral Program Curriculm

Doctoral students must complete a minimum of 118 (Psy.D.) or 119 (Ph.D.) credits, successfully pass the Clinical Competency Examination, and complete a one-year internship to be eligible for the degree. Courses are taken in general psychology, assessment, intervention, and methodology. Some courses have specific prerequisite requirements that students must meet; these should be checked to ensure compliance.

• Doctoral Course Descriptions

Clinical practice provide students with conceptually and empirically based assessment, intervention, and consultation experiences. Students have the opportunity to review the list of school-approved placements and indicate their preferences. The director of clinical training makes assignments, taking student preferences into account. Students are required to complete two full years of practicum, usually during their second and third years of residence. Each practicum placement is for 12 months, beginning in late August for most students, but in late May or early June for others. Students are required to meet all clinical obligations, some of which occur on evenings and weekends and during holidays and session breaks. Students' practicum activities are covered by the center's professional liability insurance.

The Clinical Competency Examination must be completed no later than 30 days before the end of the fall semester of the  calendar year preceding the internship year. The examination evaluates the students' understanding of, and skills in assessment and intervention, along with applicable ethical knowledge. Clinical Competency Examination procedures are outlined in the Clinical Competency Examination Guidelines.

The internship of 2,000 hours is the culmination of clinical training. Students can apply to any APA-approved training site in the country. Intern supervisors provide evaluation of the student. Internships typically are salaried positions and last one calendar year.

• Selected Internship Site Placements

Psy.D. students are expected to demonstrate a capacity for critical thinking and gain an understanding of appropriate methodology for empirical inquiry and the utilization of its results. Psy.D. students are expected to successfully complete a Directed Study: Research, which is intended to provide the student with the opportunity to participate in sophisticated research.

Ph.D. students are expected to be actively involved in research throughout their graduate training. First they complete a series of four Research Practica, which provide the opportunity to sample research under different faculty members or continue under one. Then they plan and conduct research under faculty mentorship, the Major Paper. The culmination is the Dissertation, defended before a faculty committee as a contribution to the field and of publishable quality.

Licensure

Licensure of psychologists is regulated at the state level and as such may vary from state-to-state. Degree conferral from an APA accredited program does not ensure automatic acceptance of program curricula by a given state for the purpose of licensure. Individual eligibility should be verified through careful review of the state licensure regulations for the state in which you plan to reside to determine their specific requirements.