This manual is designed to help students understand the doctoral program in clinical psychology. It describes the organization of the Clinical Section; the requirements for the clinical psychology specialization and for the elective training in our other major area of study (clinical child psychology); and various procedures that students will need to follow to complete the program. The manual is a reference for students regarding their program requirements and responsibilities.
This manual is a supplement to, not a substitute for, the Graduate Catalog. Students are expected to know the information in the Graduate Catalog as well as in this manual and to be responsible for completing the various requirements. If students need further information, they should consult with their mentor/adviser, the Director of Clinical Training, or the Assistant Chair for Graduate Studies.
This manual is also subject to changes during the time of a student’s matriculation through the program. Students should be aware that requirements may change in response to developments in the field, per guidelines put forth by the American Psychological Association, or programmatic enhancements decided upon by the Clinical Section. All changes will be announced to students, with clear indications as to which cohorts of students they will affect. Students are encouraged to attend to communications from the Director of Clinical Training and their student representative with regard to any important changes, to check the Department website or the Clinical Student Teams channel for the latest version of the manual (which is updated only once a year), or to request an updated pdf copy of the manual at the start of every academic year, to stay up to date with any important changes.
Clinical Program Mission and Objectives
The goal of the program is to prepare doctoral students to become professionals in health service psychology, specifically in the specialization of clinical psychology. Recent graduates of the program work in various types of settings, including medical centers, colleges and universities, independent practice, state and county hospitals, medical schools, school districts, university counseling centers, and correctional facilities. The specific objectives of the training program include the following:
- To educate students about the content issues that presently define the discipline-specific knowledge base in clinical psychology
- To train students in the use of scientific methodology applied to the study of human behavior
- To facilitate the development of foundational and functional competencies associated with practice as health service providers
- To educate students on the role of individual and cultural diversity as it relates to both the science and practice of clinical psychology
- To promote the integration of science and practice in professional activity