Best Clinical Psychology Masters Programs. Ranked in 2016, part of Best Health Schools. Clinical psychologists diagnose and treat mental. Ranked in 2016, part of Best Health Schools. Canada Clinical Psychology University Programs. Browse through the list of Canadian Clinical Psychology bachelor, masters, and doctorate courses, programs and degrees offered by universities in Canada. Online PhD in Counseling Psychology If you are seeking a career in professional practice in psychology, then a graduate program in counseling psychology can get you there. There are dozens of APA accredited Ph.D. Programs across the U.S. Providing the education and experience needed to become licensed.

• Clinical Psychology Programs Phd

If you are planning on becoming a clinical psychologist, you may be interested in these top clinical psychology programs. You will need to earn a doctorate degree in clinical psychology to become licensed to practice. With nearly 200 clinical graduate programs to choose from, finding the school that is the right fit for your goals and needs can be a challenge.

Here are 10 of the top clinical psychology programs ranked according to U.S. News and World Report.

University of California – Los Angeles

'Rigorous scientific training is the foundation of the UCLA Psychology Ph.D. program. As a part of this training, the Department encourages student participation in the activities of a number of related departments, schools, or organized research units of the University.'

• APA Accredited? Yes
• Separate Master's or Psy.D. Program Available? No
• Prerequisites: A bachelor's degree from an accredited university, a minimum undergraduate GPA of 3.0, and completion of the GRE Psychology Subject Test.
• Number of Applicants: Approximately 900 per year
• Number of New Enrollments: Approximately 40 per year
• Length of Program: 5 Years

University of North Carolina – Chapel Hill

'The Clinical Program is committed to excellence in research and clinical training from a clinical science perspective. Our goals are to educate students in scientific principles and empirically supported theoretical models that may guide the study and treatment of psychopathology, as well as the study of psychological factors related to health and well-being.'

• APA Accredited? Yes
• Separate Master's or Psy.D. Program Available? No
• Prerequisites: A bachelor's degree from an accredited university. Most admitted students have a bachelor's in psychology, but students from other fields who have extensive coursework in psychology may also be accepted.
• Number of Applicants: Approximately 400 per year
• Number of New Enrollments: 4 to 6 per year
• Length of Program: 6 to 7 years

University of Washington

'Our graduate program is mentor-based. Students train under the direct guidance of one or more specific faculty members whose scholarly interests parallel their own.'

• APA Accredited? Yes
• Separate Master's or Psy.D. Program Available? Students may opt to also earn an M.S. on their way to the Ph.D., but no terminal M.S. is offered.
• Prerequisites: An undergraduate degree from an accredited university. A bachelor's in psychology is not required, although some coursework or experience in psychology is preferred. Completion of the GRE general test is also required.
• Number of Applicants: Approximately 900 per year
• Number of New Enrollments: Approximately 40 per year
• Length of Program: 5 to 7 years

University of Wisconsin – Madison

'The Department of Psychology has fostered excellence in research and scholarship for over 100 years. The department provides graduate students with the best available training to prepare them for a variety of professional careers in academic, clinical, research, and other settings. Emphasis is on both extensive academic training in general psychology and intensive research training in the student's area of concentration.'

• APA Accredited? Yes
• Separate Master's or Psy.D. Program Available? Yes, a Master's in General Psychology is available.
• Prerequisites: A minimum GPA of 3.0 on the last 60 credit hours of coursework and a bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited university are required. The department also requires a minimum combined GRE score of 1200 on the old scoring system or 310 on the new scoring system or a TOEFL of 550 on the paper-based exam or 213 on the computer-based exam.
• Number of Applicants: Approximately 400 per year
• Number of New Enrollments: Approximately 25 per year
• Length of Program: 5 to 7 years

Yale University

'The program is well suited to students who desire to begin an independent, structured program of clinical science research and are likely to emerge as leaders in the study of psychopathology and its treatment.'

• APA Accredited? Yes
• Separate Master's or Psy.D. Program Available? No
• Prerequisites: Completion of the GRE general exam and a bachelor's degree from an accredited university.
• Number of Applicants: 'Applicants should realize that the total number of applicants is many times larger than the number that can be admitted, so the competition for admission is very keen.'
• Number of New Enrollments: Approximately 15 per year
• Length of Program: 5 to 6 years

Duke University

'Our training program follows the scientist-practitioner model. We aim to prepare graduates to be outstanding scientists and outstanding clinicians, who will conduct research and practice in an ethical manner, with sensitivity to individual, cultural, racial and ethnic diversity.'

• APA Accredited?Yes
• Separate Master's or Psy.D. Program Available? No
• Prerequisites: The program recommends that students who do not have an undergraduate psychology degree take the GRE psychology subject test.
• Number of Applicants: 300 per year
• Number of New Enrollments: 4-7 per year
• Length of Program: 5 to 7 years

University of Illinois – Urbana-Champaign

'Consistently named one of the top five graduate programs in the country, the department nurtures an environment of collaborative and independent research and outstanding scholarship. The organization of our department, the variety of divisions, and the strength of our faculty allow students the opportunity to explore their interests across the discipline and alongside some of the finest minds in the country.'

• APA Accredited? Yes
• Separate Master's or Psy.D. Program Available? Yes, both M.A. and M.S. degrees are available
• Prerequisites: Applicants must have a bachelor's degree with a minimum GPA of 3.0 for all undergraduate coursework. Most students have a minimum of 15 hours of study in psychology, although those with a degree in a highly related subject area may also be considered.
• Number of Applicants: 200 per year
• Number of New Enrollments: 8 per year
• Length of Program: 5-7 years

University of Kansas

'The mission of the program is to develop leaders in the research, dissemination, and practice of clinical science for children, youths, and their families. The field of psychological science is changing rapidly, with advances in our understanding, assessment, diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of a range of conditions. Our goal is to train the professionals who are at the forefront of these advances in research, dissemination, education, and service.'

• APA Accredited? Yes
• Separate Master's or Psy.D. Program Available? No
• Prerequisites: A bachelor's degree from an accredited university with a minimum of 15 credit hours in psychology, including statistics and research methodology. Applicants must also take the GRE.
• Number of Applicants: 100 + per year
• Number of New Enrollments: 3-5 per year
• Length of Program: 5-7 years

University of Minnesota – Twin Cities

'Our program combines rigorous training in assessment and intervention techniques with a solid grounding in psychopathology research. Although graduates from our program will find themselves prepared for various applied and research careers, the program is designed to train students who wish to become academic clinical psychologists or research scientists.'

• APA Accredited? Yes
• Separate Master's or Psy.D. Program Available? No
• Prerequisites: A bachelor's degree from an accredited university with at least 12 credit hours in psychology; a course in abnormal psychology is required. Students must also have taken the GRE general test, and the psychology subject test is strongly recommended.
• Number of New Enrollments: 5-9 per year
• Length of Program: 5-7 years

University of Pennsylvania

'Graduate study in Psychology at Penn emphasizes scholarship and research accomplishment. The first-year program is divided between courses that introduce various areas of psychology and a focused research experience. A deep involvement in research continues throughout the graduate program and is supplemented by participation in seminars, teaching, and general intellectual give-and-take. Students are admitted into the graduate program as a whole, not into specific subfields. Students and faculty are free to define their fields of interest.'

• APA Accredited? Yes
• Separate Master's or Psy.D. Program Available? No
• Prerequisites: Completion of the GRE general test is required
• Number of Applicants: 300-400 per year
• Number of New Enrollments: 3-5 per year
• Length of Program: 5-7 years

The Doctor of Psychology (usually Psy.D., sometimes PsychD) is a professionaldoctoral degree intended to prepare graduates for practice in psychotherapy and psychological testing. Earning the degree was originally completed through one of two established training models for clinical psychology.^[1] However, Psy.D. programs are no longer limited to Clinical Psychology as several universities and professional schools have begun to award professional doctorates in Business Psychology, Organizational Development, Forensic Psychology, Counseling Psychology, and School Psychology.^[2][3]

The degree is usually abbreviated as Psy.D. in the United States and Canada^[4] and also D.Psy. or D.Ps. in Canada. Universities that have issued (or, rarely, still issue) their degrees written in New Latin use Psychologiae Doctor or Doctor Psychologiae, which, especially in continental Europe, is sometimes notated with the postnominalsDr. psychol. or Dr. psych. In Denmark and Italy, the corresponding degree is called 'Specialist' ('Specialist Psychologist', with the domain added) or 'Specialpsykolog' (Special Psychologist).

Background[edit]

The initial guidelines for the education and training of clinical psychologists were established in 1949 at an American Psychological Association (APA)-sponsored Conference on Training in Clinical Psychology in Boulder, Colorado. Students would be prepared both to conduct experimental research and apply knowledge for clinical practice. This approach became known as the scientist-practitioner model, although it is often referred to as the Boulder model since the conference was held in Boulder, Colorado.

The difficulty integrating the education and training for both research and practice within the same degree has been long recognized.^{[5][6][7][8][9][10]} While the scientist-practitioner model ostensibly included clinical training, many argued that preparation for practice was often neglected.^[11][12] Some also argued that in trying to train students in both research and practice, not enough emphasis was placed on either. In regard to research, the modal number of publications by graduates of Ph.D. programs was zero.^[8] In regard to practice, students were not being trained effectively for the needs of people seeking services.^[13]

While the scientist-practitioner model “stood intransigent and impervious through the 1950s and 60s”,^[14] the APA attempted to respond to pressure for more and better clinical training by forming the Committee on the Scientific and Professional Aims of Psychology in 1963. The Committee concluded that the scientist-practitioner model failed to do either of the jobs for which it was designed and recommended several important changes, including: establishing separate practice-oriented programs, potentially in locations other than university psychology departments; developing a practice-oriented training model; and using the Doctor of Psychology (PsyD) degree to designate preparation for clinical practice.^[15][16] The Committee's conclusions and recommendations met with controversy. In particular, opponents said a different degree would impact the field's prestige and ignore science. Proponents, however, argued it would be informed by science and that other practice-oriented healthcare disciplines, such as medicine, had well-respected professional degrees.

In 1973, the APA sponsored the Conference on Levels and Patterns of Training in Vail, Colorado. Conference members concluded that psychological knowledge had matured sufficiently to warrant creating distinct practice-oriented programs.^[17] Members also concluded that if the education and training for practice differs from research, then different degrees should reflect that: when emphasis is on preparing students for providing clinical services, the Doctor of Psychology (PsyD) degree should be awarded; when the focus is on preparing students for conducting experimental research, the Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) degree should be awarded.^[17] This approach became known as the practitioner-scholar model, also known as the Vail model. Graduates of both training models would be eligible for licensure in all jurisdictions in the United States, and the licensing exams and renewal requirements would be the same for both degrees.

With the creation of the Doctor of Psychology degree, the APA confirmed that the Psy.D. is a credential that certifies attainment of the knowledge and skill required to establish clinical psychology as a profession. Furthermore, it follows the policies of both the Association of American Universities, and the Council of Graduate Schools: a professional doctorate (e.g., M.D.; D.D.S.; D.V.M.) is awarded in recognition of preparation for professional practice whereas the Ph.D. is awarded in recognition of preparation for research.^[13]

Education and clinical training[edit]

The practice of clinical psychology is based on an understanding of the scientific method and behavioral science. The focus of the Doctor of Psychology training model is on the application of this knowledge for direct clinical intervention. This includes the diagnosis and treatment of mental illness, as well as cognitive and emotional impairments in which psychological approaches may be of use.

Doctor of Psychology programs take four to seven years to complete. Students in these programs receive a broad and general education in scientific psychology and evidence-based treatment.^[18] Course work includes: Biological bases of behavior; cognitive-affective bases of behavior; social-cultural bases of behavior; lifespan development; assessment and diagnosis; treatment and intervention; research methods and statistics; and ethical and professional standards. Specialized training (e.g., neuropsychology, forensic psychology, psychodynamic psychology) is also available in some programs.

Students in Doctor of Psychology programs receive extensive clinical training through placements in various settings (e.g., community mental health centers, hospitals, college counseling centers). These placements provide direct patient contact that is supervised by a licensed psychologist. Clinical training culminates in a 1,750–2,000 hour (1-year full-time or 2-year half-time) supervised internship.

In order to complete the Psy.D. degree, students typically must demonstrate several competencies: 1) knowledge mastery through passing comprehensive exams, and 2) clinical skill through successful completion of a pre-doctoral internship, and 3) scholarship through a doctoral research project.

Regional accreditation is available to doctoral programs in clinical psychology.

Licensing[edit]

A license to practice as a clinical psychologist is required in the United States. While specific requirements vary by jurisdiction, every state mandates: 1. Successful completion of either a 1-year full-time or 2-year half-time supervised clinical internship totaling 1,750–2,000 hours; and 2. Passing the national and state licensing exams. Most states require an additional postdoctoral year of supervised training after earning the doctorate, in order to become eligible to take the national and state licensing exams.^[19]

Maryland and Washington have removed the one year postdoctoral experience in place of requiring two years of supervised experience, both of which can be completed prior to graduation.^[20] In February 2006, the American Psychological Association Council of Representatives adopted a statement recommending that this change also be made to the licensing requirements of other states since the nature of training has changed dramatically in the last 50 years.^[21] Previously, doctoral-level students accrued most of their clinical hours during internship and postdoctoral fellowships. Now, students accrue most of their clinical hours in the course of their training and internship. Thus, they are ready to begin practice upon graduation. Next, there are considerably fewer positions available for recent graduates and providing the training before graduation facilitates early career psychologists.^[22]

Licensing Exam [EPPP][edit]

In the United States, a doctoral degree from a program acceptable to the licensing board is required, including the Ph.D., Psy.D., and Ed.D. are among the doctorate degrees that make individuals eligible to sit for the Examination for Professional Practice of Psychology (EPPP; CA Board of Psychology). The EPPP is the national licensing examination and its completion is required in order for one to obtain a license to practice psychology.

While there is an increasing number of university-based Psy.D. programs,^{[23][24][25][26][27][28][29]} many Psy.D. programs are at newer professional schools of psychology.^{[30][31][32][33][34]}

See also[edit]

• Doctor of Clinical Psychology (U.K. / Australia equivalent)

References[edit]

1. ^'Frequently Asked Questions About Graduate School'. Apa.org. Retrieved 17 October 2011.
2. ^'Graduate Training Program'. SIOP.org. Retrieved 13 July 2012.
3. ^'Accredited Programs in School Psychology'. American Psychological Association. 19 November 2013. Retrieved 13 January 2014.
4. ^'Antioch University Seattle |Graduate Schools in Psychology – Psy.D. in Clinical Psychology'. Antiochsea.edu. Retrieved 17 October 2011.
5. ^Frank, G. (1984). 'The Boulder model: History, rationale, and critique'. Professional Psychology: Research and Practice. 15: 417–435. doi:10.1037/0735-7028.15.3.417.
6. ^Himelein, MJ; Putnam, EA. 'Work activities of academic clinical psychologists: Do they practice what they teach?'. Professional Psychology: Research and Practice. 32: 537–542. doi:10.1037/0735-7028.32.5.537.
7. ^Hoch, EL; Ross, AO; Winder, CO. 'Conference on the professional preparation of clinical psychologists'. American Psychologist. 21: 42–51. doi:10.1037/h0021107.
8. ^ ^abLevy, LH (1962). 'The skew in clinical psychology'. American Psychologist. 17: 244–249. doi:10.1037/h0048838.
9. ^Peterson, DR (1968). 'The doctor of psychology program at the University of Illinois'. American Psychologist. 23: 511–516. doi:10.1037/h0026199.
10. ^Peterson, DR (2006). 'Connection and disconnection of research and practice in the education of professional psychologists'. Training and Education in Professional Psychology. S: 47–57. doi:10.1037/1931-3918.s.1.47.
11. ^Albee, GW; Loeffler, E (1971). 'Role conflicts in psychology and their implications for a reevaluation of training models'. The Canadian Psychologist. 12: 465–481. doi:10.1037/h0082154.
12. ^Peterson, DR (1997). Educating professional psychologists: History and guiding conception. Washington, DC: American Psychological Association.
13. ^ ^abPeterson, D.R. (1997). Educating professional psychologists: History and guiding conceptions. Washington, D.C.: American Psychological Association.
14. ^McConnell, SC (1984). 'Doctor of psychology degree: From hibernation to reality'. Professional Psychology: Research and Practice. 15: 363. doi:10.1037/0735-7028.15.3.362.
15. ^American Psychological Association (1965). 'Committee on the scientific and professional aims of psychology: Preliminary report'. American Psychologist. 20: 95–100. doi:10.1037/h0021714.
16. ^American Psychological Association (1967). 'The scientific and professional aims of psychology'. American Psychologist. 42: 49–76. doi:10.1037/h0024248.
17. ^ ^abKorman, M (1976). Levels and patterns of professional training in psychology. Washington, DC: American Psychological Association.
18. ^Zlotlow, S.F.; Nelson, P.D.; Peterson, R.L. (2011). 'The History of Broad and General Education in Scientific Psychology: The Foundation for Professional Psychology Education and Training'. Training and Education in Professional Psychology. 5 (1): 1–8. doi:10.1037/a0022529.
19. ^'Handbook Review'. Asppb.org. Archived from the original on 19 January 2016. Retrieved 17 October 2011.
20. ^'Psychologist Licensing – Washington State Dept of Health'. Doh.wa.gov. 22 September 2011. Archived from the original on 16 October 2011. Retrieved 17 October 2011.
21. ^http://www.apa.org/careers/early-career/supporting-ecps.pdf
22. ^'The postdoc trap'. Apa.org. Retrieved 17 October 2011.
23. ^http://www.wheaton.edu/Academics/Departments/Psychology/Graduate-Programs/Programs/PsyD-in-Clinical-Psychology
24. ^'Professional Psychology Program – The George Washington University | Professional Psychology Program'. Gwu.edu. Retrieved 17 October 2011.
25. ^'GSPP | University of Denver'. Du.edu. Archived from the original on 25 January 2012. Retrieved 17 October 2011.
26. ^'Graduate School of Applied and Professional Psychology'. Gsappweb.rutgers.edu. 3 October 2011. Retrieved 17 October 2011.
27. ^'Psy.D. in Clinical Psychology | APA Accredited Doctor of Psychology Post Masters Program | California-West Los Angeles | Graduate School of Education and Psychology | Pepperdine University'. Gsep.pepperdine.edu. Retrieved 17 October 2011.
28. ^'Antioch University Seattle |Graduate Schools in Psychology – Psy.D. in Clinical Psychology'. Antiochseattle.edu. Retrieved 17 October 2011.
29. ^'PsyD Clinical Psychology – Loma Linda University PsyD Clinical Psychology'. Llu.edu. 1 June 2009. Retrieved 17 October 2011.
30. ^'Archived copy'. Archived from the original on 11 August 2011. Retrieved 2011-08-06.CS1 maint: Archived copy as title (link)
31. ^'The School of Professional Psychology | Forest Institute'. forest.edu. Archived from the original on 7 November 2014. Retrieved 6 November 2014.
32. ^'Massachusetts School of Professional Psychology'. mspp.edu. Archived from the original on 7 November 2014. Retrieved 6 November 2014.
33. ^'PGSP-Stanford Psy.D Consortium | Palo Alto University'. Paloaltou.edu. Retrieved 17 October 2011.
34. ^'The Wright Institute | Doctor of Psychology (Psy.D.) in Clinical Psychology Program'. wi.edu. Retrieved 6 November 2014.

Clinical Psychology Programs Phd