Two people having a discussion in a therapy session.

Doctor of Philosophy in
Clinical Psychology

Program of Study

programofstudy

In the PhD in clinical psychology program you will obtain the nine profession-wide competencies required by the APA’s Standards of Accreditation in Health Service Psychology, which are 1) Research, 2) Ethical and legal standards, 3) Individual and cultural diversity, 4) Professional values, attitudes, and behavior, 5) Communication, 6) Assessment, 7) Intervention, 8) Supervision, and 9) Consultation. These competencies are addressed in multiple courses throughout the curriculum and in training/experiential activities. Your program advisor will help you select an overall program of study consistent with your career goals.


Clinical Psychology Core Courses

  • Introduction to Clinical Psychology: The Scientist-Practitioner
  • Survey of Psychopathology
  • Clinical Methods I: Assessment
  • Clinical Methods II: Psychotherapy and Behavior Change
  • Clinical Methods III: Psychotherapy and Behavior Change
  • Clinical Child Psychology
  • Treatment of Childhood Problems
  • Diversity Issues in Mental Health
  • Practicum in Clinical Assessment
  • Practicum in Assessment Intervention
  • Professional Issues and Current Directions in Clinical Psychology


Proseminar Courses

  • Behavioral Neuroscience I
  • Survey of Cognitive Psychology
  • Survey of Developmental Psychology
  • Survey of Social Psychology


Out of Specialization Area Courses

  • Two courses from two different areas of specialization within Psychology PhD programs

Statistics/Method Courses

  • Statistical and Experimental Methods I
  • Statistical and Experimental Methods II


Initial Research Project

  • Demonstrate basic research competency in your subfield of Psychology


Research Tool Requirement - demonstrated proficiency in one of the following:

  • Pass a foreign language test
  • Course in computer programming, mathematics, electronics, biochemistry, histological techniques, foreign language, pharmacology, or advanced statistics
  • Master a technique, statistical or otherwise, in the process of conducting the Initial Research Project or another research project


Pre-doctoral Internship

  • A full calendar year spent in an APA accredited internship site


Qualifying Examinations


Dissertation


Full-Time Study in Residence


Additional Information

See the Graduate Bulletin for details.

PhD Clinical Psychology Student Handbook

For more information, contact Program Director James Boswell at [email protected].

This program is approved for licensure or certification in New York State. 
For more information on Professional Licensure Disclosure, please see the Graduate Bulletin.

Research

The doctoral program in clinical psychology follows an apprentice/junior-colleague training model. You will interact closely with faculty members in all aspects of research activity, providing you with the opportunity to make significant contributions in the areas of treatment development, outcomes research, program evaluation, training, supervision, basic psychopathology research, clinical science and practice, and theory and philosophy of science. The program is structured so that you will dedicate your final year to a pre-doctoral internship.

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research-information
Career Outcomes

You will be prepared to work in professional settings to further develop and enhance your research, or put your skills to practice in diverse health care areas.

Potential careers for a PhD in Clinical Psychology include:

  • Clinical scientist
  • Psychotherapist
  • Professor
  • Consultant
  • Health Care Administrator
Accreditation

Student Admissions, Outcomes, and Other Data

 

American Psychological Association
Office of Program Consultation and Accreditation
750 First St, NE
Washington, DC 20002-4242
[email protected]
Telephone: 202-336-5979
TDD/TTY: 202-336-6123
Fax: 202-336-5978

careers
Diversity Statement

As part of our commitment to furthering knowledge, fulfilling our educational mission, and providing psychological services to our community, the Clinical Program welcomes, promotes, and celebrates respect for all people of any race, color, religion, creed, sex, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information, national origin, ancestry, age, veteran status, or disability. We view this commitment as a natural extension of our devotion to good science and ethics. We continue to develop and communicate policies that promote values that discourage intolerance and discrimination. We extend these ideas to student life, the curriculum, teaching, programs, staffing, personnel training practices, research, community services, events, and all of our other endeavors. Our commitment to work toward an environment that values diversity requires that we create, promote, and maintain activities and programs that further our understanding of individual and group diversity.

Diversity and Inclusion in Psychology Programs

 

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diversity
Admissions Requirements
Deadlines

Departmental Assistantship Consideration

  • Fall: December 1
  • Spring: Not Available
  • Summer: Not Available
Required Application Materials
  • Transcripts from all schools attended
  • Three letters of recommendation
  • Official GRE general test scores are preferred but not required
  • Statement of goals
Special Notes

This program requires an internship, field experience, study abroad component, or clinical experience requirement. Students who have previously been convicted of a felony are advised that their prior criminal history may impede their ability to complete the requirements of certain academic programs and/or to meet licensure requirements for certain professions.  If applicants have concerns about this matter please contact the Dean’s Office of the intended academic program.

admissions
Student Learning Objectives


Learning objectives that UAlbany students are expected to attain through their course of study within their academic program.

PhD
  1. Students will demonstrate effective presentation skills.
  2. Students will be able to demonstrate in depth knowledge in the following areas:
    (a) Psychopathology
    (b) Child Clinical
    (c) Assessment
    (d) Behavior change
    (e) Research Design
    (f) Conceptual issues
    (g) Ethical and Professional Issues
    (h) General Issues
  3. Students will demonstrate assessment and Intervention skills.
  4. Students will be able to conduct original research including:
    (a) Literature review and generation of hypotheses
    (b) Understand and apply an appropriate technique or research methodology
    (c) Statistical analyses of data, incorporate findings into the existing literature and identify implications of study
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