Curriculum

Core Department Courses

Aaron Luebbe teaching

As with all graduate students in the Psychology department, clinical students must satisfactorily complete the following core course requirements:

  • Three courses in statistics and research methods
    • All students take a 2-course sequence in the first year focused on the general linear model.
    • Students choose their 3rd course from a menu including: Advanced Regression, Structural Equation Modeling, Mixed Methods, or courses offered in the Statistics department
  • Professional development seminar in the first year (called Pro-Sem)
  • One elective course
  • Optional: Students interested in teaching may take the department's Teaching of Psychology Practicum and may request to be the instructor of record for a course (typically in year 5).

Core Clinical Courses

Clinical coursework typically spans the first three years of the program. Clinical students are required to take the following core courses:

  • Lifespan Psychopathology
  • Ethics in Clinical Psychology
  • Adult Evidence-Based Intervention
  • Child Clinical Intervention (required only for those intending a child-focused practicum)
  • Psychological Assessment I and II
  • Multicultural Topics in Clinical Psychology
  • Clinical Supervision I and II
  • Consultation
  • Clinical Seminar (various topics)
    • Recent Topics: Eating Disorders, Unwanted Thinking, Trauma, Community Psychology

Practicum Courses and External Traineeship

Starting in the second year, students complete practica courses in our department's Psychology Clinic in the following sequence across four semesters:

  1. Adult-focused therapy practicum
  2. Adult- or child-focused therapy practicum (based on student's training goals)
  3. Assessment practicum
  4. Adult- or child-focused therapy practicum (based on student's training goals)

In the third, fourth, and sometimes fifth years, students complete 20-hour per week external traineeships (i.e., practica). Example sites include: university student counseling, school-based mental health, community mental health centers, private inpatient psychiatric facility, academic medical centers / children's hospital, and long-term adolescent residential treatment.

Domain Specific Knowledge

Per requirements of the American Psychological Association Council on Accreditation, students are also required to take courses in the following areas. Note that some courses may cover multiple content areas (e.g., we offer a course in Emotion Development that integrates both Affective and Development).

  • Affective Bases of Behavior
  • Biological Bases of Behavior
  • Cognitive Bases of Behavior
  • Development across the Lifespan
  • Social Bases of Behavior
  • History and Systems of Psychology

Research Milestones

In addition to coursework, practica, and traineeship, students are required to complete the following research milestones. Each milestone has a written component and an oral defense. More information on these milestones can be found in the handbook.

  • Master's thesis - typically defended by end of year 2
  • Comprehensive exam - typically completed by end of year 3
  • Dissertation - proposal by end of April in year 4; defended by end of internship.

Internship

Students are required to complete a year-long, APA-accredited, pre-doctoral internship (typically year 6).