Degree Title: Doctor of Philosophy

Program Name and Number: Psychology – Clinical - PH4104

Department/Unit: Psychology

Delivery Mode: Athens Campus

Terms of Entry: Fall

Program Mission: The primary goal of the doctoral training program in clinical psychology is to prepare students to become competent professionals in the field of clinical psychology. Our program seeks to graduate students who are adept at both conducting scientific research and providing clinical services, as well as integrating science with clinical practice.

Program Learning Objectives:

• Discipline-Specific Knowledge Base: Educate students about the content issues that presently define the knowledge base in health service psychology, within the specific specialty area of clinical psychology.
• Research and Quantitative Methods in Psychology: Train students in the use of scientific methodology applied to the study of human behavior.
• Profession-Wide Competence: Facilitate the development of foundation and functional competencies associated with clinical practice. Diversity in Clinical Psychology and Practice: Educate students on the role of Individual and cultural diversity as it relates to both the science and practice of clinical psychology.
• Integration of Science and Practice: Promote the integration of science and practice in professional activity, which will continue to develop during the internship year and preparation for licensure.

Program Overview: The doctoral training program in clinical psychology  trains students intensively in clinical skills and research. The program has been accredited by the American Psychological Association since 1970. Ohio University does not offer the master’s degree in clinical psychology as a terminal degree, but only as a step toward the Ph.D. degree. The program requirements for all students include coursework, clinical practica, independent research, and an internship. Students complete  a wide range of courses and practical training experiences  consistent with accreditation requirements of the American Psychological Association for the specialty of clinical psychology with an adult focus. While all students complete intensive, broad-based clinical and research training consistent with this specialty, students can also elect to complete coursework and clinical and research training for the specialties of clinical child psychology, clinical health psychology, and clinical neuropsychology.

Specializations:

• Clinical Child Psychology - The clinical child psychology specialization is devoted to training graduate students to conduct research with and provide clinical services to  children, adolescents, and families. Child-related courses include child psychopathology, child and adolescent assessment, child and adolescent therapy, and developmental psychology. In addition, students in the child specialization receive clinical training in evidence-based assessment and intervention techniques for children, adolescents, and families in the context of the Ohio University Psychology and Social Work Clinic. Child-focused traineeship sites provide experiential training opportunities that prepare students for research and practice in an interdisciplinary climate. Traineeship sites include schools, community mental health centers, residential treatment centers, and medical hospitals. These advanced clinical training opportunities help students develop the competencies necessary for interdisciplinary assessment, consultation, collaboration, and coordination of service delivery.
• Clinical Health - Health psychology is devoted to understanding the impact of psychological factors on health and illness. Health psychologists share an interest in the promotion and maintenance of health and the prevention of physical and mental illness; psychological aspects of the diagnosis and management of physical and mental illness; psychosocial, emotional, and behavioral consequences of physical and mental illness; and the improvement of the health-care system and formulation of health policy.
• Clinical Neuropsychology – training in the specialty area of Clinical Neuropsychology follows the Houston Conference guidelines. Coverage of the Generic Psychology Core and the Generic Clinical Core occurs as required elements of the general training in clinical psychology documented above. Neuropsychology-specific requirements include coursework in neuroanatomy, neuropsychology, psychophysiology, psychoneuroimmunology, psychopharmacology, clinical training in neuropsychological settings, and neuropsychological research.
• Applied Quantitative – The applied quantitative psychology specialization is based on the belief that progress in psychology demands the development of formal models of behavior. For this reason, the applied quantitative psychology specialization offers advanced training in quantitative methods to graduate students who are concurrently studying in one of the other experimental or clinical psychology specializations. Besides the usual coursework required of all students in either the experimental psychology or clinical psychology program, students who select this specialization receive extensive training in mathematics, computer science, and/or statistics. The aim of this specialization is to prepare students for conducting research in academic, business, health or government settings that require proficiency in mathematical, statistical, or computer-based techniques.

Opportunities for Graduates: Recent graduates of the program work in careers that include varying degrees of research and practice. Employment settings include medical centers, colleges and universities, independent practice, state and county hospitals, medical schools, school districts, university counseling centers, correctional facilities, and business
and industry. Graduates are prepared, with additional postdoctoral experience, for the psychology licensing requirements of all states in the United States.

Link to Program: https://www.ohio.edu/cas/psychology/ 

Link to Program Handbook: https://www.ohio.edu/cas/psychology/grad/clinical-psych/index.cfm

Graduation Requirements: For details about graduation requirements see the handbooks at the links provided above. The clinical program requires a Master’s thesis, dissertation, and the successful completion of comprehensive examinations. In the clinical program students are required to complete practica, traineeships and a one-year APA approved clinical internship. Not counting the internship in the clinical program, students typically take five years to complete their on-campus requirements for graduation.

Culminating Experience: Thesis/Dissertation; Intern/Externship, Clinical

Admission Requirements: To be considered for admission, we prefer that you have completed at least 18 semester hours (or equivalent quarter hours) of psychology at the undergraduate level, including one course in statistics and one in experimental research design. Moreover, you should have an overall undergraduate grade-point average of at least 3.0 (B) and an average of at least 3.3 (B+) in psychology. Applicants who have completed some graduate work should have a grade-point average of at least 3.4 in that work. Applicants are required to submit three letters of recommendation and GRE scores (Psychology Subject scores preferred, especially if no BA or BS in psychology). 

The deadline for applying for admission in the fall semester is December 1 of the previous calendar year. The following materials will be required when applying:

• One (1) official transcript from each postsecondary school attended.
• Official GRE scores (Verbal, Quantitative); Psychology Subject GRE is recommended, especially if not a Psychology Major.
• Three (3) letters of recommendation, preferably from psychology faculty members.
• A personal statement describing your special interests and professional goals. Include in your personal statement a rank-ordered list of the three faculty members with whom you most want to work.
• A curriculum vitae (or résumé)