The program is intensive, multi-dimensional and intellectually and emotionally challenging. It is designed for mature, strongly motivated students who have solid academic credentials, who can write fluently, who are seriously considering academic careers and who are comfortable with the interpersonal and emotional aspects of clinical work. Candidates should make known in their application whatever evidence is available to document these characteristics. The faculty within the clinical psychology program are actively engaged in research across a broad range of areas of psychology with an emphasis on research in personality, and psychological and neuropsychological dysfunction. Research education begins with an apprenticeship experience in the first year and continues throughout the graduate school years.
Students also complete both master's and doctoral research in the area of their choice.
Upon completion of the Ph.D., students should be well established in research programs of their own. Such a background will greatly increase the likelihood of finding jobs in research, academic, and applied settings. The program of studies for each student is developed by the student in consultation with the advisor, in consideration of the research and academic requirements of the Department, the clinical program, and the research committees of the Department. All clinical students take a set of core clinical courses, providing foundation in personality theories abnormal psychology, competence assessment and neuropsychology, personality assessment and individual psychotherapy. Additional courses are taken in other programs in the Department including two semesters of psychobiology and courses in cognition, development and social psychology.