About the Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology Program

The Clinical Student Handbook contains important information not covered by the Psychology Graduate Student Handbook issued by the Psychology Department and the Academic Policies and Procedures Guidebook issued by the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences.

Clinical Psychology Major Areas of Study

The doctoral training program in clinical psychology is a single program that prepares students for and makes them eligible to take the New York State Licensing Examination in Psychology. Students can specialize in one of four areas through elective courses, selecting an appropriate externship, and by conducting either their master's or doctoral research in that area. The following four major areas of study are available:

Suggested Sequence of Study

For official graduate program course and credit requirements, refer to the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences Bulletin.

Students are expected to be in residence for their first four years, typically taking three to four 3-credit courses in addition to Clinical Topics Seminar and Research Colloquium per semester. Most students also take some courses over the summer, with up to two summer courses covered by their tuition scholarship. In total, students are required to complete 60 course credits. Externship (18 credits), Research Practicum (3 credits), Dissertation (6 credits), and an APA-accredited internship (2 credits) brings the total to the 89 credits required for graduation. Courses taken over the summer or transferred from a prior institution may reduce the number of courses per semester or provide greater flexibility in selecting and scheduling electives.

First Year


Fall

Clinical Topics Seminar

Cognitive Assessment

Psychopathology

Research Methods

Introduction to Psych Statistics
Research Colloquium


Spring

Clinical Topics Seminar

Personality Assessment
 I
Psychopathology
Psychotherapy Theories

Regression Analysis
Research Colloquium
Identification of Child Abuse


Summer

History and Systems in Psychology
Work on M.A. Thesis

Second Year


Fall

Clinical Topics Seminar

Externship I


Ethics in Psychology

Elective
Research Colloquium
M.A. Thesis proposal due


Spring
Clinical Topics Seminar

Externship II

Introduction to Neuroscience
Elective 

Research Colloquium


Summer
Elective (optional)

Elective (optional)
Complete M.A. thesis
Research Practicum

Third Year


Fall

Clinical Topics Seminar

Externship III

Multicultural Seminar
Elective

Elective
 (optional)
Research Colloquium


Spring
Clinical Topics Seminar

Externship IV

Cognition and Affect
Elective

Elective (optional)

Research Colloquium
Doctoral Comprehensive Examination (January)


Summer

Teaching of Psychology

Elective (optional)

Begin Dissertation

Fourth Year


Fall

Externship V
Dissertation Proposal

Internship Applications


Spring

Externship VI
Dissertation Data Collection
Internship Interviews


Summer

Begin Internship

Fifth Year


Fall

Internship

Dissertation Progress Report


Spring

Internship

Dissertation Oral Defense


Summer

Complete Internship

Graduate!!