Psychology (PhD) - Clinical

Program Overview

The PhD in Clinical Psychology at the University of Central Florida emphasizes the scientist-practitioner model, preparing graduates for both research and clinical practice. The program provides a strong foundation in clinical psychology, including courses in assessment, treatment, and research methods. Partnerships with local healthcare organizations offer externship training sites and research opportunities, and the program is committed to fostering diversity and inclusivity.

Program Outline

Degree Overview:

The Psychology Department at the University of Central Florida offers a PhD in Clinical Psychology, educating students in both the science and the practice of clinical psychology. The program emphasizes the scientist-practitioner model of training as promulgated by the American Psychological Association (APA). The doctoral program in Clinical Psychology is accredited by the American Psychological Association. The PhD Program in Clinical Psychology at the University of Central Florida educates graduate students "to generate and integrate scientific and professional knowledge, attitudes, and skills to further psychological science, professional practice, and human welfare. Graduates are capable of functioning as a scientist and a practitioner and may function as either or both, consistent with the highest standards in psychology" (National Conference on the Education and Training of Scientist-Practitioners for the Professional Practice of Psychology, 1990). The program is a generalist program with a strong emphasis on assessment and treatment in adults. The program is committed to the inclusion of students, faculty, and staff from different backgrounds (e.g., racial, ethnic, sexual orientation). The PhD program aspires to achieve excellence in research and clinical training and to contribute to and perpetuate science and practice in the field of Clinical Psychology through faculty and graduate student involvement in scholarly and professional activities. Consistent with the mission of a major metropolitan university, the Clinical Psychology PhD program at UCF takes advantage of and builds upon community partnerships. Partnerships with public and private health service delivery resources in the Central Florida area provide externship training sites and research opportunities.

Outline:

The Clinical Psychology track in the Psychology PhD Program is designed to be a full-time program, with some summer enrollment expected. There is a total of 90 semester hours of courses, practica, and research requirements. The program typically takes 6 years to complete, which includes an off-site predoctoral internship in the last year.

Required Courses:

• Psychology Foundation Courses (12 Total Credits):
• DEP5057 - Developmental Psychology (3)
• SOP5059 - Advanced Social Psychology (3)
• PSB6348 - The Neuroanatomical Basis of Psychological Function (3)
• EXP6506 - Human Cognition and Learning (3)
• These courses may be substituted with a grade of a B or better in an Integrative Course that has a component that maps onto a given foundation course.
• Integrative Course (3 Total Credits):
• PSB7048 - Affective Neuroscience (3)
• Research Courses (18 Total Credits):
• PSY7217C - Advanced Research Methodology I (4)
• PSY7218C - Advanced Research Methodology II (4)
• PSY7219C - Advanced Research Methodology III (4)
• Earn at least 6 credits from the following: PSY6971 - Thesis (1 - 99)
• Clinical Courses (36 Total Credits):
• CLP7447C - Clinical Psychological Assessment (3)
• CLP7125 - Lifespan Psychopathology (3)
• CLP7623 - Ethical and Professional Issues in Clinical Psychology (3)
• CLP7494 - Empirically Supported Psychotherapies (3)
• CLP6191 - Multicultural Psychotherapy (3)
• CLP7377 - Fundamentals of Supervision and Consultation in Clinical Psychology (3)
• Earn at least 6 credits from the following: CLP7145C - Introduction to Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy (3) (Taken two times at 3 credit hours each time)
• Earn at least 3 credits from the following: CLP6949 - Predoctoral Internship (1) (Taken three times at 1 credit hour each time)
• Earn at least 9 credits from the following: CLP7943C - Clinical Practicum (1 - 12) (Taken 3 times at 3 hours each time)
• Elective (6 Total Credits):
• Any graduate-level course as approved by the program director.
• Dissertation (15 Total Credits):
• PSY 7980 - Doctoral Dissertation
• Qualifying and Comprehensive Doctoral Examinations (0 Total Credits):
• The purpose of the Qualifying and Comprehensive Examination is to develop and assess the competency of professional behaviors in doctoral-level graduate students in the Clinical Psychology PhD Program that are consistent with the program's professional training goals.
These goals include but are not limited to the development and demonstration of skills and abilities that enable graduating students to (a) be expertly trained, empirically oriented clinicians capable of designing, implementing and assessing programs concerned with health service and mental health delivery broadly defined and (b) formulate research questions, design research studies, and write research proposals independently. The Clinical Qualifying Examination involves a demonstration of clinical skills while the Research Comprehensive Examination involves writing of a research proposal independently.
• Admission to Candidacy (0 Total Credits):
• The following are required to be admitted to Candidacy and enroll in Dissertation hours:
• Completion of most course work, except for Dissertation hours and Supervision Practicum.
• Successful completion of the Qualifying and Comprehensive Examinations.
• The Dissertation advisory committee is formed, consisting of approved graduate faculty and graduate faculty scholars.
• Submittal of an approved program of study.
• Master of Science in Clinical Psychology (0 Total Credits):
• Graduate students enrolled in the Clinical Psychology PhD Program earn a Master of Science in Clinical Psychology in route to their doctorate unless they are admitted with an acceptable Master's degree.
This is a nonterminal Master's degree available only to students in the Clinical Psychology PhD program.
• Independent Learning (0 Total Credits):
• As befits the nature of graduate training and the pursuit of a doctoral degree, graduate students in Clinical Psychology are expected to engage in independent learning throughout their graduate career.
The completion of the Master's Thesis and the Doctoral Dissertation are two examples of independent learning in which all graduate students participate. In addition, depending upon their career goals, other experiences, such as directed readings or additional research projects, may be undertaken by graduate students.

Assessment:

• Qualifying and Comprehensive Doctoral Examinations: The Clinical Qualifying Examination involves a demonstration of clinical skills while the Research Comprehensive Examination involves writing of a research proposal independently.
• Annual Evaluation: The American Psychological Association requires that graduate students be evaluated at least annually and provide written feedback to graduate students.
Because Clinical Psychology involves the provision of mental health services to the public, special care must be taken to ensure that graduate students possess the requisite interpersonal sensitivity and skill. As a result, evaluation procedures within this track will focus not only on academic performance but also on: clinical proficiency; ethical and professional conduct; response to supervision; interpersonal behavior; and interpersonal functioning. The Clinical Psychology committee reserves the right to drop from the program graduate students who continue to exhibit serious difficulties in these behavioral domains and do not respond to feedback and efforts at remediation.

Teaching:

• Faculty: The program is committed to the inclusion of students, faculty, and staff from different backgrounds (e.g., racial, ethnic, sexual orientation).
• Curriculum: The program infuses the latest empirical knowledge related to clinical treatment, research, and pedagogy with diverse individuals in our curriculum and clinical/research experiences.

Careers:

• Scientist-Practitioner Model: Graduates are capable of functioning as a scientist and a practitioner and may function as either or both, consistent with the highest standards in psychology.
• Externship Training Sites: Partnerships with public and private health service delivery resources in the Central Florida area provide externship training sites and research opportunities.

Other:

• Program Prerequisites: Students must have obtained a baccalaureate or higher degree in Psychology, prior to the start of the term for which the student is admitted, from a regionally accredited institution or from a recognized foreign institution.
Students without a baccalaureate or higher degree from an accredited institution (or equivalent) are not admitted to graduate degree programs, graduate certificate programs, or graduate nondegree status. If the baccalaureate degree does not include a major in Psychology, students must have completed at least 18 credit hours of Psychology courses at the undergraduate level or above. These courses must include Intro/General Psychology, Research Methods/Statistics, Abnormal Psychology, and Personality Theory/Psychology. The following courses are strongly encouraged: Social Psychology, Cognitive Psychology, Biological/Physiological Psychology, and Developmental Psychology. The program requires that History and Systems of Psychology is completed at the undergraduate level with a grade of at least a "B." This can either be completed prior to starting the program or as an undergraduate course during the program. Applicants who enter with a Master's degree may be eligible to waive or transfer up to 30 credit hours for credits earned from a completed Master's degree from an accredited institution recognized by UCF (as long as this number does not exceed 50% of the program's requirements). In these cases, each applicant's situation will be reviewed individually based on program standards and requirements.
• Application Requirements: Successful applicants typically have both strengths and relative weaknesses in their applications, and it is important to view one’s application as a portfolio.
The components of the application are as follow:
• Educational history/grades
• Letters of recommendation: Three letters written by people who can speak to your work ethic, range of professional interests, and what it is like to work with you.
• Content training: Information about career and research experiences may be highlighted on the CV and personal statement and are often described in an applicant’s letters of recommendation.
At UCF, the applicant’s fit with the goals of the program are a critical component. It is very rare that an application is positively distinguished on all four of the areas described above. To be considered for admission, the program requires having some hands-on research experience outside of a course (e.g., as a research assistant/coordinator) preferably in a topic area which overlaps one of our faculty members who you would like to work with on research. Previous experience working in behavioral health settings or with individuals with mental illness is also a helpful, but not required, experience to highlight.

Financial Information:

• Financial Assistance: Graduate students may receive financial assistance through fellowships, assistantships, tuition support, or loans.
The Financial Information section of the Graduate Catalog is another key resource.
• Fellowship Information: Fellowships are awarded based on academic merit to highly qualified students.
They are paid to students through the Office of Student Financial Assistance, based on instructions provided by the College of Graduate Studies. Fellowships are given to support a student's graduate study and do not have a work obligation.