The University of Connecticut Clinical Psychology program is designed to train highly competent clinical psychologists who can address complex behavioral health challenges as researchers, teachers, and clinicians. The program is accredited by the American Psychological Association (APA), the highest level of accreditation for mental health training programs. Students are trained in evidence-based methods of intervention, with the scientific method considered the cornerstone upon which clinical knowledge is advanced and clinical skills are developed. Students are required to complete both an MS and PhD. The path to complete both the MS and PhD typically requires 5 years of study (at least 3 in residence) and an additional year-long internship prior to being awarded the doctoral degree. Successful completion of the degree meets the educational background requirements for seeking licensure as a clinical psychologist in most states.

Location

• Storrs Campus

Modality

• In Person

Requirements

General Requirements for the Clinical M.S. and Ph.D. Plan of Study

The Department requires 15 credits of Doctoral Dissertation Research (GRAD 6950 Doctoral Dissertation Research or GRAD 6960 Full-Time Doctoral Research); plus 15 credits of Ph.D. content coursework, which must include nine credits of breadth courses and course requirements. In addition to those requirements, all Ph.D. students must complete two statistical courses: PSYC 5104 Foundations of Research in the Psychological Sciences I and PSYC 5105 Foundations of Research in the Psychological Sciences II. The Ph.D. in Psychological Sciences does not have a related area or foreign language requirement.

Ph.D. Plan of Study Psychological Sciences Department Requirements

Predissertation Research: at least one completed research project. This requirement can be met by a Master’s thesis or by a minimum of six credits of PSYC 5800 Research in Psychology when appropriate.

Department Breadth Requirements

In order to expand the student’s knowledge beyond their specific area of study, a minimum of nine credits (typically three courses) of graduate work outside the Clinical program.  Usually any graduate class outside the Clinical program will count as breadth, assuming it meets the following guidelines: PSYC 5104 Foundations of Research in the Psychological Sciences I and PSYC 5105 Foundations of Research in the Psychological Sciences II may not be used to fulfill the breadth requirement; no more than two quantitative courses, defined as courses that count for the Graduate Certificate Program in Quantitative Research Methods, may be used for breadth. No more than one breadth course may be taken with any one instructor, aside from the following classes: a course in grant writing; PSYC 5140 Foundations in Neuropsychology, PSYC 5285 Neurobiology of Aging: Changes in Cognitive Processes; COGS 5001 Cogntive Science Proseminar; three credit hours of PSYC 5801 Independent Study in Psychology, taken with a faculty member outside the Clinical program. 

Students entering the program with a MS from a different (Psychology or non- Psychology) department or different area of concentration within the Psychological Sciences department may have up to six breadth credits waived with the approval of their advisor and the Director of Graduate Studies or the Department Head.  

Quantitative Methods Requirements

All graduate students are required to take (or be exempted from) PSYC 5104 Foundations of Research in the Psychological Sciences I and PSYC 5105 Foundations of Research in the Psychological Sciences II. Each student must earn a grade of at least “B-” in both courses to meet Department requirements for the Ph.D, however to remain in good standing students must maintain an overall GPA of "B" or higher.  

Note that the six required credits of Quantitative Methods should be listed on the Ph.D. Plan of Study in the “Related Area” section and do not count towards the breadth requirement or minimum number of required Ph.D. credits and should not be listed in the Ph.D. Plan of Study “Coursework” section on page 2. Students who have taken statistics coursework prior to their enrollment in the Ph.D. program, may be eligible for a waiver of one or both of the Quantitative Methods courses.

Licensure Requirement

Students interested in licensure should contact their program for details on American Psychological Association recommendations and relevant courses offered by the department.

General Examination

Students must pass a General Examination. 

Dissertation Proposal

Before dissertation research is undertaken, a research proposal must be approved.

Dissertation and Final Ph.D. Oral Defense

Students must pass an oral defense and submit an approved thesis.

Degree Milestones

In addition to these general requirements, must satisfy the following Clinical program requirements:

• Master's Thesis and Defense
• Ph.D. Qualifying Examination
• Ph.D. Prospectus
• Ph.D. Dissertation Document and Defense

“Plan A” Additional Requirements

A master’s thesis, with oral defense and a committee of three faculty members. At least three to four semesters in the program are recommended.

“Plan B” Additional Requirements

A written master’s examination is required, consisting of either: three questions from different faculty members, which each serve as the basis for a 10-15 page paper to be completed in 7-10 days; or a research report or literature review, which is reviewed by the master’s committee.

Clinical Psychology Concentration 1st Year Typical courses

Course List

Course	Title	Credits
GRAD 5950	Master's Thesis Research	1-9
PSYC 5104	Foundations of Research in the Psychological Sciences I	3
PSYC 5105	Foundations of Research in the Psychological Sciences II	3
PSYC 5300	Research Seminar in Clinical Psychology	1
PSYC 5301	Practicum in Interviewing and Cognitive Assessment	3
PSYC 5302	Adult Psychopathology	3
PSYC 5303	Developmental Psychopathology	3
PSYC 5304	Practicum in Personality Assessment	3
PSYC 5305	Psychodynamics	3
PSYC 5307	Empirically Supported Therapy	3
PSYC 5399	Clinical Psychology Research Group	1
PSYC 6301	Practicum in Adult Psychotherapy (observation only)	1-3
PSYC 6302	Practicum in Child Psychotherapy (observation only)	1-3

Clinical Psychology Concentration 2nd Year+ Typical Courses

Course List

Course	Title	Credits
GRAD 5950	Master's Thesis Research	1-9
GRAD 6950	Doctoral Dissertation Research (once master’s is completed)	1-9
PSYC 5300	Research Seminar in Clinical Psychology	1
PSYC 5332	Research Design and Test Construction	3
PSYC 5306	Professional Issues in Clinical Psychology	3
PSYC 5140	Foundations in Neuropsychology	3
PSYC 5399	Clinical Psychology Research Group	1
PSYC 6301	Practicum in Adult Psychotherapy	1-3
PSYC 6302	Practicum in Child Psychotherapy	1-3
Three additional related classes		9

Clinical Competence

To receive the Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology, students must demonstrate clinical competence in training experiences in our training clinic and in off-site clinical placements, as well as a full-year internship.

Learning Objectives

1. Knowledge: Demonstrate appropriate breadth and depth of disciplinary knowledge and comprehension of the major topics, theories, and issues of the discipline, including demonstration of specialized knowledge of a sub-field sufficient to carry out substantive independent research or creative pursuits
2. Research/applied skills: Use disciplinary methods and techniques to apply knowledge, critically analyze, and, as appropriate to the degree, create new knowledge or achieve advanced creative accomplishments, and mentoring other students.
3. Communication: Communicate proficiently and effectively to a specialist and non- specialist audience, verbally and in writing, a structured, coherent academic presentation, representation, or argument that cogently summarizes their research or creative pursuit, relevant literature, and its significance at the level appropriate to discipline
4. Ethics/Professional behavior: Conduct themselves in accordance with the highest ethical and responsible standards, values, and, where these are defined, the best practices of the discipline