Clinical Psychology

The Clinical Psychology Program is based on a model of training designed for the scientist-professional. We are committed to educating clinical scientists who will be able to integrate research and clinical activities to help advance theory and practice in the field.  It is expected that the program will take at least five years. Students  in clinical psychology  are expected  to meet the course requirements of the APA and the state of MA psychology licensing board.  Clinical students are also required to complete assessment and treatment practica during their second and third years in preparation for the required one year internship. The program, which is research focused and which has an emphasis on severe psychopathology, provides training through class work, and research and clinical practica. Students are expected to complete all of their departmental requirements before they begin their internship.

We anticipate that the clinical program will receive accreditation by the American Psychological Association; however, this can occur no earlier than 2005. Clinical psychology students who graduate after that APA approval is granted can state that their degree was from an APA-accredited program.

The Director of Clinical Training is Prof. Richard J. McNally.

Required courses and training experiences fulfill requirements for clinical psychology licensure in Massachusetts as well as meet APA criteria for the accreditation of clinical psychology programs.  In addition to these courses, further training experiences are required in accordance with the American Psychological Association’s guidelines for the accreditation of clinical psychology programs (e.g., clinical practica [e.g., PSY 3050 Clinical Practicum, PSY 3080 Practicum in Neuropsychological Assessment]; clinical internship).

Students in the clinical psychology program are required to take the following courses:

PSY 2900  Professional Ethics

PSY 2445  Psychotherapy Research

PSY 3800  Psychometric Theory

PSY 2430  Cultural, Racial, and Ethnic Bases of Behavior

PSY 3250  Psychological Testing

PSY 2050  History of Psychology

PSY 1951  Intermediate Quantitative Methods

PSY 1952  Multivariate Analysis in Psychology

PSY 2040  Contemporary Topics in Psychopathology

PSY 2460  Diagnostic Interviewing

PSY 2420  Cognitive-Behavioral Treatment of Psychological Disorders

Clinical students must also take one course in each of the following substantive areas: biological bases of behavior (e.g., PSY 2480, Human Neuropsychology/Neuroanatomy; PSY 2450, Affective and Social Neuroscience; PSY 1808, Neurobiological Aspects of Psychopathology); social bases of behavior (e.g., PSY 2500 Advanced Social Psychology);  cognitive-affective bases of behavior (e.g., PSY 2400 Cognitive Psychology and Emotional Disorders); and individual differences (Required course PSY 2040 Contemporary Topics in Psychopathology fulfills the individual differences requirement for Massachusetts licensure).

In accordance with American Psychological Association guidelines for the accreditation of clinical psychology programs, clinical students also receive consultation and supervision within the context of clinical practica in psychological assessment and treatment beginning in their second semester of their first year and running through their third year.  They receive further exposure to additional topics (e.g., human development) in the Developmental Psychopathology seminar and in the twice-monthly clinical psychology “brown bag” speaker series.  Finally, students complete a year-long clinical internship.

 Students are responsible for making sure that they take courses in all the relevant and required areas listed above. Students wishing to substitute one required course for another should seek advice from their advisor and from the director of clinical training prior to registering. During the first year, students are advised to get in as many requirements as possible. Many requirements can be completed before the deadlines stated below.

First-year project: Under the guidance of a faculty member who serves as a mentor, students participate in a research project and write a formal report on their research progress. Due by May of first year.

Second-year project: Original research project leading to a written report in the style of an APA journal article. A ten-minute oral presentation is also required. Due by May of second year.

General exam: A six-hour exam covering the literature of the field. To be taken in September before the start of the third year.

Thesis and oral defense: Ordinarily this would be completed by the end of the fourth year.

Clinical internship: Ordinarily this would occur in the fifth year. Students must have completed their thesis research prior to going on internship.