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Doctor of Psychology in Clinical Psychology

Tulip poplar tree and downtown sky from Masion courtyard
This clinical psychology doctoral program, located in Louisville, Kentucky, was among the first PsyD programs in the U.S. and has been continuously accredited by the American Psychological Association (APA) since 1989. Engage in generalist training in clinical psychology using a scholar-practitioner model based on scientific principles, grounded in evidence-based practice, and learn in a collaborative and cooperative setting. Become a trained and licensed professional prepared to practice with clients across the lifespan. Our strong generalist program is unique in that the core curriculum provides training in working with children, adolescents, and adults. This ensures marketability and mobility for our graduates in the current job market. Students can choose to customize their training and select five electives, or choose to take one elective and four content specific classes in one of our three emphasis areas.

Features

  • Carry with you an emphasis on critical thinking, ethical decision-making and the promotion of social justice
  • Gain clinical experience and provide services under stellar supervision in our Center for Behavioral Health, Spalding’s community-based psychological services center, or at one of our other 50+ community partners.
  • Provide assessment and treatment to under-served populations as part of your curriculum
  • Develop data-driven research skills during your dissertation that can be applied to future practice
  • Participate in faculty-led Research Interest Groups (RIGs), where you can earn authorship on publications and presentations
  • The Collective Care Center provides psychological services and supports to individuals who have experienced race-based trauma and stress. The Center is under the direction of Dr. Steven Kniffley.

Facts

Student admissions, outcomes, and other data (PDF).

You may be eligible to transfer up to 30 hours of master’s level courses from another university.

Our internship match rate is consistently above the national average for PsyD programs:

  • 100% of our doctoral students have matched in the national match process every year since the 2013-2014 academic year.
  • 100% of our doctoral students have matched to APA-accredited sites every year since 2016-2017.

Our program is a recipient of a HRSA-sponsored grant:

  • a $1.15 million federal grant that provides stipend support to students who complete final practicums in primary care settings serving vulnerable and medically underserved populations.

We’ve been named one of 50 Best PsyD Programs by PsyDPrograms.org.

Career Options

You’ll complete four years of practicum training focused on both psychological assessment and the delivery of evidenced-based psychological treatments to a diverse range of clients.

This training along with the curriculum will prepare you to work in a wide range of psychological service settings:

  • Hospitals
  • University counseling centers
  • Community mental health centers
  • Schools
  • Forensic settings
  • Private practice
  • Primary care and other health care settings

See our professional licensure disclosure.

More about our PsyD

Program Aims

Spalding University’s clinical psychology doctoral program’s aim is to educate strong generalist clinical psychologists who demonstrate mastery of profession-wide competencies, and who can conceptualize human behavior using a biopsychosocial perspective.  The program utilizes a scholar-practitioner/local clinical scientist model that emphasizes the ability to balance and integrate research and clinical practice using high-level critical thinking skills.  Within these professional goals is the overarching aim to train ethical psychologists who demonstrate a high level of professional integrity and a commitment to the promotion of social justice.

Accreditation

Our Doctor of Psychology in Clinical Psychology program has been continuously accredited by the American Psychological Association (APA) since 1989. For further information about the accreditation status of this or any other psychology doctoral program, please contact: APA Office of Program Consultation and Accreditation, American Psychological Association, 750 First Street NE, Washington DC 20002-4242, (202) 336-5979; apaaccred@apa.org; www.apa.org/ed/accreditation/.

 

Graduate students in cap and gown

Contact Us

School of Professional Psychology
(502) 585-7127