Doctor of Psychology in Clinical Psychology

Emphasis areas
- Forensic Psychology
- Health Psychology
- Neuropsychology
- Advanced Clinical Psychology
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.
100 % match rate
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 three years of practicum plus a summer of pre-practicum to get you ready to provide evidence-based psychological assessment and psychotherapy 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
5-Year Plan: Academic Year 22-23
Fall
571: Intro to Intervent (3 credit hrs)
658: Psychopathology (3 credit hrs)
652: Assess of Pers (3 credit hrs)
590: Prof. Devel Sem. (0 credit hrs)
575: Found of Psy Assess (3 credit hrs)
Spring
Emphasis Area 1 (3 credit hrs)
608: Applied Developmental (3 credit hrs)
651: Cog Assess (3 credit hrs)
590: Prof. Devel Sem. (0 credit hrs)
555: Ethics (3 credit hrs)
Summer
508: Bio Basis of Behav (3 credit hrs)
656: Intro to Therapy Prac (3 credit hrs)
655: Intro to Assess Prac (3 credit hrs)
653: CBT Systems Psychotx
Fall
610: Applied Statistics (3 credit hrs)
621: Multicultural (3 credit hrs)
Emphasis Area 2 (3 credit hrs)
680: Practicum A (3 credit hrs)
Spring
609: Res Meth & Design (3 credit hrs)
509: Soc Basis of Behav. (3 credit hrs)
Emphasis Area 3 (3 credit hrs)
681: Practicum A (1 credit hr)
Summer
657: Group Psychotherapy (3 credit hrs)
681: Practicum A (1 credit hr)
501: Cog/Affective Basis (3 credit hrs)
Fall
Emphasis Area 4 (3 credit hrs)
718: Child Psychopathology (3 credit hrs)
765: Relational Systems of Psychotherapy (3 credit hrs)
781: Clinical Prac B (3 credit hrs)
890: Dissertation Seminar** (2 credit hrs)
Spring
719: Child and Adolescent Tx (3 credit hrs)
Elective option or Trauma (3 credit hrs)
781: Clinical Prac B (1 credit hr)
821: Clin Applic Multicult (3 credit hrs)
894: Dissertation (1 credit hr)
Summer
860: Internship Seminar (0 credit hrs)
781: Clinical Prac B (1 credit hr)
721: Trauma [or elective] (3 credit hrs)
894: Dissertation (2 credit hrs)
**Students who choose to propose early can take 890 in the summer of their second year, independent study. In this case, 894 must be taken every semester through the spring of the fourth (4th) year for these credits in this order: year three (3) fall: 1, year three (3) spring: 1, year three (3) summer: 1, year four (4) fall: 2, year four (4) spring: 2.
Fall
894: Dissertation (2 credit hrs)
810: Addictions [or elective] (3 credit hrs)
611: Program Eval and Consultation (3 credit hrs)
881: Clinical Prac C (3 credit hrs)
861: Pre-internship Seminar (0 credit hrs)
Apply for Internship
Spring
870: Interprofessional Seminar (3 credit hrs)
Addiction or elective option
881: Clinical Prac C (1 credit hr)
894: Dissertation (2 credit hrs)
Internship Interviews
Summer
506: History & Systems – OL (3 credit hrs)
881: Clinical Prac C (1 credit hr)
Fall
892: Internship (1 credit hr)
Spring
892: Internship (1 credit hr)
Summer
892: Internship (1 credit hr)
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; [email protected]; www.apa.org/ed/accreditation/.

Contact Us
School of Professional Psychology
(502) 585-7127