Psychology, PhD (Clinical)

Clinical psychology is the psychological specialty that provides continuing and comprehensive mental and behavioral health care for individuals and families; consultation to agencies and communities; training, education and supervision; and research-based practice.

Program Description

Degree Awarded: Psychology, PhD

There are multiple training models in Clinical Psychology (Scientist-Practitioner, Practitioner-Scholar, Clinical Science) and these models reflect the relative focus on research and clinical training. The Clinical Psychology Program at ASU adheres to the Clinical Science training model, which is the most research focused. Thus, although students in our program receive excellent clinical training, the focus is on producing Clinical Scientists who will work in setting that take full advantage of their research as well as clinical skills (e.g., Academia, Medical Centers, VA Hospitals). 

Our mission is to prepare students for professional careers in a variety of settings where they engage in research, teaching, or clinical supervision; and who make contributions to clinical science by disseminating research findings and scholarship. Within this general mission of providing high-quality, science-based training, we strive to prepare a significant number of graduates who establish careers in academia and research institutes where they have primary responsibilities for conducting research that advances clinical science and for teaching new generations of clinical scientists. 

The success of our students in meeting program goals is evident based on a) the high rate of students matching in APA accredited internships (40 of 40; 100% in the past 7 years), b) our recent graduates’ success in passing the national licensing exam (100% based on publicly available data from ASPPB), and the high percentage of our recent graduates who have obtained licensure (39 of 44; 88.6% of our recent graduates who are 5 or more years beyond graduation). Although we continue to emphasize high quality clinical training and strongly believe in the reciprocal nature of research and clinical training, we identify with the “Clinical Science” training model based on the long-term goals of our program which are primarily to train clinical scientists rather than individuals who elect to work as full-time practitioners. Outcomes of our alumni survey (students at least five years post-graduation) provide support for our success in achieving Clinical Science outcomes, with 40 of 44 (90.9%) making scholarly/research contributions since graduation from our program.

Our data on graduates from the past 10 years show diversity in their professional activities that is consistent with our clinical science training and special emphases that can be acquired at ASU.  Among those beyond postdoctoral training (n = 54), 40.7% are in academic settings, 33.3% are in clinical or combined research and clinical positions in medical schools/centers, VA hospitals, or other hospital settings, 22.2% are in other practice environments such as mental health centers or private practices, and 3.7% are in government settings (e.g., public health, DoD). These data suggest that our training leads to career trajectories that are consistent with the program’s philosophy and goals.

The Psychology PhD program in the clinical psychology training area is:

  • based upon a clinical science model of training;
  • fully accredited by the American Psychological Association (APA) and the Psychological Clinical Science Accreditation System (PCSAS);
  • a member of the Academy of Psychological Clinical Science;
  • a PhD (doctoral) program only;
  • designed so that students who were admitted with a bachelor’s degree can finish the requirements in six years including a one-year, full-time internship;
  • organized to allow students to begin practicum training in the program’s second year;
  • best able to serve the educational needs of students with deep interests in empirical research; and
  • highly competitive — in the last several years we have admitted between 3 and 10 new students per year from a pool of 200 to 300 applicants.

IMPORTANT: To be considered for this PhD program, you must complete the application through ASU's online portal AND submit your material through Slideroom

Important links:

Faculty Data and Resources Financial Support Research Labs

Student Handbook

Concentrations

Focus Areas

The Clinical Training Program has three areas of emphases in which students may elect to participate: health psychologychild clinical psychology, and community/prevention.

Thus, the descriptions that follow are designed to give you an idea of the available curricular choices.

Child Clinical Area of Emphasis

The child clinical area of emphasis provides training in the etiology, assessment, treatment and prevention of childhood disorders. A major focus is on the prevention of child mental health problems among children and families under stress. Thus, most of our child clinical faculty also participate in our community-prevention area of emphasis.Table of Child Clinical Faculty. 

Health Psychology Area of Emphasis

Clinical students with interests centering on the interface of psychology and medicine may select Health Psychology as an area of emphasis. In our program, health psychology is broadly interpreted to encompass the theoretical, methodological, and/or procedural (treatment and prevention) contributions from contemporary psychology that bear upon the existing and emerging problems of modern medicine. Table of Health Psychology Faculty.

Community/Prevention Area of Emphasis

We define the Community/Preventive area of emphasis to include theory, research methods, and interventions that are designed to prevent the occurrence of mental health, substance use or other problems, and to promote healthy adaptation in a range of social environments. Students study theoretical issues such as the influence of stress and coping, family processes, acculturation and cross-cultural issues, neighborhood influences, and economic hardship on the development of mental health or substance abuse problems. Students also become involved in the development, implementation, and evaluation of preventive interventions to promote healthy adaptation for children in a range of high-risk situations. Foci of preventive interventions include children of divorce, inner-city ethnic minority children, bereaved children, and school-based programs. Table of Community/Prevention Clinical Faculty. 

Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging

The Psychology Doctoral Program at Arizona State University embraces the University’s charter encouraging diversity, equity, and inclusion in all aspects of our program.  We strive to create a community that reflects and celebrates the diversity of society-at-large because we believe it is essential to attaining academic excellence, professional development, and personal growth. To that end, we are dedicated to training early career scientists from diverse backgrounds, and we encourage applications from students from backgrounds historically underrepresented in the sciences, including but not limited to BIPOC, LGBTQIA+, first generation college students, and those from lower socioeconomic backgrounds.

Curriculum

Coursework for the doctoral program is to some extent, determined by APA requirements. For more detailed information about the program's curriculum and milestones or to see a sample schedule, students should view the current Clinical Student Handbook. Once admitted, we require students to be continuously enrolled full-time, excluding summer sessions, until all degree requirements have been met.

A minimum of 84 hours is required. 

Requirements and electives

Hours

Core courses

27

Electives

9

Substantive coursework

6

Milestone courses

24

Dissertation and Research

18

Total hours required

84

Courses and electives

The coursework for each student is individualized and based upon the student's previous training, research goals and mentor. All students are required to complete 27 credit hours of core courses that cover the scientific and technical foundations of clinical psychology. Students will also choose elective courses that more closely align to their specific focus area. In order to satisfy program accreditation, students will take one course in biological bases of behavior, social bases of behavior, cognitive bases of behavior, affective bases of behavior and in human development. Additional requirements include two ATM courses are required which involve integrated science-professional training and are taught by departmental faculty in timely and specific clinical and community modalities.

At a Glance

  • Location: Tempe campus
  • Second Language Requirement: No

Degree Requirements

The 84-hour program of study includes a written comprehensive exam, an oral comprehensive, a prospectus and a dissertation. Prospective doctoral candidates should have a passion and interest in clinical psychology, have demonstrated research skills in a senior thesis, have a minimum of a 3.00 cumulative GPA.

Student Admissions, Outcomes & Other Data 

Accreditation Status

ASU's Public Disclosure on Licensure Statement

Admission Requirements

Our selection of new doctoral students is based on several factors:

  • academic excellence;
  • strong undergraduate preparation in psychology;
  • experience in conducting psychological research;
  • compatibility with research interests of our faculty;
  • evidence of strong research skills; and
  • personal characteristics that are suitable for teaching and the provision of psychological services to the public.

In addition to significant research experience, successful applicants should have an undergraduate grade point average of B+ or better and compelling letters of recommendation. Specific information about application procedures can be found on the doctoral admissions pages.

We also seek a balance of students who have interests in our three research emphases: child clinical, health, and community/prevention. It has been our experience that most of our students will choose one of the three specialty areas which represent domains of faculty interest as well as clinical or preventive specialties for which an employment demand now exists. However, specialization is not a program requirement. Some students might begin a particular emphasis but later decide to move in a different direction. 

Required Core Courses: Courses covering the scientific and technical foundations of clinical psychology, as well as clinical practica include:

  • PSY 530 Analysis of Variance (Intermediate Statistics)
  • PSY 531 Multiple Regression
  • PSY 573 Psychopathology
  • PSY 578 Developmental Psychopathology (required for child emphasis only)
  • PSY 600 Clinical Research Methods
  • PSY 574/591  Psychotherapy or Child and Family Therapy
  • PSY 780  Psychological Assessment or Assessment Advanced Treatment Methods (ATM)
  • PSY 591 Clinical Interviewing and Ethics
  • Practicum I and II 

Electives: Various courses, seminars, and practica of the students’ choosing are included in this category and are used to satisfy additional program requirements.

In order to satisfy requirements for program accreditation, students are also required to take at least one course each in:

  • Biological Bases of Behavior: PSY 591 Psychopharmacology or PSY 591 Biological Bases of Behavior or PSY 591 Advanced Neurobiology of Cognition
  • Social Bases of Behavior:  PSY 550 Advanced Social Psychology: Interpersonal Processes or PSY 551 Advanced Social Psychology: Intrapersonal Processes
  • Cognitive Bases of Behavior:  PSY 535 Cognitive Processes or PSY 591 Embodied Cognition or PSY 541 Research in Cognitive Development.*
  • Affective Bases of Behavior:  PSY 591 Emotions or PSY 542 Social Emotional Development* or PSY 591 Emotional Development* or PSY 591 Emotions, Stress and Health or PSY 598 Socio-emotional Development
  • Human Development: PSY 541 Research in Cognitive Development* or PSY 542 Social Emotional Development* or PSY 591 Emotional Development* or PSY 591 Children’s Peer Relationships or PSY 591Resilience Processes in Development or PSY 598 Developmental Transitions.

*PSY 542 and PSY 591 can only be used to either fulfill the Affective Bases of behavior requirement OR to fulfill the Human Development requirement. PSY 541 can only be used to fulfill the Cognitive Bases of behavior requirement OR the Human Development requirement.

  • History and Systems: PSY 591 History of Psychology or PSY 591 Clinical Issues Seminar: History and Systems of Psychology

Other Course Requirements: Two ATM courses are required which involve integrated science-professional training and are taught by departmental faculty in timely and specific clinical and community modalities.

  • PSY 780  All topics listed as ATMs in Psychology.  The Assessment ATM also meets the requirement for Psychological Assessment
  • PSY 501  Supervised Teaching (can count for 1 of 2 ATMs)
  • PSY 592 - Master's Research (6 credit hours)
    Independent study in which a student, under the supervision of a faculty member, conducts research that is expected to lead to a specific project such as a thesis or dissertation, report, or publication. Assignments might include data collection, experimental work, data analysis, or preparation of a manuscript
  • PSY 599 - Master's Thesis (6 credit hours)
    Supervised research focused on preparation of thesis, including literature review, research, data collection and analysis, and writing.
  • PSY 792 Dissertation Research (6 credit hours)
    Independent study in which a student, under the supervision of a faculty member, conducts research that is expected to lead to a specific project such as a dissertation, report, or publication. Assignments might include data collection, experimental work, data analysis, or preparation of a manuscript.
  • PSY 799 Dissertation (12 Credit Hours)
    Supervised research focused on preparation of dissertation, including literature review, research, data collection and analysis, and writing.

Listed below is a sample schedule. Note that, although we outline a five-year sequence in which the degree can be completed, most students finish the degree in six years including internship.

 YEAR ONE

 Fall (12 credits)

 + Analysis of Variance

+ Psychotherapy (if offered)

+ History and Systems (if no Psychotherapy)

+ Psychopathology

+ Research (3)

Spring (12 credits)

 + Multiple Regression

+ Clinical Interviewing and Ethics

+ Clinical Research Methods

+ Research (3)

YEAR TWO

 Fall (12 credits)

 + MA Thesis (3)

+ Clinical Practicum I

+ Multivariate Statistics

+ Assessment ATM or Psychological Assessment

Spring (12 credits)

+ MA Thesis (3)

+ Clinical Practicum II

+ Psychotherapy (if not offered in Year 1)

+ History & Systems (if Psychotherapy in Year 1)

+ Elective (Biological Bases of Behavior)

YEAR THREE

Fall (12 credits)

+ Elective (Cognitive Bases of Behavior)

+ Elective (Affective Bases of Behavior)

+ Research (3)

+ Dissertation Research (3)

(1/4 time clinical placement)

Spring (12 credits)

+ Elective (Human Development)

+ ATM

+ Research (3)

+ Dissertation Research (3)

(1/4 time clinical placement)

YEAR FOUR

Fall (9 credits)

+ Elective (Social Bases of Behavior)

+ Dissertation Research (3)

+ Elective

(1/4 time clinical placement)

Spring (9 credits)

+ ATM

+ Dissertation Research (3)

+ Elective

(1/4 time clinical placement)

YEAR FIVE

 Fall (1 credit)

 + Internship

Spring (1 credit)

 + Internship

SAMPLE SCHEDULE:  CHILD CLINICAL EMPHASIS

Listed below is a sample schedule for students who chose a child clinical emphasis. Note that, although we outline a five-year sequence in which the degree can be completed, most students finish the degree in six years including internship.

YEAR ONE

 Fall (12 credits)

 + Analysis of Variance

+ Developmental Psychopathology

+ Psychopathology

+ Research (3)

Spring (12 credits)

+ Multiple Regression

+ Clinical Interviewing and Ethics

+ Clinical Research Methods

+ Child and Family Therapy (if offered)

+ Research (3) if C&F Therapy not offered

YEAR TWO

 Fall (12 credits)

+ MA Thesis (3)

+ Clinical Practicum I

+ Multivariate Statistics

+ Assessment ATM or Psychological Assessment

Spring (12 credits)

+ MA Thesis (3)

+ Clinical Practicum II

+ Child and Family Therapy (if not offered Year 1)

+ Research (3) (if C&F Therapy in Year 1)

+ Elective (History and Systems)

YEAR THREE

Fall (12 credits)

+ Elective (Biological Bases of Behavior)

+ Elective (Affective Bases of Behavior)

+ Research (3)

+ Dissertation Research (3)

(1/4 time clinical placement)

Spring (12 credits)

+ Elective (Human Development)

+ ATM

+ Research (3)

+ Dissertation Research (3)

(1/4 time clinical placement)

YEAR FOUR

Fall (9 credits)

+ Elective (Social Bases of Behavior)

+ Elective (Cognitive Bases of Behavior)

+ Dissertation Research (3)

(1/4 time clinical placement)

 Spring (9 credits)

+ ATM

+ Dissertation Research (3)

+ Elective

(1/4 time clinical placement)

YEAR FIVE

 Fall (1 credit)

 + Internship

 Spring (1 credit)

 + Internship

Financial Support

Tuition

The Department of Psychology typically pays ASU tuition for full-time doctoral students with 20 hour-per-week graduate teaching or research assistantships. Tuition and fee information can be found on the ASU's general tuition webpage.

Stipends

An appointment as a 50% Graduate Teaching Assistant (TA) for the 2024-2025 academic year (9-month TA) provides financial support in the form of a stipend in the amount of $24,586 for the academic year.

Fellowships and awards

Doctoral students are encouraged to apply for fellowships through the National Institutes of Health National Research Service Award program and through the National Science Foundation's Graduate Research Fellowship Program. Other funding opportunities exist within specific areas of study and doctoral students should explore these possibilities with their faculty advisor/mentor.

In addition to government and external organizational fellowships, the Department of Psychology currently offers graduate scholar awards of $1,500 each to two students in any psychology doctoral program area in any year of study. Made possible by the generous donations of department faculty and others, these awards are intended to recognize the accomplishments of students who are demonstrating overall excellence in the psychology doctoral program. Excellence will be judged with respect to contributions to psychological science; and/or the teaching of psychology; and/or community involvement reflecting application of psychological knowledge. The deadline for all application materials, including a letter of support from a psychology faculty member, is typically mid-March.

Two other fellowship awards are also available to the department's doctoral students through endowed scholarships: The Robert B. Cialdini Dissertation Project Prize and the Martha E. Bernal Memorial Scholarship Award Endowment. Doctoral students in the developmental psychology and social psychology may similarly apply for endowed fellowships within their program areas.

Financial aid

There is no financial aid available through the department although such aid is available through the ASU Financial Aid and Scholarship Services; visit their site to explore financial aid opportunities.

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