Clinical Psychology (PhD)
Description
The Doctor of Philosophy program with a major in Clinical Psychology is based upon a practice-oriented, scientist-practitioner model. The program educates students to provide psychological services to the public based on sound ethical principles and on a thorough and current understanding of psychological theories as tested by research. While the student is exposed to a variety of theories, the major theoretical orientation of the program is psychoanalytic. The clinical context also provides an important guide to scholarly inquiry and hypothesis generation. The curriculum is designed to give the student simultaneous access to theory, research, and practice in the conviction that this simultaneous exposure not only potentiates the learning process, but also demonstrates the inseparability of theory and practice. Based on this model, our training goals emphasize professional ethics, scholarship, social justice and cultural diversity, professional adaptability and a commitment to lifelong learning.
The total program, including coursework, practical, comprehensive examinations, internship and dissertation, amounts to 96 credit hours. It is structured to be completed in five years. However, students generally take six years to complete the program. Students who expect to take longer than seven years to complete the program must petition the Clinical Training Committee for an extension.
The academic year consists of three, 15-week terms, going from the beginning of September through the second week of August (appropriate vacation times are built in). The psychotherapy practicum begins the first term of the second year and continues for two years (six consecutive terms). This practicum involves students with patient contact and clinical staff conferences at the Psychology Clinic of University of Detroit Mercy, a University-supported community service training site. The curriculum is outlined below.
Program Description
Program emphasis may be divided into coursework, practice and scholarship. The courses in the curriculum are designed by content and sequence to fulfill several goals. One goal is to acquire a firm foundation in psychology. A second goal is to acquire breadth and depth of knowledge in clinical skills. Clinical experiences are designed not only to afford an opportunity to learn skills in clinical settings but also to integrate skills and the theories shaping and guiding those skills. Scholarship is demonstrated throughout coursework in the form of examinations and student papers, as well as opportunities for research experience. In addition, students, within the context of a comprehensive examination, will be asked to demonstrate their ability to understand, integrate and communicate their knowledge of psychology in general and clinical psychology in particular. The dissertation, which may be experimental or clinically empirical, is an opportunity for students to contribute new knowledge within the field.
Students are expected to follow policies and procedures outlined in the University of Detroit Mercy catalog, the University's student code of conduct and the Ph.D. Clinical Psychology program handbook.
Clinical Psychology Ph.D. Program with Master of Science (96 credits)
-
Ìý
Degree Requirements for the Master of Science (60 credits)
The Master of Science in this program is not a standalone degree. It is part of the Ph.D. with a major in Clinical Psychology program and its successful completion is an integral step to move the student forward in the attainment of the doctoral degree.
The required courses for the Master of Science are:
- PYC 5040 Advanced Research (3 credits)
- PYC 5230 Assessment Methods With Children (3 credits)
- PYC 6040 Learning and Memory (3 credits)
- PYC 6500* History and Systems of Psychology (3 credits)
- PYC 6540 Theories of Personality (3 credits)
- PYC 6550 Psychoanalytic Concepts (3 credits)
- PYC 6600 Statistical Methods I (3 credits)
- PYC 6610 Statistical Methods II (3 credits)
- PYC 6700 Psychological Assessment I (3 credits)
- PYC 6710 Psychological Assessment II (3 credits)
- PYC 6730 Assessment III Practicum (taken for 3 terms) (0 credits)
- PYC 6740 Developmental Psychology (3 credits)
- PYC 6850 Psychopathology I (3 credits)
- PYC 6860 Psychopathology II (3 credits)
- PYC 6880 Principles of Psychotherapy (3 credits)
- PYC 6930 Ethics and Professional Issues (3 credits)
- PYC 7500 Psychotherapy Practicum (taken for 3 terms )(6 credits total: 3/3/0)
- PYC 7650 Cognitive Therapy (3 credits)
- PYC 7750 Cultural Diversity (3 credits)
- PYC 7956 Introduction to Clinical Practice (taken for 2 terms) (0 credits)
*Offered every other year.
The Master of Science is awarded after successful completion of the above 60 credits.
-
Ìý
Degree Requirements - Doctor of Philosophy with major in Clinical Psychology (96 credits including 60 from the Master of Science)
In addition to the above Master of Science requirements (60 credits), the doctoral degree requires the following courses:
- PYC 6510 Physiological Psychology (3 credits)
- PYC 6630 Research Seminar (3 credits)
- PYC 7500 Psychotherapy Practicum (taken 3 terms) (6 credits total: 3/3/0)
- PYC 7530 Clinical Practicum (taken for 3 terms) (0 credits)
- PYC 7540 Clinical Internship (taken for 3 terms) (0 credits)
- PYC 7980 Directed Studies (3 credits)
- PYC 7990** Dissertation Research (1-9 credits)
- Four PYC electives*** (12 credits)
Comprehensive exams, dissertation work (minimum of nine credit hours) and additional therapy. Students register for dissertation hours, and may be eligible to register for additional psychotherapy hours during this time frame. Students must complete an external practicum (minimum 500 hours) and a full time clinical internship (2000 hours). Students must apply to internship sites accredited by the Commission on Accreditation, American Psychological Association.
*Optional
** Students must first pass comprehensive exams before registering for PYC 7990; Nine credits of dissertation are required to graduate; students register for credits each term.
***ELECTIVES
In addition to the above courses, students take 12 hours of elective courses throughout the length of the program. One elective must include a three-credit directed studies course PYC 7980 Directed Studies to complete a second-year research project. In the fourth year, students are eligible to take PYC 7520 Advanced Psychotherapy Practicum for optional, additional clinical work with the approval of the Psychology Clinic director and director of Clinical Training.
-
Ìý
Admission Requirements
We accept applications from students with either a baccalaureate or a master’s degree as a terminal degree, who have completed as a minimum the prerequisite courses (on either the undergraduate or graduate level) listed below:
a) One term: Statistics
b) One term: Theories of Personality
c) One term: Abnormal Psychology
d) One term: Developmental Psychology
e) Two laboratory courses, for example:
- Learning
- Physiological Psychology (strongly recommended)
- Perception Experimental Psychology (strongly recommended)
-
Ìý
Application Process
Apply using Detroit Mercy's online portal at udmercy.edu/apply. That will create your account to which you can upload all of your application materials. If you need to mail your documents, please send them to:
Graduate Admissions Office
University of Detroit Mercy
4001 W. McNichols Road
Student Union, First Floor
Detroit, MI 48221-3038
admissions@udmercy.eduApplicants should submit, as part of their application, copies of all undergraduate and graduate transcripts, Graduate Record Examination (GRE) scores (verbal, quantitative and analytical) and three letters of recommendation from people familiar with the applicant’s prior achievement and potential for doctoral-level work in clinical psychology. Applicants should have at least a 3.0 GPA in their previous academic work.
Please submit a letter describing pertinent aspects of your background and your aspiration. In this letter describe your interests, your accomplishments, your interest in psychology, the issues in psychology that have attracted your attention, why you are applying to our program and your goals for your professional life. The purpose of this letter is to give you the opportunity to inject something personal into the application materials. It is often difficult to distinguish among students based on the standard things we ask for, i.e., transcripts, test scores, letters of recommendation. This letter helps us see something of the individual who has compiled the indirect indices of achievement that comprise the bulk of the application. Please do not send term papers or theses. Applications are due by January 1st and can be completed through the online application link through University of Detroit Mercy's website.
The faculty will review completed applications and those who pass this initial screening will be invited in for interviews. Please make sure that you list on your application form the phone number(s) at which you may be reached during the day and the evening. Include your email address, if available.
NOTE: A student whose application for admission has been declined three times should not re-apply.
-
Ìý
Financial Aid
The Doctoral program in Clinical Psychology has generally been able to offer half-time tuition credit to students in the first two years of training in exchange for their performing teaching assistant duties. There are a limited number of credits available for clinic positions starting in the second and third years. Students would be expected to pay for the remainder of tuition and other expenses. The Financial Aid Office at the University should also be contacted for further information regarding other sources of financial assistance at 313-993-3350.
-
Ìý
Accreditation
The program is currently accredited by the Commission on Accreditation, American Psychological Association, 750 First Street, N.E., Washington, D.C. 20002-4242, (202) 336-5979.
Program Contact Information
Barry Dauphin, Ph.D., ABPP
Professor of Psychology
Director of Clinical Training for the Doctoral Program in Clinical Psychology
Department of Psychology
Reno Hall, Room 248
McNichols Campus
Email: dauphivb@udmercy.edu
Telephone: 313-993-1650
Fax: 313-578-0516
Kristen Abraham, Ph.D.
Professor of Psychology
Associate Director of Clinical Training
Department of Psychology
Reno Hall, Room 210
McNichols Campus
Email: abrahakm@udmercy.edu
Telephone: 313-578-0445
Fax: 313-578-0516
Linda Slowik, Ph.D.
Professor of Psychology
Department Chair
Department of Psychology
Reno Hall, Room 244
McNichols Campus
Email: slowiklh@udmercy.edu
Telephone: 313-993-1623
Fax: 313-578-0507