Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology
Doctoral programs in clinical psychology usually lead to two specific degrees: the Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) or the Doctor of Psychology (Psy.D.). If you're interested in more academic pursuits, such as research and teaching, or if you'd like to have these career options in addition to the option to become licensed and start a clinical practice, a Ph.D. program may be a better fit for you.
Ph.D. programs can be very competitive, usually admitting only a small percentage of those who apply. You can apply to many Ph.D. programs without a master's degree; instead, a bachelor's in psychology or a related field can be sufficient. The curriculum generally includes topics in psychotherapy and treatment, but focuses more on scientific research and methodology. Ph.D. students work closely with faculty members as teaching aides or research assistants. Often, programs assign you a specific faculty advisor who helps you craft your dissertation.
Pros and Cons
Pros
- Flexible work schedule, especially if in private practice
- A doctoral degree leads to more job options
- Choice of research or applied degrees (Ph.D. or Psy.D. degree)
Cons
- Highly selective program admission (UCLA accepted 16 out of 365 Ph.D. clinical psychology applicants in 2011)*
- Could spend up to 10 years in your program (Ph.D. programs last 5-10 years)*
- Working in clinical practice is formally regulated (licensure and continuing education are required)
Source: *University of California, Los Angeles
Courses and Requirements
Doctoral clinical psychology programs consist of around 95-96 credits total and can take anywhere from 5-10 years of full-time study. Most doctoral programs include a clinical internship and/or practicum that usually requires a yearlong, full-time commitment. You will need to complete a dissertation which involves working closely with your faculty advisor to present and publish research in an individualized area of focus. Other typical program requirements include qualifying examinations (written and oral), case study papers and seminars. See the list below for examples of doctoral-level courses:
- Ethics in Clinical Psychology
- Psychopharmacology
- Clinical Assessment Methodology
- Behavioral Therapy
Online Course Info
Online doctoral clinical psychology programs are not available. According to the American Psychological Association (APA), there are no fully online programs that are APA-accredited at this time. Doctoral clinical psychology students usually work closely with faculty advisors on research projects, teach other graduate students and have networking opportunities through professional events. These things would be hard to offer in an online environment, so they contribute to the lack of accredited online clinical psychology programs at the doctoral level.
Standing Out with this Degree
As a doctoral student, a major program focus is preparation for your career in psychological research or clinical practice. Although most doctoral programs can be divided into two degree categories (Ph.D. and Psy.D.), many of the ways you can distinguish yourself with either designation are very similar. Below are ways you can stand out in this competitive field:
- Voluntary certification - You can become board certified in a variety of psychological specialties, including clinical psychology, to display your expertise and competence to potential employers or clients. Since this is a voluntary step that entails further requirements (which usually includes a certification exam), earning certification is a way to demonstrate dedication and increase prestige.
- Professional organization membership - Become a member of a professional organization, such as the American Psychological Association. By joining, you have access to resources and publications, like journals and magazines. Conferences and meetings give you the chance to network, keep up with the latest news in the field or present research. By utilizing the benefits of membership in a professional organization, you have increased exposure and possibly, more avenues to advance your career.
- Utilize your university psychology clinic - You can gain clinical experience and develop relationships with faculty that may help you with future career prospects by working in your university's psychology clinic. Some universities have their own campus clinic, which provides discounted psychological services to the community. These clinics are staffed by graduate students and supervised by faculty members.
- Stay current with trends in technology - Becoming familiar with technology used in the field can give you an advantage in your career prospects. Psychologists commonly use computer software to help with field research and analysis, patient diagnoses and treatment, along with the management of business operations; therefore, you might familiarize yourself with scientific analysis, medical and scheduling software.
Alternative Degrees
As mentioned briefly earlier, there are two common types of doctoral degrees in clinical psychology. If you'd like to provide therapy directly to patients or prefer to downplay the scientific aspects of a Ph.D. program, you may consider a professional-level Psy.D. program instead; however, either degree can qualify you for licensure to practice in a clinical setting. Since Psy.D. programs are specifically designed to train practitioners of clinical psychology, the curriculum emphasizes clinical experiences, seminars and internships over research. However, like Ph.D. programs, Psy.D. programs often include a dissertation project. The BLS predicts that the need for psychologists will increase because more people are looking for psychological services and treatment, so earning a Psy.D. degree may be a good alternative if your interests tend more toward patient care in private practice. Benefits to a Psy.D. program include that they are often less competitive than Ph.D. programs and can be completed in a shorter amount of time (around 1-1.5 years less). However, Ph.D. programs usually offer a lot more financial assistance than Psy.D. programs do, so completing a Psy.D. program can be very expensive.
