About PhD Clinical Psychology
The PhD in Clinical Psychology is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of the American Psychological Association (APA) and is a program member of the Council of University Directors of Clinical Psychology (CUDCP). The program adheres to the scientist/practitioner model of training, and requires a number of clinical and research practica in addition to an extensive course curriculum. The program accepts students based on the fit between a candidate and the program as a whole rather than on the basis of faculty lab openings. This is a four-year plus internship, full-time program with a residency requirement of two years, designed to prepare skilled psychologists who are capable of serving as clinicians, appreciative of the relationship between science and clinical practice, and capable of conducting sound research.
The scientist-practitioner orientation emphasizes academic content areas of psychology and views clinical training as growing directly out of foundations in psychological theory and research. It reflects the program’s position that a competent and effective clinician is a scientist-practitioner, well-versed not only in clinical techniques and methods, but also in the theoretical and research-based underpinnings of various approaches.
As an expression of the scientist-practitioner model, the sequence of courses in the program emphasizes a thorough preparation in theoretical psychology and methodology. The sequence becomes the matrix against which students receive applied training in clinical psychology. For example, the first year of the program exposes students to a course in the theory of measurement prior to course work in intellectual assessment. Theoretical foundations in personality and psychopathology are explored prior to behavioral and personality assessment.
Concurrent with the work in assessment, students begin study of the theory, research, and practice of psychotherapy. The second year of course work expands students’ knowledge of treatment procedures, specialized populations, and related topics. In addition, the student completes two semesters of statistics (research design and analysis) in the second year.
By the end of the third year, students are prepared to begin their dissertation research under the mentorship of the faculty.
The Commission on Accreditation of the American Psychological Association can be contacted at:
Office of Program Consultation and Accreditation
American Psychological Association
750 1st Street, NE, Washington, DC 20002
Phone: (202) 336-5979 / E-mail: apaaccred@apa.org
Web: www.apa.org/ed/accreditation
Diversity: A Core Value of our Program
Respect for diversity – in mindset and practice – is a core value of Fairleigh Dickinson University and of the PhD Program in Clinical Psychology. FDU functions as a community predicated on mutual respect, faithful integrity, and genuine appreciation of one another. A founding, and continually evolving, principle of FDU is our commitment to access and opportunity for diverse populations. We not only believe that access to high-quality learning is a social justice obligation, but also that diversity enriches the learning environment and clinical expertise for the entire community. Our university demonstrates this commitment in the comparable and analogous diversity in the faculty, administration, and staff. (See also University Mission/.)
We actively strive to recruit and retain diverse members of our community. In the PhD Program in Clinical Psychology, students are selected from a pool of academically qualified applicants who can contribute to the diversity of the student body. Students enrolled in the program come from a variety of ethnic, cultural, individual and experiential backgrounds. Applications are encouraged from those identifying with cultural and/or individual areas of diversity, including (but not limited to) age, disability, ethnicity, gender, gender identity, language, national origin, race, religion, culture, sexual orientation, and socioeconomic status. We also offer students informal discussion and professional mentorship opportunities with professors who may share their experiences of diversity.
We recognize that diversity is neither a unidimensional nor static construct, and thus focus on an understanding of contextually evoked intersectionality in identity. In this, we align with the current American Psychological Association’s policy on Multicultural Guidelines: An Ecological Approach to Context, Identity, and Intersectionality, 2017. We thoughtfully infuse diversity considerations in all our coursework, from the science to practice of clinical psychology.
In addition, we include a capstone course in the third year of the program to that consolidates this learning in an integrated, intensive study of the topic (PSYC7120 Diversity Issues in Clinical Psychology). Topics in this course span multiple domains of professional activities for clinical psychologists including assessment, therapy, teaching, and research. Class assignments reflect three key components to developing diversity competency in the field: awareness, knowledge, and skill. Rather than focus on discrete diverse populations – an approach that belies our respect for the interactive forces of identity – the class takes a trans-theoretical approach. All diversity-related practice guidelines from the American Psychological Association are read and discussed.
Diversity Themes
Themes covered in Diversity Issues in Clinical Psychology include:
- The APA Code of Ethics and Diversity
- Definitional and Conceptual Frameworks of Diversity
- Identity Construction
- Self-Identities in Conflict
- Life Transitions in Identity
- Stereotypes, Stigma, and Prejudice: Clinical Considerations
- Reducing Discrimination and Promoting Diversity and Social Justice
- Social Constructs of Psychopathology: DSM Past, Present, and Future
- Cross-Cultural Transmission of Mental Illness
- Empirically Supported Treatments, Evidence Based Practice, and Cultural Competence
- Therapist and Patient Identities: Challenging Assumptions
- Diversity Issues in Clinical Research
- Culture and Psychological Science: Implications for Psychotherapy
- Global Mental Health: Research and Practice
FAQs
What is the final date when all application materials (online application, GREs, CV, letters of recommendation, personal statement transcripts, etc.) have to be received by FDU?
All materials must be received by December 15, 2024. If an applicant is currently enrolled in school, an unofficial transcript will be accepted. An official one must be sent at the end of the semester.
Are part-time students permitted?
No. All students in the Ph.D. Program in Clinical Psychology are full-time students.
Is it possible to not fulfill the research practicum requirements if the student is not interested in conducting research?
No. The research practicum, like the clinical practicum, is an integral part of the program and required of all students.
How long does it take to complete the program? Students entering with a B.A. degree typically complete all requirements in 5-6 years.
Do all students receive financial aid?
Yes. All students receive a fellowship. The fellowship is awarded to students every semester for their first three years in the program unless the student registers for less than 9 credits. The fellowship is $5,000 tuition remission for each of the first three years in the Program. Some research and clinical practica have an additional stipend included, and various additional fellowships are available for students who meet certain conditions.
Is it possible to teach while a doctoral student?
Yes. Not only is it possible, but it is required that every doctoral student teach at least one course. Many teach several courses while completing doctoral requirements. Doctoral students are paid as adjunct faculty for courses taught. This is in addition to their fellowship(s) and other stipends.
What is the success with placing students in internships?
Very high: In the past 3 years, 100% of doctoral students have been successfully placed at an APA accredited internship site.
Should applicants contact individual faculty members whose interests they share to see if the faculty member will be accepting new students in the fall?
No, FDU is a generalist program and admission decisions are made by all of the faculty together. Individual faculty members do not accept specific students. However, when applying you should consider how your research interests fit with various faculty members and may reach out to them if you have questions regarding their research. Students are assigned to research labs at the beginning of the first semester. Faculty present an overview of the research done in their labs. Students rank the labs and then assignments are made based on student preferences and lab availability. Students can also volunteer in a second lab and can switch labs at the end of the academic year.
What if an applicant already has a masters degree or other graduate credits?
Students who enter our program with an MA degree or graduate credits from other universities may be able to transfer some credits towards their FDU degree. The faculty member teaching the course will review graduate transcripts and course syllabi to determine what general courses (e.g. Developmental Psychology, Psychopathology) may be waived at FDU. All clinical courses related to training (e.g. Practicum) must be taken at FDU. Given the large number of applications we receive each year, we are unable to evaluate requests for transfer/waiver credits until students have been accepted into the program. Though course waiver reduces load in certain semesters, it generally does not reduce total time required to complete the program.
Can an individual who was not a psychology major apply?
Yes, applicants from related disciplines are welcome to apply. Applicants are expected to have 18 credits of Psychology including Introductory Psychology, Statistics, Research Methods, and Abnormal Psychology. Additionally, if you did not major in psychology, you should take the Advanced Psychology GRE exam and submit those scores to ETS using the institution code 4515, Fairleigh Dickinson University PSYCAS.
How many applicants are invited to interview? How many offers are made?
Depending on the strength of the applicant pool, approximately 75 applicants will be invited for virtual interviews with students and faculty (to be held over Zoom). These interviews typically occur in February and are by invitation only. If you are invited for an interview and have a serious interest in attending school at FDU, you should make every effort to attend the interview. Following interviews, a class of approximately 12 – 14 students will be admitted to the program.
Is it possible to arrange a visit and informal meeting?
Some applicants request personal interviews or campus tours prior to applying to the program. Although we would like to offer applicants this opportunity, we are typically unable to grant these requests due to the number of inquiries we receive. Instead, we recommend emailing individual faculty any questions you might have.
What if I have more questions about the Ph.D. program?
Please contact:
Ph.D. Program in Clinical Psychology
School of Psychology (T-WH1-01)
Fairleigh Dickinson University
Metropolitan Campus
1000 River Road
Teaneck, NJ 07666-1914
Voice: (201) 692-2315