Overview
The overarching aim of the APA-accredited clinical psychology doctoral program at Suffolk University is to provide broad and general training that prepares students for entry-level practice in clinical psychology. We draw from a scientist-practitioner model that emphasizes the integration of science and practice and underscores the value of practice that is evidence-based, and evidence that is practice informed. Training in the program is sequential, cumulative, and graded in complexity.
In pursuit of this aim, we have articulated the following program requirements that students must complete, and profession-wide competencies they must demonstrate, in order to successfully complete the program.
Questions related to the program’s accredited status should be directed to the Commission on Accreditation:
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
Degree Requirements
Students must successfully complete the following minimum requirements to obtain a PhD in Clinical Psychology from Suffolk University (each requirement is briefly described below and detailed in the Clinical Psychology Doctoral Program Manual). The program in Clinical Psychology consists of a minimum of five years of full-time study. The requirements are summarized below. Please consult the Clinical Psychology Doctoral Program Manual for more detailed information including the recommended order of completion.
1. Completion of 72 Credits of Coursework
There are 24 (3-credit) courses, and three (0-credit) required courses (one online course and two labs) that must be successfully completed within the first three years of the program (see required courses below). To successfully complete a class a minimum grade of B-, or a pass for pass/fail course, is required. Students must also maintain an overall GPA of 3.0 (B) to remain in good standing.
Required Courses
Take the following course to fulfill the Individual and Cultural Diversity requirement:
Choose two of the following courses to fulfill the clinical elective requirement:
| PSYCH-703 | Etiology and Treatment of Anxiety and Related Disorders | 3 |
| PSYCH-714 | Dialectical Behavior Therapy | 3 |
| PSYCH-755 | Etiology, Assessment, & Treatment of Addictive Disorders | 3 |
| PSYCH-774 | Child Therapy | 3 |
| PSYCH-779 | Acceptance-Based Behavioral Psychotherapies | 3 |
The following courses should be completed to ensure acquisition of knowledge in APA's discipline-specific knowledge (DSK) domains.
Take the following course to fulfill the Affective and Cognitive Aspects of Behavior content area as well as the Advanced Integrative Knowledge of Basic Discipline-Specific content area:
| PSYCH-708 | Cognition and Affect: An Integrated Approach | 3 |
Take the following course to fulfill the Social and Developmental Aspects of Behavior content areas, as well as the Advanced Integrative Knowledge of Basic Discipline-Specific content area:
| PSYCH-704 | Social & Developmental Aspects of Behavior | 3 |
Take the following course to fulfill the Biological Bases of Behavior content area:
| PSYCH-792 | Introduction to Neuropsychology and the Clinical Neurosciences | 3 |
Take the following courses to fulfill the Statistical Analysis content area:
| PSYCH-722 | Graduate Statistics in Psychology I | 3 |
| PSYCH-723 | Graduate Statistics in Psychology II | 3 |
Take the following course to fulfill the Research Methods content area and to partially fulfill the Psychometrics content area:
Take the following course to partially fulfill the Psychometrics content area:
Take the following course to fulfill the History and Systems content area:
| PSYCH-707 | Introduction to the History & Systems of Psychology | 0 |
Note: Students who completed an evaluated educational experience that sufficiently addressed DSK in History and Systems of Psychology prior to matriculation, at the graduate or undergraduate level, are exempt from taking the program’s required History and Systems of Psychology course. To qualify for this exemption, students must provide a copy of the syllabus and evidence of a grade of B- or higher to the DCT for review and approval.
Take the following course to fulfill the internship requirement:
Electives
Choose five additional general electives from the following list:
Research Project Electives (limited to 9 credits total)
Note: Clinical elective courses not used to fulfill the Clinical Elective Requirement may be completed as general electives
2. Teaching Apprenticeship
Students are required to serve as Teaching Apprentices (TAPs) for the first 2 semesters of their graduate study. TAPs are paired with advanced graduate student lecturers and professors to receive mentorship and experience in a broad-range of teaching-related skills. Students are not paid to serve as TAPs; the responsibilities associated with the position are designed to prepare students for potential careers as instructors/professors or other forms of scholarship. In addition, there are orientation and teacher training seminars offered during the first semester of graduate studies which all TAPs must attend.
3. Research Training Experiences
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Supervised Research Laboratory Experience: Students are admitted into the clinical psychology program to work with an identified research mentor who supervises engagement in program-required research (the Early Research Project and Dissertation) and additional optional research activities and helps the student cultivate profession-wide research-related competencies.
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Early Research Project: This project provides students with an opportunity to apply the knowledge gained in their research and statistics courses by pursuing research under the supervision of a faculty member who serves as the research mentor; on the recommendation of this mentor, students will deliver an oral presentation to the department and submit a written manuscript on their research project. The Master’s degree is conferred when students successfully complete 48 credits of required coursework and the oral and written portions of the Early Research Project.
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Dissertation: The dissertation is the capstone research-training milestone and its successful completion demonstrates that the student has the substantially independent ability to formulate research or other scholarly activities (e.g., critical literature reviews, dissertation, efficacy studies, clinical case studies, theoretical papers, program evaluation projects, program development projects) that are of sufficient quality and rigor to have the potential to contribute to the scientific, psychological, or professional knowledge base, to conduct research or other scholarly activities, and to critically evaluate and disseminate research or other scholarly activity via professional publication and presentation at the local, regional, or national level.
Dissertation committees, which consist of at least three members evaluate students’ oral and written presentation of a dissertation proposal and the oral and written defense.
4. Clinical Training Experiences
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Practica: Two years of practicum experience are required of our doctoral students beginning in their second academic year; a third year is optional, but recommended. Students receive weekly supervision by professionals at their practicum sites and attend a weekly practicum seminar at Suffolk where they are able to integrate their practical experiences and educational training within the program. Students receive individual supervision that is consistent with the student’s level of training, contact hours, and case load.
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Clinical Experiences Portfolio (CEP): Students’ attainment of clinical competencies is systematically evaluated through coursework and biannual student practicum evaluations. The CEP is designed to provide a repository within the department for some of each student's exemplar clinical work. The CEP includes an assessment report, case conceptualization, treatment plan, treatment review, theoretical orientation essay, and evidence of a successful mock internship interview.
5. Demonstration of Additional Profession-Wide Competencies
Across program activities, students must demonstrate that they behave in accordance with the ethical and legal standards of the profession and the general laws of Massachusetts with regard to the registration and licensing of psychologists, demonstrate professional values, attitudes and behaviors, the ability to work effectively with diverse individuals and groups, and the interpersonal effectiveness and communication skills needed to enter professional practice.
6. Successful completion of an APA- or CPA-accredited pre-doctoral clinical internship
About the Degree
Learn more about the experiences and opportunities available within this doctoral program.
View the Program Page