Clinical Program Overview
The Psychology Department offers graduate work in a Clinical Program leading
to M.A. and Ph.D. degrees in Psychology. The Ph.D. program in Clinical
Psychology
is
accredited
by the Canadian Psychological Association and the American Psychological Association,
most recently in 2008 for five years. It is based upon a scientific-professional
model of clinical training. The program is designed as an integrated sequence
leading to a Ph.D. degree, although students must first obtain a Masters degree
as part of their requirements.
Applicants may seek clinical training in one of the following tracks:
- Clinical General
- Clinical Child
- Clinical Forensic
- Clinical Neuropsychology
Program Goals and Objectives
The broad goal of the program is the education and training of clinical psychologists
who excel in both research and clinical practice in a variety of settings,
and who are guided through an understanding of the mutual and interdependent
relationship of science and clinical practice. We expect our graduates to possess knowledge of ethical
standards, guidelines, codes, and provincial and national regulations as
they relate to the practice of clinical psychology. Our graduates are competitive
for academic positions, research positions, and clinical practice, and are
expected to succeed in the Examination for Professional Practice in Psychology
and other licensing/registration examinations if they wish to practice clinical
psychology.
We expect students to reach these goals within a reasonable period of time.
Timeliness of research progress is examined in an annual student review. Coursework,
practicum, and the MA thesis are generally completed within the first two to
three years, and the PhD dissertation and internship are completed in the
last two
years.
Diversity Policy
Our program welcomes and treasures human diversity in our students, faculty,
staff, and clinic clients, including visible variations reflecting race,
age, and physical abilities, as well as invisible variations including foreign
birth, English as a second language, and ethnic and gender minorities.
Training Model
Our training model is the scientist-practitioner model of clinical training
as established at the APA Boulder Conference in 1949. Our Clinical Program
endorses the principles of scientific inquiry and knowledge as the foundation
for the discipline, and emphasizes knowledge acquisition, scientific training,
and structured, sequenced practical training as fundamental to the development
of competence. We are committed to training psychologists with a shared identity
and commitment to the science of clinical psychology, an appreciation of
human diversity, respect for ethical practice, and dedication to life-long
learning. All program staff share a strong commitment to the well-being of
others, and expect students to share this set of values. We recognize the
importance of breadth and diversity in training to ensure an appreciation
of different theoretical and research perspectives. At the same time, we
recognize the importance of depth and training within a number
of specific domains of clinical psychology for students with specialized
career goals. Training within particular tracks is achieved through focused streaming
of advanced courses in the MA and PhD programs.
