2023-24 Catalogs

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Columbia, MO 65211
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PhD in Psychology with Emphasis in Clinical Psychology

The Clinical Psychology program is accredited by the American Psychological Association and by the Psychological Clinical Science Accreditation System, and is a member of the Academy of Psychological Clinical Science. The Clinical program follows a clinical science model of training. Central to this model is a commitment: 

  1. to using an empirical approach to understand, ameliorate, and prevent human problems in behavior, affect, cognition, and health;
  2. to promoting adaptive human functioning; and
  3. to disseminating and applying knowledge in ways consistent with scientific evidence.


The Clinical program prepares students for careers involving production, dissemination and support of clinical science research. Clinical faculty and students are active in research and scholarship that advances understanding of the symptoms, causes, course, treatment, and prevention of many of our nation’s most distressing and impairing mental/behavioral health issues (e.g., addictions, anxiety, developmental disorders, juvenile delinquency, mood instability and disorders, schizophrenia) in youth and adults. Students work primarily with core clinical faculty, but may also collaborate with researchers throughout the department and in other campus and community units (e.g., health psychology, Psychiatry, engineering, Thompson Center for Autism and Developmental Disabilities, Fulton State Hospital, Psychological Services Clinic).

Students also develop clinical skills in empirically supported approaches to assessment, prevention and intervention. The Clinical program maintains its own community-based outpatient clinic (the Psychological Services Clinic or PSC) as the primary practicum training site for students in the clinical program. The PSC is staffed by doctoral-level clinical psychologists and clinical graduate students, and it serves a broad range of clients through individual, couple, family, and group assessment and therapy services. The PSC also offers training in specialty services through it's Dialectical Behavior Therapy program, Strategies Targeting Alcohol Responsibility program, and MU Center for Evidence-Based Youth Mental Health. Additional clinical experiences are available through paid or volunteer positions at institutions such as Fulton State Hospital, University Hospitals and Clinics, and the Thompson Center. After completing high quality internships, typically at medical centers, VAs, or university research centers, graduates are employed in positions that involve research, teaching and service in universities, medical centers, clinics, hospitals and similar agencies.

Degree Requirements

  • 83 total hours of coursework
  • In addition to an psychopathology psychology course, four Distribution courses that cover the following content areas--affective, biological, cognitive, developmental, and social aspects of behavior--as well advanced integrative knowledge of at least two of these areas (15 hours)
  • Training area courses (24 hours)
  • Statistics (9 hours)
  • Ethics and Professional Issues (1 hour)
  • Completion of Masters
  • Completion of comprehensive examination
  • A written doctoral dissertation
  • Oral examination on thesis research

Admissions

Applicants are required to meet two sets of minimum qualifications for admission: the requirements of the PhD in Psychology program and the minimum requirements of the Graduate School. Because requirements vary, you must refer to a degree program’s graduate admission page to learn about specific admission criteria, application deadlines, eligibility and application process. Before official admissions to the University of Missouri, your application materials will be reviewed by both the Graduate School and the degree program to which you’ve applied.

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