Doctor of Philosophy in Psychology (Clinical)

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Program URL:
http://psychology.wsu.edu/clinical/

Faculty working with Students:
12

Students:
39

Students receiving assistantships or scholarships:
79.49%

Priority deadline:

Fall December 1

Campus:

Pullman: Yes

Tests required:

GRE waived for Fall 2023 admissions

Degree Description:

The Clinical Psychology Program at Washington State University is based on the scientist-practitioner model of training. The Program is designed to integrate theory, research, and clinical practice in the training of students. Students are thus involved in research activities each semester in the Program and clinical practica beginning in the third semester until the start of the 12-month internship. The goal of the program is to train highly competent clinical psychologists who will obtain high quality APA-accredited internships and, with graduation, make positive contributions to the field of clinical psychology. Given that our graduates can potentially make contributions to clinical psychology in academic, research, medical, clinical, or community settings dependent on their interests and goals, the Program provides broad, general clinical training during the four to five years that students are at the University. Areas of interest within the Clinical Psychology Program include: Clinical Health Psychology, Neuropsychology, Adult Psychopathology, Clinical Child and Adolescent Psychology, and Quantitative Methods in Psychology. The Program is fully accredited by the American Psychological Association [750 First Street, NE, Washington, DC 20002; (202) 336-5979].

Admission Requirements:

Admission to our graduate program is competitive. To merit consideration the applicant must have completed at least 18 credits in psychology and earned at least a 3.00 cumulative GPA. Applicants with less than these numbers will not be considered for admission regardless of circumstances. For those who meet this requirement, evaluation of the application is based on: undergraduate GPA (3.0 minimum); graduate GPA (if any); GRE scores; letters of recommendation; clinical, research, and/or teaching experience; the variety and difficulty of coursework completed, with the expectation that the student has completed a large number of upper-division courses both within and outside of the major; extracurricular activities; jobs related to psychology; and a demonstrated ability to function independently and responsibly. The department actively recruits students from cultural groups that have been under-represented in professional psychology.

Student Learning Outcomes:

To produce graduates who (a) have a broad knowledge of scientific psychology; (b) can provide evidence-based clinical services that are consistent with ethical and professional standards, including knowledge of and sensitivity to issues of diversity; and (c) are capable of contributing to current knowledge in clinical psychology

Student Opportunities:

RESEARCH TRAINING

The Clinical Program operates on the proposition that research training is an integral part of the education of clinical psychologists. Although the program admits only persons who expect to receive a Ph.D., each student who enters at the bachelor’s degree level is expected to complete an empirical master’s project while in progress toward the doctoral dissertation. Students may conduct research under the supervision of either clinical or experimental faculty. In addition to the master’s project and dissertation, clinical students are expected to be involved in research activity under the direction of a faculty member during each semester in residence.

CLINICAL TRAINING

Exposure to professional clinical activities begins in the fall semester of the second year of graduate training and continues through the completion of the clinical internship. To provide broad clinical training for students, the Department of Psychology offers a variety of different clinical experiences. The Psychology Clinic in the Department of Psychology is staffed by faculty and clinical graduate students and provides assessment, diagnostic, and psychotherapy services for a fee to the University and surrounding communities. The University Counseling Services is staffed by clinical and counseling psychology graduate students and faculty psychologists, and provides ongoing counseling and emergency services to students. The University Health and Wellness Services provides assistance to students through the Behavior Medicine Service, which is staffed by clinical graduate students, physicians, and a psychiatrist. The University of Idaho Child and Adolescent Study Center provides assessment and therapy to children and adolescents.

Career Opportunities:

Post-Graduate Employment Opportunties:
1. Post-doctoral (one to two year) positions in universities and medical schools; 2. Staff psychologist positions in VA Health Care Centers; 3. Faculty positions as clinical psychologists at Universities; 4. Staff psychologist positions in hospitals and clinics; 5. Staff psychologist positions in medical schools; 6. Clinical psychologist in private practice.

Career Placements:

CURRENT EMPLOYMENT 2015-2020 GRADUATES

VA Eastern Kansas Healthcare System – Leavenworth, KS

Mayo Clinic Health System, La Crosse, WI

Cleveland Clinic- Cleveland, OH

University of Idaho Counseling & Testing Center, Moscow, ID

Self Employed and affiliated with The Seattle Clinic in Seattle, WA

University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN

Community Health of Central Washington, Ellensburg WA

Mt Holyoke

Sanford Health

Loma Linda University Behavioral Medicine Center

Providence Medical Center; Spokane, WA

Concordia University

Vancouver, BC, Canada

The Clinic, San Francisco CA

UC Davis Medical Center Sacramento, CA

University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, WA

Natalis Counseling and Psychology Solutions, St. Paul, MN

My research focuses on elucidating the beneficial and detrimental effects of chronic cannabis use and acute cannabis intoxication. Our current and recent work examines links between cannabis use and mental health, physical health, stress, and cognition. I am also examining effects of cannabis with different concentrations of THC and CBD as well as effects of cannabis concentrates on and cognition.

Gartstein, Masha, PhD

gartstma@wsu.edu

Location: Pullman

Serves as: chair, co-chair, or member of graduate committee

Research Interests

In the last 5 years I have focused on understanding biological underpinnings of temperament. The Gartstein lab is recording infant electroencephalogram (EEG) in the context of laboratory activities designed to mimic every day situations that elicit specific emotional reactions. We also examine how maternal wellbeing during pregnancy effects infant temperament, considering psychosocial and physiological stress (i.e., chronic cortisol levels), as well as substance use).

Liao, Hsin-Ya, Ph.D.

hsinya.liao@wsu.edu

URL: https://education.wsu.edu/hsinya-liao/

Research Interests

Culture, Diversity, and Intergroup Relations
Cross-Cultural Assessment
Stigma and Help-Seeking
Vocational Interests

sarah_tragesser@wsu.edu

Location: Tri-Cities

Serves as: chair, co-chair, or member of graduate committee

Contact Information:

Psychology Department

psych.grad.adm@wsu.edu