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The Department of Psychology offers graduate training in Clinical Psychology leading to M.A. and Ph.D. degrees and is based upon a scientist-practitioner model of clinical training. The program is designed as an integrated sequence leading to a Ph.D. degree. The Ph.D. program in Clinical Psychology is accredited by the Canadian Psychological Association, most recently in 2021 for five years.

Applicants may seek clinical training in one of the following tracks:

• Clinical General
• Clinical Child
• Clinical Forensic
• Clinical Neuropsychology

Program Mission and Values

Mission  - Our mission is to produce graduates who contribute to the science of psychology and to clinical psychology practice. The Clinical Program emphasizes the integration of science and practice. We are committed to training students to take a scientific approach to clinical practice and to use knowledge gained through clinical practice to inform scientific inquiry.

Values  - Our program attempts to foster the following values in our faculty and students as they perform their teaching, research, and professional activities:

• ethical behaviour
• the integration of science, scholarship, and clinical practice
• respect for and responsiveness to diversity
• engagement with and service to the community
• commitment to lifelong learning

Philosophy and Model of Training

The Clinical Program is based on a scientist-practitioner model of clinical training as established at the Boulder Conference in 1949. As such, the Program endorses the principles of scientific inquiry and emphasizes knowledge acquisition, scientific training, and structured, sequenced practical training as fundamental to the development of clinical competence. The Program recognizes 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 in training within specific domains of clinical psychology. Thus, in addition to broad and general training in clinical psychology, the Program offers tracks in Clinical Forensic, Clinical Child, Clinical Neuropsychology and Clinical General Psychology. Training within these tracks is achieved through focused streaming of advanced courses and practica. While the research home of all Program clinical faculty and students in each of the tracks is within the Clinical Science research area, many Program members are cross-affiliated with other research areas within the Department. As a cornerstone of training, the Program operates an outpatient mental health clinic (CPC) designed to provide psychological services to the community, training and education of graduate clinical students and a setting for psychological research.

Program Goals and Objectives

We aim to foster the development of research, scholarship, professional skills, and a commitment to ethical behaviour. Our program emphasizes three broad goals each of which is reflected in specific objectives:

1.       To provide students with training in scholarly and research skills within the field of clinical psychology

• Students will achieve foundational and applied knowledge and skills in research methodology and statistical analysis.
• Students will develop foundational knowledge of research and theory related to Clinical Psychology.
• Students will develop knowledge of research and theory related to their chosen track (Clinical Child, Clinical Forensic, Clinical General, and Clinical Neuropsychology).
• Students will develop competence in formulating and conducting independent research and communicating results (in oral and written form).

2.       To provide students with training in clinical skills

Our Program is committed to producing clinical psychologists who are fully knowledgeable and practically trained in clinical psychology with competence in the areas of assessment and intervention. To that end, the Program incorporates a number of clinical skill objectives.

• Students will develop the skills needed to conduct a range of psychological assessments.
• Students will develop skills in differential diagnosis, case formulation, treatment planning and therapeutic skills.

3.       To foster the development of ethical and professional conduct and respect for diversity

• Students will be knowledgeable about the ethical guidelines and standards related to the practice of psychology as set out by federal and provincial acts as well as international guidelines, standards and laws in relation to the Canadian context. They will also know how to apply these standards in their professional practice.
• Students will be able to analyze and critically evaluate ethical dilemmas and identify appropriate means for resolution.
• Students will be responsive to issues of diversity in their academic, research, and professional practice.

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Clinical Psychology (PhD)

Contribute significantly to a thriving research environment in the science and practice of psychology.

Why choose this program?

Clinical Psychology at Dalhousie is a fast-track program allowing you to accelerate from the MSc to the Clinical PhD program without writing a Master’s thesis or obtaining a Master’s degree. 

You will be involved in research from the outset, and are expected to conduct research leading to empirical, methodological, and/or theoretical advances in your field of study.

The program follows the “scientist-practitioner” model which considers clinical psychology as part of the science of psychology and emphasizes research. You will be assigned a faculty member who will supervise your thesis and other research projects. During the first four years of the Clinical PhD program, you will complete required and elective courses, supervised and thesis research, and gain clinical experience through field placements.

Accreditation

Canadian Psychological Association

Possible careers include:

• researchers

Admission requirements

You'll need to meet the  Faculty of Graduate Studies minimum requirements  as well as any program-specific admissions requirements before you can apply.

Financial information

At Dalhousie, we want our students to focus on their studies, rather than worry about their personal finances. We offer competitive tuition rates and funding programs to support graduate students in almost all of our degree programs.

Program options

Thesis : Pursue independent and original research guided by a supervisor to develop and defend your thesis. 

Internship : As part of your degree, you will complete a 1 year clinical residency/internship. 

Standard program duration:

5 years or longer

Enrolment options:

Delivery format:.

All graduate programs at Dalhousie are collaboratively delivered by a home Faculty and the  Faculty of Graduate Studies .

Contact an admissions advisor

Questions about admissions or the application process get in touch with the program..

Email: [email protected]

I'm ready to apply!

While every effort is made to ensure accuracy on this page, in the event of a discrepancy,  Dalhousie's Academic Calendars  are the official reference.

Clinical Psychology

The Clinical Area offers opportunities to engage in clinically-relevant research in psychotherapy process and outcomes, neuropsychology, health psychology and personality.

The Clinical Area prides itself on excellence in research—with over $4 million currently held in external research funding.

The Clinical Area values the development of clinical skills by offering a variety of theoretical and technical approaches to psychological treatment and assessment and training through our in-house Psychology Training Clinic, and external practica and internships. Students who are interested in specialized training in clinical neuropsychology can apply to the Clinical Neuropsychology stream after being admitted to the Clinical Area.

All faculty, adjunct faculty, and applied practicum supervisors serving as supervisors in clinical practicum and internship training, are members of the College of Psychologists of Ontario. Prior to completion of this Area’s PhD, students are required to demonstrate:

• Competence in research into clinically relevant problems. In addition to course requirements, this Area relies heavily on an apprenticeship system. Each student works closely with his or her supervisor and psychologists practicing in a wide range of internship settings for an interactive enhancement of both the academic and practical aspects of the student’s educational experience.
• Competence with a reasonable sample of cognitive, personality, behavioural, neuropsychological, and psychometric techniques of assessment.
• Competence with a reasonable sample of cognitive, behavioural, experiential, interpersonal, and psychodynamic systems of psychotherapy.

Students who are interested in specialized training in clinical neuropsychology can apply to the Clinical Neuropsychology stream after being admitted to the Clinical area.

For more information about the Clinical Psychology graduate training, please contact the Director of Clinical Training: Dr. Jennifer Mills . 

The Graduate Program in Clinical Psychology is accredited by the  Canadian Psychological Association  (CPA). The date of the last re-accreditation by CPA was in 2022 for a period of 7 years.

Contact Information for the CPA Accreditation Office:

Dr. Stewart Madon Registrar, Accreditation Panel Canadian Psychological Association, Accreditation Office 141 Laurier Ave. W., Suite 702 Ottawa, Ontario K1P 5J3 Tel: 1-888-472-0657 (ext. 328 for administrative assistant) Email: [email protected] Website: Canadian Psychological Association

Additional Program Information

Faculty Member

• Achala Rodrigo
• Andrew Brankley
• Karen Fergus
• Matthew Keough
• Shayna Rosenbaum
• Angus, Lynne
• Boritz, Tali
• Eastwood, John D
• Fergus, Karen D
• Fitzpatrick, Skye
• Goldberg, Joel
• Katz, Joel D
• Keough, Matthew T.
• Mills, Jennifer S
• Mongrain, Myriam
• Pos, Alberta E
• Rich, Jill Bee
• Rosenbaum, R. Shayna
• Turner, Gary R
• Wardell, Jeffrey
• Westra, Henny Alice

Psychology Research Labs

Applicants who wish to be considered for admission to the Clinical Area must specify “Clinical” as their primary area of interest on the Supplemental Form.

It is strongly recommended that you contact potential faculty members to see if they are available to supervise a graduate student prior to listing them as a potential supervisors in your Personal Statement. See our Faculty Directory to learn more about faculty members’ research interests. Make sure to list the names of Clinical faculty you are interested in working with on the Supplemental Form.

Students who are interested in specialized training in clinical neuropsychology can apply to the Clinical Neuropsychology stream after being admitted to the Clinical area. Please indicate in your Personal Statement if you plan to apply to the Clinical Neuropsychology stream.

Non-refundable application fee (paid online) OR Credit Card information submitted with the application. If you do not have a credit card and/or cannot apply online, you can request a hard-copy application form by calling 416-736-5000

Documents needed to apply:

• Letters of Recommendation . A minimum of two letters of recommendation are required.
• Transcripts from each post-secondary institution attended . When applying, unofficial transcripts are acceptable. If you are made an Offer of Admission, you will be required to provide official transcripts as a condition of admission. Transcripts are considered official when sent directly from the issuing institution(s) to York University.
• Describe your past training experiences and what makes you ready for intensive research and clinical training at the graduate level;
• describe what motivates and/or inspires you, as it relates to your current research interests/specific supervisor, the Clinical program, and your broader career goals;
• highlight your most important scholarly contribution/product or knowledge mobilization activity (e.g., thesis, poster presentation at a conference, presentation);
• describe how you/will you consider diversity, equity, and inclusion in your clinical and research endeavours? You can use personal experience or learning to highlight this.
• Curriculum Vitae. Make sure to indicate your educational and relevant employment history, any honours or scholarships you have received, any posters or publications you have been involved in, and relevant clinical volunteer experiences. We recommend that you take a look at samples of how academic curriculum vitae are organized to format your CV effectively. At the same time, there is no one specific format required.

For International Students

• Official Degree Certificate in countries where Degree Certificates are issued separately (i.e. Bangladesh, China, India, Iran, Pakistan etc.). Official copies MUST be submitted. Applicants should check International Credentials on the following website: futurestudents.yorku.ca/graduate/equivalency .
• Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) score , if English was not the language of instruction for your undergraduate degree. Applicants are required to provide proof of language proficiency if their first language is not English or they have not completed at least one year of full-time study at an accredited university in a country (or institution) where English is the official language of instruction. York reserves the right to request a successful English language proficiency test 404 result.

Submitting your Application

Apply online yorku.ca/gradstudies/psychology/future-students/how-to-apply to the Faculty of Graduate Studies to submit your full application.

If your application package does not contain all the required documents, your file may not get to the Psychology department. As a result, a review of your application by the professor you are interested in working with may be delayed.

If you have questions regarding the application process, please contact the Graduate Psychology Program at [email protected] .

• Public Disclosure Tables (.pdf)
• Psychology Clinical Program Students’ Handbook 2024–2025 (.pdf)

First row left to right: Dr. Joel Goldberg,Dr, Jeffrey Wardell,Dr. Jill Rich,Dr. Karen Fergus. Second row: Dr. John Eastwood,Dr. Shayna Rosenbaum, Dr. Jennifer S Mills, Dr. Henny Westra, Third row; Dr. Matthew Keough, Dr. Myriam Mongrain, Dr, Joel Katz, Dr. Alberta Pos, Fourth row; Dr. Skye Fitzpatrick, Dr. Kristina Gicas. (Photo of Dr. Gary Turner is unavailable)

Award for Outstanding Doctoral Research in Clinical Health Psychology:

• Brittany Rosenbloom

Graduate Student Award in Clinical Neuropsychology:

• Iris Yusupov

Norman Endler Research Fellowship:

• Julia Halilova

Student Excellence Award:

• Sara Pishdadian

The Graduate Program in Psychology at York is an exciting environment to pursue innovative, socially engaging, career-ready education. Contact our Graduate Program Assistant to learn more.

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Clinical Psychology

Graduate programs overview, phd program, doctorate in philosophy psychology.

General information and program requirements - Doctorate in Philosophy Psychology

The clinical PhD program is a CPA-accredited scientist-practitioner program designed to train students in both research and clinical skills that can lead to a broad range of employment possibilities. Through practica, students learn about clinical work with children, adolescents, families, adults and couples, as well as about program evaluation and consultation with community agencies. Research skills are taught through an apprenticeship model with thesis supervisors, who may be full-time professors in clinical or experimental psychology, cross-appointed professors in other university departments, or adjunct or clinical professors working in hospitals or other community agencies.

• Information specific to the program

Microprogram

Microprogram on evaluation of social and health programs and policies.

Evaluation of Social and Health Programs and Policies

Acquire specific skills in the interdisciplinary area of developing and improving health and social service programs

• PSY 7103 Program Evaluation
• PSY 7102 Field Research in Social and Community Interventions

Admission deadlines

Graduate programs at the Faculty of Social Sciences

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School of Psychology

Faculty of Social Sciences Vanier Hall 136 Jean-Jacques Lussier, Room 3002 Ottawa, Ontario, K1N 6N5 Canada ( map )

Tel.:  613-562-5801 [email protected]

Office Hours Monday to Friday 8:45 a.m. to 12 p.m. & 1 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. (June to August: closed at 3:30 p.m.)

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Clinical Program Overview

Watch a video about the Clinical Psychology Program at Queen's University.

Our Mission

To educate psychologists who will be proficient in both the scientific and clinical aspects of their profession, and who are capable of working in a variety of settings.

The major Goals of the Doctoral Program in Clinical Psychology are as follows: 1. To transmit a breadth of knowledge of the field of Clinical Psychology; 2. To train students in conducting and evaluating empirical research; and 3. To train students to acquire competence in clinical assessment, interviewing and intervention.

The program adheres to a scientist-practitioner model of training with greater emphasis on scientific training. The major aim is not only to transmit existing knowledge, but to develop constructively critical attitudes and creative skills in psychologists who are dedicated to clinical psychology as a scientific profession, so that they will be able to make useful and novel contributions to the solution of problems arising in clinical settings. All functions of clinical psychology are stressed: assessment, treatment, consultation, supervision, and research. Objective methods are preferred in assessment, and the major emphasis in treatment is on empirically-based methods. Instruction emphasizes cognitive-behavioural approaches, although reference is also made to other psychotherapeutic approaches as well as somatic treatment.

The Clinical Program meets these goals by providing instruction in the five core areas of clinical psychology (biological, cognitive-affective, and social bases of behaviour, individual behaviour, and history and systems of psychology), statistical and research methods, and methods of assessment and intervention. Multicultural competence is targeted through inclusion as a topic within each course as well as an independent required course at the PhD level. The Clinical Program meets these goals also by providing in-depth practical experience in assessment and intervention, as well as by requiring directed thesis research, and by providing other collaborative research opportunities.

Our Successes

We have been very successful in meeting our goals. Over the past five years, all of our students in clinical psychology have passed their required and elective core courses and their practicum courses. In addition, all students in the past five years have passed their written and oral comprehensive examinations. All students whose Master’s theses and doctoral dissertations have come to defense have passed. Finally, all students who have applied for internship over the past five years have been successfully matched.

We pride ourselves in accepting the top students in the country to our graduate program. Each year we receive approximately 110 applications to the clinical program, from which we accept 5-6 students, on average. In the past five years, only 3 students have left the program. We have a diverse student body. Our current students range in age from 23-50, approximately 82% are female and 18% are male. These students hail from the top schools in Canada and abroad, and bring with them a diversity of research and clinical backgrounds.

Students who complete our program will be very well-prepared to pursue careers in a variety of settings. Our graduates are currently working as academic researchers in departments of Psychology and Psychiatry, practicing clinical psychologists in academic medical settings, tertiary psychiatric centres, community mental health centres, and private practice.

Training Resources

The Clinical Program has a large variety of training resources at its disposal. We have a very active Psychology Clinic that provides practicum training to all students in the program through supervision by core faculty members. We are also very fortunate to have a large number of diverse practicum settings (PDF, 123 KB) in the community. Our test library is stocked with the most up-to-date assessment tools relevant to the current practice of Psychology, as well as a large historical collection of tests.

Our research facilities are also superior. We have a fully research-dedicated magnetic resonance imaging scanner housed within the affiliated department of Neuroscience. Within the department, students have access to a wide variety of research tools, including equipment for brain electrophysiology, eye tracking, motion capture, behavioural analysis, structured diagnostic assessment, physiological pain assessment, cognitive assessment, and, through outside collaborations, genetic and neurohormonal assessment. Laboratories in the department have dedicated site licenses for a number of software research tools (e.g., SPSS, SAS, ePrime, MatLab, etc.). Each of our core faculty have their own research laboratory spaces.

Accreditation

The Clinical Psychology program is accredited by the Canadian Psychological Association. CPA Head Office, 141 Laurier Avenue West, Suite 702, Ottawa, ON K1P 5J3. The Clinical Psychology Program accreditation was renewed for 5 years in the 2019-20 year. Please click here to see the Public Disclosure Tables (PDF, 738 KB) that were submitted to the CPA in September 2023.

Within our Clinical Psychology Program website you will find info about our faculty, their research, our graduate studies program, and the classes we offer to undergraduate students in Psychology and related disciplines.

If you have questions about applying, please review the Prospective Students Overview .

NOTE: We do not offer a terminal MSc in the Clinical Psychology Program.

Contact the Clinical program chair: Christopher Bowie, Ph.D., C.Psych. Chair [email protected]

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Program Type

• Doctor of Philosophy Degree in Clinical Psychology (PhD)

The GRE (general and subject) admission requirement will be waived for the Fall 2025 intake.

As an exception to the general Doctoral regulations, applications to this program must be made by December 1st at 11:59pm EDT.  Only complete applications, including all references, will be reviewed.

Please see our Clinical program's  Frequently Asked Questions .

The Department of Psychology at Lakehead University offers both MA Clinical Psychology and PhD Clinical Psychology programs, with the PhD built upon the MA program.

The PhD program is accredited by the  Canadian Psychological Association (CPA)  for a six  year term until 2023-24 . The mission of the graduate clinical program is to pursue excellence in psychological research, professional education, and training, as well as public and community service. We are committed to fostering a community of intellectual excellence that promotes an evolving understanding of psychological science and the provision of high-quality graduate education and training in the profession of psychology. The program strives to develop and nurture skills within our students that are grounded in science, critical thinking, and ethics, so that they may serve as competent researchers, clinicians, and educators. We are dedicated to increasing the scientific understanding of the behaviour of individuals, groups, and social systems and to the application of this understanding to enhance the functioning and well-being of individuals, groups, and societies.

The program adheres closely to the scientist-practitioner model of training and practice in psychology. Specifically, we subscribe to the view that the practitioner who can critically evaluate these research findings will make the soundest contributions to society and the profession by supporting evidence-based practice. Similarly, a clinical researcher who is knowledgeable about best practices will make the most significant contribution to clinical research.

NOTE : Students in this program are expected to complete all requirements within a minimum of nine terms (3 years) to a maximum of fifteen terms (5 years) of continuous full-time registration. Candidates must meet a minimum residency of nine terms, all of which must be consecutive.

Admission Requirements for PhD

Applicants for admission must be graduates of a recognized university and show evidence of scholarly achievement. Except where otherwise stated in the Admission Requirements of a particular program, students must have a Masters degree or its equivalent with an academic average as specified by the academic unit. An applicant holding a degree other than one in the discipline area to which admission is sought will be considered on the basis of Master's courses taken and academic standing. 

Meeting the minimum requirements does not necessarily guarantee admission. No candidate will be admitted unless the academic unit recommends admission. All applicants will be advised in writing by the Office of Graduate Studies of their admission status.

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Program Specific Requirements

In addition to the general admission requirements for PhD programs, the following requirements also apply :

• The admission requirement into the PhD in Clinical Psychology program is an MA or MSc degree in Clinical Psychology with a completed master's thesis. See note below.
• Besides official transcripts, a current CV and letters of recommendation, applications must include Graduate Record Exam scores for Verbal, Quantitative, and Analytical tests, as assessed within the past five years; and a detailed statement of interests and objectives. Subject GRE scores (Psychology) are also required in order to be considered for the PhD Clinical Program.
• the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) with a minimum internet-based score of 100, or a minimum computer-based score of 250, or a minimum paper-based score of 600 and a score of at least 5.0 on the Test of Written English (TWE); the Michigan English Language Assessment Battery (MELAB) with a minimum score of 90; or the Canadian Academic English Language Assessment (CAEL) with a minimum score of 80.
• Applicants to the program should be aware that they may require a criminal records check in order to complete the practica and internship requirements for the PhD degree in Clinical Psychology.

NOTE : Students entering the PhD in the Clinical Psychology field with an MA or MSc degree in Clinical Psychology from a university other than Lakehead University must meet all Lakehead MA in Clinical Psychology requirements including: 

• A master's level thesis
• Completed an undergraduate or masters level course in Psychometric Theory on entry or make up the missing non-thesis courses in addition to their PhD course requirements. Students missing the Psychometric Theory requirement must complete as a non-credit course, Psychology 3015 before enrolling in  Psychology 6251  (Advanced Assessment Techniques).
• If Psychology 5201 (or its equivalent) has not been completed during the student's Master's program, it must be completed during the PhD year 1 or 2.
• The Graduate Studies Committee in Psychology, in consultation with the Director of Clinical Training, will review the equivalency of the applicant's academic background relative to the requirements for an MA degree in Clinical Psychology at Lakehead University (see below for details).
• Where deficiencies are noted, the candidate will be directed, upon admission, to take the identified course(s) in addition to the course requirements of the PhD program.
• Applicants require a course in the historical and scientific foundations of general psychology. This requirement may be satisfied by an advanced level undergraduate course (e.g.,  Psychology 4611  History of Psychology). Students lacking a senior undergraduate course in the history of psychology prior to entering the PhD program can satisfy this requirement by taking a graduate level Special Topics or reading course in the history or psychology (e.g.,  Psychology 5731  Special Topics in Psychology).
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Supervisor Information

It is recommended that applicants review Faculty research areas and interests  to determine fit with research interests. Applicants may contact potential supervisor(s) about their research and supervisor availability via email, however, Faculty are unable to confirm supervision prior to application review by the Admissions Review Committee.

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Graduate Funding

At Lakehead University, we realize the importance of financial support for graduate students.

Therefore, financial assistance opportunities are available in several forms and are generally awarded to students by individual programs on the basis of academic promise and financial need.

The different funding options available include:

• Graduate Scholarships, Bursaries, and Awards
• Graduate Assistantships
• Faculty Research Scholarships

For your convenience, a searchable database of graduate scholarships, bursaries, and awards is provided below . Award eligibility, criteria, and application procedures for graduate funding is indicated for each award. Please use the general search tool to find available funding by program. Alternatively, you may also click the advanced search link to specify available funding by program level, award category and/or award amount.

Although financial support cannot be guaranteed to all graduate students in all programs, we encourage you to inquire about financial assistance with your Graduate Coordinator in your program of study . You may also contact the Graduate Funding Officer in the Faculty of Graduate Studies to learn more about your graduate funding options.

Conditions of Graduate Awards

Graduate scholarships are based on academic merit. Graduate bursaries are based on financial need, although there may be a merit component to the bursary. Where the award designates that an application is required, only those students who have submitted the specified application by the deadline will be considered for those awards. Late and/or incomplete applications will not be considered. Only successful applicants will be notified.

Recipients of scholarships, awards and bursaries must be registered in order to receive funding. Graduate awards are applied to any outstanding balance on the student's account. Students are entitled to their awards only after their fees are paid in full. Only students with credit account balances will be refunded the balance of the overpayment. Overpayment refunds of these awards will be issued at the end of September, January and May each year.

The University reserves the right to make changes without prior notice to the terms, conditions and award values listed in this section and in the University Calendar.

The most up-to-date internal awards and applications are on our new award system MyAwards

Graduate Studies Funding Database

Required application documents.

Interested students are encouraged to contact potential supervisors directly and before submitting an application for graduate study.

The first step in the application process is to complete the online graduate studies application form.

After you have submitted the online form along with the required $100 CAD application fee, you will be provided with an online account where you can complete the remaining steps of the application process which include uploading the required supporting documents and monitoring the status of your application.

Click here to Apply to Graduate Studies   

After you have applied 

After you have submitted the online application form, you can access your account  here . Any change in your application status will be reflected in this portal.

• An electronic reference form will be automatically sent by email to the references you identify on the graduate studies application form
• This form is requested in support of the applicant's ability to undertake advanced study and research
• Click here for information about transcript requirements
• Click here for information about proof of degree requirements
• For a list of program specific documents, please see this program's  Additional Application Information  section (if required, see above)
• For information about English test results, please see our Academic Calendar

Additional Application Information: Documents for Applicants Not Currently Enrolled in Lakehead University's MA Clinical Psychology Program

New (Nov 8, 2020): Update to Reference requirements:  In past application cycles, we have required 3 academic and 2 clinical (professional) references. To simplify our reference requirements, we will now only require 3 references.

The reference letters (3) should be from faculty or academic/professional supervisors with whom you have a history, such as someone you worked for as a student researcher, or who you have met with several times throughout a semester and therefore is familiar with your work. The goal is to ask someone who knows you well, and someone who can comment on the areas assessed (e.g., academic preparedness, oral and written communication skills, initiative, judgement, research skill, and overall academic ability). The referee will also be asked to comment on your professional suitability for clinical training (e.g., ability to function well under stress, sensitivity to others, awareness of interpersonal impact, receptiveness to constructive feedback, professionalism).

We strongly recommend that one of the references be from your thesis supervisor. References should not be from a family member or friend.

Applicants can choose to provide a fourth reference, focused only on professional suitability for clinical training, should they so desire. This fourth (clinical) reference is entirely optional. 

The Statement of Interest Form

Within the application, you will be asked to provide your statement of interest. Task instructions: In 3,500 characters or fewer, please: State your research interests, clinical interests, and professional goals. Clarify how your interests fit with the focus of this program and potential research supervisors. Summarize any previous research experience, clinical training (if applicable), and work experience of an applied nature.

• View Curriculum Vitae Notes  
• Click here for GRE and Psychology Subject Test information

Additional Application Information: Documents Required From Current Lakehead University MA Clinical Psychology Students

• To be provided to the Faculty of Graduate Studies by your current Supervisor

Registration Procedures

Check to make sure all of your course selections are currently being offered by referring to the University Course Calendar and the University Course Time Tables .

• View Registration Regulations
• View Graduate Course Time Tables
• View How & Where to Register for Courses
• Check Your Eligibility to Register  You should register as soon as you are eligible
• Review the Academic Schedule of Dates for registration deadlines & important dates

University Graduate Studies & General Regulations & Policies

• View University and Graduate Study Regulations, Policies and Guidelines

Application Availability

Fall 2025 (September)

Deadline - December 1, 2024 

The GRE requirement has been waived for Fall 2025

Clinical Psychology (PhD)

The PhD in clinical psychology will prepare you for clinical practice or academic and research careers. You’ll receive core training in the following areas of psychology:

• Social, developmental, biological and cognitive bases of human behaviour
• Psychological assessment
• Diagnosis, intervention and prevention
• Psychopathology
• Ethics and professional issues
• Cultural diversity
• Research methods and evaluation
• Supervision and consultation

You’ll complete candidacy exams and prepare a dissertation based on your research. After you defend your dissertation, you’ll complete a one-year clinical residency.

Quick facts

Find a supervisor.

You don’t need a supervisor to apply for admission. However, you should list at least 2 potential supervisors in your application.

Supervisors make the final decisions on admission for eligible applicants. See our list of supervisors  accepting students for the next September entry .

Show me program details

Providing you accurate admission requirements, application deadlines, tuition fee estimates and scholarships depends on your situation. Tell us about yourself:

I am a Canadian citizen or permanent resident International student

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Your program details

Application deadlines.

September – apply by December 1

Admission requirements

Program specific requirements.

You must have a master’s degree (or equivalent) in Psychology

As part of your application, you must submit: 

• the primary area you’d like to specialize in (clinical lifespan or clinical neuropsychology)
• your areas of research interest
• the names of at least two faculty members who you’d like to work with, and details of current activity (e.g., courses in progress)
• financial support requirements
• two reference names and their email addresses
• post-secondary transcripts

Completion requirements

View the minimum course requirements for this program.

Funding & aid

Tuition & fees.

Estimated minimum program cost*

* Based on an average program length. For a per term fee breakdown view the tuition fee estimator .

Estimated values determined by the tuition fee estimator shall not be binding to the University of Victoria.

Ready to apply?

You can start your online application to UVic by creating a new profile or using an existing one.

Apply now     How to apply

Faculties & departments

• Faculty of Social Sciences

Related programs

• Clinical Psychology (MSc)
• Psychology (MSc)
• Psychology (PhD)

Contact Karen Kienapple at [email protected] or 250-721-6109 .

< Back to Psychology overview

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Clinical Psychology - Prospective Students

Department of Psychological Clinical Science: Student Voices

MA & PhD in Counselling and Clinical Psychology (Field: Clinical Psychology) - Admissions

Receive graduate training in clinical psychology at canada's #1 university and one of the top public universities in the world.

Nestled in the lush green parkland of the Highland Creek Valley, UofT’s Scarborough campus is a close-knit campus that’s part of a vibrant and diverse urban community. As a student, you will receive graduate training with our award-winning researchers , have access to state-of-the-art research facilities , and benefit from strong connections to the University of Toronto’s affiliated hospital research networks. Since the program's start in 2013, our graduate students have received over $3.75 million in scholarships & awards and produced  164 publications and 164 research presentations . 

Visit the About Us page to learn more about our program's research strengths and Clinical Training model. 

If you are interested in applying to our program, please visit the following pages:

School of Graduate Studies

Clinical Psychology

The program is designed to train professional psychologists at the doctoral level within a scientist-practitioner orientation. The curriculum was developed to meet all the requirements for registration with the College of Psychologists of Ontario. The program was first accredited by the Canadian Psychological Association in 2012, and it was re-accredited in 2022 for a 5-year term (until 2026-2027) (Accreditation Office, CPA, 141 Laurier Avenue West, Suite 712, Ottawa, Ontario, K1P 5J3;  [email protected] ).

The curriculum includes courses covering core clinical topics (e.g., psychopathology, psychological assessment, psychological treatment, culturally-informed clinical practice, supervision, consultation, professional issues and ethics), research methods and statistics, and other topics related to both clinical psychology and other  core areas  of psychology.

The program also includes clinical practicum placements, providing an opportunity to put new skills into practice. Clinical practica can take place in our own Psychology Training Clinic, as well as a wide range of local hospitals, mental health agencies and clinics, university counselling centres, schools, and private clinical practices.

A minimum of 11 courses (including one clinical practicum) are required at the  MA level . These courses, along with an MA thesis, are completed in 2 years.

For the  PhD , eight courses are required (including two clinical practica). All PhD students in the clinical area also complete a doctoral dissertation, as well as a comprehensive breadth requirement, and a full-time clinical internship in the final year of the PhD. Including the internship, the PhD is expected to be finished in 4 years, after the MA is completed.

Psychology Training Clinic

A partnership between Toronto Metropolitan University and St. Michael's Hospital. Read more >

Read all the details on our curriculum and degree requirements here >

Why Toronto Metropolitan University?

See More Student Spotlights  

"I chose Ryerson [Toronto Metropolitan University] for many reasons, but primarily because I was drawn to the collaborative nature of the program and the ample opportunities available for clinical and research training." Brittany Jamieson, PhD student

For the documents below, if you are unable to open the document or get an error message (e.g., "Please wait..."), please right click on the link and choose Save As... then open it using  Adobe Acrobat Reader  (external link)     Program Statistics

•  (PDF file)  Applications, Offers & Enrolments
•  (PDF file)  Internship Applications
•  (PDF file)  Program Graduates
•  (PDF file)  Students' Activities

Note: Adobe Acrobat Reader  (external link, opens in new window)  is required to view these documents.

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Advance your knowledge of the causes, prevention, assessment and treatment of psychological problems, along with the promotion of health and wellness. Our program is accredited by the Canadian Psychological Association.

Degrees offered

• Master of Science (MSc) , thesis-based in Clinical Psychology View degree requirements »
• Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)  in Clinical Psychology View degree requirements »

Please note that the Clinical Psychology Program only admits students who wish to pursue the Ph.D. degree. We do not offer a terminal M.Sc. degree.

Understanding graduate studies

Get important information about what you need to do before you begin your grad studies.

Ready to apply?

Ready to start your application? Get the information you need to apply today.

Start your application

Application Deadlines

For admission on September 1

Canadians and permanent residents

Nov. 15 application deadline

Important Things to Know about our Admissions Process. Learn more

Clinical Psychology Graduate Program Brochure. View Brochure Here

Our program is committed to enhancing and supporting diversity, equity and inclusion. Learn more

Master of Science (MSc), thesis-based

Thesis-based programs require that you pursue independent and original research culminating in a thesis. You will work under the supervision of a faculty member whose expertise matches your research area.

View program information

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

The aim of this doctoral program is to train research-minded students to become inspiring teachers and insightful professional scholars. In our vibrant department, you will get the access and attention you need from our faculty of internationally recognized scholars.

What is thesis-based study?

Pursue independent research guided by a supervisor who shares your research interests. If you want to advance your knowledge or expand your expertise in a specific field or research area, our thesis-based programs are for you.

What is a supervisor?

A supervisor is a faculty member who oversees your research and the development of your thesis.

Graduate contacts

Graduate program advisor.

Contact me for graduate program advising and any questions you have about our programs [email protected]  »

Psychology Graduate Program Director

Dr. Josh Bourdage

Clinical Graduate Program Director

Dr. Sheri Madigan

Clinic Director and Clinical Practicum Coordinator

Dr. Brae Anne McArthur  

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Doctor of Psychology (PsyD)

The Doctor of Psychology (PsyD) is a doctoral program in clinical psychology which is comprised of 18 required classroom courses, 3 colloquium courses, a minimum of 750 hours of practical experience across four practicum courses, a dissertation across four courses, and a full time, 12-month predoctoral internship considered one course. The program is designed to prepare students to practice as clinical psychologists.

Infused with a critical lens, and focused throughout on integration of theory, research, and practice across individual and cultural diversities, the Doctor of Psychology Program prepares graduates to practice as clinical psychologists who will meet the needs of individuals, couples, and families, and also of broader communities and populations through the conscientious practice of the human art and science of clinical psychology.

Students will learn to develop, deliver and supervise high quality mental health services including assessment, diagnosis as appropriate, psychotherapeutic intervention and consultation, supervision, and research as well as learn to practice clinical psychology with an emphasis on responding to the broader needs for health and wellness promotion, community strengthening and prevention of psychological distress.

Of particular priority in the program is the development in students of the capacity to respectfully and effectively engage with the diversity of past and current experiences of individuals and communities, including with respect to culture, ethnicity, socioeconomic status, gender, language, religion, sexuality, physical and psychological characteristics, and identity. Students will develop an understanding of prominent systems and learn to work within them to effectively advocate for those requiring psychological services and to inform and shape organizational and public policy. Ethical decision making will be paramount throughout the program.

Students in the program are engaged full-time with the program throughout almost the entirety of the four years of study. The first semesters include five courses per semester; the workload for five graduate-level courses in a professional training program is much greater than that for five senior undergraduate courses.  As is the case in other professional training programs such as medicine or veterinary medicine, students in the PsyD will not have time for significant employment outside the program. 

Students' initial practicum placements will take place in the UPEI Psychology Clinic. The program will place students for subsequent practica in sites across Prince Edward Island, unless students initiate an approved placement site outside of the province.  For the pre-doctoral internship, students take part with students across North America in the competitive APPIC internship matching program ( www.appic.org ). Internship placements cannot be guaranteed. A limited number of 12-month internship placements will be available in Prince Edward Island, considerably fewer than there will be students in the program.  Applicants are strongly encouraged to apply to internship sites outside the province.

Continuation in the program requires successful completion of, and ethical and professional conduct in, courses, practicum placements, and internship. 

The University of Prince Edward Island’s PsyD in Clinical Psychology is accredited by the Canadian Psychological Association (CPA). The initial accreditation is for a three-year term dating from the accreditation site visit of October 2022. A reaccreditation site visit will take place in advance of that three-year date. The CPA Accreditation Panel Office can be contacted via: Dr. Stewart Madon, Registrar, [email protected] , 613-237-2144 (ext. 333).

Clinical Psychology

Clinical Psychology is a subfield within psychology that applies psychological theories, research and knowledge to various aspects of human functioning. Clinical psychologists are professionals who have doctoral level training in clinical psychology. They work in a wide range of contexts, with many working as professional clinicians, academics, or both. Clinical psychologists work across the spectrum of health and mental health promotion, prevention, assessment, diagnosis as appropriate, intervention, consultation, and supportive care. They are engaged with program design, implementation, and evaluation and with policy and systems change.

Clinical psychologists are trained to address many human problems including depression, anxiety, stress, major mental disorders, learning problems, relational problems, challenges in parenting, addictions, behaviours contributing to chronic disease, developmental challenges, problems related to aging, problems which may arise from abuse or other traumatic experiences, and issues within the forensic field.

Clinical psychologists often work closely with psychiatrists, social workers and other health professionals, often within leadership roles on interdisciplinary teams. They may work with individuals, couples, or groups in public mental health clinics, in private practice, in public education systems, in other community settings, and at universities.

Program contacts

Lacey McBride and Melissa Bender  Administrative Assistants, PsyD Program [email protected]

Dr. Jessica Strong Director of Clinical Training, PsyD Program [email protected]

Need more information about Doctor of Psychology (PsyD)?

The personal information requested on this form is collected under Section 31(c) of the PEI Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act. Read our Disclaimer .

Note: Current UPEI students should refer to Student Planning in myUPEI and the UPEI Academic Calendar governing their entry year, and speak to an academic advisor about course requirements. The course structure presented for this program is a recommended, unofficial progression for prospective students.

Students following this degree program must complete 57 semester hours of required courses, 750 hours of clinical practica (12 semester hours), a dissertation (12 semester hours), and a full-time 12-month clinical internship.

Required courses

PSY 6001 Colloquium I PSY 6201 Critical Historical Perspectives on Clinical Psychology PSY 6202 Ethics and Professional Issues in Clinical Psychology PSY 6101 Foundations I: Human Development and Personality PSY 6203 Psychopathology and Diagnosis Across the Lifespan PSY 6204 Psychometrics and Assessment Practices with Adults PSY 6102 Foundations II: Social Bases of Behaviour PSY 6103 Foundations III: Cognitive and Affective Bases of Behaviour PSY 6206 Quantitative Approaches to Research in Clinical Psychology PSY 6207 Qualitative Research in Clinical Psychology PSY 6205 Psychometrics and Assessment Practices with Children and Adolescents PSY 6501 Assessment Practicum PSY 6208 Introduction to Psychotherapy PSY 7001 Colloquium II PSY 7101 Foundations IV: Biological Bases of Behaviour PSY 7202 Intervention with Children and Adolescents PSY 7801 Clinical Dissertation: Research Proposal I PSY 7203 Intervention with Adults: Cognitive, Behavioural, and Related Approaches PSY 7204 Advanced Intervention with Adults: Specific Clinical Approaches PSY 7802 Clinical Dissertation: Research Proposal II PSY 7501 Intervention Practicum PSY 8001 Colloquium III PSY 8801 Clinical Dissertation: Project I PSY 8201 Clinical Psychology in the Community PSY 8202 Clinical Psychology for Organizational and Systems Change PSY 8501 Advanced Practicum I PSY 8502 Community Intervention Practicum PSY 8802 Clinical Dissertation: Project II PSY 8203 Clinical Supervision PSY 8501 Advanced Practicum I PSY 9000 Predoctoral Internship One of PSY 7204 Advanced Intervention with Adults: Specific Clinical Approaches or PSY 7205: Advanced Intervention with Children and Adolescents

Optional course

PSY 8503 Advanced Practicum II

Suggested course sequence 

The order in which courses are offered may vary year to year.

Semester 1 (Fall) PSY 6001 Colloquium I PSY 6201 Critical Historical Perspectives on Clinical Psychology PSY 6202 Ethics and Professional Issues in Clinical Psychology PSY 6203 Psychopathology and Diagnosis Across the Lifespan PSY 6204 Psychometrics and Assessment Practices with Adults PSY 6207 Qualitative Research in Clinical Psychology

Semester 2 (Winter) PSY 6001 Colloquium I (continued) PSY 6102 Foundations II: Social Bases of Behaviour or PSY 7101 Foundations IV: Biological Bases of Behaviour (and) PSY 6205 Psychometrics and Assessment Practices with Children and Adolescents PSY 6206 Quantitative Approaches to Research in Clinical Psychology PSY 6208 Introduction to Psychotherapy  PSY 6501 Assessment Practicum

Semester 3 (Summer) PSY 6101 Foundations I: Human Development and Personality or PSY 6103 Foundations III: Cognitive and Affective Bases of Behaviour (and) PSY 6501 Assessment Practicum (continued) PSY 7801 Clinical Dissertation: Research Proposal I

Semester 1 (Fall) PSY 7001 Colloquium II PSY 7202 Intervention with Children and Adolescents PSY 7203 Intervention with Adults: Cognitive, Behavioural, and Related Approaches PSY 7501 Intervention Practicum PSY 7801 Clinical Dissertation: Research Proposal I (continued) PSY 8202 Clinical Psychology for Organizational and Systems Change

Semester 2 (Winter) PSY 7001 Colloquium II (continued) PSY 6102 Foundations II: Social Bases of Behaviour or PSY 7101 Foundations IV: Biological Bases of Behaviour (and) PSY 7205 Advanced Intervention with Children and Adolescents PSY 7501 Intervention Practicum (continued) PSY 7802 Clinical Dissertation: Research Proposal II

Semester 3 (Summer) PSY 6101 Foundations I: Human Development and Personality or PSY 6103 Foundations III: Cognitive and Affective Bases of Behaviour (and) PSY 8501 Advanced Practicum I

Semester 1 (Fall) PSY 8001 Colloquium III PSY 7204 Advanced Intervention with Adults: Specific Clinical Approaches PSY 8203 Clinical Supervision PSY 8801 Clinical Dissertation: Project I PSY 8501 Advanced Practicum I (continued)

Semester 2 (Winter) PSY 8001 Colloquium III (continued) PSY 8201 Clinical Psychology in the Community PSY 8502 Community Intervention Practicum PSY 8503 Advanced Practicum II (optional) PSY 8802 Clinical Dissertation: Project II

Semester 3 (Summer) PSY 8503 Advanced Practicum II (optional) (continued) PSY 8802 Clinical Dissertation: Project II (continued)

Applicants to the UPEI Doctor of Psychology (PsyD) program are required to have an Honours Bachelor’s degree in Psychology including an honours thesis, or an equivalent. Applicants are encouraged to present a record of undergraduate course selection reflecting breadth of study across the core areas of psychology. Given the preponderance of quantitative methods in the current clinical psychology research literature, completion of an advanced statistics course prior to admission is required. In addition, given the methodological pluralism and critical historical and social perspective adopted by the program, previous course work in qualitative research methods and situating psychology in a critical historical perspective is highly recommended. PsyD students at UPEI will be engaged in a critical and reflective dialogue about research methods and the modern positions adopted by clinical psychology.

A minimum GPA of 3.5 on a 4-point scale is normally required, with more recent performance given greater weight.

Applicants whose undergraduate degree is in a language other than English must complete an English proficiency test as an Additional Language assessment.

Applicants must submit the following to the University via the application portal :

• the UPEI Graduate Application Form;
• an Academic Summary Form;
• a Supplemental Application Form which includes a personal statement outlining background preparation and explaining why this particular program is a match for the applicant;
• responses to essay prompts provided within the application;
• a curriculum vitae;
• the application fee.

Please refer to the UPEI Academic Calendar for complete Doctor of Psychology (PsyD) program admissions information.

Canadian Psychological Association grants UPEI PsyD program accreditation

The University of Prince Edward Island’s four-year doctor of psychology (PsyD) in clinical psychology program has been granted accreditation for a three-year term by the Canadian Psychological Association (CPA).

All application materials, including official transcripts from post-secondary institutions and letters of reference, must be  received by December 1 of the previous calendar year the student wishes to enter the program. (If December 1 falls on a weekend, the deadline is the following Monday.)

You do not secure a supervisor before applying to the program arrangement with dissertation supervisors are made during the first year of study.

Doctoral of Clinical Psychology - $37,636 per 4 year program

International students pay $841 per course, in addition to full-time student tuition.

For a complete breakdown of part-time or full-time study as a student in the PsyD program, visit our Tuition and Fees page .

The PsyD program currently offers each student funding of $10,000 a year for the first three years for clinical assistantships. The clinical assistantships involve students contributing to the development and delivery of community-based interventions.

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CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGY PROGRAM - INFORMATION ON ADMISSIONS

We are now accepting applications for Fall 2025!

We are looking for students to help advance our understanding of mental health difficulties, and are motivated to use empirical methods to satisfy their curiosity through research.

GRE scores are NOT required for applicants seeking Fall 2025 admission.

Unfortunately, for the Fall 2025 admissions, we are unable to admit any international students into our Clinical Psychology graduate program due to funding limitations. International students would not receive funding for the length of our six-year program. Please check back next year.

Admissions Values Statement:

The University of Waterloo Clinical Program is committed to continual evaluation and improvement in admission processes such that equity and diversity are promoted. Having diversity in our graduate program will support a broader process of creating a socially responsive clinical psychology profession that addresses the needs of our society, including those who have historically been underserved. Moreover, diversity in life experiences and perspectives within our program will enrich the learning of all individuals involved in our training community. To this end, we are committed to adopting a more holistic approach to our admission process wherein applicant suitability is defined by a broad set of criteria that go beyond narrow markers of aptitude that may exclude those students with less privilege (e.g., volunteer experiences such as unpaid research experiences). We value aspects of applicants’ life experience and community engagement that would enhance their application. Within our application procedures, we seek to identify and reduce biases (e.g., group interviews, standardized questions), as well as to ensure accessibility (e.g., virtual interviews). We encourage and welcome Canadian citizens and permanent residents from a diverse range of backgrounds to apply to our program.

Checklist for preparing your application to our program:

1. Review Admission Requirements and our Advice for Potential Applicants.

2. Apply for External Scholarships (e.g., SSHRC, OGS) the fall before you hope to start graduate school.

This is not required, but highly recommended.

 3. Identify one or more prospective supervisor(s) by checking which faculty members will be accepting a clinical psychology student

Please  see the list  of which faculty members will be accepting clinical psychology students

4. Check and make note of application deadlines .

 5. Review and make note of all application procedures .

6. Attend to clinical psychology-specific application instructions.

See below for details.

Clinical Psychology-Specific Application Instructions

In addition to the broader departmental application requirements , applicants to the clinical psychology program should follow the guidelines below:

Personal Statement

As you prepare your personal statement, which is a departmental application requirement, we ask that you follow the guidelines below that have been tailored to our clinical psychology admissions process.

Please describe your reasons for wishing to pursue graduate studies in clinical psychology, as well as your relevant experiences and qualities, as well as your primary research interests and your reasons for applying to the University of Waterloo in particular. See below for more detailed instructions.

Maximum of 2 pages single-spaced

• Experiences, qualities, and accomplishments: Please describe research, academic, professional, extracurricular, and/or personal experiences and accomplishments that make you interested in, well-suited for, and prepared for a graduate degree in clinical psychology at the University of Waterloo. Please be sure to describe the nature of your past research experiences, and also any leadership, community service, and/or clinically-relevant experience (e.g., crisis line). If relevant, you should also list any awards, honours, and distinctions you have received, and any knowledge translation activities/outputs you have been involved with (e.g., publications, presentations, blogs).
• Research interests: We encourage you to highlight your interest in one or more clinical psychology faculty members (first checking they are accepting a student; see below), and ideally a second or third if possible. You may comment on what appeals to you about each faculty member’s research and how you might like to build on this work.
• Lived experience and diversity (optional): We invite you to describe the unique perspectives you may bring to our program and the field through your lived experience. You may also describe your vision for how research and practice in clinical psychology can become more inclusive, just, and equitable.

What to expect after you submit your application

Our admissions process operates in a rolling manner. You could be contacted as soon as early January about an interview, or as late as April. Unless you receive a letter that your application has been denied, you can assume that your application is still under consideration. Although we hope to be in touch with top applicants in January, various factors make it such that some outstanding applicants may hear from us until later in the winter.

Centre for Mental Health Research and Treatment

Through our Centre for Mental Health Research and Treatment, our students receive state-of-the-art training and supervision in assessment and treatment across the lifespan. Our program has strong partnerships with agencies and service providers in the community. In addition to core faculty, our students receive supervision from highly talented adjunct faculty who practice in a variety of clinical settings. All students receive carefully supervised in-house training in psychoeducational and diagnostic assessment, and evidence-based treatment of a wide range of difficulties in children, adolescents, and adults. We are also proud to offer opportunities for training in family therapy, couples therapy and group therapy, and specialized rotations in operational stress injuries, in assessment of people newly arrived in Canada who are seeking refugee status, and in gold-standard assessment of autism spectrum disorders.

Clinical Psychology Faculty

Child psychology.

Faculty Researcher: Dillon Browne

Influence of Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs), trauma, and socioeconomic status on human development

*May be accepting new students in 2025*

Faculty Researcher: Tara McAuley

Nature and development of executive control in children, and the relation of executive skills to psychopathology

Faculty Researcher: Elizabeth Nilsen

Development of cognitive and communication skills in typically and atypically developing children  

* Not accepting new students in 2025*

ADULT ANXIETY STUDIES

Faculty Researcher: David Moscovitch

Cognitive-behavioural mechanisms underlying the nature and treatment of social anxiety

*May be accepting new students in 2025 *

Faculty Researcher: Christine Purdon

Development and persistence of anxiety and compulsions

* Not accepting new students in 2025*

TREATMENT AND INTERACTION

Faculty Researcher: Allison Kelly

Predictors and consequences of self-compassion and self-criticism, often in relation to body and eating disorders

*May be accepting new students in 2025*

Faculty   Researcher:  Uzma Rehman

The role of interpersonal processes in sexual satisfaction and functioning

Faculty Researcher: Jonathan Oakman

Scientific and practical utility of single-case designs in psychotherapy

Clinical faculty members welcome e-mail inquiries from prospective applicants. However, applicants should know that their application materials will only be reviewed through the formal admissions process in December . Similarly, due to the volume of applicants, faculty can only meet with applicants who are short-listed to receive an interview during this process.

Please note that it may be the case that non-clinical faculty are open to supervising clinical students . For more information, please  see our Clinical Psychology webpage , and scroll to the bottom for the names of potential faculty who are supervising clinical students.

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Testimonials

I love the supportive and collaborative culture of the Clinical Psychology program at UW. This is a place where I instantly felt at home and it has been a privilege to work towards my goals alongside some of the nicest and brightest people I have ever met, under the expert guidance of leaders in this field! Vanja

I’m appreciative of the psychotherapy supervision opportunities afforded to us at UWaterloo. Supervision (hour-for-hour and supported by video recording) is provided by both core faculty and adjuncts from the community, working from varied treatment modalities, and has been an immensely helpful training experience. Beth

My favourite part of the Clinical Psychology program is the breadth of experiences we gain. I have had the opportunity to learn diverse methods of therapy, conduct independent research, and practice as a student clinician. I feel that the program has helped me to become a well-rounded scientist-practitioner. Siobhan

The clinical faculty clearly care about students, appreciate student feedback, and work towards improving the program

Canadian Psychological Association

The national voice for psychology in Canada

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CPA Accredited Programs

Whereas individual practitioners of psychology are licensed, training programs in professional psychology can be accredited. The CPA accredits such training programs but the CPA does not accredit, register, license, or certify individuals to practice psychology in Canada. The latter mandate falls under the purview of the provincial regulatory bodies ( Click here to obtain ).

It is the doctoral or internship program (not its students) that must voluntarily apply for and undergo accreditation. A student can claim to have graduated from an accredited program, if the program was accredited at the time of the student’s graduation.

Although graduation from an accredited doctoral program is not a requirement for registration as a psychologist or always a requirement of employers, it can be an advantage. Applicants for registration or licensure who have graduated from accredited programs often receive ‘fast-track’ credential reviews by regulatory bodies. Furthermore, accredited programs are encouraged to hire faculty and staff who themselves have graduated from either a CPA- or APA-accredited program.

Please review the lists below to see which universities have accredited doctoral programs in clinical psychology, clinical neuropsychology, counselling psychology and school psychology; and which institutions have accredited doctoral internship programs in clinical psychology, counselling psychology and clinical neuropsychology.

Note that if a program is not listed here, it is not currently accredited by the CPA. As well, the CPA does not accredit any Master’s-level programs.

This list is updated twice per year, typically in November and May, following each Accreditation Panel meeting.

DOCTORAL PROGRAMS IN CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGY

Doctoral programs in clinical neuropsychology, doctoral programs in counselling psychology, doctoral programs in school psychology, doctoral internship programs in clinical psychology, doctoral internship programs in counselling psychology, doctoral internship programs in clinical neuropsychology, doctoral internship programs in school psychology.

61 Best universities for Clinical Psychology in Canada

Updated: February 29, 2024

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Below is a list of best universities in Canada ranked based on their research performance in Clinical Psychology. A graph of 4.12M citations received by 115K academic papers made by 61 universities in Canada was used to calculate publications' ratings, which then were adjusted for release dates and added to final scores.

We don't distinguish between undergraduate and graduate programs nor do we adjust for current majors offered. You can find information about granted degrees on a university page but always double-check with the university website.

1. University of Toronto

For Clinical Psychology

2. University of British Columbia

3. McGill University

4. University of Calgary

5. McMaster University

6. Western University

7. University of Ottawa

8. University of Montreal

9. University of Alberta

10. York University

11. Dalhousie University

12. Queen's University

13. Laval University

14. University of Manitoba

15. Carleton University

16. Simon Fraser University

17. University of Saskatchewan

18. University of Quebec in Montreal

19. University of Waterloo

20. Concordia University

21. University of Victoria

22. University of Regina

23. University of Windsor

24. University of Guelph

25. University of New Brunswick

26. Brock University

27. Ryerson University

28. University of Sherbrooke

29. Acadia University

30. Memorial University of Newfoundland

31. Wilfrid Laurier University

32. University of Quebec, Trois-Rivieres

33. Laurentian University

34. Lakehead University

35. University of Lethbridge

36. Trent University

37. University of Winnipeg

38. University of Quebec in Outaouais

39. MacEwan University

40. Saint Mary's University

41. HEC Montreal

42. University of Northern British Columbia

43. St. Francis Xavier University

44. Bishop's University

45. University of Moncton

46. Ontario Tech University

47. Mount Saint Vincent University

48. Nipissing University

49. Trinity Western University

50. University of Prince Edward Island

51. Cape Breton University

52. Mount Allison University

53. Brandon University

54. Kwantlen Polytechnic University

55. University of Quebec at Chicoutimi

56. Mount Royal University

57. Kings University in Canada

58. Polytechnic School of Montreal

59. University of the Fraser Valley

60. Thompson Rivers University

61. University of Quebec in Rimouski

The best cities to study Clinical Psychology in Canada based on the number of universities and their ranks are Toronto , Vancouver , Montreal , and Calgary .

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Clinical Psychology in Canada

Why Study Clinical Psychology in Canada

• Studying Clinical Psychology in Canada is a great choice, as there are 11 universities that offer PhD degrees on our portal.
• Over 323,000 international students choose Canada for their studies, which suggests you’ll enjoy a vibrant and culturally diverse learning experience and make friends from all over the world.
• We counted 6 affordable PhD degrees in Canada , allowing you to access quality higher education without breaking the bank. Moreover, there are 486 available scholarships you can apply to.

12  Clinical Psychology PhDs in Canada

Clinical Psychology Designed to create a strong foundation on which you will build throughout your career, Concordia University of... Concordia University of Edmonton Edmonton, Alberta, Canada

Clinical Psychology The PhD in Clinical Psychology at University of Victoria will prepare you for clinical practice or academic... University of Victoria Victoria, British Columbia, Canada

Clinical and Counselling Psychology The PhD in Counselling and Clinical Psychology, Clinical and Counselling Psychology Field (CCP) at... University of Toronto Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Clinical Psychology This Clinical Psychology program from University of Saskatchewan is accredited by both the Canadian... University of Saskatchewan Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada

School and Clinical Child Psychology Leading to the Doctor of Philosophy degree, the School and Clinical Child Psychology program at... University of Toronto Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Study in Canada

Canada is one of the most popular study destinations in the world due to its high focus on the quality of its universities and its emphasis on attracting international students who can later immigrate. Canadians are very welcoming to international students and they invest a lot into making sure students are safe, treated fairly, and enjoy their stay in the country. Study in one of the strongest economies in the world while enjoying a high living standard and a flexible study environment. Classes have smaller student groups ensuring everyone gets the attention they need, and encouraging group assignments and debates.

Is Canada the right place for you?

Take the test and find out which country is your best fit.

Explore your Clinical Psychology degree

Study a degree in Clinical Psychology to diagnose and treat mental and emotional illnesses and help people live better lives.

Is Clinical Psychology the best for you?

Take the test and find out if Clinical Psychology is the right path for you.

Clinical Psychology Scholarships and Financial Aid in Canada

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Psychology (PhD)

Program description.

The Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in Psychology offered by the Department of Psychology in the Faculty of Science is a research-intensive program that emphasizes challenging and future-oriented learning opportunities. The program's objective is to equip students with skills in literature synthesis, research design, and scientific communication to pursue professional opportunities in academia or industry.

The program may also be taken as one of the following options:

Behavioural Neuroscience option : emphasizes modern, advanced theory and methodology aimed at the neurobiological underpinnings of behaviour in human and non-human animals.

Language Acquisition option : the Ph.D. thesis must be on a topic relating to language acquisition.

Keywords: Clinical, experimental, training, internship, social, behavioral, quantitative, cognition.

Unique Program Features

• The program offers two unique program tracks: Clinical and Experimental Psychology;
• Department Faculty members conduct cutting-edge research in Behavioural Neuroscience, Clinical Psychology, Cognition & Cognitive Neuroscience, Developmental Science, Health Psychology, Quantitative Psychology & Modelling, and Social & Personality Psychology;
• The Department collaborates with the Departments of Psychology at the Montreal Neurological Institute and Hospital, the Allan Memorial Institute, the Douglas Mental Health University Institute, the Jewish General Hospital, the Montreal Children's Hospital, and the Montreal General Hospital to permit students to undertake research in a hospital setting.

University-Level Admission Requirements

• An eligible Bachelor's degree with a minimum 3.0 GPA out of a possible 4.0 GPA
• English-language proficiency

Each program has specific admission requirements including required application documents. Please visit the program website for more details.

Visit our Educational credentials and grade equivalencies and English language proficiency webpages for additional information.

Program Website

PhD in Psychology website

Department Contact

Graduate Program psychology.grad [at] mcgill.ca (subject: PhD%20in%20Psychology) (email)

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Note : Application deadlines are subject to change without notice. Please check the application portal for the most up-to-date information.

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Consult our full list of our virtual application-focused workshops on the Events webpage.

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Vancouver | Doctorate

Doctor of Psychology (Psy.D.) in Clinical Psychology

Program overview, student outcomes, admissions requirements, tuition & fees.

Adler University’s Doctor of Psychology (Psy.D.) in Clinical Psychology program prepares students to be professional clinicians who empower individuals and address acute and chronic social justice issues that plague our society. Graduates are prepared to work with diverse populations, including children, adults, seniors, those with developmental disabilities, and the severely and chronically mentally ill.

Our trailblazing Vancouver program is approved by the Ministry of Advanced Education, and is designed to meet the curricular requirements of most provincial and state licensing and registration bodies.

As highly trained practitioner-scholars, graduates complete the program equipped to tackle the most pressing needs of today’s society.

Careers in Clinical Psychology

Our program is designed to prepare clinicians to work with diverse populations, including children, adults, seniors, those with developmental disabilities, and the severely and chronically mentally ill. Our graduates will serve as clinicians in a variety of settings, such as:

• Private practice
• Clinics and outpatient care centres
• Military organizations
• Government agencies
• Nursing and residential care facilities
• Substance abuse and drug treatment centres

Train with leading practitioners and scholars in the field and shape your career through unique professional development opportunities tailored to your goals. Along with individualized mentorship, our program features in-depth experiential training that gives students the tools to create real change.

Students hone their clinical skills through a minimum of 600 hours of clinical practicum experience and 300 hours of direct client contact. This experience occurs within supervised clinical practicum experiences throughout the University’s network of community partners, including clinics, hospitals, mental health centres, and government agencies.

Students also gain research training and knowledge through the dissertation, a rigorous scholarly study of a clinical issue relevant to the field, as well as the 1,600-hour full-time internship geared toward their clinical interest. As highly trained practitioner-scholars, they complete the program equipped to tackle the most pressing needs of today’s society.

Student Spotlight

Sara Saeedi, student Doctor of Psychology in Clinical Psychology

Sara Saeedi, a fourth year Doctorate of Psychology in Clinical Psychology (Psy.D.) student in Vancouver, had the opportunity to immerse herself in Adlerian theory and practice this summer at the International Committee of Adlerian Summer Schools and Institutes (ICASSI) in Sibiu, Romania.

The Doctor of Psychology in Clinical Psychology (Psy.D.) program is structured as a five-year, 107-credit hour program. Successful completion of this program includes the courses listed below. Find course descriptions and more information in the Adler University course catalog .

Clinical Psychology Psy.D. Courses

The history, theory, methods, and applications of group psychotherapy are examined, discussed, and demonstrated. The development of competency in group methods is enhanced through didactic presentation, role-playing, and participation in an ongoing group.

This course covers the theoretical principles of Individual Psychology with an emphasis on the self-creation of one?s unique style of life. Focus is on the context of the individual’s original family constellation and socio-economic setting. It further emphasizes the contextual setting of pathological development of the style of life within families and society.

This course teaches entry-level doctoral students basic relationship, intervention, diagnostic, and interviewing skills, using role-plays and other experiential activities to prepare for clinical work on practicum.

This course introduces students to  psychometric Theory . It focuses on concepts and theoretical principles central to various forms of psychological assessment. Students will gain the theoretical and statistical knowledge necessary to understand when, why, and how to use psychometrics in their clinical work and research.

This course covers a wide range of research designs used to research issues in clinical psychology. The purpose is to expose students to a variety of quantitative and selected qualitative research designs most frequently used in clinical psychology.

Community Psychology studies a wide variety of forces and structures in the community which affect the positive growth, development, and functioning of its members. The practice of community psychology is directed toward interventions that facilitate psycho – logical competence and empowerment and promote constructive social change.

This course concerns concepts and applications of descriptive and inferential statistical methods. A wide range of both univariate and multivariate statistics will be covered, including t-test, ANOVA, correlation, regression, MANOVA, nonparametric statistics (e.g., chi square), structural equation modelling and meta-analysis.

This course will develop a foundation for assessment and treatment of trauma reactions in adults and children. It covers the history, etiology, symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment of trauma-related dysfunction, particularly post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), acute stress disorder (ASD), dissociative disorders, and common comorbid conditions.

This seminar will provide students an opportunity to meet in a small group with peers and one faculty member. The seminar covers advisement and mentoring around Adler degree requirements and mission, orientation to the field of professional psychology, issues of diversity as it relates to the students’ personal and professional growth, and a preliminary overview of ethics within the context of social responsibility.

This course will focus on more advanced counselling skills (e.g., silence, immediacy, self-disclosure, use of metaphor, inferring client feelings, enhancing responses, body awareness). Students will be introduced to theories of change and will learn and practice interventions related to those theories from different counselling orientations.

This course introduces students to the theoretical basis, current issues, ethics and clinical use of cognitive and intelligence assessment. An appreciation of the cultural influences and diversity involving assessment procedures is emphasized.

This course will provide students with an overview of the conceptual, theoretical and empirical issues in the measurement of personality and psychopathology through an examination of the reliability and validity of objective and projective methods. Students will learn to administer, score and interpret broad-band measures of psychological and objective psychopathology and adult personality (e.g., Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory [MMPI-2], Personality Assessment Inventory [PAI], Millon Clinical Multiaxial Inventory [MCMI-III]), and learn about the adolescent equivalents (i.e., MMPI-A, PAI-A, MACI).

In this course, students learn to generate hypotheses from multiple sources of data and cross-validate sources of data: interview, historical, behavioural, psychometric, and projective data; and compose professional psychological assessment reports.

In recent years, cognitive-behavioural approaches to treatment have been applied with a broad range of patient populations for a variety of problems. As CBT models have gained influence, the need to understand, both, the theoretical and practical bases of interventions based on cognitive restructuring has become more prominent.

This course emphasizes the most recent theoretical developments in cognitive-affective bases of behavior. Areas of emphasis will include attention, memory, knowledge, language, reasoning, problem solving, the cognitive bases of affect and consciousness, human learning and theories of motivation.

A survey of the historical development of major theories, research, and practice in psychology is presented. Major systems of psychology are examined. In addition, the course is structured around a number of major philosophical issues and how major theories of psychology have understood and addressed these issues.

This course is designed to provide an examination of the structure, biology, and functioning of the human nervous system. The correlation between neuroanatomy and brain functioning will also be presented through the study and gross dissection and examination of human brains.

This course examines, from a diversity perspective, the theories and concepts of social psychology. Factors related to individual and group identity such as age, gender, sexual orientation, race, ethnicity, socioeconomic status, and health status are examined to facilitate an understanding of the nature of human behavior in groups, institutions, and organizations.

Clinical features of a wide range of mental disorders (e.g., psycho-physiological, anxiety, stress-related dysfunctions, personality, mood and psychotic disorders) will be examined.

This course is designed to provide students with the foundational knowledge and skills necessary for understanding diagnoses in childhood from a biopsychosocial perspective.

This course is designed to provide students with a solid foundation for the ethical practice of psychology and counselling. Students will learn codes of ethics of the Canadian Psychological Association and the College of Psychologists of British Columbia.

This course is designed to acquaint students with the fundamental principles of humanistic-existential approaches to psychotherapy. Beginning with the work of Carl Rogers, humanistic approaches to intervention have placed the client at the forefront of the treatment process

This course is designed to provide an overview of approaches to intervention with families and children. Students will develop skills in the fundamentals of treatment planning and intervention.

This course provides a comprehensive overview of psychoanalytic theory and its practical applications to the treatment of psychological disorders. Students develop a thorough understanding of the basic therapeutic techniques used in psychodynamic therapy.

Traditionally, psychologists and counsellors work within circumscribed clinical contexts within which mental health issues are deemed functions of individual pathology.

This course, intended to occur late in the doctoral curriculum, focuses primarily on clinical supervision, with secondary focus on clinical and programmatic consultation.

This course is an introduction to the scientific principles and clinical information needed for a basic understanding of the uses and limitations of the major classes of psychopharmacologic agents.

This course will focus on preparing students to assume administrative and management roles in behavioral health care management, public administration, academic programs, and other settings.

Taken concurrently with the diagnostic practicum, this seminar provides a setting for the student to discuss and apply the fundamentals of clinical and diagnostic interviewing, to formulate DSM-5 diagnostic impressions, to write an accurate assessment report based on data from the interview and mental status exam, and to appreciate how diversity issues affect the content and processes of clinical interviewing and more broadly of psychological assessment.

Taken concurrently with the diagnostic practicum, this seminar provides a setting for the student to discuss and apply the fundamentals of clinical and diagnostic interviewing, to formulate DSM-IV-TR diagnostic impressions, to write an accurate assessment report based on data from the interview and mental status exam, and to appreciate how diversity issues affect the content and processes of clinical interviewing and more broadly of psychological assessment.

Concurrent with practicum field experiences, the practicum seminar enhances the integration of theoretical and academic perspectives within clinical counselling practice and conceptualization.

This course is designed to carry out the foundational work involved in developing and conceptualizing the dissertation topic. The focus is to construct a dissertation committee, and map out the various stages of the dissertation process.

This course focuses on research proposal development in the student’s chosen area of research. Students are required to complete the proposal work and receive the approval of the dissertation committee.

Students who received approval for their proposal must continue to make consistent progress on their dissertation work. This course is focused on assisting the student with various stages of executing the dissertation study.

Students who received approval for their proposal must continue to make consistent progress on their dissertation work. This course is focused on assisting the student in continuing to advance with dissertation work and must demonstrate steady progress toward completion of the dissertation requirement.

All students must complete 2000-internship of training over a 12-month period (with the option of a half-time internship completed over a 24-months period). Most internships are full time and require a 12-months commitment.

200-hour internship to give students real world experience

A unique and proven program designed to give students real-world experience throughout their time at Adler University, the Social Justice Practicum is a required 200-hour internship that spans four courses (or terms for online programs). Every student is given a number of civic-minded categories to choose from. They submit their desired areas of interest. After which, they are assigned a specific and aligned community outreach site where they will work 8 to 10 hours per week.

Learn about Adler’s Social Justice Practicum

Faculty Spotlight

Manal Guirguis-Younger, Ph.D. Director of the Doctor of Psychology in Clinical Psychology (Psy.D.) program

Some students mentioned that they started the social justice practicum with uncertainty about its relevance and value to the rest of their chosen degree, but then they had a powerful change of heart. A change of heart and mind is what education is all about. I was proud to be part of the Adler University educators, as I strongly believe that education must be about the whole person: mind, heart, spirit, and values.

The Doctor of Psychology (Psy.D.) program is comparable to a Ph.D. in that both can lead to eligibility to be registered or licensed as a Psychologist. Traditional Ph.D. programs are based on the scientist-practitioner model and put equal emphasis on training as a scientific researcher and as a clinician. In contrast, the Psy.D. is based on the scholar-practitioner or local clinical scientist-practitioner model where the primary goal is to prepare Practitioners of Clinical Psychology. The Psy.D. places proportionally greater emphasis on training as a clinician and as a consumer of scientific research in order to apply that knowledge to clinical practice.

Clinical psychology is a domain of professional psychology that focuses on the assessment and treatment of human functioning and impairments in human emotional and behavioral functioning. In comparison with counselling psychology, clinical psychology places a greater emphasis on assessment, diagnosis, and treatments that have been empirically supported for given diagnoses.

The Psy.D. program at Adler University’s Vancouver campus is specifically designed to meet the requirements of Colleges or Boards of Psychologists in most jurisdictions in North America. For example, view the registration requirements for the University’s Vancouver campus registration/licensing jurisdiction.

Psy.D. graduates of the Adler University’s parallel Chicago-based Psy.D. program have become registered in Canada as Psychologists, including in British Columbia. Applicants hoping to register with other jurisdictions should consult the registration criteria for their local Colleges. Registration/licensing bodies evaluate applications on a case by case basis and it is important for prospective graduates to familiarize themselves with licensing requirements in the province or state in which they expect to practice to ensure their training experiences meet all necessary requirements.

Not at this time. The Canadian Psychological Association (CPA) has taken the approach of excluding independent universities in their eligibility criteria which mandates that only “provincially or territorially chartered institutions” (p.28) are able to apply for accreditation.

However, a lack of CPA accreditation does not affect the opportunity for students of Adler’s Psy.D. program to graduate and pursue registration/licensure. CPA has stated that accreditation status does not impact a programs’ ability to graduate students, nor does it impact students’ ability to gain registration/licensure. Graduation from an accredited program is not a requirement for registration/licensure in any Canadian jurisdiction.

An advantage for graduates from CPA accredited programs is that their programs more quickly meet registration/licensure requirements by the licensing bodies. Graduates from non-accredited programs, such as Adler’s Psy.D., have the same opportunity to apply for registration and their applications may be reviewed by Colleges’ Registration Committees to ensure that they satisfy the registration requirements. As previously noted, Adler’s Psy.D. program has been specifically designed and developed to meet the registration requirements of Colleges or Boards of Psychologists in most North American jurisdictions.

No, the program is not eligible to apply for American Psychological Association (APA) accreditation because we are a Canadian program.

Each of our students enters with a cohort of a maximum of sixteen (16) other students. The program is “lock-step” in that typically students will take courses only with other students from the cohort with whom they enter.

For the most current admissions information, please refer to our Admissions page. Please keep in mind, there are specific pre-requisite requirements for the Psy.D. program. And, please note, the admission’s instructions for requesting transfer credit are not specific to the Psy.D. program (once accepted to the Psy.D. program, you will be contacted to apply for transfer credit, if applicable). If you have additional questions, please contact our Vancouver Office of Admissions via email or at 236.521.2411.

Our students are a diverse group and we define diversity broadly to include persons from visible (e.g., race/ethnicity) and non-visible minority groups (e.g., sexual orientation, geographical location); our students come from across Canada and we have been fortunate in attracting the successful applications of several international students. Other important aspects of the application review are the more traditional academic requirements such as GPA, GRE scores, reference letters that can attest to an applicant’s ability to excel in a doctoral program, and a statement of intent from the applicant (for a listing of all of the requirements for application to the Psy.D. program, please review the Program Overview.

A final important component of a successful application is an applicant’s interest in and understanding of the concepts of social justice and social responsibility which takes shape in many different ways.

The Admissions committee considers a range of experiences in an applicant’s background. Beyond the requirements detailed above and on the Adler website, we look for well-rounded applicants who will bring diverse experience and backgrounds to the program. Research experience is not required but could be of value to you as an applicant. This is also the case for clinical experience. There is no one type of clinical experience that is most sought after. We believe that having some involvement in clinical work or volunteer work in community and mental health settings will provide the applicant with some context for the work ahead of them in the doctoral program.

Applicants do not need to find a faculty supervisor in order to apply to the program. The Psy.D. degree is based on a scholar-practitioner model. We are the first of our kind on the West Coast of Canada and because it is a new model to Canada, it is our responsibility to make sure that students know what makes our program different from more traditional Ph.D. programs (scientist-practitioner model). One of the main differences is the emphasis on research that is found in the traditional Ph.D. program. Students in Ph.D. programs usually seek a supervisor with whom they want to do research prior to applying. With a practice-based program (where the emphasis is on training clinicians), being able to understand and utilize research is more of the goal. With that goal, you will need to do a doctoral dissertation but this will likely be an applied project and students typically choose a supervisor once they are already in the program.

Students who enter the Psy.D. program with a master’s degree which was completed within the last five (5) years are eligible to transfer up to a maximum of 24 credits of graduate coursework to apply toward the Psy.D. degree, excluding practicum. Students must have received a grade of B or higher in these courses and must demonstrate course equivalency with the corresponding Adler course requirements in order to receive transfer credit.

The Transfer Credit Committee must take into account many factors when considering applications for transfer credit. Process of applications for transfer credit occur following admission into the program; the Program faculty will contact accepted students prior to beginning the program in order to initiate the process of evaluating transfer credit. Unfortunately, transfer credit evaluation cannot occur prior to acceptance into the program as this process is very time-intensive for the Transfer Credit Committee. Please contact Admissions to obtain more information.

The Psy.D. program at the Vancouver campus is designed to be completed in five years, including four years of course-work and a one year pre-doctoral internship. Students entering the program with a master’s degree can anticipate having a lighter course load in their first year, but may not be able to reduce the number of years to completion due to the cohort-based lockstep sequence.

Courses for the Psy.D. have been planned to occur primarily during the day and early evening with additional demands on students’ time during the week, such as working on group assignments and practicing skills. Social Justice and Clinical Practica also occur during the week. The expectation is that students are enrolled full-time in the program and will not be employed more than part-time hours outside of school (less than 20 hours/week).

Support is provided in locating and securing a practicum placement, though the process can be competitive. The Training Department is well-connected to the mental health community in the Lower Mainland of Vancouver.

Yes, Adler University permits practica to be paid opportunities as long as the positions retain the emphasis on fostering good training (as opposed to fulfilling job responsibilities) and this is determined on a case by case basis by the Director of Clinical Training. However, most clinical practicum opportunities developed by Adler are not paid. The 1-year internship, that is a final requirement of doctoral training in clinical psychology, is often paid.

The pre-doctoral internship is completed in the fifth year of studies as a degree requirement. Many pre-doctoral internships are paid and generally range between $18,000 and $40,000.

Students may apply for internship programs that are members of CAPIC (California Psychology Internship Council). CAPIC internships meet doctoral internship criteria set by the California Psychology Internship Council, a California-based organization of training agencies and doctoral programs. Note that students must choose internships that satisfy the predoctoral internship requirements of the PsyD program; students will also receive support from the Training Department in considering the requirements of the registration or licensing body to whom they plan to apply. Information on available CAPIC internships, as well as CAPIC application and matching processes can be found online.

Students should refer to our Financial Aid webpage for the most up to date figure on tuition. Please note that tuition and fees may go up slightly each year, usually for the Fall term (likely between 2% and 5% per year). There is an initial $500 deposit (non-refundable) that is required 15 days after your acceptance. This is applied to your tuition when you register.

Yes, we anticipate that there will be opportunities to serve as a Teaching Assistant; students will also be able to participate in research opportunities that will emerge as the program develops. As well, there is a requirement for the student to do their own independent research project (the Doctoral Dissertation) to fulfill the requirements of their Psy.D.

Service Canada projects continued strong employment growth for psychologists. Employment and Social Development Canada reports positive employment prospects for psychologists through at least 2020. In the United States, employment of psychologists is expected to grow between 12 and 22 percent through 2022. We believe that graduates will be entering a market that is needing their services and will value the practice-oriented and social justice-infused training that students will receive here at Adler University.

While students of Adler University’s Psy.D. program will benefit from its unique coverage of Adlerian assessment and intervention, their training is best characterized as “generalist” as they will receive training and supervision in a broad range of contemporary and evidence-based clinical orientations and modalities, including cognitive behavioural, psychodynamic, and humanistic/existential interventions.

Alfred Adler was one of the founders of depth psychology, along with Sigmund Freud and Carl Jung. Adler was truly ahead of his time and many of his ideas and discoveries, including birth order, organ jargon, the inferiority complex and social interest, have had a profound impact on postmodern professional psychology. Alfred Adler is sometimes viewed as the father of community psychology, due to his emphasis on the role of social context in individual health. With the current rise of the social justice movement in psychology and the recognition that social determinants impact individual health and well-being, the field is just now catching up with what Alfred Adler was talking about in the early 20th century. Today, Adler University prides itself in graduating socially responsible practitioners who are capable of both treating individuals and advocating for social changes that lead to a healthier society.

Psy.D. graduates (once Registered or Licensed) may be employed in a variety of settings as Registered or Licensed Psychologists. They will be thoroughly trained as clinicians to provide assessment and evidence-based clinical treatment for a range of mental health issues. The program will also prepare graduates to become leaders and managers in the field of mental and behavioral health.

Settings in which Psy.D. graduates might typically work include:

• Private and group practices
• Independent consulting and contracting
• Mental health and substance abuse centres
• Health Care Authorities
• Not-for-profit, government-contracted programs and agencies
• Government-based programs and agencies (e.g., The Ministry of Children and Family Development)
• Forensic Psychiatric Institutions
• EAP and EAFP agencies
• Military-contracted agencies

Salaries for Psychologists range quite widely and are dependent upon the setting, region, and type of work. In British Columbia, the British Columbia Psychological Association’ approved rate for private practice is $200/hour (some psychologists charge more than that and others, far less). Please view the following publication (p. 4) for a comparison of recommended rates in other provinces. General information related to salary ranges in the United States and Canada can also be accessed online.

Applicants to the program must have the following:

• An honours baccalaureate degree in psychology or a substantial background in psychology (defined as 30 credits of coursework in psychology). Coursework must include the following prerequisites: abnormal psychology, research methods, statistics, and developmental psychology/life span development. Additional coursework (pending faculty approval) should include courses related to neuroscience, cognition, social psychology, developmental psychology, tests and measurement theory, personality, and learning.
• A grade point average of 3.25 or higher on a 4.0 scale for all undergraduate or graduate coursework. Exceptions may be made for applicants who demonstrate improved academic performance or academic ability in other ways (e.g., significant clinical or research experience, strong psychology grade point average, excellent GRE scores, or an improved grade point average over time). Applicant may be asked to provide additional supporting documentation for any extenuating circumstances.
• Practicum or work experience in psychology or a related field is highly desirable and is considered in the evaluation of applicants.

Applicants are required to submit the following items to be considered for admission:

• Application and application fee
• Why are you interested in your chosen field and program?
• Why is Adler University’s program a good fit for you?
• What are your career goals and interests?
• Resume or Curriculum Vitae
• Please have official transcripts sent directly to the Office of Admissions
• Unofficial transcripts are accepted for any schools in which a degree was not received
• These should be from someone who can specifically speak to your academic and professional abilities

Approved applicants will be invited to complete an interview with faculty. Please submit all application materials to the Office of Admissions prior to the application deadline.

International applicants are also required to submit the following:

• Course-by-course transcript evaluation
• All transcripts from outside of North America (including Mexico) must be evaluated by a transcript evaluation service such as World Education Services (WES) ( www.wes.org ) or Educational Credentialing Evaluators (ECE) ( www.ece.org ). Please note that we require all official transcripts (and official translations if not in English) as well as the course-by-course international credential evaluation.
• If a  WES ICAP course-by-course evaluation  is ordered, applicants will only be required to submit the official international credential evaluation to the University as this service provides a verified copy of the official transcript(s) and translations to the University. Applicants must be sure to send in all transcripts and order the course-by-course evaluation.
• Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL): Adler University’s – Vancouver Campus code for receiving test scores is 6215
• Internet-based TOEFL minimum score is 92 with at least 22 on each of the four sections
• International English Language Testing System (IELTS): A minimum Overall Band score of 7.0 is required, with no band lower than 6.5
• Pearson Test of English (PTE): A minimum overall score of 62 is required

Tuition for Adler University’s programs is charged each term according to the number of registered academic credits. The number of credits a student will register for varies by academic program and by term. To estimate the amount of tuition and fees that would be charged in a given term, please use our Tuition Estimator tool below, or read about tuition and fees for all Vancouver programs .

Tuition Estimator

• Manal Guirguis-Younger, Ph.D. Program Director, Doctor of Psychology Program in Clinical Psychology
• Nicole Dorfan, Ph.D., Assistant Professor, Clinical Psychology (Psy.D.)
• Derrick Klaassen Associate Professor, Clinical Psychology (Psy.D.)
• Janelle Kwee, Psy.D., R.Psych Director of Clinical Training, Clinical Psychology (Psy.D.)
• Johnson Ma, Ph.D., R. Psych. Professor, Clinical Psychology (Psy.D.)
• Christian Maile, Ph.D., R.Psych Professor, Clinical Psychology (Psy.D.)
• Jordan Maile, Ph.D., R. Psych. Professor, Clinical Psychology (Psy.D.)
• Sara Saeedi, Psy.D. Adjunct Faculty, Clinical Psychology (Psy.D.)
• Amir Sepehry, Ph.D. Professor, Clinical Psychology (Psy.D.)

Explore More

Enhancing student success: vancouver community college and adler university partner to promote accessible learning.

This collaboration will create new opportunities for students experiencing undiagnosed learning challenges to access psychoeducational assessments they may not have otherwise, providing essential support to help them succeed in their academic programs.

Meet the Team: Adler Student Government Executive Board, 2024-25

As the new Fall term starts, welcoming new and returning students to the Chicago, Vancouver, and online campuses, let’s get to know and meet some of the student leaders and officers tasked with advocating on the students’ behalf.

‘Don’t be scared of the orange’: SJP Program Manager Brianna Savage offers insight on National Day for Truth and Reconciliation

Adler University’s Vancouver Campus has and continues to recognize Orange Shirt Day, often with week-long programming to honor the resilience of the Indigenous community and provide access to experts working in reconciliation.

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February 12, 2023

Understanding the Differences Between Graduate Degrees in Clinical Psychology

• Graduate & Professional School Advising
• Graduate School
• Graduate Students

If you are working with students applying to graduate school in clinical psychology—or planning to do so in the future—you are bound to confront the question: what is the difference between a PhD in clinical psychology and a PsyD program? How do these two degrees vary in terms of application requirements, academic experience, and career paths offered? Furthermore, what can psychology students who graduate with a master’s degree go on to do? I have worked with applicants to graduate programs in psychology for over ten years and recently spoke with four knowledgeable professionals to gain an even deeper understanding of the options available to students. In the article below, I’ll walk you through defining features of the various graduate degrees in psychology and discuss how to help your students make the best choice for their interests, preferences, and goals.

Overview of Accredited Program Types

First, let’s take a look at the options students have, by the numbers. There are 418 APA-accredited doctoral programs of psychology, including 310 PhD programs and 108 PsyD programs, according to the American Psychological Association.

Interestingly, very few universities offer both PhD and PsyD programs, and the schools that offer PhD programs tend to be the more research-based “R-1” universities (as classified by the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education based on the schools’ investment and productivity in research).

The Doctor of Philosophy, or PhD, in clinical psychology is the most research-focused of the three degrees. Such programs are said to follow a “scientist-practitioner” or “scholar-practitioner” model, in which the generation of new knowledge is the first priority. PhD programs thus focus on admitting students who have at least two years of research experience prior to applying and make the creation of original scholarship a centerpiece of the graduate school experience. Such programs take five to eight years to complete, and generally require that students write a dissertation.

PhD programs tend to be small and are highly selective in their admissions. Nova Southeastern University’s PhD program, for example, admits many fewer applicants than their PsyD program because PhD students work with specific faculty members throughout their training. “We have these wonderful one-to-one number of faculty who are available to be a mentor for that applicant,” says Gregory Gayle, EdS PhD candidate in educational leadership, director of recruitment and admissions for the College of Psychology at Nova Southeastern. An added bonus of PhD programs is that they often provide students with full or partial funding.

Applying to a PhD program at which you’ll work with a specific research adviser throughout your training is “a bit of a risk if you are not completely sure what you want to study,” says Mary Thorn,* a third-year PhD student in clinical psychology at the City College of New York. But such programs tend to provide full funding, so “financially, it makes a lot of sense—but those programs are by far the most competitive, because you get a full ride.” When Thorn applied to graduate school in 2019, she looked at the faculty accepting students at each program she was considering and, if there wasn’t someone whose specific research area appealed to her, didn’t apply to that school.

Thorn applied to a total of around 15-18 graduate programs, including about two-thirds PhD programs and one-third PsyD programs—so she hadn’t decided which route to take by the time she applied. But, per her interests and background, she favored programs with a more clinical bent that were still PhD programs, which were more affordable, skewed older (Thorn was in her late twenties when she applied), and tended to have more diverse student bodies, as far as she could tell. Thorn ultimately was accepted to six PhD programs and four PsyD programs, and narrowed her choices down to three PhD programs that had more psychodynamic or mindfulness-oriented offerings than the others: Adelphi, Hofstra, and City College, which she ended up selecting.

PhD degrees are ideal for students who enjoy conducting original research, are up for a long schooling experience, want or need to spend little to no money on graduate school, and hope to pursue a combination of research, teaching, and clinical work. Many of Thorn’s classmates hope to balance out private practice with work that’s more affordable for patients and have a wide variety of career aspirations: one wants to focus on eldercare; another wants to be a sports psychologist for a premier-league team; others are particularly interested in cross-cultural studies (since research to date has primarily focused on societies that are “WEIRD”: Western, educated, industrialized, rich, and democratic). Many PhD students go on to complete post-doctoral degrees upon graduation—for example, at psychoanalytic institutes like IPTAR or the William Alanson White Institute.

“PhD—there’s more gravitas to it, and people in a social psych lens will respect it more,” Thorn says. Teaching opportunities can come more easily to PhDs, who can teach at any level, including at PhD programs. But as we’ll see in the next section, the difference between PhD and PsyD programs has become less and less acute over time.

The Doctor of Psychology, or PsyD, is more focused on the clinical experience than the PhD. While PhDs follow a “scholar-practitioner” model, PsyDs tend to follow an inversion of it, namely: the “practitioner-scholar” model. While PhD programs train students to generate original knowledge, PsyD programs have traditionally been centered on applying said knowledge in the field. PsyD programs are a bit shorter than PhD programs—they take four to six years to complete—and do not tend to be funded.

“Historically, when PsyDs were newer to the space of psychology, the career paths were very different,” says Katherine Marshall Woods, PsyD, assistant professor of clinical psychology, director of clinical training, and deputy director of the Professional Psychology Program at George Washington University. “That is no longer the case. Most things that one can do with a PhD, one can do with a PsyD. There is no longer that sort of discrepancy.” Gayle echoes this sentiment: PhD graduates working in the academy and PsyD graduates working in the clinic “is really not a strong difference anymore,” he says. “We have individuals who are PsyDs teaching, we have individuals who have their PhD working in agencies, etcetera. But historically, that has been the difference.” Thorn points out that many PsyD programs have developed robust clinical research tracks that align to some degree with PhD programs’ research sequences. And PsyD students can, like PhD students, go on to teach at the college level, do original research, and/or become licensed psychologists (pending passing a licensing exam after graduation).

Overall, though, research requirements tend to be less rigorous in PsyD programs, whose students dive into clinical work more quickly. “In a PsyD program, it is more about applying the theory to patients within actual clinical experiences,” says Woods. PsyD students must do some research in order to graduate and can lean into it more deeply if they choose—but they usually don’t have to write a dissertation, as PhD students do. At some PsyD programs, students have a different sort of writing requirement: at GW, for example, PsyD students must compose a long piece describing a clinical experience that they’ve had with a patient. Such a work is challenging, like a dissertation, but differently focused. Other PsyD programs, like Nova Southeastern’s, do not require that PsyD students complete a capstone piece of writing at all.

Claire Banko,* a second-year student in the PsyD program at Nova Southeastern, only applied to PsyD programs because “my main focus was to continue developing my clinical knowledge skills,” she says. “I did my undergraduate program in Bogota, Colombia and did a specialization and internship with adolescents and adults conducting evidence-based therapy. This motivated me to continue further in my career and apply to a more practice-focused degree.”

When Woods applied to graduate programs in clinical psychology, she, like Thorn, focused more on specific programs than on the PhD-versus-PsyD divide. “I was interested in this program in particular, the George Washington University PsyD program, for years—actually, since its inception, which was not that long before I went to grad school,” she says. She points to a number of unique features of the program, chief among them its psychodynamic orientation and special interest in psychoanalysis. (GW students still can take courses that follow other models, like CBT, or gain exposure to such lenses through externships.)

She was also drawn to the GW PsyD program’s focus on both the scholar and the practitioner elements of education. “You are a scholar—you are always someone who is learning—and you are an individual who practices psychology daily,” she says. At that time, she was not as interested in research: “I wanted to be somebody who was always learning and thinking and doing so while being a practitioner, and having whatever I’m learning be something that was applicable to serve the public.” PsyD students at GW typically take three years of full-time coursework in clinical psychology, followed by a yearlong internship.

Woods went on to graduate from GW’s PsyD program, and now serves on the program’s faculty. Her role involves not only teaching but also supervising students, advising, and helping students obtain training in the community as well as internships. She wears many other hats, too: she spends 12-15 hours per week treating patients in private practice; hosts a television show, A Healthy Mind, that aims to enhance community health awareness; assists filmmakers in developing characters in a way that is realistic and accurate; writes blog posts and books; and more. Her PsyD degree has enabled her to do clinical work, teach, and beyond.

If the difference between the PhD and PsyD degree has narrowed in recent years, the master’s in clinical psychology degree still stands apart: it usually does not enable graduates to teach at the college level or practice as a licensed clinical psychologist. This makes sense, as the MA degree takes only one to two years to complete, does not involve original research, and typically involves fewer than twenty hours of fieldwork. Master’s programs, like PsyD programs, are not funded.

However, an MA in clinical psychology may be an ideal option for students who want to apply to PhD programs but don’t yet have the requisite two-plus years of research experience. It can take much longer than two years to actually amass this experience, as getting such posts can be competitive: it might take years for a student to get their first research gig. Obtaining an MA would supplant the need for such experience prior to applying.

Master’s degrees in other psychology-related fields can offer other opportunities, so such a degree might be ideal for students who are interested in psychology but don’t want to invest in upwards of four years of graduate education. Obtaining an MS in counseling, for example, enables students to work in such environments as mental health clinics, schools, hospitals, and more. Obtaining a master’s in social work, or MSW, degree, followed by many hours of supervised training as well as licensure, enables graduates to serve as clinical social workers—which can be the jumping-off point for careers as disparate as social worker on the one hand or psychoanalyst in private practice on the other.

Tips for Students

Consider Overall Career Priorities. Since there is increasing overlap between PhD and PsyD programs, I advise helping students identify, as specifically as possible, the areas they’re interested in before they apply to psychology graduate school. Start by discussing the balance they desire, for their future career, between clinical work, research, and teaching; then, drill down into the specifics of their interests. Are there subject areas, populations, and/or disorders that they feel most compelled toward?

Identify Specialty Areas. There is a wide range of specialties students can pursue, from those involving the individual and relationships (like developmental psychology, or marriage and family psychology) to school-related areas (like educational psychology or educational testing) to a variety of additional areas (like public policy, substance abuse, industrial-organizational psychology, and more). Each grad program has a unique combination of concentrations or tracks. As an example, Harvard University offers psychology PhD students a focus in one of four areas: experimental psychotherapy and clinical science; developmental psychology; social psychology; or cognitive, brain, and behavior. At Rutgers University, PsyD students can complete programs in clinical psychology, school psychology, or organizational psychology. At Columbia University, the MSW program has a variety of specific fields of practice for students to choose from, including aging; contemporary social issues; and family, youth, and children’s services. And Pepperdine University’s master’s degree in psychology focuses on marriage and family therapy.

The more clearly students have defined their interest area(s), the better you’ll be able to determine not only which degree makes the most sense for them but also, within that category, which specific programs will be the most fruitful match. These days, it is more effective to build an application list that fits an interest range than to apply to only PhD or only PsyD programs. If, like Thorn or Woods, students are specifically interested in a psychoanalytic lens, that will eliminate far more programs—and result in a list of much more appropriate matches—than choosing one degree type over the other right off the bat. Banko was particularly drawn to Nova Southeastern’s wide variety of specialized tracks. “While choosing a concentration or track, students can see coursework specialized in certain topics,” she says. “In my case, I’m following the child and adolescent track, which so far has been giving me more in-depth knowledge through child-related courses.”

Identify Demographic Populations of Interest. Students may also have a preference for working with certain demographics, such as immigrants or the underserved. As Gayle describes, training at Nova Southeastern allows students to work with clients from across South Florida, the Caribbean, and elsewhere. “We are a destination state, so every kind of mental health condition you can think of, you’ll find it in South Florida,” he says. “If you can be trained in South Florida, you can work anywhere in this country.” For Banko, the diverse demographics in the patient population was an important factor in choosing Nova Southeastern: “Coming from an Hispanic background, for me it’s very rewarding to work with the Hispanic population,” she says. “I want to be able to address the challenges that they have to help them improve their mental health and adjust to life in the US.”

Consider Personal Factors. Beyond the broad and granular outlines of the career students envision for themselves, there are personal factors and preferences to consider that will help them narrow down which schools to apply to and, ultimately, which program to choose. For example, consider geography: is your client committed to moving to or staying in a particular city—or, conversely, unwilling to move to a certain geographic area for school? (Thorn only applied to programs in the tri-state area because, by that point, she had a long-term partner and well-established life in New York.) What size program would help them thrive—a smaller program with more personalized attention or a larger program with more course options? And what are the student’s financial capacities?

The bottom line: spend a lot of time drilling down into students’ interests before you build a psychology graduate school list and prioritize the offerings of individual programs over the degree type. Take a cue from the experiences of Thorn and Woods and do not underestimate the role that emotion and passion should play in this decision. The specifics of what a program offers and requires, and the student’s gut-level pull toward that school, are far more important than the degree or the school’s ranking.

*Student names have been changed by the editor to maintain their privacy.

By Julie Raynor Gross, EdM, MBA, CEP, IECA (NY)

From the  Winter 2023 issue  of IECA’s  Insights magazine

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Psychology, Ph.D.

Requirements

The Ph.D. program in psychology prepares students for university teaching/research, and applied positions in universities, hospitals, industry, or government.  Successful completion of the Ph.D. requires completing course requirements, successfully defending a master’s thesis if required by the faculty, passing the preliminary evaluation vote by the full faculty, passing a qualifying examination that has both written and oral components to advance to doctoral candidacy, and defending a Ph.D. dissertation. Students are admitted to the program to start in the fall semester only. Most applicants have a B.A. or B.S. degree in Psychology, or related field. Students who have completed a thesis-based master’s degree at an accredited institution can also apply.

Applicants should complete/submit: (a) the online application ( https://www.applyweb.com/tcug/index.ftl ); (b) application fee; (c) resume/CV; (d) personal statement of purpose (i.e., essay – 1,000 words or less that describe your motivation and goals for graduate study, career ambitions, and the specific ways TCU fit those); (e)unofficial transcripts of all colleges attended. An English translation of all international transcripts is also required; (f) GRE scores (option, not required); (g) psychology department supplemental application ( https://cse.tcu.edu/psychology/graduate/index.php ); and (h)official TOEFL/IELTS scores for international applicants. For evidence of English proficiency, a minimum TOEFL score of 80 (internet based) or 550 (paper based) is required, or a minimum IELTS score of 6.5.

The annual application deadline is January 1st. Admission decisions are holistic and based upon review of all materials.

The usual timeline for the Ph.D. involves completing required course work; completing the M.S. thesis, when required, by the end of the second year; passing the preliminary evaluation vote by the end of the third year; passing the qualifying examination to advance to doctoral candidacy by the start of the fourth year, and successfully defending the Ph.D. dissertation within six years after advancing to doctoral candidacy.

Students who are admitted into the Ph.D. program are encouraged to complete their non-terminal M.S. in psychology by proposing, completing, and defending a thesis.  M.S. requirements are usually completed by the second or third year of study.  In some cases, with the approval of the area committee, a student who enters the program with a M.S. degree that included the completion of a thesis may substitute a TCU research project (based on research conducted by the student at TCU) that has been submitted for publication.  The student will be the first author on the research report and a member of the full-time psychology graduate faculty must be a co-author.  The manuscript must be approved by the student’s area committee.

The Ph.D. in psychology requires an additional 36 hours (at minimum) of coursework beyond the 30 or 36 hours required for non-terminal M.S. and M.A. degrees, respectively. Students must pass (with a grade of "B-" or higher).  Coursework includes:

   Approved Electives 24 hours

Doctor of Psychology, Clinical Psychology (Psy.D.)

For more information about this program, please contact [email protected]

Request Information

Launch your career as a clinical psychologist with a psy.d. from wcu.

Mental health issues are increasing worldwide, compounded by the Covid-19 pandemic.

According to reports from the World Health Organization and the American Psychological Association:

• 20% of the world’s children and adolescents are suffering from mental health conditions.
• Suicide is the second leading cause of death for 15-29 year-olds.
• More than 13% increase in mental health and substance use disorders.

If you’ve been looking to make a tangible difference in the world around you, the Doctor of Psychology program at West Chester University may be for you!

Clinical psychologists work with many different populations including children, couples, families, and even whole communities. They can evaluate, identify, and treat patients with mental, behavioral, emotional, and substance abuse disorders.

The doctoral degree program at WCU will give you the classroom knowledge and hands-on training to pursue licensure and start your career as a clinical psychologist.

Specializations in the Doctor of Clinical Psychology Program

Child and adolescent mental health.

Students seeking this specialization will focus their mentored research, practica placements, and elective courses on child and adolescent mental health. Several of our faculty direct research labs that focus specifically on youth development, and the University has placements in several high-profile organizations including Nemours A.I. DuPont Hospital for Children, the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, and the Centreville School.

Students seeking to work with trauma-exposed populations can do so through mentored research, practica placements, and through our elective courses. Several of our faculty direct research labs that focus specifically on work with trauma-exposed populations, and the University has placements in several high-profile organizations including the Philadelphia VA.

Benefits of Earning Your Doctoral Degree at West Chester University

Accredited by the apa.

WCU’s Psy.D. program is accredited by the American Psychological Association. Graduating from an APA accredited program signals to potential employers and licensing boards that you have the educational and scientific foundation to succeed in your field. The WCU PsyD program is an APA accredited doctoral program. APA has granted the PsyD program full accreditation with its next site visit scheduled to be held in 2033. 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:  [email protected] Web:  www.apa.org/ed/accreditation

Clinical Training

You’ll be immersed in clinical training from your first year in the program and continue hands-on placements through your fifth year. Clinical training begins with our state-of-the art, in-house clinic in your first and second years. In your third and fourth years, you’ll select practicum placements that will provide training in your area of specialization. Your final year of the program is dedicated exclusively to a full-time, predoctoral clinical internship. Our practitioner-scholar model will prepare you for leadership roles in the field.

On Campus, In-House Clinic

You won’t have to travel far to begin your clinical training. At WCU, we have our own in-house mental health clinic that serves our campus community as well as the broader West Chester community. This state-of-the-art training facility offers a range of assessment and therapy services for a diverse socio-economic population. You’ll be supervised by licensed clinical psychologists as you get experience providing clinical services to children, families, and adults in the community.

Exceptional Faculty

Our faculty members bring their diverse experiences into each and every class to help you excel in your chosen specialization. At WCU, you’ll find approachable faculty who teach and follow the practitioner-scholar model. You’ll have opportunities for research in areas like: improving outcomes for children in foster care, racial/ethnic disparities in mental health, community-based interventions, the science of training, the role of family relationships in children's social and emotional development, mindfulness-based stress reduction, impact of aging and emotion on cognition, and the utility of art for children living in poverty to name just a few.

Funding Opportunities

WCU’s Doctoral Program in Clinical Psychology offers multiple funding options: graduate assistantships (GA),teaching associates (TA), and grant-funded hourly work. The graduate assistantship, typically awarded to first and second year students, covers a portion of tuition in exchange for working in the research lab of your research mentor or another campus location. Several faculty members have research grants that fund hourly positions for students who are paid as clinicians, or research assistants. Teaching associate positions (offered only to students with a master’s degree) provide a stipend for mentored teaching of undergraduate classes in Psychology. All positions are based on a competitive application process and the availability of funds. Full-time graduate students are also eligible to file the FAFSA for state and or federal grants, financial aid, and loans.

What Can You Do with a Doctoral Degree in Clinical Psychology?

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports a median salary of $85,330 for clinical psychologists in the U.S. Salary varies depending on factors such as location, industry, and experience.

With your doctorate, you can start your own practice, go into research, work as part of a patient care team, work in schools, or even teach at the collegiate level. The field of clinical psychology is anticipated to grow by 6% (faster than average) through 2032.

What Will You Study as a Doctoral Student in Clinical Psychology

Your specific courses depend on your specialization but may include:

• Biological Bases for Behavior
• Child and Adolescent Psychotherapy
• Advanced Health Psychology
• Community Interventions
• Trauma and Treatment

Psy.D. in Clinical Psychology

PSY 600 must be taken 3 times for credit.

PSY 731 and PSY 733 must be taken 5 times for credit.

PSY 734 must be taken 4-6 times for credit.

PSY 740 must be taken twice for credit.

Three credits of Pre-Doctoral Clinical Internship are required.

For more detail about doctor of clinical psychology program courses, see the catalog page .

Get Started on Your PsyD

If you’re interested in making a difference in the world by working with diverse populations who have been affected by mental health issues and past traumas, the doctor of clinical psychology is the place to start. Apply today and start changing the world.

Application Requirements

The doctoral program in clinical psychology at West Chester University does not require GRE General Test scores or the GRE Psychology Subject Test as part of the application process.

The Psy.D. program requires an undergraduate degree in Psychology or a related field, or a graduate degree in Psychology as well as a minimum undergraduate GPA of 3.0 or graduate GPA of 3.3.

Additionally, the Psy.D. program has prerequisite courses that must be completed at either the undergraduate or graduate level prior to enrollment:

• Introduction to Psychology
• Research Methods
• Abnormal Psychology
• Personality Psychology
• History of Psychology

Application Materials

West Chester University’s Doctoral program in Clinical Psychology welcomes applications for a fall start date. A complete application is required for an admission decision, and includes:

• WCU Application and application fee
• Current CV, including research and clinical experience
• Statement of Professional Interests (no more than three pages, double-spaced) addressing each of the following:
• Why you’re interested in pursuing a Psy.D.
• How the Psy.D. program at WCU will help you achieve your professional goals, including the match between your research/clinical interests and those of our specific faculty
• Your interest in and experience working with diverse populations
• Your interest in traumatic stress, children, or adolescents
• Your primary clinical and research interests and experience
• Special aspects of your academic background you feel make you especially well prepared for a career in professional psychology
• Any specific weaknesses in your application you think should be explained
• List  three  faculty members from any sub-discipline within the WCU Psychology Department whom you would like to serve as your dissertation research mentor. (NOTE: Psy.D. students are encouraged to consider identifying potential faculty research mentors who are not clinical psychologists, in addition to the clinicians who represent the core faculty within the Psy.D. program.)
• Three letters of recommendation:
• At least one letter must be written by an individual who is familiar with your academic and/or scholarly qualifications
• If you have been out of school for a lengthy period, a letter should be submitted by an individual who is familiar with your scholarship, such as a co-author on a publication, a collaborator on a public service grant, a co-presenter in a training workshop, etc.

Application Timeline

West Chester University’s doctor of clinical psychology program admits students for the fall semester.

• Application deadline is December 1; applications received after this date will be considered if space is available.
• Students who successfully meet the University’s admission requirements will be invited to a virtual interview with program faculty.
• Interview invitations will be sent by January 31.
• Interviews take place on the third Friday in February.
• Applicants will be informed of admissions decisions on or around March 15.
• Your decision to accept your place in the entering class is due by April 15, at which time a $400 deposit is required.

Programs Related to WCU’s Doctor of Clinical Psychology

• M.S. in Psychology - General Psychology Concentration
• M.S. in Psychology - Industrial/Organizational Psychology Concentration
• Certificate in Industrial/Organizational Psychology
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Graduate Coursework

Master of Psychology (Clinical Psychology)

• Arrow-right #1 in Psychology in Australia
• Arrow-right #21 in Psychology globally
• Course code: 527CL

How to apply

You're considered a domestic student if you're an Australian or New Zealand citizen, an Australian permanent resident, or have a permanent humanitarian visa. This applies even if you're studying abroad or have dual Australian citizenship.

Key application dates

Upcoming intakes and key dates.

• There are currently no scheduled dates or intakes for this course.

All applications must be submitted no later than 11:59pm AEST on 15 September for the following year’s intake. No late applications will be accepted.

• Deadline to submit referee reports: 15 September
• Deadline to provide APS assessment (only relevant for applicants who have studied outside of Australia):  15 September
• Shortlisted applicants interviewed: November and December
• Final application outcomes released: December and January

There are a limited number of Commonwealth Supported Places (CSPs) for this course. To ensure you are considered for a CSP, submit your complete application prior to the application deadline.

1. Review entry requirements and eligibility

• Check the entry requirements tab of this course page and ensure you meet the admission criteria.
• Review the English language requirements.
• Consider whether you are eligible for Graduate Access Melbourne.
• If you are applying for multiple courses, ensure you have confirmed your preference order .

2. Gather your supporting documentation

As part of your application, you’ll be required to submit:

• Transcripts and detailed information related to all previous studies you have undertaken and/or completed, including an explanation of the grading system used and official certified English translation of any document that is not written in English. View further information about supporting documentation.
• Evidence of meeting the University's English language requirements.
• Your personal statement, AND
• Two referee reports to be submitted online . The referee does not have to be a clinical psychologist but should be able to comment on the work you have done in their practice or organisation.
• APS assessment (only relevant for applicants who have studied outside Australia): Australian Psychological Society (APS)

3. Submit your application

• To get started, begin your application here.

Additional application considerations:

Where a course offers both Commonwealth Supported Places (CSPs) and Australian full fee (AF) places, you only need to submit an application for one fee type. You will automatically be considered for a CSP if you are eligible.

After you apply

• All communications related to your application, including requests for additional information and application outcomes, will be sent to the email address you registered for your application. To avoid delays, please upload requested information as soon as possible.
• Track the progress of your application via the Application Portal.
• Please note that the Admissions team will only contact you via email if anything else is needed; there's no need to enquire about the timeline in the meantime.
• If your application is shortlisted, you will be invited to attend a provisional interview between early November and mid-December.
• Successful applicants will be notified at the conclusion of the interview period, while unsuccessful applicants will be notified no later than early January.

Additional information

• Deferrals may be only approved in exceptional and unforeseen circumstances. In such cases, deferral will be granted for one year only. Once the deferral has lapsed, a new application will be required.
• This is a full-time course. The option of part-time enrolment may be available to students with exceptional circumstances (i.e. health or family issues). The decision to allow a student to alter their enrolment from a full-time to a part-time position will be at the discretion of the School of Psychological Sciences on a case-by-case basis.
• This course is delivered on-campus and all students are expected to be able to attend classes at the Parkville campus.

Inherent requirements

This course has inherent requirements. Refer to the Master of Psychology (Clinical Psychology) Handbook for important information on these requirements.

Clinical placements

Clinical Placements are undertaken as part of this course. All students must undertake a Police Record Check, obtain a Working with Children Check and comply with immunisation requirements. Refer to the following pages for important information:

• Clinical Education Risk & Governance
• MDHS Compliance Booklet
• Student Placements .

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Clinical Psychology

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

Thesis-based program

Program overview.

Helping students become expert psychologists and competent clinicians is the purpose of the Clinical Psychology (PhD Thesis) program. It aims to prepare students for research, academic and clinical careers in psychology and health care. As practitioners of an evidence-based science, faculty members guiding the program emphasize training in clinical science. The program, which highlights their commitment to empirical approaches to advancing knowledge, is accredited by the Canadian Psychological Association.

Completing this program

• Courses:  Students will take advanced topics in the practice of clinical psychology such as psychopharmacology, diversity issues in clinical psychology, clinical geropsychology, addictions, health psychology, eating disorders, consultation/supervision, program evaluation, and neuropsychology.
• Candidacy: Students must sit a written and oral doctoral candidacy examination in the third year of their program.
• Research Proposal: Students in the program must complete a doctoral thesis proposal for thesis research.
• Thesis : Students will complete a thesis based on a research project/question during their time in the program.

Research, academic, or clinical career in university, health, and mental health settings.

A PhD in clinical psychology is usually considered a final degree.

Students are required to prepare a thesis and successfully defend in an open oral defense.

9 courses, practica, and a full-time, competitive, paid internship. Internships may take place in settings across Canada.

Learn more about program requirements in the Academic Calendar

Classroom delivery

Time commitment.

Four to five years; six years maximum

A supervisor is required prior to the start of the program

See the Graduate Calendar for information on  fees and fee regulations,  and for information on  awards and financial assistance .

Virtual Tour

Explore the University of Calgary (UCalgary) from anywhere. Experience all that UCalgary has to offer for your graduate student journey without physically being on campus. Discover the buildings, student services and available programs all from your preferred device.

Supervisors

Learn about faculty available to supervise this degree.

A full list of supervisors accepting new students is posted on the Department of Psychology website in early Fall. Contact the program for more information.

Kathryn Birnie

Brandy Callahan

Tavis Campbell

Linda Carlson

Keith Dobson

Deinera Exner-Cortens

Gerald Giesbrecht

Susan Graham

David Hodgins

Admission requirements

A minimum of 3.6 GPA on a 4.0 point system.

Please note that the PhD program is highly competitive. Successful applicants will typically have a GPA higher than this stated minimum.

Minimum education

A master's degree in Psychology or equivalent.

Work samples

A statement of research and professional interests (max. 500 words), including the specification of prospective research supervisors from among current program faculty.

A research proposal.

Reference letters

Two academic letters

Test scores

English language proficiency.

An applicant whose primary language is not English may fulfill the English language proficiency requirement in one of the following ways:

• Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL ibt)  score of 105.
• International English Language Testing System (IELTS)  score of 7.5 (minimum of 6.0 in each section)
• Pearson Test of English (PTE)   score of 75, or higher (Academic version).
• Canadian Academic English Language test (CAEL)  score of 70 (minimum 70 in each section)  
• Academic Communication Certificate (ACC)  score of A- in each course.
• Cambridge C1 Advanced or Cambridge C2 Proficiency  minimum score of 200.

For admission on September 1:

• Canadians and permanent residents: Nov. 15 application deadline
• International students: Nov. 15 application deadline

If you're not a Canadian or permanent resident, or if you have international credentials, make sure to learn about international requirements

Are you ready to apply?

Learn more about this program, department of psychology.

Psychology Graduate Program Faculty of Arts University of Calgary 2500 University Drive NW Calgary, AB, T2N 1N4

Contact the Graduate Program Advisor

Visit the departmental website

University of Calgary 2500 University Drive NW Calgary, AB, T2N 1N4

Visit the Faculty of Arts website

Related programs

If you're interested in this program, you might want to explore other UCalgary programs.

Thesis-based MSc

Community Health Sciences

Thesis-based MSc

Thesis-based PhD

Counselling Psychology

Course-based MC

Social Work

Course-based Cert

Thesis-based MSW

Course-based MSW

Curious about the University of Calgary?

Located in the nation's most enterprising city, we are a living, growing and youthful institution that embraces change and opportunity with a can-do attitude.

Department of Psychology

Graduate Program Offerings

We offer an outstanding research-oriented Ph.D. program in the following areas:

• Behavioral Neuroscience
• Cognition and Cognitive Neuroscience
• Developmental Psychology
• Social/Personality Psychology

We also offer specialized training in the following subfields of study:

• Quantitative Psychology
• Health and Well-Being Psychology
• Diversity and Inequality Psychology

Our graduates secure positions in academic institutions, research institutes, government health and social service agencies, and corporate research and consulting companies.

Please note that we do not offer a terminal master’s degree, nor do we provide training in Clinical, Counseling, Educational, or School Psychology. Applicants interested in Educational or School Psychology should consult the  Graduate School of Education .

Please visit our  Graduate Admissions page  and our  Graduate Coursework page  for additional details about our program.