Clinical Psychology Ph.D. Program
Training Philosophy:
The UWM Clinical Psychology program strongly believes in the scientist-practitioner model of training. To us, the scientist-practitioner is not a dual entity consisting of separate research and clinical repertoires. Rather, he or she is a professional psychologist who uses knowledge of research to guide practice and who is fully capable of conducting research in the context of practice (or independent of practice).
Theoretical Orientation:
The UWM Clinical Psychology program is committed to empiricism, and approaches research and practice from a theoretically diverse, biopsychosocial perspective. The most common theoretical perspective is cognitive-behavioral/behavior analytic.
Accreditation Status:
The Ph.D. program in clinical psychology at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee is accredited by the American Psychological Association. We recently completed the reaccreditation process and have just learned that the program was reaccredited for the maximum allowable period of 7 years. As a result, the Program is now accredited through 2016. The program has been continually accredited since 1980.
Office of Program Consultation and Accreditation
750 First Street, NE
Washington, DC 20002-4242
Phone: 202-336-5979
Areas of Strength
Program of Excellence Training in Scientifically Validated Interventions:
The Clinical Psychology program at UWM has received a 5-year grant from the National Institute of Mental Health to acknowledge and further develop “Programs of Excellence” in scientifically validated behavioral interventions. The purpose of the grant is to train clinicians to competently administer scientifically validated interventions for various psychiatric disorders, including behavioral activation for depression, prolonged exposure for PTSD, and behavior therapy for trichotillomania and Tourette’s syndrome. Upon successful completion of the UWM program, students will be trained as competent generalist psychologists as they have always been. However, they will also graduate with specialized clinical training in the competent administration-delivery of assessment and treatment in one of the three aforementioned empirically-supported interventions.
Specialization Training:
The UWM Clinical Psychology Program is designed to train psychologists as generalists. However, our faculty research/clinical interests cluster in three primary areas including neuroscience/neuropsychology, behavior therapy, and pediatric/health psychology. As a result, students often leave the program with a focus in one or more of these areas.
Mentor Model:
Students are admitted into the clinical program under the supervision of a specific research mentor who matches their specific interests. Graduate students in the clinical psychology program can have an advisor from either the clinical or experimental psychology programs. Visit the faculty site to see a list of both clinical and experimental psychology faculty. Although students enter the program under a specific mentor, students may elect to change advisors at a later time.
Admissions:
Applications to the Clinical Ph.D. Program are due on December 5, 2011. We will begin considering candidates for admission beginning the first week of January, 2012, and typically invite approximately 30 people to campus for an interview day held in early February. Click on the following link to view statistics about our incoming classes from the last five years. Student Admissions, Outcomes, and Other Data. (pdf 32kb).
Applying to the Program:
To apply to the UWM Clinical Psychology Ph.D. program, you must send separate applications to the Graduate School and the Psychology Department. Please follow the link below to see our on-line application materials.