CU Clinical Psychology Training Program Description

The training goals of the Clinical Psychology Program are cast in the terms of the Boulder scientist/practitioner model. Training focuses on imparting core psychological research skills and on enabling each student to integrate research with assessment and intervention. The aim is to produce generations of scholars who will: (a) Contribute basic knowledge about psychopathology and competence for children and adults, (b) Design and evaluate applied methods of assessment, prevention, and intervention. Students integration of research and clinical problems is facilitated by a faculty which specializes in integrated clinical research and practice. We place strong emphasis on developing psychologists who synthesize information from a variety of sources (i.e., assessment, intervention, and research) and who are committed to creating knowledge that will improve the quality of life. There is a strong emphasis on research training through three year-long apprenticeships in research, a major dissertation, and courses in research methodology and statistics. Students are given several years of individualized training in clinical intervention, supplemented by courses on assessment and therapy, and are required to complete a year-long internship.

Theoretical Orientation

It is the firm belief of our faculty that no particular theoretical orientation has all the truth in understanding and predicting behavior. Therefore, the student is encouraged to sample from the wide range of theoretical orientations and to develop a flexible conceptualization of how to help people consistent with his or her own style. Faculty members represent and have adopted egoanalytic, biological, cognitive, interpersonal, and behavioral orientations.

Training Focus

The primary focus of our program is on training generalists, clinicians who are equipped to handle a broad range of problems. We encourage students to use the internship and post-doctoral training for greater specialization.

Selecting Applicants

Several kinds of data are used in evaluating applicants. An undergraduate major (or its equivalent) in Psychology is preferred. We use guidelines with respect to the G.R.E. aptitude test scores: a minimum of 600 on the verbal, 600 on the quantitative, and 700 on the analytical. The Advanced G.R.E. test in psychology is required of all applicants to the Clinical Program, but no specific cutoffs are used for the Advanced Test. Information concerning an individual's previous academic performance is also weighed. Although it is necessary for a student to have a moderately high grade point average (i.e., above 3.3) to be considered, grades are not the chief determinant of acceptance to our program. First, we look for students whose interests come close to our training objectives and whose research interests match those of the faculty. Also, we are looking for students who have had practical experience (perhaps at a volunteer level) and supervised research experience relevant to the clinical psychology.

General Psychology

As part of the requirement for graduate training in general psychology, each student must complete three courses (as electives) in the biological bases of behavior, cognitive bases of behavior, and the social bases of behavior. A list of acceptable courses will be available upon registration. Students complete a minimum of two courses in statistics and a course in research design.

Research Training

The student participates for all four years as a research assistant in an apprentice role to one or more faculty members; this culminates in a doctoral dissertation. Most graduate students' work results in publications with their mentors over the course of graduate study.

Psychotherapy Training

All students are expected to complete satisfactorily four years of training in clinical interventions with adults and/or children (including the internship). Local supervision is provided by clinical faculty members and by a number of community-based clinical psychologists. Each year a student is assigned two supervisors and spends a minimum of one hour each week with each supervisor. Students begin training in the program's Raimy Clinic and subsequently see clients in a variety of local community settings.

APA Accredited Program

Office of Program Consultation and Accreditation, American Psychological Association, 750 First Street NE, Washington, DC, 20002. http://www.apa.org/ed/accreditation/ Phone: (202) 336-5979, Fax: (202) 336-5978

Information of Interest to Prospective Students

• Size of applicant pool: 200/yr.; Acceptance rate: 5-6 /yr.
• Attrition rate: Very low, ~6%
• Percentage students: men, 30%; women, 70%; ethnic minority, 16%
• Age distribution of students: 23 to 45
• Availability of academic and financial counseling: High
• Support funds: Four years of pre-internship support provided to all students.

Clinical Psychology Graduate Program Core Curriculum

First Year

All first year students enroll for the following courses:

Second Year

All second year students enroll for the following courses:

Third Year

All third year students enroll for the following courses:

Fourth Year

All fourth year students enroll for the following courses:

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revised 8/07