Graduate Training Program

The Ph.D. Clinical Program at the University of Colorado Boulder offers doctoral education and training in professional psychology, the main goal of which is to train scientist-practitioners who will produce and apply scientific knowledge in understanding, assessing, preventing, and treating emotional and behavioral problems. We have three primary training goals that inform and guide our training program. These three goals are to (a) offer a curriculum of competently-taught courses that cover a broad knowledge base of psychology and clinical psychology; (b) provide a training environment that encourages research productivity; and (c) train clinicians who can skillfully apply scientifically-based principles of assessment and intervention.

All students are admitted to work toward the PhD degree. We do not offer a terminal Master's Degree, though all our students fulfill the requirements for and receive a Master of Arts degree in the course of working toward the PhD.

Graduate students choose a research mentor who will oversee their progress in research training. Students may sample from a variety of research topics currently represented among the clinical faculty. Applicants are encouraged to specify members of the faculty whom they view as having interests most compatible with their own and in whose labs they would most like to work. In clinical training, students are exposed to a variety of theoretical orientations, including behavioral, cognitive, developmental psychopathology, family systems, interpersonal, and psychodynamic. The program provides training in its own clinical/research facilities. In addition, there are approximately 47 faculty members and 97 graduate students in the Department of Psychology and Neuroscience. Students work closely with their faculty mentors and interact extensively with each other. Interdisciplinary study is encouraged and facilitated by several interdepartmental institutes: the Institute for Behavioral Genetics, the Institute of Behavioral Science, and the Institute of Cognitive Science.

The Clinical Psychology Program also operates several clinics, including the Raimy Psychology Clinic (which includes the Attention Behavior and Learning Clinic and the Brain Behavior Clinic), Women's Mental Health and Wellness Clinic, and Sutherland Center, which provide effective assessment and treatment for adults, adolescents, and children.

Overview of the Clinical Psychology PhD Program course requirements.

Commitment to Diversity

The Clinical Program is committed to fostering diversity in the graduate student body. As part of the University of Colorado's vision and commitment to building a community of students, faculty, and staff in which diversity is a fundamental value, we welcome applicants from all walks of life. The Department of Psychology and Neuroscience has a strong history of awareness of gender and minority issues and greatly values different perspectives and research in these issues. In addition, training in multicultural perspectives is required as part of the Clinical Program curriculum.

McNair Scholars and Project 1000 applicants are eligible for application fee waivers. Diverse students who are accepted into the program may receive supplemental fellowship funding is through our NIMH research education training grant.

To learn more about what the University of Colorado has to offer to underrepresented students, please visit the following websites:

The University of Colorado at Boulder is an affirmative action/equal opportunity institution. The department encourages applications from underrepresented students.