Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology

The Department of Psychology offers a doctorate (Ph.D.) in clinical psychology, with specialization in working with deaf and hard of hearing populations. The program is based on a "scholar-practitioner" training model, with a life-span development philosophy and offers courses and opportunities for supervised practice with deaf people, with both early- and late-onset hearing loss.  Students also develop general clinical skills through work with hearing populations.

The clinical program trains psychologists in both clinical and research skills. It prepares them to contribute to the field both by providing clinical services to deaf and hard of hearing individuals and by expanding the knowledge base in areas of psychology important for working effectively with these populations. The doctoral program typically requires a minimum of five years for completion, one year of which is a full-time clinical internship. Students may apply to be awarded an M.A. in Psychology after completion of their predissertation research project and the comprehensive examination. This is usually awarded after the third year of study and is not a terminal degree.

The Clinical Psychology Program is accredited by the American Psychological Association. Information, comments, or questions about our accreditation can be directed to the Committee on Accreditation at the Office of Program Consultation and Accreditation, American Psychological Association, 750 First Street, NE, Washington, DC 20002. Their phone number is (202) 336-5500 and their web address is www.apa.org.

Admissions Procedures

Applicants for the Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology must complete the application procedures and meet the requirements for graduate study at Gallaudet University. Visit the Graduate Admissions web site for more information and a checklist of application requirements. Detailed program information and course descriptions are also available in the Graduate Catalog.

Program Specific Requirements

GRE General Test
Three Letters of Reference
Narrative Statements - Essay
Writing Sample
Resume

On-campus Interview recommended (by invitation in February-March)

Prior Degrees Required

Psychology M.A. preferred
Undergraduate Psychology Major or Minor, or Related Field

Prerequisite Coursework

Statistics
Child Development
Abnormal Psychology
Experimental Psychology
18 hours of Undergraduate Psychology courses preferred

Prior Professional Experience

Preferred

Program of Study

Students complete approximately 100 hours of academic credit, including the following areas: biological bases of behavior, social bases of behavior, cognitive and affective bases of behavior, human development, research and analytic methods, ethics, psychological assessment, and psychological interventions. The program includes supervised practicum experiences and a research-based dissertation.

Sign Language Requirements

Students must attain prescribed levels of sign language competency to enter their first practicum and to be permitted to apply for internship. Students are required to score 2+ or above on the GU-ASLPI (Gallaudet University American Sign Language Proficiency Interview) before beginning their practicum, and a 3 or above before beginning their internship.

Practicum Opportunities

Students from this program may participate in practicum activities with the Gallaudet University Mental Health Center. Students who undertake or intend to undertake a practicum experience with the MHC may not also receive clinical services from the center. Such students need to seek practitioners not associated with the MHC and would be responsible for the costs of such services. The MHC maintains a listing of outside service providers, many of whom have reduced fees for Gallaudet students. We recommend that students applying to this program carry health insurance with sufficient mental health benefits to cover the cost of such outside services.

Typical Program of Study

First Year Semester I - Fall

PSY 711 Principles of Statistics (3)
PSY 712 Research Methods in Psychology (3)
PSY 733 Child Development (3)
PSY 749 Intellectual Assessment: Measurement Principles and Applications (4)
PSY 781 Clinical Psychology Ethics and Practice I (2)
ASL class as needed (3 each semester)

Semester II - Spring

PSY 703 Research Seminar (1)
PSY 713 Psychological Statistics II (3)
PSY 782 Clinical Psychology Ethics and Practice II (2)
PSY 834 Adult Psychopathology (3)
PSY 865 Personality Assessment: Projective Techniques (3)

Summer

PSY 866 Personality Assessment: Objective Techniques (2)
PSY 704 Research Seminar (1)

Second Year Fall Semester

PSY 783 Foundations of Psychotherapy I (2)
PSY 785 Clinical Psychology Practicum (3)
PSY 800 Individual Research (1-12)
PSY 833 Adult Development and Personality (3)
PSY 836 Methods of Adult Psychotherapy (3)
PSY 840 Neuroanatomical and Neurophysiological Foundations of Neuropsychology (3)

Spring Semester

PSY 723 Psychology and Deafness (3)
PSY 784 Foundations of Psychotherapy Lab II (1)
PSY 786 Clinical Psychology Practicum (3)
PSY 800 Individual Research (1-12)

One of the following three PSY courses:
PSY 751 Psychology of Perception (3)
PSY 752 Cognitive Psychology (3)
PSY 815 Psycholinguistics (3)

One elective 800-level PSY course on psychological intervention (3)

Summer

Complete Predissertation Project
PSY 800 Individual Research (1-12)
PSY 900 Dissertation Research (1-12)
PSY 985 Advanced Clinical Psychology Externship (1-6)

Third Year Fall Semester

One elective 800-level PSY course on psychological intervention (3)

One of the following two PSY courses:
PSY 809 Social Psychology and Human Diversity (3)
PSY 820 History and Systems (2)

PSY 885 Clinical Psychology Externship (3)
PSY 900 Dissertation Research (1-12)

Spring Semester

One of the following two PSY courses:
PSY 843 Neuropsychological Foundations and Assessment (3)
PSY 854 Psychopharmacology (3)

One of the following three PSY courses:
PSY 751 Psychology of Perception (3)
PSY 752 Cognitive Psychology (3)
PSY 815 Psycholinguistics (3)

One elective 800-level PSY course on psychological intervention (3)

PSY 886 Clinical Psychology Externship (3)
PSY 900 Dissertation Research (1-12)

Complete first draft of dissertation proposal

Summer

Comprehensive Examinations
PSY 800 Individual Research (1-12)
PSY 900 Dissertation Research (1-12)
PSY 985 Advanced Clinical Psychology Externship (1-6)

Fourth Year Fall Semester

One elective 800-level PSY course on psychological intervention (3)

One of the following two PSY courses:
PSY 809 Social Psychology and Human Diversity (3)
PSY 820 History and Systems (2)

PSY 900 Dissertation Research (1-12)
PSY 985 Advanced Clinical Psychology Externship (1-6)

Complete dissertation research proposal

Complete qualifying examination

Apply for internship

Spring Semester

One of the following two PSY courses:
PSY 843 Neuropsychological Foundations and Assessment (3)
PSY 854 Psychopharmacology (3)

One elective 800-level PSY course on psychological intervention (3)

PSY 900 Dissertation Research (1-12)
PSY 986 Advanced Clinical Psychology Externship (1-6)

Summer

PSY 900 Dissertation Research (1-12)

Fifth Year Fall-Spring-Summer

Complete and defend dissertation

Complete clinical internship

Degree awarded in August