Clinical Psychology Ph.D.
Total Semester Credit Hours = 99
Objectives
The Ph.D. program in Clinical Psychology at the University of Texas at Tyler is a scientist-practitioner based program which provides high quality academic, research, and clinical training. The program is designed to prepare students for professional and academic careers in Clinical Psychology. Students will complete specialized coursework and advanced clinical training in one of three specialty areas during their time in the program:
- Veterans and active duty military mental health
- Rural mental health
- Geropsychology
Students are mentored by clinical faculty in research and provided supervision of their clinical work along the way. A thesis and dissertation are required. Clinical training is provided in our on-campus clinic and a number of agencies in the East Texas area.
Admission Requirements
- A bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited institution. (Applicants with a master’s degree in Psychology or a related field may apply as well).
- Minimum 3.0 overall GPA.
- Adequate preparation in Psychology. Successful applicants will have 12 or more credits in Psychology including coursework in Statistics, Research Methods, History and Systems of Psychology, and Abnormal Psychology. If students do not have these classes, they will be required to complete them during their program.
- Submission of satisfactory Graduate Record Examination (GRE) scores taken within the last five years.
- Submit a statement of purpose.
- Three academic letters of reference.
- If proof of English proficiency is required, the program has the following requirements:
- The minimum TOEFL or IELTS scores are 560 on the paper and pencil test, 220 on the computer-based test, or 87 on the internet-based test (TOEFL/IBT), or overall band score of 7.0 (IELTS) with 6.5 or greater in each subsection. TOEFL and IELTS test scores are valid for only two years.
Admitted students must complete a criminal background check prior to enrollment.
Minimum Grade Requirements
In addition to the Graduate College policies on GPA requirements, probation and suspension, the Department has additional criteria for satisfactory progress and graduation, as follows. For students enrolled in the Clinical Psychology Ph.D. program, no courses with a grade below “B” may be counted toward the degree. After receiving a single "C", a doctoral student will be placed on Warning status. To be reinstated and removed from Warning status, the student must retake one of the courses in which a "C" or lower was earned (under the University grade replacement policy) in the next semester in which the course is offered, and achieve a "B" or better grade. After an unsuccessful attempt to replace a grade, the student will be recommended for dismissal from the program (following departmental procedures for student dismissal). Students who earn two grades of C or lower regardless of course are recommended for dismissal. Students who obtain a single grade of D or F are recommended for dismissal. Students on Probation may NOT enroll in, begin, or continue their practicum course(s) until the probation has been removed.
Degree Requirements
This doctoral degree program is delivered face to face on campus for the first four years. The fifth year consists of a full-time 12-month pre-doctoral clinical psychology internship. Students are required to attend an orientation on the UT Tyler campus prior to beginning coursework. Students may be required to be present for other special activities throughout their program of study.
- Minimum Credit Hours (99 cr.)
- Required Courses - 69 cr.
- Electives - up to 15 cr.
- Dissertation - 6-12 cr.
- Internship - 9 cr.
- Special degree requirements (for details on university doctoral requirements, see the general graduate section of this catalog and the Clinical Psychology Doctoral Program Handbook available on the www.uttyler.edu/psychology/phd website)
- The Proficiency Examination is taken after the student has completed a significant portion of, if not all, required coursework. Students may not advance to candidacy or register for dissertation hours until all portions of the Proficiency Examination have been passed satisfactorily. Upon successful completion of the Proficiency Examination, students will be advanced to candidacy.
- Students have a maximum of nine years to complete the program. Students will have five years to complete the program after entering candidacy. Students unable to complete the program within the designated time limits must file for an extension.
- A dissertation of original research contributing to the body of knowledge in clinical psychology will be required. Students must enroll for dissertation hours during each long semester while in the dissertation process. A minimum of 6 hours of dissertation credit is required.
- Students must meet all doctoral degree requirements of the University.
- Transfer work: Students with graduate credit or degrees from other programs may transfer up to 15 hours of coursework with the approval of their advisor and the Doctoral Program Director of Clinical Training.
- Students who enter with a master's degree in Clinical Psychology or Clinical Mental Health Counseling from the University of Texas at Tyler may apply up to 30 hours toward their doctoral program as approved by their advisor and the Director of Clinical Training.
Below is a typical outline of program progression for a full-time student.
Prescribed Required Courses
Total Semester Credit Hours = 99*new courses pending approval