The Doctoral Program in Clinical Psychology, leading to the
Ph.D. degree, consists of four years of full-time course work and
related practicum experience, followed by a one-year clinical
internship (or equivalent) in an approved setting and completion of
a doctoral dissertation. The program is fully accredited by the
American Psychological Association.
The faculty in clinical psychology comprises diverse theoretical
perspectives, along with varied research backgrounds. As a result,
students gain exposure to contemporary psychoanalytic and
cognitive-behavioral models of psychotherapy, in addition to such
modalities as group, marital and family therapy approaches.
Anchored in the scientist-practitioner model, the program also
provides students with substantial grounding in the scientific
bases of psychology and exposure to the methods, theories and
empirical findings of the discipline. Through the
scientist-practitioner model of training, students acquire research
and clinical competencies as well as sensitivity to the ethical
standards of the profession through a balanced curriculum that
integrates theory and practice in a structured program of
study.
The Clinical Psychology program offers students the opportunity to
follow either a general course of study (
General track) or to combine general studies in clinical
psychology with advanced subspecialty training in clinical child
psychology (
Clinical Child track). Applicants to the program are instructed
to indicate which track of study they wish to pursue.
The curriculum involves a logical progression of course work and
related practicum experience. The first two years of study impart
basic skills and grounding in such areas of study as psychological
assessment, statistics, research methods, foundations of
psychology, therapeutic approaches and psychopathology. Training in
research methodology and supervised research experience prepare
students to conduct research and acquire skills
needed to develop a dissertation proposal during the third year of
study. A complete listing of required courses and electives is
contained in the Graduate Bulletin.
Clinical practicum training begins in the first year with
supervised practica held at the St. John’s University Center for
Psychological Services, which is a community-based psychological
services center that serves as the primary training site for
clinical psychology students. At upper levels, students combine
on-site clinical training with externship practica in community
facilities and receive supervision from both field supervisors and
clinical
faculty members.
Students have been placed in clinical externships in many of the
major clinical facilities in the metropolitan New York area,
including Long Island Jewish/Hillside Medical Center, Queens
Hospital Center, Bellevue Psychiatric Hospital, New York University
Medical Center, Mt. Sinai Medical Center, Kings County Hospital,
North Shore University Hospital, Bronx Children’s Psychiatric
Center and Nassau University Medical Center.
Ethical and professional issues involved in professional
practice are emphasized in course work and practica. An
appreciation of the importance of cultural diversity in psychology
is developed through course work and in clinical practica that
provide direct training in working with multicultural
populations.
Students are encouraged to begin research during the first year
of study through development of a master’s thesis project. They are
expected to progress to the dissertation stage during the third
year of study and to continue to make satisfactory progress each
semester toward completing their dissertation requirements.
Students must also complete a full-time, year-long internship, or
the equivalent, in an approved setting.