Medical Psychology Clinical Track Program (Page 1)

Program Requirements
 
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Purpose of Program

As described previously, the Medical Psychology Program is designed to provide systematic research training in biobehavioral and psychosocial factors involved in the etiology, pathogenesis, and treatment of physical disease and mental disorders, disease prevention and public health. The clinical track within the Medical Psychology Program is aimed at training psychologists who are both academically and clinically prepared to work as researchers in academic or medical settings. The program is designed based on the premise that psychologists conducting physical and mental health-related research and research in health settings need skills in clinical psychology to complement their strong foundation in areas related to physical and mental health, disease processes, and research. This track emphasizes combined year-round training in health psychology research and the development of skills in the clinical application of health psychology. The medical psychology clinical track requires completion of all Medical Psychology Program requirements plus completion of a one year internship to be eligible for clinical licensure.

Medical Psychology- Clinical Track program

Students admitted to the Medical Psychology- Clinical Track Program usually have a background in psychology and life sciences and some research experience in psychology or biomedical sciences. However, students with varied academic backgrounds and work experiences have successfully applied for admission and completed the program. Applicants to the medical psychology track must have career goals that are consistent with the aims of this highly research-focused track, as detailed in the Personal Statement. Demonstrated evidence of motivation and ability to pursue a research/academic career (e.g., publications, professional presentations) is preferable. Undergraduate GPA of 3.2 or better and scores (Verbal + Quantitative) on the Graduate Record Exam (GRE) of 1100 (out of 1600) or above are preferred. The Advanced Test in Psychology is not required.
 
Program Requirements. Program requirements for the Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology include course work (required courses and electives), a review paper (in the first year), second year research project, a master's thesis (leading to an M.S. degree), contributions as a research assistant, clinical practica and other required clinical training, Ph.D. written qualifying examination, Ph.D. oral specialty examination, written doctoral dissertation proposal, written doctoral dissertation, public forum and defense of doctoral dissertation research.
 
How to Apply. Applications for the medical clinical track should be compled by January 1 of the year they wish to enter. Applications can be obtained on the graduate school web site. Candidates should indicate clearly on the application that they are interested in being considered for admission to the medical clinical psychology track.

Coursework

All students in the Clinical Psychology Program must complete a series of required courses during the years of study and also take electives throughout their graduate training. The goal of course work is to ensure that each student is knowledgeable in the areas of: biological bases of behavior, cognitive-affective bases of behavior, social and cultural bases of behavior, and individual behavior.
 
Along with the required courses, students can take electives that reflect various specialties in psychology and in the study of behavior and health. Special Tutorials in Medical Psychology that focus on specific topics can be arranged depending on student interests. Students also may take courses in other departments or programs as electives.

Ph.D. Qualifying Exams

student studying

Written, closed-book Ph.D. qualifying examinations are administered at the end of the second year of study over two consecutive days. The exam draws from required and elective course work and requires students to integrate across courses. The exam includes required questions on general course work, such as Experimental Statistics and Design and Methods/Complex Human Experimentation, as well as on clinical psychology skills and course work, such as case conceptualization, treatment planning and outcomes assessment, psychopathology, and critical evaluation of outcomes research. The exam also includes a choice of questions in other topic areas such as Cognitive Psychology, Developmental Psychology, Learning Theory, Medical Psychology, Personality, Physiology and Behavior, and Social Psychology.
 
Exam questions are graded by at least two faculty members with expertise in that subject area. Exam scores are discussed at a faculty meeting called for this purpose. Students receive feedback about their performance after this meeting. Students must pass this examination, the course requirements and necessary number of electives, complete the first year review paper, and complete the second year research project to be advanced to candidacy for the Ph.D. degree.

Continue to page 2 of program requirements

Contact Information

Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences
4301 Jones Bridge Road
Bethesda, Maryland 20814-4799


Center for Deployment Psychology
Center for Health Disparities