The Clinical Psychology Ph.D. Program

Our program integrates education and training in traditional clinical psychology with innovations from community psychology. Our core faculty is composed of both clinical and community psychologists, and our adjunct faculty are drawn from accomplished clinicians in practice in the community. The goal of the program is to educate students in the professional application of psychological science and methods to the amelioration of human problems through clinical practice and applied research. In addition to traditional course work, the program offers prospective students supervised experiences in applied service settings such as clinics, schools, public and private mental health agencies.

One of the features of the program is its public service orientation, which prepares students to work with underserved and disadvantaged populations and agencies that serve them. The program teaches students to develop and implement effective preventive and clinical interventions based on individual, group, and community mechanisms of change.

Students can gain expertise in a number of clinical areas including psychological assessment, various cognitive-behavioral approaches to psychotherapy, child-peer interaction, treatment and prevention of depression, self-help groups, and high risk behavior in adolescents. Students are also exposed to theories and practice of consultation, prevention, supervision, and program development and evaluation.

An integration of theory, research, and practice is emphasized. Research and practicum experiences receive intensive individual supervision. Graduates are prepared to pursue professional careers in public or private service organizations and are equipped to enter academic/research settings. The program specifies goals and objectives that are intended to promote the development of academic and clinical competencies.

Our clinical program meets the educational requirements for licensure as a psychologist in the state of Kansas. If you plan to obtain a license or certification in another state or a US territory after graduating from the program, it is highly recommended you first seek guidance from the appropriate licensing board before beginning our program to ensure you can obtain a license or certification in that jurisdiction. The website https://nc-sara.org/professional-licensure-directory provides resources for licensure and certification agencies outside of Kansas

Applicants are not required to have an undergraduate degree in psychology, but must have completed courses in general psychology, psychological statistics, and experimental psychology. Applicants also are required to have completed a course in History and Systems of psychology with a B- or better. Admission to the program requires a minimum GPA of 3.00, three letters of reference, and a career/goals statement. Application materials must be submitted by December 1st. Please follow the directions for application provided on the Applying for Graduate Study page.

Wichita provides a rich setting for our training program. As a public university, Wichita State has long-established ties to the core leadership of our human service organizations, our medical and educational training facilities, and business. These connections provide excellent resources for outstanding collaborative university-community educational and training experiences. Learn more about Wichita.


Accreditation

The clinical program was re-accredited by the American Psychological Association in 2015 for 7 years.

Student Admissions, Outcomes, and Other Data

Office of Program Consultation and Accreditation
American Psychological Association
750 First Street, N.E.
Washington, D.C. 20002-4242
202.336.5979

Resources

The Psychology Training Clinic is based in the psychology department and is a primary site for clinical practicum training. The Clinic has facilities for individual and group research. Clientele served include persons affiliated with WSU and the greater Wichita community. The Clinic Director provides individual and group supervision complemented by supervision by other members of the core program faculty. We also have a number of carefully selected external practicum training sites and additional clinical supervision is provided by adjunct faculty and other on site supervisors. Faculty maintain working relationships with a number of government and community agencies which provide a source for research and supervised clinical and community practica. These agencies which serve the approximately 500,000 people in the Wichita metropolitan area include the public school system, Head Start and Early Head Start, University of Kansas School of Medicine-Wichita and regional hospitals, local and state departments of health and mental health, private clinics, and many not-for-profit social service agencies.

Curriculum

The curriculum is designed to blend the scientist-practitioner and action-researcher models of education and professional activity. It has been designed to provide a sound foundation in core areas of psychology, a broad and general preparation for research and professional practice, and an opportunity to gain knowledge and expertise in areas of interest and relevance to the student’s career.

In addition to the required core curriculum students may take electives within and outside of the Psychology Department. There are many options available for elective educational experiences including the School of Education, School of Health Professionals, University of Kansas School of Medicine-Wichita, and the Hugo Wall Center for Urban Studies.

The department does not offer a terminal Master’s degree, nor does it admit students to a Master’s program. After students have successfully completed their Foundation courses, their Research Methods Courses, Pre-doctoral Research, including a Second Year Project (i.e., master’s thesis) and an additional six hours they may make application for receipt of the M.A. degree. See the Psychology Graduate Programs Handbook for additional information about the curriculum as well as residency and degree requirements.