Our Clincial Science and Psychopathology Research Program (CSPR) has been regarded as one of the best in the world, training clinical scientists who have become leaders in the field. The program combines rigorous training in assessment and intervention techniques with a solid grounding in psychopathology research. Although graduates from our program will find themselves prepared for various applied and research careers, the program is designed to train students who wish to become academic clinical psychologists or research scientists.

Our ties to psychologists in affiliated departments, area hospitals, and mental health centers make it possible for us to offer a broad array of research and clinical experiences. This allows us to accommodate almost any research interest or clinical training need that you may have. However, we are especially strong in psychopathology and personality research. These areas of emphasis collectively represent the research interests of the clinical faculty members.

Training in Adult and Child Clinical Psychology

We have an integrated program offering training in both adult and child clinical psychology that is jointly operated by the Department of Psychology and the Institute of Child Development. Although the psychology department currently includes faculty who study developmental processes and problems, students with primary interests in developmental psychopathology who are seeking specialty training in child psychology should seek admission to the Developmental Psychopathology and Clinical Science track of the program through the Institute of Child Development.

Students who are interested in adult psychopathology (or childhood psychopathology but who do not wish to develop specialized expertise in child development) should seek admission to the the CSPR program through the Department of Psychology.

Accreditation

The American Psychological Association has accredited our internationally recognized clinical psychology program since 1948. We are also accredited by the Psychological Clinical Science Accreditation System (PCSAS). For more information, please see accreditation.

Curriculum

Current clinical course offerings cover: descriptive, developmental, psychosocial, and biological psychopathology; neuropsychological, intellectual, objective, and interviewing assessment; taxometrics; cognitive and behavioral therapy courses for adults and children, crisis and short-term therapy; clinical psychophysiology; ethics and social responsibility, ethical issues in applied developmental psychology; personality and personality disorders.

Clinical Research

Students are expected to be actively involved in clinical research throughout their graduate training. In addition to core clinical courses on psychopathology, assessment, and intervention, students can take supporting course work in developmental psychopathology, psychometrics, personality measurement, neuropsychology, neuroscience, and psychophysiology. A behavior genetics concentration may involve specialization in genetics and biology within several programs on campus.

Clinical Training

Practicum
Clinical students are required to take a minimum of 450 hours of practicum training. Over a dozen different community agencies participate in the practicum training and supervision of clinical students, offering a wide variety of opportunities to develop applied assessment and treatment skills with different clinical populations. Participating practicum sites include various clinics in the University and affiliated community hospitals, the VA Medical Center, a walk-in counseling center, court services, community mental health centers, child guidance clinics, and clinicians in private practice.

Internship
In order to receive a PhD with a specialization in clinical psychology, students are required to complete a one-year, full-time APA-approved clinical internship. Students are encouraged to apply to internship sites that are members of the Academy of Psychological Clinical Science. These internship sites are especially interested in having interns from clinical programs with a strong research emphasis.

Inclusion and Diversity

The Clinical Science and Psychopathology Research program strongly supports inclusion and diversity, and encourages applications from individuals underrepresented in clinical psychology, including individuals from underrepresented racial and ethnic groups, those with disabilities, and those from disadvantaged backgrounds. To learn more please see the department's page on diversity and inclusion.

Faculty

William G. Iacono, Regents Professor, Distinguished McKnight University Professor
Bonnie Klimes-Dougan, Contract Associate Professor
Robert Krueger, Hathaway Distinguished Professor
Shmuel Lissek, Associate Professor
Monica Luciana, Department Chair and Distinguished McKnight University Professor​
Angus MacDonald, III, Professor and CSPR Area Director
Scott Vrieze, Assistant Professor

Affiliated Faculty

Scott Sponheim, Professor

Emeritus Faculty

James Butcher, Professor
Gloria Leon, Professor
Auke Tellegen, Professor