Training Philosophy
The UWM Clinical Psychology program strongly believes in the scientist-practitioner model of training. To us, the scientist-practitioner is not a dual entity consisting of separate research and clinical repertoires. Rather, the scientist-practitioner is a professional psychologist who uses knowledge of research to guide practice and who is fully capable of conducting research in the context of practice, or independent of practice.
The UWM Clinical Psychology Program is a member of The Academy of Psychological Clinical Science, which is a coalition of doctoral training programs that share a common goal of producing and applying scientific knowledge to the assessment, understanding, and amelioration of human problems. Membership in the Academy is granted only after a thorough peer review process. Its membership in the Academy indicates that our program is committed to excellence in scientific training, and to using clinical science as the foundation for designing, implementing, and evaluating assessment and intervention procedures. We are also members of the Clinical Child and Pediatric Psychology Training Council. In neuropsychology we offer training consistent with Division 40 Clinical Neuropsychology and Houston conference guidelines.
The Aims of our program are as follows:
Our program training model and training goals, along with our core program values, are described in full in our Program Training Model, Values & Goals statement.
Theoretical Orientation
The UWM Clinical Psychology program is committed to empiricism, and approaches research and practice from a theoretically diverse, biopsychosocial perspective. The most common theoretical perspective is cognitive-behavioral.
Accreditation Status
The Ph.D. program in clinical psychology at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee is accredited by the External Link American Psychological Association. The program has been continually accredited since 1980.
Office of Program Consultation and Accreditation
750 First Street, NE
Washington, DC 20002-4242
Phone: 202-336-5979
Areas of Strength
Specialization Training
The UWM Clinical Psychology Program is designed to train psychologists as generalists. However, clinically, our faculty interests cluster in three primary areas including neuroscience/neuropsychology, cognitive-behavioral therapy, and pediatric/health psychology. The faculty apply these approaches to topical research interests spanning developmental disorders, pediatric psychology, substance use, anxiety and affective disorders, interpersonal violence, trauma, computer and web-based interventions, and learning problems. As a result, students often leave the program with a focus in one or more of these areas.
Mentor Model
Students are admitted into the clinical program under the supervision of a specific research mentor who matches their specific interests. Graduate students in the clinical psychology program can have an advisor from either the clinical program or one of the nonclinical programs. Visit the faculty site to see a list of faculty. Although students enter the program under a specific mentor, in some instances students may elect to change advisors at a later time.
Admissions and Interviews
Typically, applications will be reviewed in late December to early January and about 25 – 30 applicants will be invited for a virtual interview day, which is scheduled for Friday, January 26th, 2024. Due to the large volume of applications received, we are not able to interview all applicants or to schedule interviews before that time. Following our evaluation, applicants who are no longer being considered will be notified as soon as possible. However, we maintain a secondary list of another 20 to 25 applicants who remain under consideration in case we determine that additional applicants should be interviewed. These applicants will be notified once our final acceptances have been received and they are no longer in consideration. Click on the following link to view statistics about our incoming classes from the last five years.
Student Admissions, Outcomes, and Other Data (PDF)
Please also read: Important information for prospective Clinical Psychology applicants