Brief Course of Study Description

2025–2026

The UWM Clinical Psychology Ph.D. program adheres to the scientist-practitioner model of training. To us, the scientist-practitioner is not a dual entity consisting of separate research and clinical repertoires. Rather, they are 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 approaches research and practice from a theoretically diverse, biopsychosocial perspective. The most common theoretical perspective is cognitive-behavioral/behavior analytic. In addition to being accredited by the American Psychological Association, 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. Students conduct research under a mentorship model.

Course of Study

This document provides a summary of the requirements for the Ph.D. program in Clinical Psychology. Breadth requirements detailed at the end of this document correspond to the “Additional Course Slots” in this course plan. The course of study is subject to change.

YEAR 1: Foundations of the Scientist Practitioner

The purpose of the curriculum for year one is to establish the foundations for students to become scientist practitioners. Students will learn the foundations of research methodology, assessment, and psychopathology. Through the design of the first-year experience, students will learn to integrate the three. Likewise, the completion of Year 1 will have prepared students adequately for completing their thesis, and will provide foundational training for conducting other research throughout their career at UWM.

Year 1 Practical Training

Students learn basic interviewing and test administration skills in the first-year practicum. They also participate in a “vertical team.” Vertical teams are the method by which we do our “hands on” therapy training. Each vertical team consists of a 1-2 first year students, 1-2 second year student, 2-3 third year students, and a supervising Psychologist. Third year students serve as therapists, second year students may conduct psychological assessments, and first year students observe therapy sessions and learn the empirical basis for intervention. Each team meets weekly to discuss cases with the supervisor.

YEAR 2:  Foundations of Clinical Practice, Integration of Science and Practice of Assessment

The curriculum for year two continues to build the clinical foundations for students to become scientist practitioners.  Students will learn about professional ethics, continue to learn about assessment, continue their therapy training, and will broaden their knowledge of the empirical basis of clinical psychology through taking additional core courses. During Year 2, students will utilize the research training obtained during Year 1 to complete a master’s thesis.

Ideally, the Master’s thesis should be defended by end of the summer following Year 2. The deadline to maintain your TA priority status is March 10 of your 3^rd year.

Year 2 Practical Training

Students are taught to administer and interpret psychological tests in the assessment practicum. In addition, they may begin to acquire hands on experience in implementing empirically supported interventions. Also, they continue to participate in a vertical team, implementing assessment skills and gaining focused experience related to at least one empirically supported intervention approach.

YEAR 3: Integration of Science and Practice of Psychotherapy

The curriculum for year three continues to help students fully implement their scientist practitioner training by implementing their scientist training in a clinical setting conducting therapy.

Year 3 Practical Training

Third year students on the vertical teams are responsible for seeing clients in the Department’s Psychology Training Clinic. Third year students participate in two different vertical teams concurrently, and have 2-3 cases per team. Students have two central therapy training experiences by being placed on two therapy teams, one specialized scientifically validated treatment team (to achieve beginning competency), and one other team, to ensure exposure to different supervision styles and/or therapeutic approaches. As part of their third-year practicum, students must participate in regular sessions with the Clinic Director. During this time, students complete readings about models and theories of supervision and consultation.

YEAR 4: Community Placement

The curriculum for year four requires the students to take their scientist practitioner training to the community. It is expected that students will obtain 12-16 hours/week during their training. Students will be expected to get more in-depth training related to their chosen scientifically validated treatment, either through community placement or by seeing clients in the Psychology Clinic. Students will complete the preliminary exam, propose their dissertations, and, if not yet done complete their coursework.

Year 4 Practical Training

Students spend 12-16 hours per week working in one of many community agencies under the supervision of external supervisors. Community agencies include the Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin (Pediatric Psychology), Rogers Memorial Hospital (OCD, Eating Disorders), the Zablocki VA (e.g., PTSD, Women, LGBT units), the Center for Behavioral Medicine (DBT training), and the Medical College of Wisconsin (Behavioral Medicine, Adult Neuropsychology, Pediatric Neuropsychology).

YEAR 5: Dissertation Research

The curriculum for year five allows the student to spend time applying for internship and completing their dissertation. Ideally, students should leave for internship with their dissertation completed.

Students much have successfully proposed their Dissertation to their committee prior to October 1 of the year they apply to internships before they will be permitted to apply. The Preliminary Exam must also be passed prior to October 1 of the year applying to internship. The prelim requirement can be satisfied either by 1) submitting a first-authored manuscript, or 2) passing the dissertation proposal.

Year 5 Practical Training

The program requires practicum experience during the fifth year, however, there may be circumstances in which this is not necessary. Please discuss with your advisor and/or the DCT. . Students will often want to round out their experiences with additional work, and often get involved in learning how to provide supervision to more junior students. This supervised supervision experience is a valuable experience to those students choosing to participate. Other students will complete a Community Placement, typically one day per week, or conduct research that includes a clinical practice component.

YEAR 6: Pre-Doctoral Internship

An extramural, APA-accredited one-year, full-time (2,000 hour) internship is required for the clinical psychology program.

Additional Course Requirements not Tied to Specific Semesters

In addition to the core clinical curriculum detailed within the course plan above, the following courses are required:

1. Statistics requirement
   Either Ed Psych 724 or Public Health 702 AND one more statistics course selected with your advisor’s approval. The second course cannot be Ed Psych 724, Public Health 702 or Psych 510 or 610.
   OR
   Psych 510 and Psych 610 AND one more statistics course selected with your advisor’s approval. The second course cannot be Ed Psych 724, Public Health 702 or Psych 510 or 610.
2. Breadth requirement: One course from each of the following areas:
   1. Cognitive/Affective Bases of Behavior (Psych 727)
   2. Biological Bases of Behavior (Psych 727 (or 854))
   3. Social Bases of Behavior (Psych 930 or Ed Psych 833)
3. History of Psychology (Psychology 750) – UNLESS, you have a) an undergraduate major in Psychology or b) took History of Psychology as an undergraduate
4. A graduate level course about multicultural issues in clinical or counseling psychology:
   Either Psych 814 – meets every other week for three semesters of the 1^st two years of program (1 credit per semester) – offered every fall, and every other spring
   OR
   Counseling Psych 704 or 715
5. A graduate level lifespan developmental course, including coverage of the affective bases of behavior (Ed Psych 640).
6. There are optional courses as well:
   1. Neuropsychology (3 credits)
   2. Case Conference in Neuropsychology (1 credit)
   3. Child Clinical and Pediatric Psychology (1 credit)
7. Optional departmental minor: Available areas (and required number of courses) for the minor are:
   1. Cognition and Perception (2 courses)
   2. Developmental Psychology (3 courses)
   3. Health Psychology (2 courses)Neuroscience (3 courses)
   4. Quantitative Methods (2 courses)

Please note: This document provides an overview of our Curriculum. For more detailed information about admissions procedures, program philosophy, goals, and objectives, and other important outcomes of our program, please see our program description online.