Requirements
for the Clinical Program
The training model for the UW-Madison doctoral
program in clinical psychology is that of a scientist-practitioner. Based on
our endorsement of a scientist-practitioner model, the educational plan focuses
on two major and interrelated goals that integrate science and practice: 1) to
produce graduates who have the requisite knowledge, skills, and experience to
create and disseminate new knowledge about the processes and mechanisms
underlying psychopathology; and 2) to produce graduates who have the requisite
knowledge and skills for entry into the practice of professional clinical
psychology and who understand and appreciate the importance of an empirical
basis to clinical practice.
Our program uses a mentor model for research
training; applicants are admitted to the program based in part on how closely
their research interests are aligned with that of the current faculty. The
close working relationship between the faculty mentor and the graduate student
is one of the mechanisms that serves to integrate theory and research with the
applied training. Students’ coursework and practicum experiences comprise the
other mechanisms that foster the integration of science and practice.
The interests of and methods utilized by our faculty
vary widely but all share the common goal of pursuing innovative, cutting edge
analyses of major forms of psychopathology. Our program also offers excellent
clinical training and in the course of their tenure in the program, graduate
students in clinical psychology develop expertise in both assessment and
treatment of psychopathology. However the student who is not deeply committed
to research and scholarship will, in all likelihood not be satisfied with the
Wisconsin Clinical Program.
During their stay, clinical graduate students complete courses in assessment, clinical research methods, and a sequence of clinical core courses covering the etiology and treatment of psychopathology, in addition to statistics/methodology courses and coursework in nonclinical areas both in and outside of the department (see Degree Requirements). The required curriculum may take more than five years to complete. Our clinical program is situated in a world-class Psychology Department that includes area groups in Biology of Brain and Behavior, Cognitive and Cognitive Neuroscience, Developmental, Perception, and Social and Personality. In addition, there is an
Emotion Training Program within the Department that cuts across all other area groups and is supported by an NIMH training grant. Many clinical students and faculty are involved in various aspects of the Emotion Training Program. Many clinical students avail themselves of the extensive range of opportunities available through collaborations with other units on campus including the Waisman Center, an interdisciplinary research institute for developmental research, the Institute on Aging, the Waisman Laboratory for Brain Imaging and Behavior, the Department of Psychiatry and other Departments in the Medical School, College of Letters and Science and the School of Education. Our aim is to train scholars who are well-versed in modern, interdisciplinary research in psychopathology.
A major goal of our program is to integrate students'
clinical and research activities. Students begin their clinical practicum in the
Psychology Department Research and Training Clinic during their third year in
the program and typically continue such practicum training throughout the
remainder of their graduate careers. An important component of clinical training
is the "Small Group Practicum" in which various clinical professors supervise
practicum activities on topics related to their own areas of interest. In the
summer following the third academic year, the student is appointed to a
clerkship in one of the several agencies that cooperate with the department in
providing practicum training. Finally, all clinical students obtain at least one
full year of full-time clinical experience in an approved internship facility.
Whereas many of our students obtain internships at various of the better-known
training centers around the country, other students complete their internships
at one of the excellent local sites. Virtually all Clinical graduate students
have received financial support while in residence in the graduate
program.
Faculty: Professors Abramson, Curtin, Davidson, Goldsmith, Gooding, Li, Newman, Pollak
Affiliated Faculty: Professors Abercrombie, Kalin, Kolden, Nitschke
All of the Clinical training is overseen by the Director
of Training (John J. Curtin, Ph.D.) and the Clinical Area Group faculty to
ensure compliance with APA standards.
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