Students in the clinical psychology PhD program obtain extensive background knowledge in psychology through varied and challenging coursework as well as practical exposure to evidence-based interventions and assessment techniques.
- In the first year, and in addition to Psychopathology, Statistics, and Ethics, Ñý¼§Ö±²¥ take a course in Clinical Interviewing as well as a two-course sequence of Psych Eval I & Psych Eval II, where they learn intelligence testing, the use of objective tests, and begin report-writing
- In the second year, and in conjunction the study of clinical interventions, Ñý¼§Ö±²¥ begin direct clinical therapeutic contact & practice at the
- On a rotating basis, faculty offer Interventions or Special Topics courses in their specific treatment specialty, research area or methodology. Topics include: Multicultural Psychology, Substance Misuse, Integrated Behavioral Health, Conceptualization & Treatment of Trauma, and LGBTQ Issues.
- Our program’s policy regarding expectations about student disclosure in classes
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Core Courses
- Psyx 500: Adv History & Systems (Offered spring)
- Psyx 551: Adv Personality (Offered fall, odd years)
- Psyx 565: Adv Cognition (Offered spring)
- Psyx 571: Adv Physiological Psychology (Offered fall, even years)
- Psyx 555: Adv Social/Developmental (540 Adv Development is offered every spring; 550 Adv Social is offered in fall)
Required Courses (70-92 credits plus Core)
- Psyx 511: Professional Issues (Offered fall)
- Psyx 512: Clinical Field Placement
- Psyx 520: Adv Psychological Statistics (Offered fall)
- Psyx 521: Adv Psychological Statistics II (Offered spring)
- Psyx 523: Research Design (Offered spring)
- Psyx 525: Psych Eval I (Offered fall)
- Psyx 526: Psych Eval II (Offered spring)
- Psyx 530: Clinical & Diagnostic Interviewing (Offered fall)
- Psyx 531: Principles of Psych Interventions (Offered spring)
- Psyx 532: Adv Psychopathology (Offered fall)
- Psyx 534: Applied Clinical Methods (Practicum) (Offered fall & spring)
- Psyx 599: Masters credits
- Psyx 625: Assessment Practicum (Offered fall)
- Psyx 630: Professional & Ethical Issues (Offered spring)
- Psyx 631: Interventions
- Psyx 632: Special Topics (Advanced Multicultural)
- Psyx 638: Internship
- Psyx 699: Dissertation credits
631/632 Equivalents: 535 Child Interventions, 536 Advanced Child Psychopathology, 537 Child Assessment, or Psychopharmacology
Sample Schedule
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Fall Semester
(16 credits)
- PSYX 501 Teaching Psychology (3 cr)
- PSYX 511 Professional Issues (1 cr)
- PSYX 520 Advanced Psychological Statistics I (3 cr)
- PSYX 525 Psych Eval I (Intellectual Assessment) (3 cr)
- PSYX 530 Clinical & Diagnostic Interviewing (3 cr)
- PSYX 532 Adv Psychopathology (3 cr)
Spring Semester
(13 credits)
- PSYX 521 Advanced Psychological Statistics II (4 cr)
- PSYX 523 Research Design (3 cr)
- PSYX 526 Psych Eval II (Objectives & Report Writing) (3 cr)
- PSYX 630 Ethics, Professional & Cultural Issues (3 cr)
- Sit in on PSYX 534 – Applied Clinical Methods (Practicum)
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Fall Semester
(13 credits)
- PSYX 531 Principles of Psych Intervention (3 cr)
- PSYX 534 Applied Clinical Methods (Practicum) (4 cr)
- PSYX Core Course (3 cr)
- PSYX 599 Masters Research Project credits (1-3 cr)
Spring Semester
(11-13 credits)
- PSYX 534 Applied Clinical Methods (Practicum) (4 cr)
- PSYX Core Course (3 cr)
- PSYX 631/632 Clinical Interventions or Special Topics (3 cr)
- Elective (Optional)
Summer
PSYX 534 Applied Clinical Methods (Practicum)
**Propose masters project by the end of the 2nd year
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Fall semester
(10-13 credits)
- PSYX 534 Applied Clinical Methods (4 cr)
- PSYX 599 Masters Research Project credits (1-3 cr)
- PSYX Core Course (3 cr)
- Elective Course (optional) (3 cr)
**Defend masters project by the end of 3rd year
Spring semester
(10-13 credits)
- PSYX 534 Applied Clinical Methods (Practicum) (4cr)
- PSYX 631/632 Clinical Interventions or Topics (3cr)
- PSYX Core Course (3cr)
- Elective Course (optional) (3cr)
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Fall semester
(9 - 15 credits)
- PSYX 631/632 Clinical Interventions or Topics (3 cr)
- PSYX 625 Assessment Practicum (3 cr)
- PSYX Core Course (3 cr)
- PSYX 699 Dissertation credits (2-9 cr)
Spring semester
(10 - 17 credits)
- PSYX 631/632 Clinical Interventions or Topics (3 cr)
- PSYX Core Course (3 cr)
- PSYX 699 Dissertation credits (2-9 cr)
Clinical Training
Training for our Ñý¼§Ö±²¥ includes both classroom instruction and direct clinical experience. Our Ñý¼§Ö±²¥ work with people of diverse backgrounds, lifestyles, and experiences and are trained to adapt to a rapidly changing service-delivery environment in mental health and human service arenas.
Much of our Ñý¼§Ö±²¥’ clinical training is done at the on the UM campus. In the second year of training, clinical PhD Ñý¼§Ö±²¥ enter practicum and begin seeing clients.
- The CPC is a training clinic, offering assessment, consultation, intervention, and psychotherapy services to the general Missoula community; clients receive services on a sliding fee scale
- Staffed by Clinical and School doctoral Ñý¼§Ö±²¥, the CPC is the primary training site for both programs
- Clinicians are supervised by Department of Psychology clinical and school faculty members & licensed community psychologists
- Students take practica from a variety of supervisors and are exposed to a range of theoretical and applied points of view
- Some schools of thought represented in the techniques and approaches are: Cognitive-Behavioral, Psychodynamic, Emotion-Focused, Interpersonal Therapy, Functional Analytic
- Our student clinicians carry fairly small caseloads (typically 3 – 5 clients) in order to provide optimal care and have close supervision
- As they progress, student clinicians assume increasing responsibility for the care of their clients; they are encouraged in their development of case conceptualizations and treatment plans
- The CPC has therapy rooms for individual, group, family, child therapy, as well as assessment
Additional Clinical Training Opportunities
As Ñý¼§Ö±²¥ advance, they are able to apply for a number of community clinical placements. Positions are program-sanctioned and, in addition to gaining hands-on experience, Ñý¼§Ö±²¥ can apply their hours towards internship.
- Assistant to the Director at the Clinical Psychology Center
- Confederated Salish-Kootenai Tribes Public Defender’s Office, Pablo, MT
- Confederated Salish-Kootenai Tribal Health Office, St. Ignatius, MT
- Counseling Services at Curry Health Center, Ñý¼§Ö±²¥ campus
- Student Advocacy Resource Center (SARC), Ñý¼§Ö±²¥ campus
- Youth Homes, Missoula, MT
- HRSA Behavioral Health Workforce Education and Training (BHWET) Program, various locations in western Montana