Doctor of Philosophy

Degree Requirements

The Program requires:

1. The completion of 95 points of academic credit during three to four years of residence at the College.
2. A full-time, twelve month clinical internship during the fourth or fifth year of study.
3. An original piece of empirical research, which also serves as a qualifying paper, to be completed during the second year of study.
4. A passing grade on the certification examination (on Research Methods) during the third year of study.
5. A case presentation and accompanying paper during the third year, demonstrating the student’s ability to integrate theory, research, and practice.
6. A doctoral dissertation, which must be completed no later than the seventh year after matriculation.

First Year

During the first year of study, doctoral students typically take the following didactic courses: Ethical and Professional Issues in Clinical Psychology (CCPX 5030); Psychological Measurement (HUDM 5059); Probability and Statistical Inference (HUDM 4122); Applied Regression Analysis (HUDM 5122); Research Methods in Social Psychology (ORLJ 5040); Child Psychopathology (CCPX 5034);DSM-IV (CCPX 5102); and Dynamic Approaches to Psychotherapy (CCPX 5037). Students also take three semesters of psychological testing (CCPX 5530, CCPX 5333, CCPX 6531) and a course in clinical interviewing (CCPX 5539). Most students begin working with faculty members on research during the first year (CCPX 4900).

Second Year

During their second year, students’ didactic courses include: Brain and Behavior I: Communication in the nervous system (BBS 5068); Linear Models and Experimental Design (HUDM 5123); Emotion, Culture and Health (CCPX 5020); Psychotherapy with Children (CCPX 5531); History and Systems (CCPX 6020); Cognitive, Behavioral and Interpersonal Therapies (CCPX 5038); Clinical Work with Diverse Populations (CCPX 5036); and Short Term Dynamic Psychotherapy (CCPX 6530). In addition, students sign up for a full year of research practicum with a faculty member (culminating in an empirical Second-Year Project), a full-year adult clinical practicum (CCPX 6335), and a one-semester child practicum (CCPX 5334).

Third Year

Third year didactic courses include Group Dynamics: A systems perspective (ORL 5362); Empirical Bases of Psychotherapy (CCPX 5039); and Dissertation Seminar (CCPX 7500). There is also a full year Advanced Clinical Practicum (CCPX 6336), and two semesters of Supervision Practicum (CCPX 6332-6333). Most students elect to take a full year clinical externship (CCPX 5230); and many also elect a full year family therapy practicum (CCPJ 6363).

Fourth and Fifth Year

Financial Aid

Teachers College has three scholarship funds: General, Minority and International Student. The program also has several endowed scholarship funds that are available to students. For example, since 1993, the Clinical Psychology Program has granted partial scholarships via the James S. Scappaticcio Fellowship for Gay and Lesbian doctoral candidates in Clinical Psychology. (Small grants-in-aid are also made available for research on topics relevant to homosexuality, including psychological and/or psychosocial aspects of AIDS or HIV treatment). Since 2005, the program has also granted one to two partial scholarships for students in the child-track via the Jodi Lane Scholarship Fund. The College also arranges a variety of student loans with banks, most of them  repayment- and interest-deferred.

Most doctoral students with significant financial need obtain help through the combination of tuition scholarships and endowed funds that, together, cover approximately 25-50% of the cost of a year’s tuition; some also receive stipends from faculty research grants. Most students also work part-time to cover expenses.