Graduate Program in Clinical Psychology at the University of North Dakota

The University of North Dakota (UND) Department of Psychology emphasizes general teaching, professional training, and research. Within the College of Arts and Sciences, it offers an undergraduate major in psychology; graduate programs lead to the degrees of Master of Arts, Master of Science and Doctor of Philosophy. In addition to its faculty, the department also utilizes the expertise of area professionals who serve as adjunct faculty. Enrollments in the graduate program are limited to about 50 students to maintain a favorable student-faculty ratio.

The Department of Psychology offers doctoral programs in Clinical (full APA accreditation) and Experimental Psychology. Since the clinical program leads to a Ph.D. rather than a professional (Psy.D.) degree, the emphasis is on the understanding of general psychological theory and application of the scientific method to research issues. The department also has an INPSYDE Program (Indians into Psychology Doctoral Education) which seeks to attract Native American students into cllnical psychology.

Clinical training focuses on developing competence in interpreting a broad range of assessment data in conceptualizing psychopathology, and in therapeutic methods. Given this basic training, the student focuses on particular clinical interests by drawing upon faculty expertise in specific areas and upon personal experience in on-the-job training in a variety of clinical settings.

Clinical Training

The APA-accredited clinical training program emphasizes the integration of theory and practice. Theory is offered by course work, and practice by both course work and clinical placements. Standard courses include assessment, personality, psychopathology, therapy, learning and behavior analysis, community issues in professional ethics, and group methods. There also are seminars with faculty in their specialties, e.g., behavior modification, psychoneuroendocrinology, neuropsychology, psychophysiology, and health psychology. Experiences in clinical practice are provided by such courses as assessment, community, and group methods.

Clinical placements for graduate students include area mental health centers, social service agencies, and University-related health centers. In addition, all advanced students are exposed to a wide range of clinical experiences under faculty supervision at the department's Psychological Services Center.

Faculty experience and interests in addition to research are in the areas of psychotherapy, group therapy, child clinical, community consultation, computer applications, behavior modification and therapy, child and family therapy, cognitive behavior therapy, marital therapy, behavioral assessment, behavioral medicine, developmental processes in psychotherapy, death and bereavement, and forensic psychology.

Clinical Curriculum

Facilities

The department is housed in its own four-story building, featuring offices, equipped laboratories and computer stations. The department also maintains a psychophysiology laboratory which includes computer-connected plethysmographs and polygraphs. UND's library has a wide large of holdings in psychology and is tied into an excellent interlibrary loan network.

Admission

Students are admitted to the graduate program with the expectation that they plan to obtain the Ph.D. degree. Applicants must have a baccalaureate degree from an accredited institution and have successfully completed 18 hours of psychology courses which include Introductory Psychology, Developmental Psychology, Abnormal Psychology, Statistics, and Research Methods. Applicants must submit scores from the Graduate Record Examination, including the Advanced Examination in Psychology. Letters of recommendation, the applicant's vitae, and academic transcripts are also required. Application forms are distributed by the department upon request. No separate application for financial assistance is required. The Department Admissions Committee does not review an application until it is complete. The deadline for applications is January 15.

Select this link for a detailed description of the review process.

Student's Timetable

During the first year, all students--clinical and experimental--complete basic experimental courses in statistics, learning and behavior analysis, perception and cognition, personality, and social and developmental psychology. Clinical students become members of clinical supervision teams at the Psychological Services Center. All students are encouraged to become active in faculty research, and their own independent projects. During the second year, course work continues, and the master's thesis is completed. Admittance to the doctoral program is decided at the time of completion of the master's degree. Program specialty courses are offered during the third and fourth year, and clinical students learn the application of psychotherapeutic skills under faculty supervision at the Psychological Services Center and through clinical placements. Comprehensive examinations in the student's specialty area (clinical or experimental) are taken in the third year, and the dissertation is completed during the fourth year. Clinical students then spend one additional year on internship before receiving the Ph.D.

Financial Support

Financial support for students is available from several sources: graduate teaching assistantships, graduate research assistantships, agency supports, and Board of Higher Education Scholarships. Assistantships require about 15 hours per week, either in research or teaching activities.

• Department of Psychology
• University of North Dakota
• Post Office Box 8380
• Grand Forks, ND 58202-8380

Department of Psychology Chairperson: Jeffrey Weatherly, Ph.D.

Director of Clinical Training: Alan King, Ph.D.

Telephone: (701) 777-3451

Facsimile: (701) 777-3454