Psychology: Clinical Psychology

Career opportunities

Clinical psychologists have a wealth of career opportunities in private practice, hospitals, schools, community mental health centers and research institutions. Many clinical psychologists become licensed practitioners, providing therapy services to individuals across the lifespan. Others gravitate toward academia, expanding our collective insights into human behavior through research and education.  

Employment for clinical psychologists is projected to grow 7% over the next decade – faster than the average for all occupations (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics). Growing demand reflects greater recognition of the importance of mental health and the need for qualified professionals who can address complex psychological issues.  

Curriculum

The clinical psychology Ph.D. specialization can be completed with or without a spiritual/religious focus). There are also three areas of concentration:

• Child clinical psychology – assessing, diagnosing and treating psychological issues in children and adolescents, including developmental disorders, anxiety, behavioral problems and trauma
• Community clinical psychology – preventing and treating mental health problems in a community setting, such as systemic issues related to social injustice, poverty and access to care
• Health psychology – improving well-being by focusing on the interplay between psychology and physical health and developing plans of care that involve things like behavior changes, stress management and addressing chronic illnesses 

The doctoral clinical psychology curriculum at BGSU is structured to adhere to the scientist-practitioner model. It integrates scientific research with clinical practice to foster ongoing improvement and innovation.

The first two years, students complete core clinical psychology courses before moving on to advanced-level classes and specialized seminars. In-house psychotherapy training starts second year and continues throughout. Clinical psychology faculty provides close supervision and exposes students to a wide range of theoretical orientations and therapeutic techniques. Students get a jump start on clinical work and a strong foundation of first-hand knowledge for ongoing discussions, research and practice.

Fifth year, students complete a one-year internship with intensive clinical training on campus or in an APA-approved facility. Our students land competitive spots at highly regarded training centers, including medical schools, community mental health centers, Veterans Affairs offices, university counseling centers, private hospitals, military medical centers, prisons and state hospitals.  

Graduates must also complete a one-year internship (usually during fifth year) at an external, APA-approved facility, such as a private hospital, military medical center, school or community mental health center.

Practicum Experiences

Early on, students are placed on Basic Clinical Skills practicum teams of five to seven student clinicians overseen by at least one clinical faculty member. Students begin applying their basic knowledge and skills with a broad range of clients and clinical problems at the BGSU Psychological Services Center, which serves as the Psychology Department’s training clinic.

As they gain experience, students are placed on Advanced Clinical Teams – considered a special strength of the BGSU clinical psychology Ph.D. program. Teams take on projects blending research and practice related to their chosen clinical psychology concentration to serve: 

• Individuals
• Communities
• Special populations (e.g., children; problem drinkers; couples)
• Heath/behavioral medicine

Advanced practicum experiences will align with students’ professional goals. Outside placements include community mental health centers, hospital-based rehab facilities and treatment centers for children and families.  

Culminating Experience

Doctoral students must register for a minimum of 16 hours in Dissertation Research. This is in addition to:

• Thesis research (3-6 credits)
• Internship (2 semesters) 
• A supervised practicum in clinical psychology (6 hours)

Required courses