Clinical Psychology
Information about the Clinical Psychology Graduate Major
UCLA's Clinical Psychology program is one of the largest and most highly regarded and selective in the country, and aims to produce future faculty, researchers, and leaders in clinical psychology. The program has been continuously accredited by the American Psychological Association (Commission on Accreditation, 750 First Street, NE, Washington D.C., 20002-4242, 202- 336-5979) for more than 50 years. Admissions decisions are based on evidence of research interests and extensive experience, psychology major or equivalent, outstanding academic and GRE performance, dedication to and suitability for a career as a clinical scientist, and superior letters of recommendation. The distinguished faculty and outstanding graduate students are engaged in research activities addressing a host of critical psychological and mental health problems. Their research and clinical work are facilitated by on-campus resources including the departmental Psychology Clinic, the Semel Neuropsychiatric Institute and Hospital, and the David Geffen School of Medicine.
The curriculum is designed to produce clinical scientists: clinically well-trained psychologists devoted to the continuous development of an empirical knowledge base in clinical psychology, with a particular emphasis on preparing graduates for employment in academic and research settings. The program's breadth provides a foundation for a variety of professional functions involving issues of optimal development and psychological disability on an individual, couple, family, and community basis. At the same time, depending upon the student's interests, there is opportunity for more intensive concentration in particular areas of clinical psychology.
Since the program stresses individualized and close supervision of the student in research and professional roles, flexibility in the student's program is possible. Within the parameters set by faculty interests and practicum resources, there are specializations in child psychopathology and treatment, cognitive-behavior therapy, clinical assessment, adult psychopathology and treatment, family processes, assessment and intervention with distressed couples, community psychology, stress and coping, minority mental health, health psychology and behavioral medicine, and cross-cultural research on psychopathology and mental health. The faculty, and other research resources of the Department, make possible an intensive concentration in particular areas of clinical psychology, while at the same time ensuring breadth of training.
Clinical psychology at UCLA is a six-year program including the full-time one-year internship. The curriculum in clinical psychology is based on a twelve-month academic year. The program includes a mixture of coursework, clinical training, teaching, and continuous involvement in research. Most of the fifteen clinical area faculty, along with numerous clinical psychologists from other campus departments, community clinics, and hospitals settings, contribute to clinical supervision. Clinical training experiences include two years of part-time practicum placements in the Psychology Clinic and local agencies. The required one-year full-time internship is undertaken after the student has passed the clinical qualifying examinations and the dissertation preliminary orals. The student receives the Ph.D. degree when both the dissertation and an approved internship are completed.
Note to prospective applicants: If selected, applicants are admitted by the clinical program, not by individual faculty. We do not require apprenticeship to an individual faculty person. However, to be admitted, a student’s interests must match those of faculty members, and typically, matching interests are the basis for the students first-year research project. In any given year, certain faculty may not wish to mentor new students. Therefore, it is strongly recommended that applicants visit the links below (More Clinical Psychology info: Faculty) to review faculty interests and availability and also to review statistics about GRE and grade points for successful admissions in recent years (Graduate Clinical Program Student Data).
Clinical Program Grievance Policies & Procedures
Unfortunately, conflicts between students and faculty or with other students will occur and the following policies and procedures are provided in an effort to achieve the best solution to the conflict. The first step in addressing these conflicts is for the student to consult with their academic advisor. If this option is not feasible (e.g. the conflict is with the advisor) or the conflict is not resolved to their satisfaction, then the issue should be brought to the attention of the Director of Clinical Training. If in the unlikely event that an effective solution is not achieved at this level, then the student has the option of consulting with the Department's Vice Chair for Graduate Studies. Students also have the option of seeking assistance from the Department's Ombudsman or from Graduate Division. However, it is expected that all such conflicts are to be addressed first within the program, then within the department, before seeking a resolution outside of the department.
More Clinical Psychology Information
- Faculty
- For a list of Required Courses please see Section 12 of the Psychology Handbook
- Current Course Descriptions
- Psychology Clinic
