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Clinical Psychology Definition

A clinical psychology degree is a division within psychology that focuses on the diagnosis, assessment, and treatment of abnormal behavior, mental illness, and psychiatric issues.  These licensed psychologists are professionals that blend psychological principles with the treatment of human behavior.  Most frequently, clinical psychologists work in a clinical setting to ascertain mental disorders and behaviors.

A psychologist in this area of specialty will work with a variety of other healthcare professionals to help develop the best course of treatment for a patient. Clinical psychologists generally work within a hospital or clinical settings providing psychological therapy.  They spend substantive time creating and managing treatment plans for patients to help them to cope with or cure their illness.

Clinical psychologists will employ a range of services for people of all types and abilities.  Services may include the clinical assessment, diagnosis, and treatment of social, behavioral, mental, and emotional disorders.  Examples of disorders a trained psychologist will diagnose and treat can include psychology disorders, anxiety, bipolar, panic, eating, substance abuse, marriage counseling, debt counseling, addiction, depression, grief counseling, attachment, dissociative, antisocial, and autism to name a few.

Career Summary

MEDIAN SALARY

$78,690

PERCENT ABOVE NATIONAL
INCOME AVERAGE

52.89%

TOTAL SECTOR EMPLOYMENT

107,980

Degree Median Salary vs Adjacent Degree Types

Source: BLS, US Census, and IPEDS

2024 Best Clinical Psychology Programs

The Clinical Science degree at Harvard University provides additional topics in the Development Psychopathology seminar and twice-monthly, the clinical psychology “brown bag” speaker series. Then, a year-long clinical internship will be completed by the students. Clinical students will also receive consultation and supervision within the clinical practicum in psychological assessment. This program is a member of the Academy of Psychological Clinical Science. They strive to adhere to a clinical science model of training.

Acceptance Rate

4.64

Student to Faculty Ratio

7:1

Columbia University’s degree in Clinical Psychology provides their students a rigorous training in clinical assessment and intervention and in contemporary clinical science. Through the several labs at Teachers College, they train their students to develop hands-on research and clinical experience. Some of the things they examine are, clinical intervention in diverse sociocultural and geographic contexts, suicidality and psychotherapy methods. They will also be given the opportunity to learn at other leading mental health facilities in New York City.

Acceptance Rate

5.45

Student to Faculty Ratio

6:1

Through coursework and practical experience, students at Northwesters University’s Clinical Psychology degree, receive training in the diagnosis, etiology and treatment of emotional disorders. But the major emphasis of this program is the clinical research and research methods. They also focus on preparing their students for primary careers in research and teaching in clinical psychology. This program under Northwestern University’s Department of Psychology is a member of the Academy for Psychological Clinical Science.

Acceptance Rate

9.05

Student to Faculty Ratio

6:1

Understanding the causes and consequences of mental processes and behavior is the goal of the Tuft’s Department of Clinical Psychology. To reach that goal, they conduct cutting-edge research. Their work is known for addressing cognitive, neural and social levels of analysis. Their approach is innovative and disciplinary and emphasizes the understanding phenomena with direct impact on society.

Acceptance Rate

14.95

Student to Faculty Ratio

9:1

The pride of University of Virginia is their faculty members in the Clinical Training program. They claim to have a clear emphasis on the word “scientist and are committed to the clinical scientist model of training. An essential part of that training is to emphasize on their students the importance of developing strong evidence-based clinical skills. They have a passion in training students who are fully capable and interested in integrating science and practice. 

Acceptance Rate

23.94

Student to Faculty Ratio

15:1

PhD degree in Clinical Psychology at Boston University was established in 1947 and since 1948 it has been accredited by the APA. Indeed, Boston’s Clinical Psychology had a long and distinguished history. This program is also a part of the Department of Psychological & Brain Sciences, so they have always been committed to the pursuit of a science-based approach to psychology. They are dedicated in preparing their students for a wide range of careers in academic, medical and applied settings. 

Acceptance Rate

18.94

Student to Faculty Ratio

10:1

The Clinical Psychology Doctoral program at Rochester, prepares the graduate students for careers in both academia and research as well as professional practice. Interests of their faculty’s teaching and research spans several areas of expertise. Background in theory and research in diagnostic and psychotherapeutic techniques, personality and psychopathology are the courses wrapped into this leading degree program. 

Acceptance Rate

29.71

Student to Faculty Ratio

10:1

Students at New York University under the Clinical Psychology program are taught about the normal and abnormal behavior, psychological testing, biological and social factors that influence psychological disorders. They will also learn about familial and societal context of disorders and the appropriate treatment approach. The Clinical Psychology Department will also help the students be prepared to work in clinical psychology research labs. This is also for students who want to pursue doctoral studies in Clinical or counseling psychology and those who wish to work in careers in human services.

Acceptance Rate

16.2

Student to Faculty Ratio

9:1

Joint Doctoral degree is a program in the University of California San Diego’s Department of Clinical Psychology. This program is designed to train clinical psychologists who are accomplished as clinicians and as research scientists. This program will provide a strong foundation in clinical psychological concepts, data, methods and theories. They also provide intensive concentrations in specialized areas of clinical psychology. 

Acceptance Rate

31.48

Student to Faculty Ratio

19:1

The Master of Arts degree in Clinical Psychology at Pepperdine University prepares their students in serving individuals, couples, families or even groups as a licensed LMFT or as a LPCC in California. This program is cohort-based that provides clinical and practice-based courses of study. Students will be able to explore the social and psychological implications of socio economics. They will also understand how poverty and social stress affect the ability to thrive of individuals, couples and families. In this program, rigorous coursework is combined with in-depth clinical training.

Acceptance Rate

31.72

Student to Faculty Ratio

14:1

University of Texas at Austin’s (UTA) Clinical Psychology Training Program is broadly based on a clinical science training model. They are devoted in preparing their students for research and teaching careers while their secondary priority is to train their students for professional practice of clinical psychology. Students will be familiarized with scientific perspective as it will be emphasized in research and clinical training. They are committed to teaching their students effective behavioral treatments.

Acceptance Rate

31.82

Student to Faculty Ratio

N.A

PhD in Clinical Psychology program of George Washington University is committed in following the scientist-practitioner model. This program is also accredited by the American Psychological Association. Students are guided in developing skills essential for research methods that are used to advance knowledge of the causes, prevention and treatment of behavioral, emotional and physical health problems in diverse urban communities. Their students will be trained applied researchers and scientists.

Acceptance Rate

40.84

Student to Faculty Ratio

13:1

Binghamton University’s doctoral degree in clinical psychology is a member of the Academy of Psychological Clinical Science. They promote a rigorous curriculum that allows for independence, self-determination and responsibility in areas of specialization. This program’s coursework has a combination of research training and practical clinical skills. Students will be an active scientist and will be trained in order to contribute new knowledge to the field.

Acceptance Rate

40.53

Student to Faculty Ratio

19:1

Syracuse University’s doctoral degree in Clinical Psychology espouses a mission to train outstanding students to become successful, responsible, innovative and scholarly clinical psychologists. The balance training in the science and practice of clinical psychology that they provide is patterned at the scientist-practitioner model. Their faculty recognizes that the foundation of clinical psychology is scholarly empirical research. Students who are willing to embrace the research mission of the program are welcome in this University.

Acceptance Rate

44.38

Student to Faculty Ratio

15:1

For more than half a century, PhD in Clinical psychology program of Fordham University have been training students to be successful in research, teaching and practice in the field of clinical psychology. Until today, they still seek opportunities to train and prepare students for multiple careers available in psychology. They maintain a theoretically eclectic faculty to make sure that they can provide diverse education. And their programs are exclusive for students whose theoretical orientations are equally wide-ranging.

Acceptance Rate

45.88

Student to Faculty Ratio

15:1

PhD in Clinical Psychology degree at American University is devoted in educating their students in clinical science with training in research and applied clinical work. It is designed to provide their students with everything that they need to develop the skills that are essential for a successful career in academia, clinical practice or research. Their doctoral program claims to reflect the scientist-practitioner model of training. Since 1972, they have been accredited by the American Psychological Association Committee on Accreditation.

Acceptance Rate

36.08

Student to Faculty Ratio

12:1

To acquire an integration of academic, professional and scientific training is the objective of the Clinical Psychology Program at University of Washington. Their PhD Program is fully accredited by American Psychological Association and a founding member of the Academy of Psychological Clinical Science. Their students will be provided with a grounding in ethical and legal principles related to research and practice. This Program fosters appreciation for cultural and diversity.

Acceptance Rate

51.76

Student to Faculty Ratio

19:1

Southern Methodist University’s Clinical Psychology PhD program is accredited by APA and committedly follows a clinical scientist model. They are also one of the members of the Academy of Psychological Clinical Science. Their primary goal is to train psychological clinical scientists. Their doctoral training’s most important component is research. Their students are actively engaged in research throughout their training through collaborative and faculty-directed studies. 

Acceptance Rate

47.29

Student to Faculty Ratio

N.A

The Primary Clinical Psychology goal of Baylor University’s Psy.D. Program is to develop professional psychologists with the clinical competencies necessary to contribute to the science of psychology. It is also their objective to deliver effective psychological services to individual and societal needs not only for today but also for the future. They instill in their students the need to include the recognition and valuing of psychological and ethnic-cultural diversity to be really effective and responsive. They are devoted to developing psychologists that are well grounded in the science of clinical psychology.

Acceptance Rate

45.33

Student to Faculty Ratio

14:1

The Ph.D. program in Clinical Psychology at Stony Brook began in 1966 and it has been ranked among the very top clinical programs in the United States for the past decades. This program is also remarkably noticed for its long tradition of strong publication rates by both faculty and graduates. The Clinical Psychology degree at Stony Brook was ranked 3rd in the 2020 US News and World Report Rankings. The SB degree program maintains their behavioral roots and even evolved into a broader set of perspectives.

Acceptance Rate

44.15

Student to Faculty Ratio

18:1

PsyD degree in Clinical Psychology at Yeshiva University had been providing doctoral training for more than 50 years and had been fully accredited by the APA since 1985. Since then, they have been strongly committed in serving doctoral-level training in the empirical and conceptual foundations of clinical psychology. They aim to help their students become knowledgeable and thoughtful academic scholars. Students here are trained intensively in a variety of research, assessment, and therapeutic approaches.

Acceptance Rate

55.36

Student to Faculty Ratio

7:1

San Diego State University’s M.A. degree in psychology is recognized as a research-oriented program. It is designed to train students so they become competitive for Ph.D. Programs. Students will gain experience that will prepare them for a number of research jobs in medical and academic settings. Their students take classes and will choose an area to conduct research.

Acceptance Rate

34.13

Student to Faculty Ratio

27:1

The variety of course work at Clinical psychology at University of Tulsa include a combination of research methods, psychology and professional issues in clinical psychology. Students will learn what psychologists actually do in today’s society. They will learn to apply knowledge of psychological assessment, methodology, theory and research. They will develop clinical skills to complex clinical problems. 

Acceptance Rate

35.84

Student to Faculty Ratio

11:1

University of Central Florida offers a PhD and MA degree in Clinical Psychology. They aim to produce graduates that are prepared to pursue careers in academic, research, and applied health service provider settings. Their program is consistent with the scientist-practitioner model that’s why it had always been effective in educating and training the students. As a result, students were able to generate and integrate both scientific and professional knowledge and the professional practice of psychology. Students who completed this program acquired the capability of functioning either as an investigator or as a practitioner or even act as both.

Acceptance Rate

44.36

Student to Faculty Ratio

30:1

Saint Louis University’s PhD degree program in Clinical Psychology is designed to provide both general doctoral education and training in health service psychology. Their faculty members are all devoted to training and education that gives evidence to the integration of science and practice. As a result, students are prepared to receive further organized training. This graduate education that they offer has always been at the top 100 of all graduate programs in the United States as reported by US News & World Report.

Acceptance Rate

58.28

Student to Faculty Ratio

9:1

How Do You Become a Clinical Psychologist?

To begin work as a clinical psychologist, you will need to successfully navigate a series of steps we have outlined below. It is imperative to remain organized, detail oriented, and diligently plan your time to optimize your time spend preparing to enter a psychologists field. The steps to become a trained psychologist include:

Step 1 – Research Accredited Clinical Program

To begin your journey as a psychologist, you will need to first begin researching accredited colleges and universities. To be efficient with your time, take the time to write down your personal priorities and objectives and then find schools that match your goals.

We recommend you read the following books to help make the process more efficient: The Complete Guide to the College Admission Process, How to Reduce the Cost of College, and Crush the Odds by Getting into Your Top College. To efficiently research accredited college programs and schools, you can leverage the information found on this resource page or utilize our proprietary matching portal or online degree matching system.

From there, simply request information from top schools in clinical psychology to learn more about cost, admissions, financial aid, student services, and curricular design.

Step 2 – Applying to Clinical Psychology Program

Once you have information from the best colleges in clinical psychology based on your priorities, you will need to take the time to apply to each school on your list. Be diligent, detail-oriented and follow the directions on the application carefully.

Spend time to illuminate work experience, clubs, memberships, volunteer work, and extracurricular activities that uniquely describe you. In a crowded pool of applicants, a complete and salient application will help you gain admissions to your top clinical psychology school.

Step 3 – Attend School & Complete Degree

After accepting admissions to your top psychology program, you will need to schedule a time to attend the schools orientation and register for classes. Most states require a graduate degree to begin work as a clinical psychologist.

Master degree programs are designed to last 2-3 years beyond a bachelors degree and are conferred as a Master of Science (MS) or a Master of Arts (MA) depending on the schools curricular design. A doctorate degree in psychology is conferred as a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) or a Doctor of Psychology (PsyD).

PhD programs take students 5-7 years of matriculation to complete including a board-approved dissertation and may include a one-year internship depending on the program.

Step 4 – Exams, Certifications, and Licensing

After graduating from an accredited college or university with a graduate degree in clinical psychology, you will need to meet your state-specific requirements for licensure. In some states, you will be required to sit for an examination while others require a set number of hours of work experience prior to applying for licensure as practicing clinical psychologists.

Step 5 – Find Work and Continuing Education

With your degree and license in-hand, you will be able to seek work as a clinical psychologist as an independent practitioner or as part of a larger team of psychologists. Some employers require clinical psychologists to become board-certified prior to starting work so make sure to ask in advance to make the transition as seamless as possible. Last, you will need to take a specified number of continuing education credits mandated by your state of residence to keep you license active. Your state will provide a list of approved continuing education classes or you can visit the APAs website here to learn more.

Clinical Psychology Classes

Individuals in this field will receive a doctorate in order to be able to practice as clinical psychologists. Prior education in psychology is necessary in order to be admitted into a clinical psychology program, and individuals will work under the supervision of professionals during the course of their education as a prerequisite for completion of the program. Clinical Psychology is considered a specialization and provides more focus on patient treatment and assessment with less focus on research.

The curriculum in a typical clinical psychology major will include classes such as:

  • Introduction to Clinical Psychology
  • Psychometrics
  • Emotional Development
  • Math & Statistics
  • Human Diversity
  • Counseling Skills
  • Abnormal Psychology
  • Cognitive & Social Development
  • Qualitative Research & Methods in Psychology
  • Child & Adult Psychopathology
  • Diagnosis and Treatment Planning
  • Professional Communication
  • History of Psychology

Clinical College Courses

Students will choose schools based on the quality of education offered combined with where they will receive their training and supervised clinical hours. Schools will have professionals attached to their program that can provide a strong indicator of the quality of a given program or possible exceptional opportunity. As such, a student should review any program offerings, including with whom they may be working, in order to better choose their final destination.  Psychologists in this arena perform research, clinical psychology, study clinical psychology, work with other psychologists, study new clinical research, study graduate clinical domains, and research graduate degrees.

Schools Other Students Requested Information From:

Employment in Psychology & Clinical Research 

Individuals will generally seek employment at hospitals or clinics, providing mental health care through them or as a private practitioner. In addition, some psychologists may maintain private offices and treat clients independently of such settings. Psychology is a growing field, and with the advent of more widespread healthcare, the need for trained professionals is expected to increase greatly. In addition, the reduced stigma regarding such treatment as increased the willingness of individuals to seek out clinical psychologists.

Common Clinical Psychologist Job Titles

When considering a future as a psychologist, it is important to understand the nomenclature and terminology used to describe professionals in the field.  As such, we have culled a short list of common job titles of a clinical psychologist to help you get familiar with the industry jargon.

  • Child Psychologists
  • Licensed Psychologist Manager
  • Pediatric Psychologists
  • PhD Clinical Psychology
  • Clinical Director
  • Forensic Psychologists
  • Clinical Child Psychology
  • Licensed Clinical Psychologist
  • Clinical Psychologist
  • Psychological Clinical Science
  • Licensed Psychologists
  • Clinical Psychology Counseling Psychologist
  • Clinical Therapist & Psychologist
  • Psychologist

Clinical Psychologist Job Description

A recent survey performed by the U.S. Department of Labor of practicing clinical psychologists, revealed a list of job duties they perform in a typical day. The top 5 job duties of a clinical psychologist include:

  1. Counseling small groups, couples, and individuals to understand and cope with a variety of disorders to help modify behavior and enhance emotional, social, and vocational adjustment
  2. Discussing detailed treatment plans with clients
  3. Interacting and communicating with clients to assist them in gaining insight, defining goals, and providing treatment programs to achieve effective personal, social, educational, & vocational development and progression
  4. Using a variety of treatment methods including psychotherapy, hypnosis, behavior modification, stress reduction therapy, play therapy, and psychodrama
  5. Identifying and diagnosing psychological, emotional, and behavioral issues in a variety of individuals by utilizing information obtained from interviews, surveys, records, reference materials, and tests

Clinical Psychologist Salary

The job prospects of clinical psychologists are bright.  In fact, the job growth of clinical psychologist is expected to reach 14% over the next decade which is more than twice the national average growth rate during that timeframe.  The rapid job growth will translate to approximately 63,800 job openings in the coming decade providing ample opportunity for job growth and upward mobility for well qualified professionals.

The median annual income of a clinical psychologist is $73,270 which translates to $35.23 an hour.  The top 10% of clinical psychologists make $120,320 a year with the bottom ten percent making just under forty-two thousand dollars a year.

Top Paying States for Clinical Psychologists
  1. New Jersey       $94,650
  2. South Dakota   $94,760
  3. California          $90,210
  4. New York          $89,430
  5. Oregon              $87,170
Top Employers of Clinical Psychologist
  • Elementary & Secondary Schools       44,280
  • Health Practitioners                               15,600
  • Individual Family Service Providers     6,930
  • Outpatient Care Centers                         5,960
  • Medical and Surgical Hospitals             5,680
States with the Highest Employment of Clinical Psychologist
  1. California            18,990
  2. New York            11,230
  3. Texas                    5,820
  4. Pennsylvania      5,040
  5. Massachusetts    4,900

Resources: Clinical Psychology Students

The American Psychological Association is a professional organization that works to advance the cause of psychology through research, exposure and assistance through communication, providing resources, and lobbying for the advancement of the field.

For more information, check out our Career Guide in Psychology on the MatchCollege blog. Further research is available by reading our blog that illustrate the Top Jobs in Psychology by degree type, industry, and specialty.

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