The SMU Clinical Psychology Doctoral Program considers all program requirements to be academic requirements. These academic requirements include performance in all areas of the program (e.g., in class, in research, and in clinical training).

Academic Curriculum
Our curriculum is designed to meet the criteria specified by the American Psychological Association as requirements for accreditation. These requirements are as follows:

• Biological aspects of behavior
• Cognitive and affective aspects of behavior
• Social aspects of behavior
• History and systems of psychology
• Psychological measurement
• Research methods
• Techniques of data analysis
• Individual differences/cultural diversity
• Human development
• Psychopathology
• Professional ethics and standards
• Theories and methods of assessment and diagnosis
• Effective interventions
• Evaluation of the efficacy of interventions
• Consultation and supervision
• Clinical training experiences

These requirements can be further organized into a smaller number of organizing themes (APA content requirements in parentheses):

Psychology Breadth Requirements (Biological aspects of behavior, Cognitive and affective aspects of behavior, Social aspects of behavior, History and systems of psychology, Individual differences, Human development)

Intervention and Assessment (Psychopathology, Effective interventions, Evaluation of the efficacy of interventions, Psychological measurement, Theories and methods of assessment and diagnosis, Practicum experiences)

Research Methods (Research design, techniques of data analysis)

Professional Development (Professional ethics and standards, Consultation and supervision)

Below is an overview of the SMU Clinical Psychology Program curriculum.

REQUIRED COURSES (51 hours)

I. Psychology Breadth Requirements
Students are required to take courses that ensure broad familiarity with the basic science of psychology. These courses are expected to be general (rather than specialized) in their content, providing an advanced survey of current knowledge in a fundamental area of psychology.

(1) Social Bases of Behavior
PSYC 6311 Seminar in Social Psychology

(2) Developmental Bases of Behavior
PSYC 6312 Seminar in Developmental Psychology

(3) Biological Bases of Behavior PSYC
6317 Seminar in Physiological Psychology

(4) Cognitive/Affective Bases of Behavior
PSYC 6316 Seminar in Cognitive Psychology

(5) History and Systems
PSYC 6310 History and Systems in Psychology

• Individual Differences requirement will be fulfilled in Seminar in Adult Psychopathology and Seminar in Social and Personality Psychology
• Additional courses may be created/offered within each area. The student, in conjunction with the Director of Graduate Studies, is responsible for determining whether courses effectively satisfy area requirements.

II. Intervention and Assessment
PSYC 6091 Integrated Practicum Seminar
PSYC 6314 Seminar in Adult Psychopathology
PSYC 6351 Theories and Methods of Psychotherapy
PSYC 6353 Psychological Assessment
PSYC 6355 Methods of Psychotherapy/Assessment
PSYC 6357 Seminar in Interviewing Skills

III. Research Methodology
PSYC 6305 Quantitative Methods I
PSYC 6307 Quantitative Methods II
PSYC 6324 Clinical Research Methods
PSYC 6398 Thesis
PSYC 8396 Dissertation

IV. Professional Development
PSYC 6358 Multicultural Diversity
PSYC 6360 Ethics in Psychology
PSYC 7091-7096 Clinical Practicum
PSYC 8091-8092 Clinical Internship

ELECTIVE COURSES (19 hours)

PSYC 6309 Seminar in Health Psychology
PSYC 6322 Scientific Psychology Issues II
PSYC 6325 Psychological Research Methods and Assessment with Hispanic Populations
PSYC 6334 Seminar in Developmental Psychopathology
PSYC 6340 Psychobiology of Emotion
PSYC 6554 Assessment Practicum
PSYC 6356 Seminar in Couples Therapy
PSYC 7097-7098 Clinical Practicum (3rd year elective practicum)

NOTE: Elective courses are usually offered approximately once every other year, and depend on student and faculty interest and demand.

Suggested Sequencing of Courses
70 credit hours are required for graduation. Students may take more than this number (up to 76 hours).

PLEASE NOTE: Actual course schedules may change.

TOTAL = 70 hours