The Doctor of Psychology (PsyD) program in clinical psychology has been continuously accredited by the American Psychological Association since 1979, and has a strong foundation in the practitioner-scholar model of training. We value the dynamic, active interplay between clinical work and scholarship. Since its inception, the program has provided four key training experiences: academic coursework, in-house clinical work, community-based clinical work and departmental mentorship. We aim to train future psychologists who have interpersonal and scientific skills, a mastery of assessment and intervention and the ability to apply these skills in a wide range of settings with a variety of populations. We work to produce graduates capable of contributing to the sustainable common good, in alignment with the University's mission and goals.
Starting in the first quarter, students begin clinical practice in our community-based mental health center. Students are also required to be in a community field placement: supervised professional experiences in places like mental health centers, schools, college counseling centers, the justice system, hospitals, rehabilitation centers, private practices and residential treatment homes throughout the Denver metropolitan area. Each student is expected to choose a specialty area in which to increase their depth of knowledge and skills, including forensic psychology, Latino psychology, military psychology and health psychology. The program has its own consortium as a choice for pre-doctoral internship.
Graduates can be found working independently and collaboratively in VA hospitals, community health centers, federal prisons, university-based counseling centers and hospitals, the U.S. armed forces and in private practice. Some graduates have also returned to the program to work as clinical supervisors, adjunct professors and core faculty.
