Clinical Psychology, Ph.D.

The clinical psychology doctoral training program at Saint Louis University adheres to the scientist-practitioner model of training in clinical psychology. As part of the SLU Department of Psychology, our students receive strong generalist training and develop extensive skills in research. Our diverse faculty members offer specialized clinical training opportunities in clinical child psychology, clinical neuropsychology, health psychology, trauma psychology and sports psychology.

U.S. News & World Report consistently ranks Saint Louis University's clinical psychology graduate education program among the top programs in the United States.

Program Highlights

Areas of Emphasis, Experience or Exposure

Our program’s major area of study is adult clinical psychology. Consistent with the APA taxonomy, you may elect one of the following areas of emphasis, experience or exposure: clinical neuropsychology, clinical child psychology, health psychology, trauma psychology or sports psychology. Students interested in pursuing one of these areas work with their advisor to establish an individualized curriculum and training plan. Relevant research may be conducted in any of these areas.

Clinical Child Psychology (Experience or Exposure)

Elective graduate courses for students interested in clinical child psychology include child assessment and psychopathology, child interventions, couples and family therapy, cognitive behavioral interventions and psychopharmacology. External placements involving pediatric, child and adolescent assessment, consultation and intervention are also available.

Clinical Neuropsychology (Emphasis, Experience or Exposure)

Elective graduate courses for students interested in clinical neuropsychology include fundamentals of neuropsychology, neuropsychological assessment, memory and cognition, physiological psychology and psychopharmacology. Supervised clinical experience in neuropsychological assessment, consultation and treatment is offered through external placements.

Health Psychology (Experience or Exposure)

Students interested in health psychology should consider taking courses in clinical health psychology, cognitive behavior interventions, psychopharmacology, sports psychology and addictions: assessment and interventions. Additional courses related to health psychology are offered in SLU's College for Public Health and Social Justice. External placements in the application of psychological services to enhance physical well-being and health are available.

Trauma Psychology (Experience or Exposure)

Students interested in working in the field of trauma are offered elective graduate coursework in the psychology of trauma, cognitive-behavioral interventions and addictions: assessment and interventions. Additional courses related to traumatic stress are offered through SLU's College for Public Health and Social Justice. Supervised clinical training experiences with those who have experienced trauma are offered within the on-campus Psychological Services Center on a trauma-focused team.

Sports Psychology (Experience or Exposure)

Elective graduate courses in sports psychology, health psychology and cognitive-behavioral interventions are offered to students interested in sports and performance psychology. Students work with teams and athletes across the community, including the SLU Department of Athletics, through research, practicum and clinical training opportunities.

Curriculum Overview

The clinical psychology program at Saint Louis University is designed to provide broad and general doctoral education and training in health service psychology. Our faculty members are committed to training and education that evidences the integration of science and practice, that is sequential, cumulative, graded in complexity, designed to prepare students for further organized training and that indicates respect for and understanding of individual and cultural diversity.

Thirty-six credits are required for SLU's master's degree in clinical psychology, including 30 credits of departmental and clinical core coursework and six credits of thesis research. Each student must complete and defend a thesis. Upon completing the master's degree, doctoral students complete an additional 42 credits of coursework and 12 credits of dissertation research.

Ph.D. students conduct a public presentation and oral defense of the dissertation after completing this research project. They must also complete an APA-approved internship in clinical psychology before receiving their doctoral degree.

Students enrolled in the program can also complete a graduate certificate in Public Health.

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Fieldwork and Research Opportunities

Training in psychological assessment and intervention for children, adolescents and adults is provided through the on-campus Psychological Services Center.

Advanced clinical training opportunities in neuropsychology, pediatric and clinical child psychology, health psychology and academic psychology are available through collaborative relationships with medical centers, agencies and practitioners in the St. Louis community. Specialized research, clinical and academic opportunities also are available through various fellowships, grants and contracts.

Careers

SLU's American Psychological Association-accredited clinical psychology program will train students to be competent and ethical scientist-practitioners in various health care settings. Job possibilities include clinical psychology, clinical health psychology, neuropsychology and child and pediatric psychology positions.

Students in SLU's graduate program in clinical psychology have gained professional experience through internships at Baylor College of Medicine, Boston Medical Center, Vanderbilt University VA Medical Center, Rush University Medical Center and the University of Louisville, among others.

Admission Requirements

Most students enter the program with a bachelor's degree and complete both the Master of Science degree and the Doctor of Philosophy degree in the clinical program.

All applicants apply to the Ph.D. program. Applicants who have earned a Master of Arts or Master of Science degree in psychology may apply for advanced standing upon matriculation into the program.

Students admitted to the program typically have an average undergraduate GPA of 3.7 (on a 4.0 scale). Admitted students usually also have relevant clinical and research experience. Students must have completed a minimum of 21 credits in psychology, including courses in general psychology, abnormal psychology and research and/or statistical methods. Applications must be submitted by December 1.

Application Requirements

• Application form (no fee required)
• Transcript(s)
• Three letters of recommendation
• Résumé
• Interview
• Personal statement
• Diversity statement

Requirements for International Students 

All admission policies and requirements for domestic students apply to international students. International students must also meet the following additional requirements:

• Demonstrate English Language Proficiency
• Academic records, in English translation, of students who have undertaken postsecondary studies outside the United States must include:
  • Courses taken and/or lectures attended
  • Practical laboratory work
  • The maximum and minimum grades attainable
  • The grades earned or the results of all end-of-term examinations
  • Any honors or degrees received.
• WES and ECE transcripts are accepted.
• In order to be issued an I-20 for your F-1 visa application, students must submit financial documents. Proof of financial support that must include:
  • A letter of financial support from the person(s) or sponsoring agency funding the student's time at Saint Louis University
  • A letter from the sponsor's bank verifying that the funds are available and will be so for the duration of the student's study at the University

Assistantship Application Deadline

Students who want to be considered for an assistantship must submit their application by Dec.1. All applicants accepted for admission are considered for assistantships. No separate assistantship application is required.

Review Process

A committee of psychology department faculty members reviews the applications.

Tuition

Additional charges may apply. Other resources are listed below:

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Information on Tuition and Fees

Miscellaneous Fees

Information on Summer Tuition

Scholarships, Assistantships and Financial Aid

For priority consideration for a graduate assistantship, apply by the program admission deadlines listed. Fellowships and assistantships provide a stipend and may include health insurance and a tuition scholarship for the duration of the award. 

Explore Scholarships and Financial Aid Options

Accreditation

The American Psychological Association has continually accredited Saint Louis University's clinical psychology program since 1965.

Questions related to the program's accreditation status should be directed to the American Psychological Association's Commission on Accreditation:

Office of Program Consultation and Accreditation American Psychological Association
750 1st Street, NE
Washington, D.C. 20002
Phone: 202-336-5979
apa.org/ed/accreditation

Student Admissions, Outcomes and Other Data

1. Graduates will be able to demonstrate discipline-specific knowledge (DSK) (categories 1- 3) as defined by the American Psychological Association’s Office of Accreditation.
2. Graduates will be able to demonstrate the ability to apply knowledge of DSK category 4 as defined by the American Psychological Association’s Office of Accreditation.
3. Graduates will be able to meet or exceed expectations on the profession-wide competencies (PWCs) as defined by the American Psychological Association’s Office of Accreditation.

For all PSY courses taken for more than 0 credits at Saint Louis University, Clinical Psychology Program graduate students must earn a grade of B- or better for the course to count toward M.S. degree, Ph.D. degree, and secondary concentration requirements. Per American Psychological Association accreditation standards, the one exception to this uniform grade requirement is PSY5100 in which students are required to earn a B or better. 

Students with a relevant master's degree may apply for up to 24 hours advanced standing. Students without a previously earned master's will earn the M.S. of Clinical Psychology on the way to the Ph.D. 

¹

At least one taken each semester in residence

²

Upon completion of these 36 credits--30 academic course credits and 6 credits of thesis research--students will earn the M.S. in Clinical Psychology. 

Continuation Standards

Students must maintain a cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 3.00 in all graduate/professional courses.

Roadmaps are recommended semester-by-semester plans of study for programs and assume full-time enrollment unless otherwise noted.  

Courses and milestones designated as critical (marked with !) must be completed in the semester listed to ensure a timely graduation. Transfer credit may change the roadmap.

This roadmap should not be used in the place of regular academic advising appointments. All students are encouraged to meet with their advisor/mentor each semester. Requirements, course availability and sequencing are subject to change.

Bachelor's Degree Entry

Program Notes

We do not have a terminal master’s degree. Coursework generally includes 90 credits including six hours of thesis research and 12 hours of dissertation research. In certain cases, credit may be awarded for completion of History and Systems of Psychology prior to program matriculation.

Students apply for an internship during their fourth year and generally complete it during their fifth year. The internship is required for the award of the doctoral degree. Once in a while, a student does not match for an internship. In that case, we work with the student to determine how to best spend the fifth year, during which time they reapply for internship. Dissertation hours (0-3 credits) may be taken while on internship.

Master's Degree Entry

Program Notes

Coursework generally involves 60 graduate credits including 42 hours of coursework, six practicum hours and 12 hours of dissertation research.

Students entering with a clinical master’s degree must have fulfilled the requirements for the profession-wide competency (PWC) courses in their master’s degree programs. These courses will need to be taken if these courses were not completed, were not completed at the graduate level, lacked original source material, were not completed with a grade of "B" or better or in any other way did not meet our curricular requirements. This plan also assumes that students have completed at least nine hours of discipline-specific knowledge (DSK) credit in research methods/statistics in their master’s programs. In total, six hours of statistics and six hours of research methods (at least three hours of which address psychometric theory and/or test development) are required at the graduate level.

Students entering with a clinical master’s degree usually apply for an internship during their third year and generally complete it during their fourth year. The internship is required for the award of the doctoral degree. Once in a while, a student does not match for an internship. In that case, we work with the student to determine how to best spend the fourth year, during which time they reapply for an internship. Dissertation hours (0-3 credits) may be taken while on internship.

For additional information about our program, please contact clinicalpsyc@slu.edu or call 314-977-2300 and ask to be directed to the Director of the Clinical Psychology Program or the Coordinator of Admissions for Clinical Psychology.