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PsyD in Clinical Psychology

Program Overview

The PsyD in Clinical Psychology is a practice-focused doctoral program designed to prepare students for licensure and independent practice as clinical psychologists. With a strong emphasis on clinical application, this 98-credit hour program follows a practitioner-scientist model, blending rigorous academic coursework with extensive hands-on clinical training.

PsyD in Clinical Psychology Application Timeline

Applications open September 2025 for the Fall 2026 cohort.

Program Highlights

  • 98 semester credit hours completed over five years
  • APA-aligned curriculum designed to meet licensure requirements in Texas
  • Year-long practicum rotations in diverse clinical settings
  • One-year APA-accredited or APPIC-member internship required for graduation
  • Applied dissertation focused on improving clinical interventions

What You’ll Learn

Students will develop the knowledge and skills necessary for professional clinical practice, including:

  • Evidence-based assessment and intervention techniques
  • Integration of psychological theory and clinical application
  • Ethical and culturally competent care
  • Advanced understanding of affective, biological, cognitive, developmental, and social aspects of behavior
  • Research methods, statistics, and psychometrics
  • Clinical Training

    Beginning in Year 2, students complete supervised practicum placements in both in-house and community-based settings. Practicum sites include:

    • SBHS Psychology Teaching Clinic
    • Lifespan Autism and Developmental Neuropsychology Clinics
    • Trauma, Addictions, and Child & Adolescent Psychiatry Clinics
    • Inpatient units at the Dunn Behavioral Science Campus
    • Neurology Neuropsychology Clinic
    • Children’s Learning Institute
    • Family and Community Medicine Psychology Services

    These placements provide direct patient care experience under the supervision of licensed psychologists, with regular performance evaluations to ensure clinical competency.

  • Research & Dissertation

    Students collaborate with faculty mentors on an applied dissertation that enhances clinical practice. The dissertation process includes:

    • Literature review and synthesis
    • Clinical research design and implementation
    • Integration of research findings into real-world clinical settings

    A comprehensive examination, both written and oral is required after core coursework, assessing students’ ability to synthesize theory, research, and clinical knowledge.

With a growing demand for doctoral-level mental health professionals, PsyD graduates are well-positioned to lead in clinical, academic, and healthcare settings.

Career Outcomes

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Licensed Clinical Psychologists

Providing psychological assessment, diagnosis, and treatment of mental health disorders.

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Behavioral Health Consultants

Offering expert guidance on behavioral health issues within medical and organizational settings.

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Clinical Supervisors and Program Directors

Leading, mentoring, and overseeing mental health teams and program operations.

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Integrated Care Specialists

Collaborating with medical professionals to deliver coordinated mental and physical health services.

Program Demand & Labor Market Outlook

  • Texas faces a critical shortage of licensed psychologists, ranking 50th in access to care and mental health workforce availability. In the Houston area alone, there is only one provider for every 988 residents.
  • The U.S. demand for psychologists is projected to exceed 101,000 full-time equivalents by 2030, with Texas among the states facing the most significant shortages. The PsyD program directly addresses this need by preparing highly trained, practice-ready clinicians to serve diverse communities.

Faculty Mentorship

Our PsyD faculty are experienced clinicians, educators, and researchers who bring a wealth of expertise in clinical psychology, trauma-informed care, forensic psychology, and inpatient psychiatry. Students benefit from:

  • Personalized mentorship and supervision
  • Expert guidance in clinical training and dissertation development
  • Opportunities to collaborate on applied research and service innovation

Program Faculty

 Jeffrey Temple

Jeffrey R Temple, PhD

Associate Dean, Clinical Research