Clinical Psychology
(MA)/(PhD)
Program timeline
The degree requirements for the Clinical Psychology (MA)/(PhD) program may be found in the University Catalog. Below you will find an approximate timeline of activities for completing the program within six years.
In Year 1, you will:
- Take a full course load, including a master's thesis seminar, in the Autumn, Winter, and Spring quarters
- Have graduate assistantship responsibilities
- Give a master's thesis presentation to Clinical Psychology Program faculty and students in the Spring quarter
In Year 2, you will:
- Take a full course load and practica in the Autumn, Winter, and Spring quarters
- Defend your master's thesis proposal by November 1st
- Have graduate assistantship responsibilities
- Conduct master's thesis research in the Winter, Spring, and Summer quarters
In Year 3, you will:
- Take a full course load and practica in the Autumn, Winter, and Spring quarters, with all coursework completed by the end of the Spring quarter.
- Defend your completed master's thesis by February 1st
- Take your comprehensive exams in the Spring quarter
- Have graduate assistantship responsibilities
- Begin development of your dissertation research project as soon as master's thesis completed
- Begin the teaching seminar sequence (if you are planning to teach)
In Year 4, you will:
- Participate in practica in the Autumn, Winter, and Spring Quarters
- Conduct your dissertation research
- Teach undergraduate Psychology courses (if you interested in this experience)
- If you plan to complete the program in five years:
- Defend your dissertation proposal, provided you passed your comprehensive exams, at least two weeks before internship applications are due to give the Director of Clinical Training time to write your letter of readiness for internship applications
- Apply for internships for Year 5, provided your dissertation proposal is approved, as most applications are annually due in October-November and interviews typically occur between December and January
- Indicate your preferences for internship according to APPIC schedule (match day occurs in February)
- Defend completed dissertation before leaving on internship (not required, but highly recommended in order to finish program in five years)
- If you plan to complete the program in six years
- Take your comprehensive exams in Fall if you did not take and pass them in the Spring quarter of Year 3
- Defend your dissertation proposal, provided you passed your comprehensive exams by the end of the Fall quarter
- Defend your completed dissertation in the Summer quarter
In Year 5, you will:
- If you plan to complete the program in five years
- Participate in a full-time, one-year internship at an APA-accredited internship site (most sites begin between July 1st and September 1st)
- Have you degree conferred after your internship has successfully completed
- If you plan to complete the program in six years
- Participate in optional practica in the Autumn, Winter, and Spring quarters
- Apply for internships for Year 6 as most applications are annually due in October-November and interviews typically occur between December and January
- Indicate preferences for your internship according to APPIC schedule (match day in February)
- Teach undergraduate Psychology courses (if you are interested in this experience)
- If you plan to complete the program in five years
In Year 6, if needed, you will:
- Participate in a full-time, one-year internship at an APA-accredited internship site (most sites begin between July 1st and September 1st)
- Have you degree conferred after your internship has successfully completed