Doctor of Philosophy in Psychology

About

Clinical Psychology Doctoral Program

The UNLV Clinical Psychology Doctoral Program, in the scientist-practitioner tradition, prepares students to address psychological concerns through both scholarly research and the application of psychological knowledge and skills in practice. We recognize psychology as an empirical science and expect students to have a broad understanding of existing psychological knowledge and methods. We train students to base their scholarly and professional activity on the scientific foundation of psychology, including an understanding of and attention to human diversity. We train students as generalists who are prepared to conduct ethically appropriate scientific research and clinical interventions with children and adults in an increasingly multicultural society. We provide an integration of didactic study, supervised clinical activity, and mentored scholarly research. This mission is consistent with and complementary to the mission of the Department of Psychology and UNLV. The program is accredited by the American Psychological Association.

Experimental Psychology Doctoral Program

The UNLV Experimental Psychology Doctoral Program trains students to become psychological scientists capable of carrying out independent research that lives up to international standards of scientific excellence. Upon completing the degree, students will be qualified to seek careers conducting research in academia and in other institutional and applied settings. Areas of research in which faculty supervise students are: Cognitive Psychology, Neuroscience, Developmental Psychology, Social Psychology, and Quantitative/Experimental Psychology. The program operates on a mentor model in which students work under the supervision of an identified faculty mentor. We welcome students from diverse backgrounds and encourage research in topics related to multiculturalism and diversity.

Available Options

Post-Bachelor’s – Clinical Psychology Track
Post-Master’s – Clinical Psychology Track
Post-Bachelor’s – Experimental Psychology – Cognitive Emphasis Track
Post-Bachelor’s – Experimental Psychology – Developmental Emphasis Track
Post-Bachelor’s – Experimental Psychology – Neuroscience Emphasis Track
Post-Bachelor’s – Experimental Psychology – Quantitative/ExperimentalTrack
Post-Master’s – Experimental Psychology – Cognitive Emphasis Track
Post-Master’s – Experimental Psychology – Developmental Emphasis Track
Post-Master’s – Experimental Psychology – Neuroscience Emphasis Track
Post-Master’s – Experimental Psychology – Quantitative/Experimental Track

Accreditation

For information regarding accreditation at UNLV, please head over to Academic Program Accreditations.

Learning Outcomes

Clinical Psychology Doctoral Program

The central goal of our doctoral program is to train psychological scientist-practitioners who possess a broad foundation of psychological knowledge, the ability to design and implement scientific investigations, and the skills necessary to intervene in psychological concerns. We thus evaluate our students along the following areas of competence:

Broad Knowledge of the Discipline of Psychology: Including methods of psychological science, knowledge and skills necessary to address psychological problems, integration of science and practice, and skills necessary to communicate effectively both orally and in writing.
Professionalism: Professional values and ethics as evidenced in behavior and comportment that reflects the values and ethics of psychology, integrity, and responsibility.
Reflective Practice/Self-Assessment/Self-Care: Practice conducted with personal and professional self-awareness and reflection; with awareness of competencies; with appropriate self-care.
Scientific Knowledge and Methods: Understanding of research, research methodology, techniques of data collection and analysis, biological bases of behavior, cognitive-affective bases of behavior, and development across the lifespan; respect for scientifically derived knowledge.
Relationships: Relate effectively and meaningfully with individuals, groups, and/or communities.
Individual-Cultural Diversity Awareness: Awareness, sensitivity, and skills in working professionally with diverse individuals, groups, and communities who represent various cultural and personal backgrounds and characteristics defined broadly and consistent with APA policy.
Ethical Legal Standards and Policy: Application of ethical concepts and awareness of legal issues regarding professional activities with individuals, groups, and organizations.
Interdisciplinary Systems: Knowledge of key issues and concepts in related disciplines; identify and interact with professionals in multiple disciplines.
Assessment: Assessment and diagnosis of problems, capabilities, and issues associated with individuals, groups, and/or organizations.
Intervention: Interventions designed to alleviate suffering and to promote health and well-being of individuals, groups, and/or organizations.
Consultation: Ability to provide expert guidance or professional assistance in response to a client’s needs or goals.
Research/evaluation: Generating research that contributes to the professional knowledge base and/or evaluates the effectiveness of various professional activities.
Supervision: Supervision and training in the professional knowledge base and of evaluation of the effectiveness of various professional activities.
Teaching: Providing instruction, disseminating knowledge, and evaluating acquisition of knowledge and skill in professional psychology.
Management/administration: Manage the direct delivery of services and/or the administration of organizations, programs, or agencies; this competency is currently aspirational.
Advocacy: Actions targeting the impact of social, political, economic, or cultural factors to promote change at the individual (client), institutional, and/or systems level; this competency is currently aspirational.

Experimental Psychology Doctoral Program

Students should possess a broad knowledge of psychological science.
Student should have an advanced understanding of research methods and data analysis.
Student should be able to present their knowledge to relevant parties through clear written and verbal communication.
Students should have the knowledge and skills necessary to advance the science of psychology through scholarly publication.
Students should have teaching skills and pedagogical expertise.
Students should possess the skills and knowledge necessary to enter applied and academic research positions.

Career Possibilities

Clinical Psychology Doctoral Program

Careers in clinical psychology typically involve employment in private practice, hospital and mental health agencies and centers, and academia. Career practices usually involve assessment, treatment, consultation, program development and evaluation, and clinical supervision.

Experimental Psychology Doctoral Program

Experimental psychologists are employed in both academic and nonacademic settings. In academic settings, experimental psychologists most often pursue a professorial career that emphasizes research and teaching. In nonacademic settings, experimental psychologists are employed by a wide variety of business, government and nonprofit organizations. For example, business organizations hire experimental psychologists as computer/web interface designers, marketing researchers, jury consultants, political strategists, social media consultants, and pharmaceutical researchers. Government and nonprofit organizations hire experimental psychologists as program evaluators, educational consultants, and homeland security specialists. The exact positions held in these organizations depend upon the student’s emphasis area (cognitive, developmental, neuroscience, or quantitative/experimental). However, most of these positions stress the experimental psychologist’s ability to apply research skills to specific behavioral and cognitive issues.

Requirements

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