Objectives
CWRU’s American Psychological Association (APA)-approved clinical psychology program emphasizes the scientist-practitioner model. Students participate in an integrated curriculum of basic and applied courses, research activities, and practicum and pre-internship placements. The program’s goal is to prepare students to make meaningful contributions to the science and profession of psychology by instructing them in broad applications of clinical skills and research methods. A year-long assessment practicum, an overview course on psychotherapy and two seminar/practica in specific approaches to psychotherapy form the training’s foundation. It includes part-time placements at agencies and hospitals during a student’s second, third, and fourth years.
The program’s key features involve client contact in a broad range of settings; training in the selection and implementation of a variety of therapeutic interventions; a child/family track focusing on psychological and developmental problems from birth through adolescence, and work with parents and families; and adult track focusing on adult populations; a pediatric track focusing on pediatric psychology; and practicum supervision from the clinical faculty. A seminar and case conference on child and family treatment is required of students in that track and may be selected as an elective by other students.
Information about program accreditation may be obtained from:
Committee on Accreditation
American Psychological Association
750 First Street, N.E.
Washington DC 20002-4242
Phone (202) 336-5979
Student Information
The applicant pool generally includes 100-250 students. Four to six students enter the program each year. Graduate students have ranged in age from 22 to the mid-40s. The Director of Clinical Training is the program advisor for all first-year students. Toward the end of that year, the student selects a program advisor from the clinical faculty who works closely with him or her on program planning and monitors the student’s development and progress. Students also give their advisor feedback about the program. A formal progress evaluation occurs at least once during the academic year and the student is informed of the outcome. Periodic group meetings with the Director of Clinical Training also provide opportunities for program evaluation. A faculty member not affiliated with the Clinical Program is available to students as an ombudsman. Counseling for students is available at CWRU's Counseling Center. The Clinical Student Data Chart provides more information about the characteristics of our applicants and admitted students.
Program Overview
Clinical students typically receive their degrees in five to seven years, which includes the required year-long internship.
Satisfactory completion of a specified number of core courses and an acceptable thesis earns the student his or her Master of Arts degree and admission to doctoral candidacy. Ph.D. students must satisfactorily complete advanced study and training in their area of specialization, a series of exams, and the dissertation.
Entering students should have a broad background in the arts and sciences and be prepared to concentrate on psychology. Time is provided, however, to take electives through other departments such as Anthropology, Computer Science, and Sociology, and at the Schools of Applied Social Sciences, Management, and Medicine. More information about curriculum can be found here.
Program Requirements
A minimum of six core courses in advanced general psychology and a sequence of research-oriented activities is required.
Core courses are selected from the following: Sensation and Perception,
Cognition and Information Processing, Learning Theory, Physiological
Foundation of Behavior, Developmental Psychology, Advanced Social
Psychology, Advanced Psychopathology, Measurement of Behavior, and
Multivariate Data Analysis. It is possible to place out of these classes by
examination or on the basis of equivalent coursework.
Specific core requirements, as well as additional classes, are dictated by program
emphasis.
A two semester sequence in statistics and research design is planned to provide the basic skills necessary for empirical investigation. Students also begin a year-long research clerkship under the tutelage of a faculty member.
Through this the student increases his or her familiarity with the substance of a
particular area of study as well as the methods used to investigate it. Research
clerkship projects often provide topics and data sources for subsequent thesis and
dissertation research.
Complete a sequence in teaching designed to make them proficient teachers.
Information on the Teaching Program can be found on the Teaching Website.
The faculty encourages all students to present research papers at professional meetings and/or publish in professional journals.
For a list of organizations and journals students have participated in, click here.
Students should complete their master’s thesis by the end of the second year and begin work on developing their doctoral dissertation during the third year.
Clinical students are required to submit a satisfactory dissertation prospectus
before they apply for clinical internship.
Three specialty area examinations must be completed prior to the dissertation
prospectus oral defense. The exams are structured as a case presentation,
teaching a 1-credit course, and a literature review.
Admissions Requirements
THE DEADLINE FOR RECEIVING COMPLETED APPLICATIONS IS JANUARY 15, 2009. Paperwork received after this date will not be given full consideration. The
Office of Graduate Admissions attempts to notify students of final decisions by
April 15. Applications from minorities are strongly encouraged.
Students are accepted for fall admission only.
To be admitted, students are required to have a completed bachelor’s degree, preferably in psychology.
The student should have completed a minimum of 18 semester hours of undergraduate psychology courses, including general psychology, statistics, and at least one laboratory or experimental course.
Preferred minimum scores for admission are: GRE-V 600; GRE-Q 600; GRE-V+Q 1200; GRE-Adv 600; TOEFL 550; GPA 3.0. Average scores for students who entered the program recently were: GRE-V 642; GRE-Q 632; GRE V+Q 1273; GRE-Adv 663; GPA 3.64
For a more detailed breakdown of past applicants, click here.
Application Checklist
School of Graduate Studies forms
Supplemental Clinical Application form
Test scores from the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) and the
Advanced Section in Psychology (institution code is 1105, NO department code)
Previous transcripts (sent directly from the institution)
Three letters of recommendation (sent directly from the recommender with a signature on the back flap)
Previous research, related work experience, and a personal statement of goals.
$50 application fee (sent directly to Grad Studies - payment sent to the Department of Psychology will be returned)
Online applications are strongly encouraged.
If you apply online, you will be able to complete the entire application, and the
only items that need to be sent in by mail are your transcripts (sent directly by
your institution) and your letters of recommendation (sent directly by your
recommenders).
If you send your application by mail, please send part B ONLY to the School of
Graduate Studies. All other materials should be sent directly to the Department
of Psychology at the following address:
Department of Psychology
Mather Memorial Building, #109
Case Western Reserve University
10900 Euclid Avenue
Cleveland, OH 44106-7123 USA
For FedEx and similar services, use 11220 Bellflower Road as the street address.
Potential students should also submit the Supplement for Applicants to the Clinical Program
If you are applying online, this is included in your online application. If you are
applying by mail, you must print this out and send it with your other application
materials. CWRU complies with the Council of University Directors of Clinical
Psychology (CUDCP) Guidelines for Graduate School Offers and Acceptances.
General information regarding the application procedure, important dates, and the Cleveland area may be obtained by visiting the Office of Graduate Admissions Website.
CLICK HERE TO GO DIRECTLY TO THE GRADUATE STUDIES APPLICATION
CLICK HERE TO GO DIRECTLY TO THE SUPPLEMENTAL APPLICATION FORM
Contacting the Program Prior to Applying
An important consideration in selecting a graduate program is the fit between a student and the program philosophy, structure and faculty interests. Potential applicants are encouraged to contact the specific faculty member(s) with whom they are interested in working. Visits prior to application are at the discretion of the faculty member(s), and requests may not be able to be honored because of their other time commitments.
The Director of Clinical Training (DCT) does not meet with potential applicants who would like general information or to visit, with very rare exceptions. The DCT responds to e-mail inquiries, particularly specific questions about the program. Please read all the information about the program on this site before making contact with the DCT.
Areas of Specialization
Click here for information about the different areas of specialization within the Clinical Psychology Graduate Program.
Internship Opportunities
Click here for information about the Clinical Placement Facilities and Internship Opportunities
