Master’s & PhD in Clinical Psychology

What is Clinical Psychology?

Psychology is the branch of medical science that analyses, diagnoses and treats how people think and behave. Though psychologists can work in a range of areas concerning psychology: research, in practice and treatment, public policy and in unrelated fields (advertising often employs psychologists), it is largely with the medical treatment of so-called “invisible illnesses” that we assume graduates will work.

A clinical psychologist is a sub-discipline of psychology that works directly with patients with mental illness – this can be as varied as eating disorders, depression and anxiety, psychosis, bi-polar disorder, addiction, postnatal (postpartum) depression and children with behavioral difficulties amongst other things. People with psychology degrees who work as a clinician may have a range of roles from working as a one-to-one therapist, in hospitals as part of a mental health team, in a specialist center dedicated to the treatment of the mentally ill, in addiction centers and a range of other places. They can also work in the research sector – in the application and study of new treatment methods such as CBT and other non-intrusive forms that work in place of or alongside medication.

Clinical psychology is a career path for people who wish to work with patients, in diagnosis and treatment and in researching effectiveness of treatments (depending on which clinical path you wish to take). It is a growing subject as the stigma around mental health is broken and governments, businesses and other organizations realize the importance of treatment of mental illness. In spring 2014, a survey revealed over 100,000 professionals presently working in clinical psychology in the USA; this number is growing every year.

Master's Degree or PhD why get one or the other?

As with any science, the level you choose to take your studies to is largely a matter of how you wish to pursue your professional career. The more highly qualified you are, the more doors will be open to you. It is not just a matter of the qualification that you are aiming for; there are choice seven within which Master’s and Doctorate paths you might take. Before deciding on which course, it is vital that you understand what your area of interest is and which career path you wish to pursue.

Difference between MA or MS in Clinical Psychology

Any Master’s Degree is a degree program studied at postgraduate level – that is, a course to which you may apply once you already have your bachelor’s degree. Graduates in psychology who which to pursue a postgraduate program have a critical decision to make, and that is whether to study a Master of Arts degree (MA) or Master of Science Degree (MS).  Which master’s you choose, and how you choose, is a matter of your preferred interests following up from your bachelor’s degree, your area of study and expected career path.

MA students of clinical psychology will typically follow a career in psychology as a practice. This is more of a hands-off approach, focusing on desk-based research and evaluating the effectiveness of treatments. They may be involved with government policy on mental illness, advising businesses or non-profits on a range of issues concerning health of employees and support services. They spend more time reading papers after study than an MS graduate would expect to read.

MS Students will follow a career in clinical psychology science. If you want to become a therapist, then you should study a clinical psychology MS as it concerns the application of scientific research. Working with the mentally ill, for example in addiction treatment, psychosexual analysis, art therapy, school counselling, career counselling, relationship counselling (marriage guidance) and so on;this is the path you should take if you wish to work directly with people.

Difference between PsyD vs PhD in Clinical Psychology

As with the master’s degree options, there are several academic career paths you may wish to pursue if you want to take your studies even beyond that. Doctoral studies in this area come in two choices and once again, which you should choose all depends on the nature of your intended career path.

PsyD programs are a newer addition to the academic world of psychology. Created in the 1970s, the discipline was added after identifying that there was increasingly becoming a wide difference between psychology as a study and psychology as a practice. From its introduction, PsyD programs filled the growing need for psychology in practice,particularly in therapy. Researching treatments, either desk-based or direct patient analysis, became the scope of the PhD whereas treatment (therapy) became the scope of the PsyD graduate.

PhD programs were once the only option for students of any type of psychology, but today they have become a purely academic discipline. Students who wish to study patients as a career rather than treat them or develop new treatments such as CBT for use by therapists, should study a PhD program. It is now the academic path of psychology, working in universities or other pathways concerning the academic route. Such doctorates will rarely, if ever, lead to direct interaction with patients but with fellow researchers and students. If you want to teach, then the PhD should be your pathway.

Admission Requirements for Clinical Psychology Degree

Most schools, colleges and universities will have their own entry requirements; the more prestigious the school, the higher their requirements in some areas (such as your GPA). You can expect to see the following conditions of your acceptance onto a program when applying for a master’s degree or a doctorate. This is a general guide, not an exhaustive list of requirements and conditions may vary by institution. Simply having a bachelor’s degree or equivalent is not enough; it is a big step up from an undergraduate to a postgraduate course.

Master's in Clinical Psychology

GRE:  The GRE, or Graduate Record Examination, is a test to determine whether a potential student has the relevant skills to study a postgraduate program. Among the skills tested are verbal reasoning, analytical writing and quantitative reasoning. The GRE may be taken online at any registered GRE testing center.

GPA / Grades: your undergraduate degree grade will be a large determining factor in your eligibility to apply for a master’s program. It will also determine which methods of financial support you may or may not be entitled to (see later). The higher the score, the more options you will have. Check each college application process as some will require your high school and undergraduate transcripts.

Work experience: If you have working experience in the field of psychology, then you may not need to take a GRE at all and your GPA (especially if your bachelor’s degree was years ago) will become less relevant as your working experience becomes a more critical factor.

Letter of recommendation / application form: Even if you are studying your postgraduate degree at the same college where you studied your undergraduate degree, you will still need to fill out the official application form. The person or people making the decision may not know you personally and will have to consider each application on merit. A letter of recommendation or a supporting statement from a member of faculty may be needed at the same college, but will certainly be needed should you apply to a different school.

Personal statement: As well as a supporting statement from your previous course director or professor, you will need to write an essay length personal statement to state why you wish to study at this institution and why this particular program of study. The personal statement should include professional interests and details on potential career path.

Interview: May or may not be required depending on to which school you are applying; if you’d studied there previously, the school may skip this part and look purely at your academic record from you previous course. Ivy League colleges are almost certain to want to interview you.

PhD in Clinical Psychology

GRE: Should not be required if you already have a master’s degree. This means you already have a bachelor’s degree and have either taken the test to determine your eligibility already, or it was not required as you demonstrated the necessary skills.

GPA / Grades: As you progress through your career, your grades should be less important than the skills that you have demonstrated. Certainly, they will want to see your academic record as a PhD student but other factors come into play. Be conscious of the fact that you might still need them.

Letter of recommendation / application form: Competition for places can be fierce. Like master’s programs above, when studying at the same college where you studied previously, you will still need to fill out an application. A letter of recommendation or a supporting statement from a faculty member may also be needed.

Personal statement: Similarly to the master’s, an essay length personal statement will be requested from the institution in which you should state why you wish to study there and why you have chosen this study / research program.

Interview: As above, it may or may not be a requirement depending on your background and history with that particular institution.

International Applicants

If you are studying in the US from abroad, you may be required to provide details of the following.

Details of finance: The college may wish to see that you can support yourself financially while studying in the US, including details of savings, whether you work in the US (and are permitted to do so) or have external income sources.

English proficiency: In order to be admitted, you will not need to be a native speaker but you will need to demonstrate that your English language skills (written and oral) are of sufficiently high standard.

Correct visa type: The correct visa will be required. If you are not a US citizen, you will need to prove your eligibility to be in the country for the duration of the course and demonstrate that you have the correct visa type to enable you to stay long enough to complete it.

Master’s Program Details

All master’s degree programs, no matter the subject, put greater emphasis on independent study and research. Once you reach this level, you are expected to have highly developed research, study, problem solving, argument, presentation and critical thinking skills. As discussed above, the structure of a program may vary slightly from school to school and depending on whether you prefer to take the MA or MS path in clinical psychology. MA students may spend more time in the library and be expected to produce more theoretical projects. MS students may typically work in a hands-on environment, working in groups or as individuals in a clinical support role (though in practice, PhD students are more likely to take up these positions).

Regardless of which program you might take, essentially there are several elements to a program. The first is the foundation of clinical psychology including theory and practice.The second is a focus on practical work – which could be working in a hospital or school for example (teaching or a teacher support role).The third and final element will be the research and essay / report writing which is important regardless of whether you choose the MA or MS path.

There is a much stronger focus on independent study and research at master’s level and therefore far greater emphasis on produced projects than exams. Your thesis or dissertation will be the culmination of the two-year program and will be the longest single piece of work you will have produced in your academic career to date. You will be expected throughout the two years to understand the difference between quantitative and qualitative analysis and research, how to make sense of the data, to argue in favor of one conclusion or another and to argue your position.

Students of MA programs may enter classrooms in a teacher support role, but as psychology is not a core subject in high schools, there are greater opportunities for work placements elsewhere.Support and teaching roles may be available in colleges and universities but these tend to be reserved for doctorate students for those looking to pursue a career in psychology teaching. Fieldwork is highly like to be a part of any course though, and those who wish to enter into a career as a therapist or counselor of any kind should certainly arrange to include it as part of their studies.

MA and MS courses are typically two year, full time courses in which you will be expected to produce a dissertation. Exams may or may not be a part of the course.

Typical module titles will include variations on:

• Introduction to Psychology
• Research Methods in Psychology
• Method & Theory in Clinical Psychology
• Current issues in Clinical Psychology

Where more specialist modules available to you could be:

• Clinical psychology for substance addiction
• Counseling Theory
• Applied Therapy
• Cognitive Behavioral Therapy – Method and Practice

Doctorate Program Details

The sole purpose of any doctorate program is the thesis. Whether you choose a PsyD or PhD in Clinical Psychology, you will need to produce an extensive report at the end of your study. A doctorate has very little in the way of formal teaching, more like guided research, regardless of the program.

It must be remembered that PhDs are designed to create researchers in psychology who understand, analyze and apply research in their work, but also engage in research for others to work with and understand. An interesting way of looking at it is to see PhD graduates as creators of knowledge and PsyD graduates as users of that knowledge. Even within these programs, you will find some variation.

Doctoral programs will nearly always have an internship – where you go and what you do will vary by institution and which doctoral program you have chosen. With a PsyD, you may work in a clinical setting with people with mental illness, in hospitals and clinics, in addiction programs and so on. With a PhD, this is more likely to be in a university department working alongside faculty, perhaps even teaching in a lecturing or a support role to undergraduate students. This will be a common internship for PhD students as should you work in a university environment, part of the work will be to impart your own research findings to the university’s present students. Lecturing goes hand in hand with research. Internships are a very strong part of doctorate programs in science-based subjects; typically these internships will last for one year.

The length of the thesis will vary from university to university, but a typical doctorate is in the region of 100,000 words. You will be expected to defend your research and thesis before a board of your academic peers before confirmation of the doctorate. It will go through pre-authorization first though, usually by your course director / thesis supervisor and then higher up in the university, typically the Dean or the Head of School (or equivalent).

Though there is a great deal of emphasis on research at doctorate level, students will be expected to attend sessions with fellow students and professors – though these are more like seminars and discussions than lectures and classes traditionally seen at undergraduate and master’s level.

Typical module and course titles for PhD and PsyD programs include:

• Theories in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
• Counselling skills
• Clinical psychology and ethics
• Psychometrics in the lab

But will vary depending on the skills and background of each faculty member. Programs will have some core subjects as well as those devoted to the specialization of the department or those within it. Some courses are focused mostly on practice and some mostly on theory. Each program may offer a mix of each to give the student a good grounding but as stated, as the PhD and the PsyD are aimed at different students, the weight of theory vs practice will differ greatly.

Costs & Financial Aid

Costs

Cost of a Master’s: The cost of a typical master’s degree in a psychology subject can vary depending on your state of residence, level and prestige of the school to which you are a applying. The median annual tuition cost for state residents applying to a public university in the state in which they reside, can cost in the region of $8,500. For public universities outside of the state of their residence, that doubles to an average of over $18,000. Tuition at a privately run university for a master’s in psychology has a median cost of $25,000 per year. In each case, please remember that this is the median cost – there will be cheaper and more expensive alternatives.

Cost of a doctorate: The cost of a typical doctoral program in psychology or related subjects vary depending on the same residency factors stated above. The median annual tuition cost for state residents applying to a public university in the state in which they reside, should cost around $9,500. For public universities outside of the state of their residence, that climbs to near $21,500. Tuition costs of a private university for a psychology doctoral program costs around $32,000 per year. Note: this is the median cost – there are cheaper and more expensive alternatives varying by state, prestige and other factors.

Loans, grants and scholarships

APAGS:  The American Psychology Association should always be your first resource for applying for finance to help you achieve your clinical psychology post-graduate degree. Their extensive APAGS (American Psychology Association of Graduate Students) covers most needs – for students with disability, for women, for ethnic minorities, LGBTQ special bursaries, travel awards and much more. As the country’s largest and most prestigious psychology organization, competition is fierce but you should make sure you investigate your options with the APA. The also offer a number of awards towards those who are writing about specific subjects for their dissertation or thesis.

Please see their list of finance awards, grants and bursaries here.

Woodrow Wilson Center Awards: Every year, the Wilson Center gives out a number of awards annually, not just to post-graduate students, but anyone in the social sciences and humanities subjects who have proposed a subject or research project that would be of international public interest. This means that your dissertation or thesis should be eligible. It is highly competitive though, just 35 awards are granted annually.

For more information, visit here.

Psi Chi: They represent one of the broadest scopes of applicants from the world of psychology with a number of grants, stipends and awards which are open to undergraduates, postgraduates and professionals working in psychology. They have over 30 awards so their programs are always worth due consideration. Among their graduate awards are a large number of research grants and awards for specific projects. Some for travel, some for diversity and some dedicated to researching specific subjects.

Their full list of graduate awards is here.

NASP: The National Association of School Psychologists are for those students pursuing any graduate program looking to enter into a career in school psychology; your clinical psychology MS should come under this remit if you expect to become a counselor or other advisory or therapy role within a school environment. With specific aids available to people of ethnic minority, research grants and school grants for those already working in a school environment, they have a range of choices for you.

More information is here.

NSF: National Science Foundation is one of the country’s largest public information science bodies. To engage with their public outreach program, they have research fellowships available to anyone working in the sciences – including psychology – for making an outstanding contribution in their field in a research based thesis or dissertation. Ideal for those studying a MA or PhD research project.

Full list and further details are here.

PLUS Loans: Federally available PLUS loans is money set aside by the Federal Government so that students may fund their post-graduate studies. Eligibility varies depending on the status of the parents (undergraduate) and of the student (post-graduate). Typical value of the loan will be the maximum possible minus the value of any other awards granted to the parents or the student.

For more information, visit the government advice page here. There is also a FAQ and details on repayment plans and eligibility.

And, of course, not forgetting your individual state awards, university and department awards. Availability and eligibility may vary so do an extensive search of your state or county to see what is available.

Getting Licensed

Obtaining your license to practice psychology (especially as a therapist or other direct contact methods) is not as straightforward as you might think. Licenses are granted by state and because each state’s rules differ on how the procedure is managed and carried out, it is not as simple as applying for a license with all your credentials and being able to practice.

In most cases, you will be expected to apply for a license during the second year of doctoral study. The amount of patient contact may need to vary, also depending on state requirement. For example, an investigation in 2002 revealed that Florida has the most stringent application process and the largest number of hours required to obtain a license.

• Each state has its own licensing board, but not everybody needs to get licensed and a number of exemptions apply
• In some states, you will not need to apply for a license if you work in a university department, state or federal institution. It is advisable to look into the code and procedure of each state before you apply, or deciding beforehand which state or states you may wish to practice
• If your Clinical Psychology program was not APA accredited, you may find it harder to obtain license to practice in some states, the procedure may be longer and subject to further scrutiny
• In most states, you will need a doctorate to practice with automatic refusal for those who do not. Post-doctoral study is also preferred. In those states where there are few practicing psychologist (Wyoming, South Dakota and Alaska) standards may vary
• If you studied outside of the US, the full procedure may apply as standards around the world vary. Most state boards make provision of procedure for people who obtained their doctorates in another country

All state board of the US require that an individual seeking license to practice psychology pass the EPPP (Examination for Professional Practice in Psychology). This is a multiple choice test of 225 questions that focus on core areas within the field of psychology, covering social and biological behavior, practice and treatment. Most states expect a minimum 70% to pass, though again some states vary – some pass marks may be higher, some lower. It is essential if you wish to practice anywhere in North America (with some variation in Quebec province, Canada) and a critical part of your application for license.

Alternative Careers for a Clinical Psychologist

If a career in academic psychology or in therapy is not for you, then you may wish to consider social work. Slightly related to psychology, it is a role concerned with domestic issues and disputes among people and groups who live with social deprivation. To work in this field, you will certainly need a license; like clinical psychology, this is done at state level and expectations and standards vary. Licensed Social Worker will have a different meaning in one state from the next. You may need to enroll in a CSWE accredited course to make the change to this type of career.

Educational psychology is an exciting and rewarding career in which you could study and implement methods by which people learn. Devising and implementing new learning methods to help children grow, build their confidence and develop their skills is an excellent use of any psychology degree. There is more variation in this field with regard to licensing. If you have the word “psychologist” in your title, you will certainly need a license to practice. Alternate forms of educational psychology may be possible with your qualifications in which licensing may not be required.

Modern teaching is a multidisciplinary approach; teachers are expected not only to teach, but to identify vulnerable children, be educational psychologists and adapt their skills to the needs of a class. From many perspectives, the classroom is the perfect place for a clinical psychologist to work. All normal teaching rules on licensing apply by state and federally (the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards does not replace state licensure). You may need to complete a teacher preparation program to convert your psychology degree to one suitable for teaching in a public school.

Media & advertising is a great way into business for many psychology graduates. Advertising plays on people’s psychology, engaging their emotion or rationality, encouraging them to a certain point of view about a business or product or the important work that a certain non-profit carries out. Public perception of corporations and encouraging positive awareness is as much about psychology as it is about the actions of the company. No certification or license required to work in this field but your clinical psychology degree could be an advantage depending on the type of advertising.

Working in Human Resources requires an element of psychology. Where there is a work dispute, for example, you will need to act as a mediation service between aggrieved parties – between lower level workers and management, or in providing an advisory service where there is a wrongful dismissal case brought against the company. Working in Human Resources requires diplomacy and this requires, in turn, a greater understanding of human psychology. No certification or license required to work in this field but your psychology degree would be a distinct advantage.