Psychology - Ph.D.

Graduate Coordinator: Dr. Bryan Myers

The Department of Psychology offers a doctoral program in clinical psychology which provides education and training in psychological science and practice that will prepare individuals for licensure as doctoral-level psychologists in health-service fields. The program focuses on the biological, psychological, behavioral, social, and cultural influences on the development, assessment, and treatment of mental health, substance use, and behavioral disorders. Emphasis is placed on translational training whereby treatment issues guide training and research, and scientific research in turn informs training methods and empirically supported assessments and treatments. Students have opportunities to achieve excellence in conducting and disseminating cutting-edge research, clinical practice, and teaching, as these relate to behavioral health. A feature of the program is to train ehtical, competent professionals to work with increasingly diverse and underserved populations through didactic and practical experiences that promote cultural competency.

Graduates will be equipped to meet current and emerging needs for clinical psychologists. Students will progress from gaining compentency in research skills, assessment, and evidence-based practices, to preparing for more advanced supervisory, consultation, and organizational leadership roles in health-care delivery systems.

Students may elect to take courses and engage in training experiences that blend multiple areas of expertise; however, students will specialize in a clinical health concentration, including:

Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA): Students in the ABA concentration have the opportunity to engage in coursework (approved by the Behavior Analyst Certification Board, Inc®) and training designed to provide strong backgrounds in the experimental and applied analyses of behavior and in the methodological and conceptual foundations of behavior analysis. Students will have the opportunity to work with faculty with expertise in experimental, conceptual, and applied behavior analysis and developmental disabilities. Post Master’s degree, students will gain experience in the training and supervision of ABA service providers and meet criteria to sit for the Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA®) exam.

Co-Occurring Substance Use and Mental Health Disorders (COSUD): Students in the COSUD concentration have the opportunity to engage in coursework and training in addictions, psychopharmacology, and co-occurring mental health problems. The concentration is designed to be consistent with the requirements for APAPO’s Certificate of Proficiency in the Treatment of Alcohol and Other Psychoactive Substance Use Disorders. Students work with faculty who apporach the problem of substance abuse from multiple research and applied perspectives (e.g., neuroscience, behavioral, and social psychological). Post Master’s degree, students will gain expertise in the training and supervision of entry-level mental health and substance-abuse treatment professionals and trainees and may elect to pursue licensure as a Clinical Addictions Specialist in North Carolina.

Student Learning Outcomes

Students demonstrate doctoral-level knowledge in the theoretical and empirical frameworks of the science and application of Psychology.
Students demonstrate doctoral-level comprehensive knowledge in research design and quantitative methods.
Students demonstrate effective communication of empirical findings in writing (in the style of the American Psychological Association) and in oral presentations.
Students demonstrate doctoral-level ability to critically evaluate research and to independently develop a research plan based on current empirical findings.
Students demonstrate doctoral-level knowledge, technical skills, and ethical decisions that are appropriate for the student’s particular concentration.

Admission Requirements

Students will be admitted to the PhD program by recommendation of the Department of Psychology Admissions Committee based upon eligibility requirements and available resources. Under most circumstances, students admitted to the program will have met the following requirements:

Bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited college or university or its equivalent from a foreign institution of higher education accredited university.
Major of psychology or at least 21 hr. of psychology with a GPA of at least 3.0 (on a 4.0 scale) with evidence of a grade of at least a B in a course in statistics and a grade of at least a B in a course in psychology research methods.
Official scores on the GRE General Test are required of all applicants. Official score from the GRE Psychology Subject Test is required if bachelor’s degree was not in psychology. Test scores more than 5 years old at the time of the application will not be considered.
Three letters of recommendation from professionals in a psychology-related field. At least two letters must be from faculty members.
Current curriculum vitae/resumé.
A 500-800 word statement of interest written in essay form that is composed of research experiences, other psychology-related experiences, research interests to pursue within graduate school, career goals, and any other additional strengths that will make the applicant an excellent candidate for the graduate program.
A completed application submitted to the Graduate School.
Interview with the Department of Psychology faculty required to determine faculty research match.

Degree Requirements

The program requires at least 90 post-baccalaureate credit hours of graduate study.
Each student will complete an MA degree in their first 2-3 years including at least 52 credit hours, a comprehensive exam, and an empirical thesis. Students must successfully present and defend their thesis to their faculty committee.
Each student must pass a doctoral qualifying examination.
Each student will complete at least 30 credit hours in doctoral-level coursework.
Each student must complete and defend a dissertation based on a research program approved by the student’s committee that results in an original, high quality, significant, and substantial body of research. Students must successfully present and defend their dissertation to their committee.
Each student will complete a 1-year external APA-accredited or APPIC-member internship.
All requirements for the degree must be completed within the timeframe set forth by the Graduate School.
At least 2 of the academic training years must be completed at UNCW.
At least 1 year of the program must be completed in full-time residence.

Curriculum

Students in both concentrations, applied behavior analysis (ABA) and co-occurring substance use and mental health disorders (COSUD) will complete requirements for MA degree in psychology during the first 2.5 years. After obtaining their MA degree, they will complete requirements for doctoral courses. Courses specific to each concentration are noted or are listed at the end of each degree.

Requirements for the Master of Arts in Psychology

I. Discipline-Specific Knowledge (3 of these courses)

PSY 510 - Cognitive Psychology Credit Hours: 3
or
PSY 517 - Learning and Behavior Analysis Credit Hours: 3 (required of ABA students)
PSY 520 - Developmental Psychology Credit Hours: 3 (required of ABA students)
PSY 556 - Advanced Physiological Psychology Credit Hours: 3 (required of ABA and COSUD students)
PSY 565 - Personality and Social Psychology Credit Hours: 3

II. Research and Quantitative Methods

PSY 555 - Quantitative Methods in Psychology I Credit Hours: 4
PSY 579 - Advanced Research Practicum Credit Hours: 1
PSY 580 - Advanced Research Practicum Credit Hours: 1
PSY 589 - Advanced Research Methods in Psychology Credit Hours: 3 (required of COSUD students)
PSY 515 - Small-n Research Design Credit Hours: 3 (required of ABA students)

III. Thesis and Dissertation

PSY 599 - Thesis in Psychology Credit Hours: 1 To 6 (6 credits to be taken over at least two semesters)

IV. Profession-Wide Competencies

PSY 547 - Advanced Psychopathology Credit Hours: 3
PSY 550 - Evidence-based Psychotherapies Credit Hours: 3
PSY 552 - Cultural, Ethical, and Legal Issues in Mental Health Credit Hours: 3

Applied Behavior Analysis concentration requirements

In addition to the courses listed above, students seeking an MA in the Applied Behavior Analysis concentration will take:

PSY 518 - Applied Behavior Analysis: Assessment and Intervention 1 Credit Hours: 3
PSY 519 - Conceptual Issues in Behavior Analysis Credit Hours: 3
PSY 521 - Applied Behavior Analysis: Assessment and Intervention 2 Credit Hours: 3
PSY 522 - Advanced Topics in Behavior Analysis Credit Hours: 1 (3 credits required)
PSY 593 - Clinical Practicum: Applied Behavior Analysis Credit Hours: 1 To 3 (4 credits required)
PSY 596 - Applied Behavior Analysis: Professional Considerations Credit Hours: 3
PSY 597 - Internship in Psychology and Applied Behavior Analysis Credit Hours: 1 To 3 (3 credits required) (PSY 593 and/or 693 may substitute)

Co-occurring Substance Use and Mental Health Disorders concentration requirements

In addition to courses listed above, students seeking an MA in the Co-occurring Substance Use and Mental Health Disorders concentration will take:

PSY 525 - Psychological Assessment I Credit Hours: 3
PSY 526 - Psychological Assessment II Credit Hours: 3
PSY 545 - Chemical Dependency Credit Hours: 3
PSY 549 - Basic Interviewing Skills in the Treatment of Substance Abuse Credit Hours: 2
PSY 551 - Intervention Strategies in Alcohol and Drug Problems Credit Hours: 3 (PSY 651 may substitute)
PSY 594 - Clinical Practicum: Co-occurring Substance Use and Mental Health Disorders Credit Hours: 1 To 3 (2 credits required)
PSY 598 - Internship Credit Hours: 1 To 3 (3 credits required) (PSY 594 and/or PSY 694 may substitute)

Requirements for the Doctor of Philosophy in psychology

Must have a Master’s degree in psychology (see above requirements).

I. Discipline-Specific Knowledge: 1 of the 500 level courses not taken for MA degree and the 695 course

PSY 510 - Cognitive Psychology Credit Hours: 3 or
PSY 517 - Learning and Behavior Analysis Credit Hours: 3
PSY 520 - Developmental Psychology Credit Hours: 3
PSY 565 - Personality and Social Psychology Credit Hours: 3
PSY 695 - Advanced Integrative Study Seminar Credit Hours: 3

II. Research and Quantitative Methods

PSY 557 - Quantitative Methods in Psychology II Credit Hours: 4 (required of COSUD students)

III. Thesis and Dissertation

PSY 699 - Dissertation Proposal Credit Hours: 1 To 3 (3 credits required)
PSY 799 - Dissertation Credit Hours: 1 To 5 (6 credits to be taken over at least two semesters)

IV. Profession-Wide Competencies

PSY 625 - Psychodiagnostic Assessment of Neurodevelopmental Disorders Credit Hours: 3 (required of ABA students)
PSY 652 - Topics in Health-Care Services Credit Hours: 1 (3 credits required of COSUD students)
PSY 671 - Psychology of Diversity Credit Hours: 3
PSY 798 - Pre-Internship Seminar Credit Hours: 1

V. Internship

PSY 898 - Predoctoral Internship Credit Hours: 1 (1 credit required over at least 1 year)

VI. Teaching

PSY 530 - Teaching of Psychology I Credit Hours: 1
PSY 531 - Teaching of Psychology II Credit Hours: 1 (optional)

Applied Behavior Analysis concentration requirements

In addition to courses listed above, students seeking a PhD in the Applied Behavior Analysis concentration will take:

PSY 617 - Advanced Topics in the Experimental Analysis of Behavior Credit Hours: 3
PSY 619 - Verbal Behavior: A Translational Approach Credit Hours: 3
PSY 693 - Intermediate Clinical Practicum: Applied Behavior Analysis Credit Hours: 1 To 3 (3 credits required)
PSY 793 - Advanced Clinical Practicum: Applied Behavior Analysis Credit Hours: 1 To 3 (5 credits required)

Co-occurring Substance Use and Mental Health Disorders concentration requirements

In addition to courses listed above, students seeking a PhD in the Co-occurring Substance Use and Mental Health Disorders concentration will take:

PSY 645 - Clinical Psychopharmacology Credit Hours: 3
PSY 651 - Theory and Techniques of Evidence-based Substance-Use Treatment Credit Hours: 3
PSY 694 - Intermediate Clinical Practicum: Co-occurring Substance Use and Mental Health Disorders Credit Hours: 1 To 3 (4 credits required)
PSY 794 - Advanced Clinical Practicum: Co-occurring Substance Use and Mental Health Disorders Credit Hours: 1 To 3 (4 credits required)