Clinical Psychology

The Joint Doctoral Program

The interdisciplinary partnership of the Department of Psychiatry at UCSD School of Medicine and the Department of Psychology at San Diego State University greatly extends the range of perspectives and furnishes unusual opportunities for graduate study leading to the Ph.D. degree in clinical psychology. The Joint Doctoral Group in Clinical Psychology currently consists of faculty from the UCSD Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, and the Depart-ments of Neurosciences, Cognitive Science, Community and Family Medicine, Psychology, and SDSU Department of Psychology and School of Public Health.

Information regarding admission is found in the current edition of the Bulletin of the Graduate Division of San Diego State University.

The program goal is to train clinical psychologists who are accomplished both as clinicians and as research scientists. The curricula and training provide a strong foundation in clinical psychological concepts, methods, theories and data, together with intensive concentrations in specialized areas of clinical psychology. Currently our program has three areas of specialization: behavioral medicine, neuropsychology, and experimental psychopathology.

The scientist-practitioner model on which this program is based requires that students receive ongoing supervised research experience, including planning, design, implementation, analysis, and communication of findings. Equally important is extensive supervised experience aimed at developing sound general and specialized clinical skills. Students are expected to be actively involved in all these activities throughout their tenure in the program.

The program is designed as a five-year curriculum, including a one-year clinical internship. The curriculum is based on a twelve-month academic year. The program is accredited by the American Psychological Association.

Specific courses currently required as part of the core at UCSD include: Clinical Psychology 294A,B,C, (required for neuropsychology track majors only); Clinical Psychology 296 (independent study, lab practicum); Clinical Psychology 299 (independent study project); School of Medicine 202E (Psychopathology).

Ph.D. Time Limit Policies

Students must be advanced to candidacy by the end of five years. Total university support cannot exceed six years. Total registered time at UCSD cannot exceed seven years.

Courses

Clinical Psychology 205. Neuroanatomy (6)
Fundamental anatomy/physiology of human nervous system, emphasizing higher cortical functions. Methods of clinical problem solving in neurology; background in basic neuropsychological skills.

Clinical Psychology 294. Pro-Seminar in Neuropsychology (3)
Year-long course (294A,B,C), each for three credits, offered sequentially fall, winter, spring. Provides a fundamental knowledge of brain-behavior relationships as well as strategies and methods of neuropsychological assessment and rehabilitation.

School of Medicine 202E. Social and Behavioral Sciences–Psychopathology (3)
This sequence will acquaint students with techniques of interviewing, concepts of mental illness and normality, basic research in causality of behavioral disorders, and approaches to treatment, all in the context of a bio-psycho-social frame of reference. Format combines a lecture followed by smaller group sessions with a faculty leader. The groups enable students to meet patients with behavioral disorders, to practice interviewing, to develop observational skills, and to discuss material presented in lectures and assigned readings. (S/U grades only.) Prerequisite: SOM 202A,C,D or consent of instructor.

Clinical Psychology 296. Independent Study (1-12)
Independent survey of basic concepts in clinical psychology using various sources of material, including scientific papers in clinical psychology and behavioral science and other sources as seem indicated.