Requirements for Students Enrolled in the Clinical Psychology (Ph.D.) Program
Clinical Psychology doctoral students who select the Focus in Children, Families, and Cultures (CFC) will become competent in knowledge, scholarship, and clinical practice with children and families within their cultural contexts. Demonstrating competence within each of those three domains includes developing a solid knowledge base as well as
Demonstrating knowledge-based competency
Requirement 1: Coursework
- Complete at least 5 courses from the CFC selections with at least one course in child development, one course related to familial processes, and one related to culture.
- One of the five courses must be PSY 735: Developmental Psychopathology.
- Note that CFC courses may also fulfill other requirements of the clinical program. Also, each of the five CFC courses must be 3 credits each, and students must receive at least a B- in each course. (The current list of CFC courses is listed below.)
Requirement 2: Comprehensive Exams
- Successfully pass Doctoral Comprehensive Examination in Clinical Psychology in the area of Children, Families
and Cultures.
Requirement 3: CFC Roundtable Meetings
- Participate and present in biweekly CFC roundtables and attend CFC related colloquia. Although students are expected to participate consistently throughout their time in the program, a minimum of four semesters of participation is required. The group meetings include student- and faculty-led presentations and discussions of relevant issues and readings in the CFC area.
Demonstrating performance-based competency
Requirement 4: Professional development related to research
- Complete a Dissertation in the area of Children, Families and Cultures*, and
- Attend at least one CFC relevant professional conference*
And at least one of the following:
- Write, or assist substantially in the conceptualization and preparation of, a CFC relevant grant*, or
- Present (first author) CFC relevant research at a professional conference*, or
- Produce at least one CFC relevant research article that is accepted for publication in a peer-reviewed scientific journal*
Requirement 5: Professional development related to clinical practice
- Satisfactorily complete at least one practicum or externship related to children, families, and/or cultures*, and
- Present a Clinical Case Conference related to children, families
and cultures in a CFC group meeting. - CFC relevance must be approved by your academic advisor.
Requirements for the Students Enrollment in the Psychological Science (M.A.) Program
Requirement 1: Coursework
- Three of the seven electives must be taken from the CFC course offerings
Requirement 2: Research Apprenticeship (RP)
- Complete topic paper (RP) in the CFC area
Requirement 3: CFC Roundtable Meetings
- Participate in CFC roundtables and attend CFC related colloquia. Although students are expected to participate consistently throughout their tenure in the program, a minimum of two semesters of participation is required. The group meetings include student- and faculty-led presentations and discussions of relevant issues and readings in the CFC area.
Protocol for CFC Focus in the Master of Arts Program
Joining the CFC Focus in the M.A. Program
Students with an interest in children, families, and cultures, whose mentors are CFC faculty, are encouraged to join the CFC focus. In the first semester of his/her graduate training, the student is encouraged to attend the CFC meetings and discuss the focus with faculty and students.
CFC Focus Plan
By the end of the first semester in the program, a student seeking the CFC focus is required to develop a plan with his/her major advisor to achieve the core competencies defined above. This plan will clearly indicate the methods and time frame in which each of the requirements will be completed. The student’s advisor will sign and retain the CFC Focus Plan for M.A. students. The plan may be revised as needed.
CFC Petition
When all requirements have been met, the student will submit a Petition for the CFC focus to the CFC faculty for approval. Written by the student, the Petition describes the manner by which each of the CFC focus requirements has been fulfilled. Upon approval, the CFC faculty will confirm in writing that the student has completed all requirements of the focus.
CFC Courses (3 credits unless specified)
PSY 618: Family Therapy: Theory and Practice (Families)
PSY 622 Cognitive Development (Children)
PSY 627 Couple and Family Interaction (Families)
PSY 640 Human Development (Children)
PSY 645 Social Development (Children, Families, Cultures)
PSY 735 Developmental Psychopathology (Children)
PSY 807 Clinical Assessment of Children and Adolescents (Children)
PSY 810 Psychotherapy with Children: Conceptual Approaches and Practical Techniques (Children)
PSY 830 Cultural Issues in Clinical Psychology (Culture)
PSY 831 Cultural Issues in Developmental Psychology (Culture)
PSY 928 Practicum in Family Therapy I (PhD students only) (Families)