Program Overview
The program is designed for students with a primary interest in research and scholarship in addition to clinical practice. The majority of the faculty have a cognitive or behavioral approach to assessment and treatment, and the program is geared primarily to students who wish to receive this type of training. There are also more limited opportunities for students whose interests are eclectic and who may supplement training in cognitive behavior therapy with courses and supervised experiences in other approaches (e.g. family systems). For students whose primary interests are in the practice of clinical psychology, the University also offers graduate training in clinical psychology leading to the Doctor of Psychology (Psy.D.) degree through the separate Graduate School of Applied and Professional Psychology (GSAPP).
The Clinical Ph.D. program at Rutgers University is an American Psychological Association accredited training program. We are a member of the Academy of Psychological Clinical Science, a coalition of doctoral and internship training programs that share a common goal of producing and applying scientific knowledge to the assessment, understanding, and amelioration of human problems. Membership in the Academy is granted only after a thorough peer review process.
Our membership in the Academy indicates that we are committed to excellence in scientific training, and to using clinical science as the foundation for design, implementing, and evaluating assessment and intervention procedures. We view clinical psychology as a specialty area within the discipline of psychology, and believe that research, scholarship, and clinical application should be firmly grounded in the core knowledge base of psychology as a science. Questions about accreditation status can be directed to the program or to the APA Office on Accreditation at (202) 336-5979, or by mail at 750 First St. NE, Washington, DC 20002-4242.
Graduate Programs
Clinical Psychology
Core Faculty
John R. Z. Abela (Psychology)
Brenna
H. Bry (GSAPP)
Brian C. Chu (GSAPP)
Richard J. Contrada (Psychology)
Maurice Elias (Psychology)
Sandra L. Harris (Emeritus, Psychology/GSAPP)
Robert Karlin (Psychology)
Shalonda
Kelly (GSAPP)
James
Langenbucher (CAS/GSAPP)
Paul
Lehrer (Robert Wood Johnson Medical School)
Howard Leventhal (Psychology)
Danielle McCarthy (Psychology)
Jan Mohlman (Psychology)
G. Terence Wilson (GSAPP)
Robert Woolfolk (Psychology)
Jami Young (GSAPP)
The core clinical faculty are drawn from the Department of Psychology, the Graduate School of Applied and Professional Psychology, the Center of Alcohol Studies, and the adjacent University of Medicine and Dentistry - Robert Wood Johnson Medical School (UMDNJ-RWJMS). The breadth of faculty interests and expertise in research permits students to create a program of study tailored to their particular scholarly interests. Clinical faculty conduct research on cognitive and behavior therapies, health psychology, psychophysiology, applied behavior analysis, prevention, substance abuse, emotional intelligence, cognitive functioning, eating disorders, anxiety disorders, and autism. Students have the opportunity to work with child, adolescent, adult, and older adult populations in multiple research labs at Rutgers and affiliated institutions.
The training approach relies heavily upon a mentorship model of training. Students are matched with a research mentor when they begin their graduate training program, and involve themselves in one or more research projects upon entering the program, initially as apprentices in ongoing projects, and subsequently as independent investigators. Students may study not only with clinical psychology faculty, but also with non-clinical researchers in the Psychology Department, and it is not uncommon for students to participate in more than one research group. Equally important is the goal of helping students to develop clinical skills. As in the research component of the program, our philosophy is that an apprenticeship model is most effective in teaching clinical skills. Students have available as role models a large number of faculty members who embody the clinical scientist concept. These faculty not only conduct research, but also are experienced clinical psychologists who are directly involved in clinical practice of various kinds. Students also have access to doctoral faculty in the Psy.D. program who focus primarily on clinical practice.
In a recent evaluation of doctoral programs on the Examination for Professional Practice in Psychology (EBPP) (1997-2006), the Rutgers clinical Ph.D. program ranked fourth among all programs in the United States and Canada (see http://www.socialpsychology.org/clinrank.htm)
Disclosure of Education / Training Outcomes
Admission Data
| 2002 | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | |
| Number of Applicants | 272 | 345 | 340 | 354 | 273 | 244 | 260 | 296 |
| Number Offered Admission | 12 | 12 | 9 | 9 | 8 | 8 | 12 | 7 |
| Size of Incoming Class | 7 | 8 | 8 | 7 | 4 | 4 | 8 | 3 |
| Number of Incoming Students Receiving Full Support | 7 | 8 | 8 | 7 | 4 | 4 | 8 | 3 |
| GRE Data (Average Scores) | 2002 | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 |
| Verbal | 650 | 622 | 680 | 670 | 650 | 690 | 640 | 720 |
| Quantitative | 730 | 717 | 750 | 700 | 720 | 750 | 690 | 720 |
Graduation Outcomes
| 2001 | 2002 | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | |
| Number of Students Completing the Program | 6 | 0 | 9 | 5 | 8 | 3 | 5 | 10 |
| Average Years to Completion in this Year | 6 | 6 | 7 | 6 | 6 | 7 | 6 | |
| Number Who Completed in Less Than Five Years | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Number Completing in Five Years | 1 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 1 | 2 | 5 | |
| Number Completing in Six Years | 4 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 5 | |
| Number Completing in Seven Years | 1 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | |
| Number Taking More Than Seven Years | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | |
| Number who Withdrew | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
Licensure
Number of 1997-2005 graduates who have become licensed |
39 |
Total Number of 1998-2008 graduates |
56 |
Percentage who have become licensed psychologists |
70% |
Reasons why some graduates are not licensed: |
|
| Some graduates have not applied because their work does not require it. They are teaching, doing research or working in exempt settings. | 20% |
6 are in the process or will shortly apply for licensing |
10%
|
3 graduates have not report their licensure status |
6% |
Program Costs
All students receive full financial support (a Fellowship, Teaching Assistantship, or Research Assistantship) that covers all tuition and provides an annual stipend ($19,000 in 2006-2007). All students are guaranteed support for five years provided they are in good academic standing. The clinical program, however, strongly encourages students to complete the program in four years followed by the final internship year.
Internship Data
| 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | |
| Total Number of Internship Applicants | 6 | 3 | 6 | 6 | 11 | 6 | 7 |
| Number Accepted on APPIC Match Day | 5 | 3 | 6 | 6 | 11 | 5 | 7 |
| Number Accepted at Accredited Internships | 5 | 3 | 6 | 6 | 11 | 5 | 7 |
| Number Accepted at Funded Internships | 5 | 3 | 6 | 6 | 11 | 5 | 7 |
Attrition
| 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | |
| Total Number of Students in Program | 40 | 35 | 40 | 37 | 36 | 34 | 30 |
| Left Program | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Percentage of Attrition Rate | 0.025 | 0.028 | 0.025 | 0.027 | 0 | 0.029 | 0
|
For additional information, please contact Dr. G. Terence Wilson, Ph.D., Clinical Psychology Area Coordinator.