Curriculum
Year 1
A sequence of required courses is taken beginning with the first semester. Clinical practica also begin with shadowing during the fall semester and clinical supervision in the spring. It is anticipated that students will begin active participation in a research program with their advisor beginning the first semester. During the spring, students will take an evidence-based intervention course with adults and children, which will prepare them for clinical work in the second year. Students can participate in research and clinical practica over the summer, however, this is optional.
Year 2
A series of required general courses are offered during the second year. Continuation of clinical practica and research participation occur during this year. A students must enroll in a research course during the semester that the second-year project is submitted.
Year 3 and Year 4
Required courses, electives, clinical practicum, and research activities continue during the third year. In the fall of the fourth year, students complete a supervision and consultation course (PSYC 8372). Upon satisfactory completion of the program competency requirements, students may develop their dissertation proposal. The dissertation proposal must be approved by August 15th of the fourth year for the student to be eligible to apply for internship the following year.
Additional didactic activities in which students may participate include: department sponsored colloquia (Visiting Speaker Series and individual case conferences), training conferences, and special lectures and presentations sponsored by UTRGV and/or the School of Medicine.
Year 5
In year 5 students who have met all previous program requirements will apply for external internship, make progress on the dissertation, and obtain additional clinical experience. The program encourages students to complete their dissertation before going on external internship, although this is not a specific requirement.
Year 6: Internship
Students are required to complete a one-year, full-time, APA accredited external clinical internship, after having completed formal course work and a dissertation proposal. Students work with the Director of Clinical Training to ensure that they are applying to national sites which reflect their career goals. Students are required to participate in the Association of Psychology Postdoctoral and Internship Centers (APPIC) national match. During internship, students function under supervision as clinical psychologists. The internship facility must comply with the American Psychological Association accreditation standards and must be approved by the Director of Clinical Training.
Curriculum
YEAR 1
| FALL | |
|---|---|
| PSYC 6301: Psychological Statistics | 3 |
| PSYC 6312: Child Psychopathology | 3 |
| PSYC 6332: Research Design | 3 |
| PSYC 7105: Research Practicum | 1 |
| PSYC 8164: Clinical Practicum | 1 |
| PSYC 8363: Professional Issues and Ethics in Psychology | 3 |
| SPRING | |
| PSYC 6302: Statistics for Psychological Research II | 3 |
| PSYC 6309: Adult Psychopathology | 3 |
| PSYC 6353: Individual Therapy/Clinical Fundamentals | 3 |
| PSYC 7105: Research Practicum | 1 |
| PSYC 8164: Clinical Practicum | 1 |
| PSYC 8361: Empirically Supported Treatment with Adults and Children | 3 |
| SUMMER | |
| PSYC 7105: Research Practicum (Optional: not required for degree) | 1 |
| PSYC 8164: Clinical Practicum (Optional: not required for degree) | 1 |
YEAR 2
| FALL | |
|---|---|
| PSYC 6346: Assessment and Measurement in Adults | 3 |
| PSYC 6347: Assessment and Measurement in Children and Families | 3 |
| PSYC 7105: Research Practicum | 1 |
| PSYC 8303: Advanced Statistics for Psychological Research III | 3 |
| PSYC 8364: Clinical Practicum | 3 |
| SPRING | |
| PSYC 7305: Advanced Research Practicum | 3 |
| PSYC 8320: Neuropsychological Models of Cognition and Emotion | 3 |
| PSYC 8341: Assessment and Treatment in Mexican American Cultural Contexts | 3 |
| PSYC 8364: Clinical Practicum | 3 |
| SUMMER | |
| PSYC 7105: Research Practicum (Optional: not required for degree) | 1 |
| PSYC 8164: Clinical Practicum (Optional: not required for degree) | 1 |
YEAR 3
| FALL | |
|---|---|
| PSYC 8340: Cross Cultural Psychology with an Emphasis on Studies of Hispanic/Mexican American Psychology | 3 |
| PSYC 8365: Advanced Clinical Practicum | 3 |
| Elective 1* | 3 |
| SPRING | |
| PSYC 8330: Emotions and Cognitions: A Developmental Perspective | 3 |
| PSYC 8365: Advanced Clinical Practicum | 3 |
| Elective 2* | 3 |
| SUMMER | |
| PSYC 8165: Adv Clinical Practicum (Optional: not required for degree) | 1 |
* Students must take two electives either in year 3 or year 4.
YEAR 4
| FALL | |
|---|---|
| PSYC 8365: Advanced Clinical Practicum | 3 |
| PSYC 8372: Supervision and Consultation | 3 |
| PSYC 9300: Dissertation | 3 |
| Elective 1* | 3 |
| SPRING | |
| PSYC 8365: Advanced Clinical Practicum | 3 |
| PSYC 9300: Dissertation | 3 |
| Elective 2* | 3 |
| SUMMER | |
| PSYC 8165: Adv Clinical Practicum (Optional: not required for degree) | 1 |
NOTE: Students are required to have completed the Program Competency Requirement by the end of Year 4.
YEAR 5
| FALL | |
|---|---|
| PSYC 8165: Advanced Clinical Practicum | 1 |
| PSYC 9300: Dissertation | 3 |
| SPRING | |
| PSYC 8165: Advanced Clinical Practicum | 1 |
| PSYC 9300: Dissertation | 3 |
YEAR 6
| PSYC 8100: Required 12-month Clinical Internship | 2 |