The Clinical Psychology doctoral program has been continuously accredited by the American Psychological Association since 1958 (Office of Program Consultation and Accreditation, American Psychological Association, 750 First Street NE, Washington, DC 20002-4242, 202-336-5979, email apaaccred@apa.org) and is a member of the Academy of Psychological Clinical Science. In May of 2013, our clinical program also became accredited by the Psychological Clinical Science Accreditation System (1800 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Suite 402, Washington, DC 20036-1218, 301-455-8046).

The program endorses a clinical scientist model for graduate training. This model emphasizes multi-level conceptualizations of psychopathology, comprising neurobiological, developmental, psychosocial, and multicultural perspectives. Doctoral students receive training in infant, child, and adult psychopathology, culture and diversity, infant, child, family and adult assessment, and neuropsychology. In all practica and clinical training experiences, there is a strong focus on evidence-based treatments. Students receive training in the clinical techniques and practices, as well as in the methodology for development, implementation, and evaluation of these interventions. Both psychotherapeutic interventions and prevention programs are included in the training.

The major goal of doctoral training is to support promising doctoral students in developing careers as  scientist/practitioners. Students interested primarily in clinical practice would most likely prefer a program less research-oriented than the Oregon Clinical Psychology Training Program.

Clinical faculty and other faculty with clinical interests have ongoing research in several areas, including: the neurobiology of early stress, brain development and neural plasticity, behavior and molecular genetics, infant mental health, emotion and attention, prevention science, school readiness, child welfare system research, pubertal development and the transition to adolescence, depression, anxiety, personality measurement and theory, cognitive therapy, child and family assessment, social and emotional adjustment of children and adolescents, drug and alcohol abuse, cross-cultural psychology, sexual aggression, interpersonal violence, child abuse, institutional betrayal, and traumatic stress.

The department places a particularly high priority on translational research, encouraging multidisciplinary collaborations with colleagues from other areas of psychology and other academic departments. Currently, faculty research is funded by the National Science Foundation, National Institute of Mental Health, National Institute of Drug Abuse, National Institute on Child Health and Development, and the Institute of Education Sciences.

The research and clinical opportunities available to doctoral students depend on current activities of the clinical and departmental faculty, and may also encompass ongoing projects in research hubs linked with the clinical program, notably the Center for Translational Science, Center for Digital Mental Health, and the Prevention Science Institute, as well as research institutes located in the Eugene community that are affiliated with the clinical program. These institutions include the Oregon Research Institute, Oregon Social Learning Center, Decision Research, and Electrical Geodesics.

Please note:  All clinical students must submit an FBI criminal background check and, when participating in external practica, must carry their own liability insurance. Newly admitted students must complete a background check prior to enrolling in the program. 

Licensing Disclosure Statement: As an APA and PCSAS Accredited Clinical Training Program, it is our intention to train students in all the particulars of health service psychology, such that they are equipped to be both excellent scientists and excellent clinicians. While licensure is available in this field of study, our program does not lead to such licensure upon graduation. The professional preparation you receive in our program will assist you in such pursuits, in that all states require completion of supervised predoctoral practicum hours and a predoctoral internship, which are requirements for the doctoral degree in clinical psychology at the University of Oregon. We are unable to confirm the specific licensure and certification requirements of each state, territory, or foreign entity in which professional credentialing may be possible as licensure is controlled by individual governmental bodies in all 50 US states. Further, many states require post-doctoral professional experience, which is beyond the curricular requirements of the University of Oregon program. You are welcome to contact Dr. Maureen Zalewski, Director of Clinical Training, with questions in this regard and we will do our best to assist you in your career planning. In addition, you may wish to consult the Association of State Boards of Professional Psychology (ASPPB) webpage for more information about licensing requirements.