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Doctor in Psychology – Clinical Psychology

Department of Psychology

College of Letters, Arts & Social Sciences

Doctor in Psychology – Clinical Psychology

Department of Psychology

College of Letters, Arts & Social Sciences

On-Campus

Program

120 Credit Hours

to Graduate

Full-Time, In-State Tuition

$716 Per Credit Hour

Free Books

for All Students

Bring Compassion and Leadership to any Healthcare Team

Become a field leader and positively impact individuals and communities with EKU’s Doctor of Psychology (Psy.D.) degree. EKU’s respected program prepares clinical psychology practitioners to provide psychological services to a broad range of clients and in a variety of settings, as well as to be sophisticated consumers of research. Students will gain competence with and provide evidence-based, ethical clinical services for a broad spectrum of diverse clients and become a positive force in their communities and beyond.

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Career Outlook

Psychologists study cognitive, emotional, and social processes and behavior by observing, interpreting, and recording how people relate to one another and to their environments. They use their findings to help improve processes and behaviors.

Employment of psychologists is projected to grow 6 percent from 2022 to 2032.

– U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

Graduates of EKU’s Psy.D. program can find rewarding careers in a variety of roles.

Job Titles Include:

  • Staff Psychologist
  • Licensed Psychologist
  • Therapist

Graduates of EKU’s Psy.D. program are having a positive impact in a variety of locations across the country.

Employers Include:

  • VA Hospitals
  • Inpatient Psychiatric Hospitals
  • Medical Centers
  • Prisons
  • Private Practices

The Office of Academic and Career Services is a one-stop shop for all your career and professional development needs.

Services Include:

  • Creating/updating your resume and cover letter
  • Interviewing tips and coaching
  • Career documents review
  • Job search

Why EKU?

  • Free textbooks through EKU BookSmart
  • No application fee
  • Reduced tuition for active-duty military members and their spouses
  • Learn from award-winning faculty and recognized scholars
  • Program commitment to diversity and social justice
  • Special focus on preparing practitioners to work in rural communities
  • Clinical training program with clinical practicum and internship experiences at its core

Accredited by the Commission of Accreditation of the American Psychological Association

The Psy.D. program in Clinical Psychology at EKU is fully accredited by the Commission of Accreditation of the American Psychological Association. We were awarded this status on April 5, 2020. Our next site visit will be held in 2029.

Questions related to the program’s accredited status should be directed to the Commission on Accreditation:

Office of Program Consultation and Accreditation
American Psychological Association
750 1st Street, NE
Washington, DC 20002
(202) 336-5979
apaaccred@apa.org
www.accreditation.apa.org

View the Student Admissions & Outcomes Data PDF

Curriculum & Admission

EKU is dedicated to preparing the highest quality clinical psychologists for Kentucky and beyond. EKU’s curriculum blends academic and professional preparation through course topics such as statistics and research design, advanced developmental psychology, biological bases of behavior, and rural mental health.

A minimum of 120 credits are required to graduate.

View the degree requirements:

EKU Academic Catalog

Please review the admissions requirements before applying for this or any program. If you have questions about the program or are planning to register for classes, please speak to the program advisor.

Students in the clinical program are required to complete 27 credit hours of practicum. Early practicum experiences will occur in our internal departmental training clinic, the Eastern Kentucky University Psychology Clinic. External field placements typically occur during the third and fourth years of the program. These external experiences will typically require the student to work two days at the site per week.

Recent practicum sites include:

  • Baby Health, Inc.
  • Bassman Mental Health Services
  • Bluegrass Health Psychology
  • Cincinnati VA Medical Center
  • Eastern State Hospital
  • EKU Counseling Center
  • EKU Psychology Clinic
  • Federal Bureau of Prisons
  • Heather Risk & Associates
  • Lexington Forensic Psychiatry
  • Lexington VA Healthcare System
  • Louisville VA Medical Center
  • New Vista Oakwood
  • Open Doors Counseling Center
  • Pathways
  • University of Kentucky Mental Health Services
  • University of Kentucky Medical Center
  • USP McCreary

All students must complete a year-long, full-time doctoral internship in professional psychology at an approved site during the final year of the program. Our students are completing internships all over the country, including:

  • EKU Psychology Clinic
  • Appalachian Psychology Internship/Woodland Centers (Gallipolis, OH)
  • Orlando VA Medical Center (Orlando, FL)
  • Cincinnati VA Medical Center (Cincinnati, OH)
  • Virginia Beach City Public Schools (Virginia Beach, VA)
  • Colorado Mental Health Institute at Pueblo (Pueblo, CO)
  • Saint Elizabeths Hospital (Washington, DC)
  • Federal Bureau of Prisons-Tallahassee (Tallahassee, FL)
  • Jefferson County (KY) Internship Consortium (Louisville, KY)
  • S. Medical Center for Federal Prisoners-Springfield (Springfield, MO)
  • Lexington VA Health Care System (Lexington, KY)
  • Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center (New Orleans, LA)
  • SUNY Stone Brook Counseling Center (Stony Brook, NY)
  • Purdue University Counseling Center (West Lafayette, IN)
  • Kennedy Kreiger/Johns Hopkins Behavioral Psychology & Neuropsychology (Baltimore, MD)
  • University of Texas Health Science Center at Tyler (Tyler, TX)
  • Wilford Hall Ambulatory Surgical Center/Lackland Air Force Base (San Antonio, TX)
  • Central Arkansas Veterans Healthcare System (North Little Rock, AR)
  • University of Kentucky Counseling Center (Lexington, KY)
  • Florida State Hospital (Chattahoochee, FL)
  • Federal Medical Center – Lexington (Lexington, KY)
  • Ball State University Counseling Center (Muncie, IN)
  • Federal Correctional Complex – Allenwood (White Deer, PA)

Students may transfer up to 33 hours of graduate credit from accredited institutions.

Transfer credits are considered on a case-by-case basis, and must be graduate-level, taken at a regionally accredited institution, must align with our existing Psy.D. program courses in terms of content and credit hours, and are only granted for non-clinical courses (e.g., statistics, social, cognitive, developmental psychology). Clinical courses (e.g., ethics, psychopathology, assessment and therapy skills) are not considered for transfer credit.

TermApplication
Deadline		Classes
Begin
FallDecember 1August

A minimum of five undergraduate courses in psychology: general psychology, statistics, and experimental psychology are required, as well as two other courses acceptable to the departmental admissions committee. Applicants are required to submit academic transcripts for any undergraduate and graduate work, and the GRE score report. Candidates are encouraged to complete the GRE Psychology Subject Test if Psychology was not their major as an undergraduate. Please note that GRE scores and GPA may be used to narrow the applicant pool. Candidates with a GPA of 3.0 or higher and GRE scores at the 50th percentile or higher will be competitive. Admission is limited to available space. Meeting the minimum requirements, therefore, does not guarantee admission.

Applicants must submit a cover letter, expressing their interest in the program (1-2 typewritten, double spaced pages). In addition, applicants must respond to the following six, brief (no more than 500 words), essay prompts:

  • Tell me about the types of extra-curricular activities you are involved in. Please include any leadership roles, volunteer work, or team membership. How has this shaped your interest in serving others?
  • Our program heavily emphasizes multiculturalism and social justice, including rural culture. What experiences and perspectives would you bring to the program in this regard? What is something you learned about yourself from at least one of these experiences?
  • Please tell us about any life experience you have had exposure to that would be beneficial to your work in this career field (co-op, internship, shadowing, or work experience).
  • If you have had any research experience in your undergraduate or graduate studies, briefly describe your involvement in it.
  • What gives you meaning and purpose? How might this be relevant in your decision to pursue clinical psychology?
  • How do you balance demands on your time, responsibilities, and self-care?

Applicants must arrange for submission of three letters of recommendation from individuals familiar with your abilities relevant to graduate-level study in psychology, with at least one from psychology faculty. Applicants must also submit a curriculum vitae.

Applications are completed online and must be received by December 1. Top applicants will be invited for an interview. Notification regarding admission normally will be made in February or March.

Graduate Assistantships

  • Each incoming 1st year student will receive a full-time (20 hrs/week) Graduate Assistantship (GA) that includes a 6 credit-hour tuition waiver during the fall and spring semesters. No GA will be awarded during the summer terms.
  • 2nd and 3rd year students will receive a half-time (10 hrs/week) GA position that includes a 3 credit-hour tuition waiver during the fall and spring semesters. Again, no GA positions will be awarded during the summer terms.
  • Please note these assistantships are contingent upon maintaining quality work performance of GA-related duties.
  • Please also note that the Graduate School determines the pay and tuition waiver rates for GA positions, and these rates are subject to change. For current GA position stipend rates and tuition waiver information, visit the Graduate School page.

Other Potential Funding Opportunities

  • Students are encouraged to apply for licensure as a Licensed Psychological Associate (LPA) after receiving their master’s degree, which may increase their chances of obtaining a paid clinical practicum position.
  • Students who have their master’s degree will also be eligible to apply for paid positions as adjunct course instructors and online course moderators; please note these positions may not include a tuition waiver or pay at the same rate as GA positions.
  • Students entering the program with a master’s degree in Clinical Psychology (or a related field) will be eligible for GA positions. Students entering the program with graduate degrees are also encouraged to take advantage of the opportunities described above for paid practicum experiences and teaching.

Enrolling & Advising Information

EKU’s College of Letters, Arts, and Social Sciences is committed to delivering high-quality enrollment and academic advising for our students. We strive to create an atmosphere of mutual trust and meaningful engagement to help students reach their academic goals and have a rewarding educational experience.

Interested in enrolling? Reach out to our enrollment advisor today.

professional photo of shaker ezaizat

Shaker Ezaizat

Enrollment Advisor

859-622-2316
shaker.ezaizat@eku.edu

Schedule an Appointment

Additional Contact Info

Admissions: 859-622-2106
Academic Testing: 859-622-1281
Big E Central (Financial Aid & Student Account Services): 859-622-2361
Military & Veterans Affairs Office: 859-622-2345

Student Stories & Features

Professional photo of Nicholas Hoffman

Dr. Nicholas Hoffman

EKU Doctor of Psychology in Clinical Psychology & VCS in Applied Behavior Analysis Graduate
My favorite part of being an EKU student was being able to gain experiences relevant to my field, while also networking with other professionals and leaders which opened the door for my success. I, along with my peers, had doors opened for us that lead us on pathways that were not available to us by default. It truly is a college of opportunity.

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Contact Information

Department of Psychology

Cammack Building
Room 127
468 University Drive
Richmond, KY 40475

859-622-1105
psychology@eku.edu

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