University of Kansas College of Liberal Arts & Sciences

The Clinical Psychological Science concentration at the University of Kansas offers a Clinical Science approach to graduate training, and provides in-depth training in the application of scientific principles to all aspects of clinical psychology.

Although rooted in the Boulder Model, the program emphasizes a Clinical Science approach to graduate training. We believe that competent clinical practitioners must understand, appreciate, and apply the science associated with effective clinical interventions, and that competent clinical researchers must have first-hand experience with clinical disorders that is both broad and in-depth. Accordingly, we aim to produce professionals who demonstrate mastery of knowledge in the field of scientific psychology and who will have (1) the ability to generate new scientific knowledge and theory related to the field of psychology, and (2) can make independent contributions to the evolving base of skills and scientific knowledge required for clinical practice. Training starts broadly with foundational courses and experiences in research, data analysis, psychological assessment, and theory and methods of psychotherapy, and narrows in subsequent years to allow for more specialization within student’s area of interest. Coursework and requirements are designed to be completed in 4-5 years, followed by a yearlong internship. Our students obtain excellent internships, and over the last 10 years, all of our graduates are employed, with many in university psychology departments, medical schools, and Veterans Administration hospitals. Our licensure rate is continuously over 90%.

The Clinical Science concentration has strong connections with the University of Kansas Medical Center, and offers a Major Area of Study in Clinical Health Psychology. We are a member of the Council of Clinical Health Psychology Training Programs, which defines Clinical Health Psychology as the application of scientific knowledge to understanding the interrelations among behavioral, emotional, cognitive, social, and biological components of health and disease. The distinct focus of Clinical Health Psychology within our program is on physical health problems, and more specifically emphasizes the prevention, treatment, and rehabilitation of illness and disability, the promotion and maintenance of health, and the improvement of the health care system.