Program Overview

Since September 1976, the University of Denver Graduate School of Professional Psychology (GSPP) has offered a Doctor of Psychology (PsyD) in clinical psychology. The degree requires 135 quarter hours of study beyond the bachelors degree and a one-year full-time internship. GSPP accepts applications at both bachelors and masters degree levels. People with graduate course work relevant to the program may transfer credit. The Graduate School of Professional Psychology is part of the University of Denver (DU).

The PsyD degree at the University of Denver focuses on scientifically based training for applied professional work rather than on the more traditional academic-scientific approach to clinical training. The main emphasis is on general clinical psychology with opportunities for some limited degrees of specialization. A 1972 NIMH-sponsored conference on patterns and levels of professional training in psychology strongly supported the development of PsyD programs. The Federation of Regional Accrediting Commissions in Higher Education has recommended the development of content-oriented doctoral programs for applied professional training, with the PhD to be awarded by primarily research-oriented programs. In addition to the PsyD degree, DU offers the PhD in psychology (including a child clinical program) through the Department of Psychology and the PhD and MA in counseling psychology plus the PhD in school psychology, through the College of Education.

Core Program

Subheads below represent required basic training for the professional psychologist. Specialty areas may then be chosen.

Theoretical Bases

Theoretical Bases is a 3-quarter module with courses that survey major theories as conceptual/intervention tools and address the historical basis, assumptions, assessment procedures, and issues in clinical research, with attention to psychology and critique of the theory. There is variable inclusion of epidemiology, intervention methods, and relevance to gender and minority differences.

  • Psychoanalytic Models
  • Behavioristic Models
  • Cognitive Models
  • Systems Models
  • Humanistic-Existential Theory and Therapy

Research Issues

Research Issues follows the introductory statistics course that reviews the fundamentals of descriptive and inferential statistics for evaluating clinically relevant questions. The research design course focuses on how to critique and integrate the empirical psychology literature with critical concern for issues such as design plans, artifacts, and applicability to clinical work. The final course reviews theory and techniques for assessing both ongoing processes and outcome effectiveness of psychological programs.

  • Statistics for the Clinician
  • Clinical Research Design
  • Program Evaluation Techniques

Assessment

Assessment consists of two courses that are prerequisites for most elective assessment courses. The first course is designed to explore issues and problems involved in clinical inference as well as to teach the process itself. The second course focuses on validity, reliability, and standardization issues in psychological testing and the statistical properties of commonly used tests.

  • Clinical Inference
  • Issues in Measurement

Life Cycle

The Life Cycle consists of four courses that consider the phases of human development from infancy through adulthood, including the relevance of personality theories and research. Attention is given to sex role development, minority problems, and special problems of assessment. Guest panels, community resources, videotapes, and small discussion groups are incorporated. Child observations are included in the early phases, and a life review interview is required in the final course.

  • Infancy and Early Childhood
  • Late Childhood and Adolescence
  • Early and Middle Adulthood
  • Late Adulthood

Social Bases

Social Bases is a two-quarter module offered in winter and spring. The first course uses an experiential format to focus on dynamics of task-oriented, non-therapy groups. The second focuses on the implications of social psychology/social cognition for the practicing clinician.

  • Group Dynamics Labs
  • Social Psychology

Physiological Psychology

Physiological Psychology is a two-quarter module with courses designed to familiarize students with the terminology, principles, and research findings in this area. Where possible, direct reference is made to the content and practice of clinical psychology.

  • Physiological Psychology I
  • Physiological Psychology II

Ethical Issues in Psychology

Ethical Issues in Psychology offers in-depth consideration of ethical standards applicable to the science and practice of psychology.

  • Ethical Issues in Psychology

Ethnic Minority

Ethnic Minority Issues in Psychology deals with the unique aspects of psychological assessment and treatment as applied to ethnic minority populations.

  • Ethnic Minority Issues in Psychology

Practical Work

In addition to and concurrent with course work during each year at the school, a variety of practical experience is expected of each student.

  • Professional Seminar—Varied Topics is a 4-quarter seminar (two hours per quarter), several versions of which are offered every year. All new students must enroll in one of the seminars during their first year in the program. Enrollment in Professional Seminar is for three years (12 quarters). The seminars consist of practical training in assessment and intervention. Topics have included assessments (beginning and advanced), therapy (beginning, advanced, individual, behavioral, cognitive, child, family), behavioral medicine, and forensic applications.

  • All students become staff members of the Professional Psychology Center (PPC) and are expected to work with clients in the center each year prior to the internship year. The center is an integral part of the school and includes interview, play therapy, and group therapy rooms as well as necessary supplies and equipment. One-way-vision mirrors, audio taping, videotaping, and digital recording facilitate ongoing supervision of clinical work. Clients of diverse ethnic, racial, social, religious, and individual backgrounds and life styles are seen by students for assessment and intervention. Referrals come from private and public sources throughout the community. Approximately 200 clients receive services each week.

    PPC client cases are supervised by faculty members, seminar co-leaders, and individual community professionals, many of whom are GSPP alumni. New students are required to attend a series of orientation meetings before starting work in the PPC. The content of the orientation includes the history of clinical psychology, PPC policies and procedures, GSPP policies, and ethical standards for psychologists. Students carry no less than two PPC therapy cases at all times and are expected to adhere to the Ethical Principles of Psychologists published by the American Psychological Association.

  • Each year prior to the internship year, students are also required to be in a Community Field Placement for a minimum of eight hours per week. In these placements, students are involved in supervised professional experiences in mental health centers, schools, college counseling centers, the justice system, hospitals, rehabilitation centers, private practices, residential treatment homes, and businesses in the Denver metropolitan area. There is a wide choice of placements, and available paid placements are often filled by second- and third-year students.

    Within the general field placement requirement, students are required to work a minimum of 40 contact hours with clients from at least one culturally diverse group, such as a racial/ethnic minority or people of a gay, lesbian, or bisexual orientation. Opportunities for such experience are available in a variety of the community field placement settings. The 40 contact hours are a total to be achieved during the time a student is enrolled in the program.

  • Excluding formal field placements and work in the PPC, students must have written approval from the program director to engage in psychological or mental health work for pay or as volunteers.

Specialty Focus Tool

Each student is expected to choose a specialty area in which to increase depth of theoretical knowledge and skills. The specific specialty course will be chosen by the student in conjunction with the academic advisor (at the end of the first year) in order to meet the students needs and interests and to make a coherent program. The specialty area should consist of 15 quarter hours of course work (excluding core courses but including, where applicable, specialized professional seminar registration) in GSPP or other departments of the University and can include courses transferred for credit. Examples of a specialty focus tool are adult or child assessment and therapy, behavior therapy, family therapy, forensic psychology, geropsychology, group treatment, behavioral medicine, dynamic psychotherapy, school psychology, and treatment of women.

Clinical Competency Exam

Students will be expected to take the clinical competency exam the summer before they apply for internship. This oral exam is clinical in nature and is modeled, in part, on the Colorado licensing exam. Successful completion of the exam is required for internship readiness.

Doctoral Paper

This is generally a review and organization of the literature in the students specialty area and should be of dissertation quality (showing evidence of original thinking and scholarship) and in a publication format. There is no requirement for empirical research output; but, if a student wishes, a research project is appropriate for the doctoral paper requirement.

Internship

GSPP requires a clinical internship in which students pull together theory and practice in a one-year, in-depth experience. The requirement is met after completion of all course and practical work. The internship is a vital component of the educational program and is never waived. A student applies for an internship a year before it begins. Our students have been accepted for quality internships in a wide variety of clinical and geographical settings. Students are encouraged to seek internships around the country and have been successful in doing so. For those students who desire an internship in Colorado, the GSPP offers an exclusive consortium of APA accredited internship sites. Students who fail all or part of the internship are subject to dismissal from the school. For information about our internship placement rates and sites where interns are placed, please click here.

Course Offerings

Elective courses and labs, which provide extra help in selected subject areas, are also available and listed at the end of this section.

Course Supplements

  • Several times during the academic year, GSPP invites an expert in a topic of special interest to professional psychologists to present a colloquium for students and faculty . These enable us to offer state-of-the-art information. * Reflecting our commitment to lifelong professional development, the Graduate School of Professional Psychology offers a Continuing Education Program for community mental health professionals. These advanced courses are frequently available for student enrollment on a space-available basis.
  • Courses in other departments and schools of the University are available to GSPP students. Graduate courses in education, history, international studies, law, mass communication, social work, psychology, and sociology are described in the appropriate bulletins. Courses in other colleges, schools, and departments of the University give GSPP students wide exposure to historical and current areas of knowledge relevant to the education of the professional psychologist.
  • A flexible dual degree program (PsyD/JD) with the College of Law in which the student earns both the PsyD and the JD degree is possible. The student must be admitted to both programs.
  • GSPP and the College of Education jointly offer the requirements for certification as a school psychologist.
  • GSPP participates with Iliff School of Theology and other DU departments in a joint doctoral program of religion and psychological studies . For further information, contact Iliff School of Theology S-117, 2201 S. University Blvd., Denver, CO 80210, (303)744-1287.