The UMass Boston Ph.D. Program in Clinical Psychology is designed to prepare academics, researchers, and clinicians who have excellent theoretical and research training in human development in cultural context. Accredited by the American Psychological Association, the program provides a strong theoretical background in psychology and related social science disciplines, as well as training in essential clinical skills and in conducting research. Graduates of the program are professionals who can translate basic psychological knowledge into practical applications, and who can advance understanding of key human problems through research and other scholarly activities. Graduates are prepared to work with people of all ages in a variety of research and clinical settings. Graduates also have the requisite knowledge and supervised clinical training to be eligible to take the Massachusetts licensing examination for clinical

Our program emphasizes

* Theoretical issues in normal and abnormal development from infancy through adolescence and adulthood.

* Sociocultural, ethnic, and minority issues. The course work highlights social and cultural approaches to normal and abnormal development, especially as they help to build an understanding of the perspectives of ethnic minority and low-income groups.

* A biopsychosocial approach to explaining and treating problems in living, symptomatic behavior, and mental illness, and opportunities for interdisciplinary study. The program draws not only on faculty from the Psychology Department who adopt a biopsychosocial perspective, but also from other departments, including the Departments of Anthropology and Sociology and the University’s research institutes. Research training gives students skills for analyzing problems from a variety of social science perspectives.

* Specialized assessment and intervention skills. The program trains students in a broad range of assessment and intervention skills that not only enable them to treat problem behavior, but will help them promote healthy adaptation, and prevent individual and social problems from developing.