Clinical psychology graduate programs help students prepare for research or clinical career paths. This branch of psychology focuses on treating mental, emotional, and behavioral disorders.
In order to become a Clinical Psychologist, students must first earn a graduate degree, either a Masters or Doctorate, in some form of clinical psychology.
Clinical psychology programs feature core coursework and often emphasize research. They may also feature supervised clinical practice and internships.
Clinical psychology programs at each degree level might lead to different career paths. A Clinical Psychology Master’s program may help students prepare for psychologist roles that don’t call for a doctorate. These could include:
A Master’s program could also prepare students for counseling career paths, including Mental Health Counselor. Mental Health Counselor roles are projected to grow 23% by 2026.
For other roles in the field of psychology, you may need to earn a doctorate degree. Clinical psychology PhD programs could help you prepare for roles like:
Psychologist roles are projected to grow 14% by 2026, faster than average for all occupations.
Most psychology career paths call for at least a Master’s degree. And, career paths like Clinical Psychologist require a PhD or Psy.D.
The education you’ll need also depends on your state’s licensure requirements. You’ll generally need to earn a Master’s degree for Mental Health Counselor licensure and a doctorate for Clinical Psychologist licensure. You may also need to complete an internship and/or supervised clinical experience. Many clinical psychology graduate programs include these kinds of preparation.
Clinical Psychologists assess and treat disorders related to mental and behavioral health. They may give diagnostic tests, provide psychotherapy, and devise behavior modification programs.
Some Clinical Psychologists treat specific populations – like children or the elderly. They could work in places like:
Graduates with a degree in clinical psychology could also pursue counseling career paths. Mental Health Counselors provide some of the same services as Clinical Psychologists. For instance, they help treat issues like anxiety, depression, and stress.
|
Occupation |
Average Salary |
Employment |
|
Clinical, Counseling, and School Psychologists |
$81,330 |
108,060 |
|
Psychologists, All Other |
$93,440 |
12,880 |
|
Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors |
$46,560 |
241,930 |
|
Counselors, All Other |
$47,600 |
27,150 |
|
State |
Employment |
Annual Mean Wage |
|
California |
18,250 |
$94,910 |
|
New York |
11,380 |
$91,180 |
|
Texas |
6,250 |
$70,060 |
|
Pennsylvania |
4,800 |
$79,280 |
|
Illinois |
3,990 |
$76,150 |
Clinical, Counseling, and School Psychologists work in many industries. These range from home health services to private businesses. Industries that employ the most professionals in this field include:
Clinical Psychology degrees are reported by the National Center for Education Statistics under the category of Psychology.
By the most recent data (2013), 4,835 Clinical Psychology degrees were awarded to U.S. graduate students. A slight majority (51%) of these programs were at the Master’s level.
| Program | Institution | Degree Awarded |
| MA, Psychology, Professional Clinical Counseling | Brandman University | N/A |
| PhD in Clinical Psychology - General | Walden University | N/A |
| MS - Applied Research | Capella University | MS |
A Master’s in Clinical Psychology program could help you prepare for certain psychology career paths. Or, it could serve as a stepping stone to doctoral study. This program delves into the theory of psychology, plus techniques for clinical practice. You could also choose a concentration, like counseling, addiction, or gerontology.
Clinical psychology Master’s programs may emphasize research, supervised clinical experience, or both. You’ll often need to complete a Master’s thesis, along with practicums and/or internships.
Clinical psychology PhD programs dive deeper into the field. These doctoral programs are research-intensive but usually include both theory and applied practice. Expect to study skill areas like assessment, intervention, and psychotherapy. Practicums and internships may help candidates prepare for practitioner roles.
Some students earn a Master’s and then pursue a PhD later – or never. In dual Master’s/PhD programs, candidates enroll with a Bachelor’s degree. In these programs, you could pursue a Master’s on the way to earning your PhD in Clinical Psychology.
Clinical Psychology Graduate Degree Guide |
|
|---|---|
Master's in Psychology |
Ph.D in Psychology |
M.S. in Clinical Psychology |
PhD in Clinical Psychology |
|
Length of Program: 37 to 67 units |
Length of Program: 105 to 108 credits |
|
The MSCP program explore aspects of human behavior, ranging from the social to the neurobiological. Concentrations like Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor (LPCC) could help students target their career goals. |
The PhD is designed to help prepare students for goals in professional practice. It focuses on clinical skill areas like psychotherapy. The program features internship and practicum experiences. |
|
|
|
No specific program accreditations |
No specific program accreditations |
Coursework in clinical psychology graduate programs covers human behavior, personality, intervention, and more. Some courses focus on typical behavior and development. Others cover psychopathology and how to treat patients with mental health challenges.
You could also take courses in professional ethics, standards, and laws. And, students who choose a concentration pursue specific courses in that area. For example, you could delve into neuroscience or forensic psychology.
Some common courses in Clinical Psychology programs include:
Your classes may consist of core courses in psychology, plus electives and coursework within your concentration. You could take classes like:
You may need to graduate from an accredited clinical psychology program to pursue licensure in your state. (Check with your Manitoba state board to learn more.)
Most accrediting organizations evaluate a program’s curriculum, adherence to industry standards, and improvement over time. So, accreditation can help you make sure you are pursuing a high-quality program.
Several organizations accredit programs in clinical psychology or clinical mental health counseling. These include:
Earning Master’s degree in clinical psychology may take about two years, or longer. Earning a PhD in clinical psychology could take four to six years.
|
University |
# of Credits Required |
Starts Per Year |
Minimum Months to Complete |
|
Grace College and Theological Seminary |
60 |
3 |
24 |
|
The Chicago School of Professional Psychology |
60 |
Multiple |
36 |
|
Bradley University |
60 |
2 |
36 |
|
Wake Forest University |
60 |
2 |
36 |
The average cost of earning a graduate degree from a public institution is $11,617 per year. So, you might find programs both more affordable and more expensive than the average. Below, note the graduate tuition costs of four institutions with Clinical Psychology Graduate Programs as reported by NCES. We compared those costs to the typically most affordable and most expensive college options, also reported by NCES.
Cost per credit is different for each college or university. State universities may have in state-costs vs. out-of-state costs. Below are a few examples of cost per credit as reported by institutions that offer clinical psychology programs.
| University | # of Credits Required | Cost Per Credit | Tuition Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
|
University |
# of Credits Required |
Cost Per Credit |
Total Tuition Cost |
|
The Chicago School of Professional Psychology |
60 |
$1164 |
$69,840 |
|
Capella University |
90 |
$487 |
$43,830 |
|
Antioch University |
60 |
$625 |
$37,500 |
|
Bradley University |
60 |
$890 |
$53,400 |
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