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Clinical Psychology: Doctor of Psychology (PsyD)

About

Appalachian offers a Doctor of Psychology (PsyD) program, with a primary goal to train students in clinical psychology to serve rural populations. This program began in 2019 and admits students yearly to begin in the fall term.

The program employs a practitioner-scientist training model. The program trains students to become competent evidence-based, health service provider psychologists through balanced training in applied clinical assessment and intervention, as well as in applied research. In addition, the training program focuses on the impact of culture and diversity on clinical practice, including the ecological factors that affect individual and community development, specifically in rural areas.

Students interested in a doctoral program that provides rigorous clinical training as well as research opportunities may be well-suited for the program. Upon completion, graduates will be eligible to apply for licensure as psychologists and health service providers, with qualification to establish careers in the private and public sectors.

Learn more

Note on accreditation:

Accreditation for the Doctor of Psychology (Psy.D.) program by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges has been approved.

The program is currently not accredited by the American Psychological Association (APA). The program is, however, designed to satisfy APA criteria. We are pursuing steps necessary to achieve accreditation in a timely manner and will apply for accreditation as soon as possible.

APA accreditation is designed so that new doctoral programs can apply for, and possibly achieve accreditation for the first class of program graduates, which will be the goal for this new Psy.D. program. We cannot guarantee that accreditation will be achieved for the first graduates, but will make every effort to be successful toward that goal. Graduation from a nonaccredited program may impact eligibility for licensure in the state in which the student intends to practice. All applicants should investigate licensure requirements of the state in which they intend to practice. 

For more information on APA accreditation, visit accreditation.apa.org.

Office of Program Consultation and Accreditation 
750 First St., NE 
Washington, DC 20002-4242

Telephone: 202-336-5979 
TDD/TTY: 202-336-6123 
Fax: 202-336-5978 

Courses

  • Graduate Bulletin and Course Catalog
    • Clinical Psychology, PsyD with en route Psychology - Clinical Psychology Concentration, MA

Application Essentials

Required Entrance Exam: GRE (score must be no more than 5 years old), unless waived for those with a GPA of 3.0 or higher

Required number of references to specify in the online form: 3

Supplemental Information: Curriculum Vitae (Required upload for application submission); Personal statement describing professional interests, expectations from the doctoral program and career goals (< 2 double-spaced typed pages).

Basic Conditions for Consideration of Admission:  Meeting or exceeding the conditions below does NOT guarantee admission. All applications for a given entry term will be weighed based upon the number of seats available and the quality of the complete application packages. With special permission from the Graduate School, a program may admit a limited number of students with exceptional circumstances who do not meet the graduate school minimums.

Graduate School: 3.0 GPA in the last earned degree and official scores from the appropriate admission test(s), OR 2.5 GPA in the last earned degree and official scores at the 25th percentile level from the appropriate admission test(s).

Admission to Clinical Psychology: Both qualitative and quantitative aspects of applications are reviewed in comparison to the current applicant pool.

Preferred Admissions Requirements: Full details on preferred requirements and program admissions can found on the program page.

NOTE: The Clinical Psychology, PsyD is a dual degree program with the Psychology, Clinical Concentration, MA within the application since the MA is earned en route to the PsyD. Click here for a PDF with the steps to select the PsyD in the Program Information section of the online application.

Employers

Graduates will be prepared to work in:

  • Clinics
  • Medical Centers
  • Psychiatric hospitals
  • Correctional centers
  • Primary care practices
  • Community agencies
  • University counseling centers
  • Public and private schools
  • Private practice
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Application Deadlines

Fall Admission
February 1, priority deadline is December 1

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Why Appalachian?

  • A rural university and community setting that matches the program’s educational goals.
  • Cohort-based education, with six to eight students admitted each year.
  • A three-year clinical practicum sequence. Sites include Appalachian’s Assessment, Support and Counseling (ASC) Centers in area schools, the department’s community Psychology Clinic, the Counseling and Psychological Services Center on campus and a number of community opportunities (e.g., medical practices; inpatient hospital).
  • A 50-year history of training students in clinical psychology at the master’s level.
  • Financial support through scholarships and assistantships.
  • A university with a mission to meet the needs of North Carolina, where one-quarter of the state’s 100 counties have no practicing psychologist, according to a 2016 report by UNC Chapel Hill’s Cecil G. Sheps Center for Health Services Research.

Location

On campus, with significant applied supervised clinical training at sites located in the community.

Careers

Graduates will be eligible to apply for licensure as psychologists and health service providers, with qualification to establish careers in the private and public sectors.

Graduates may also teach in colleges and universities, and provide supervision to master’s-level practitioners.

Contacts

Dr. Lisa Curtin
Program Director
curtinla@appstate.edu
828-262-8936

Dr. Rose Mary Webb
Department Chair
webbrm@appstate.edu
828-262-8927

  • Dr. Wiley F. Smith Department of Psychology

    Appalachian’s Dr. Wiley F. Smith Department of Psychology serves more than 1,000 undergraduate majors seeking the Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science degree in psychology, as well as 80 graduate students in three master’s programs (experimental psychology, school psychology, and industrial-organizational psychology and human resource management) and the clinical psychology (Psy.D.) doctoral program. Learn more at https://psych.appstate.edu.

  • College of Arts and Sciences

    Appalachian’s Largest College

    The College of Arts and Sciences at Appalachian State University is home to 17 academic departments, two centers and one residential college spanning the humanities and the social, mathematical and natural sciences. The college is dedicated to providing instruction and research essential to the university's mission and seeks to cultivate the habits of inquiry, learning and service among all its constituents.

    By the Numbers

    • 1/3 of the degrees awarded at Appalachian
    • More than 70% of general education courses are taught in the college
    • 93 majors offered
    • 53 minors offered
    • 6,411 undergraduate majors
    • More than 460 full-time faculty members
    • 41,203 living alumni
    • $8,754,800 awarded to the college in external grants during the 2020–21 academic year
    • $236,914 awarded to students through 6 collegewide scholarships and 98 departmental scholarships for the 2020–21 academic year

    Graduate Programs

    Accelerated admissions program opportunities are available in pursuing a master's degree in 12 selected areas: Appalachian Studies, Biology, Computer Science, Engineering Physics, English, Geography and Planning, History, Mathematics, Romance Languages (French/Spanish), Political Science, Psychology (Experimental Science) and Public Administration. Other master’s degrees, graduate certificates and specialist degrees are listed on Appalachian’s School of Graduate Studies website.

    Top Employment Sectors

    • Colleges, Universities and Professional Schools
    • Federal, State and Local Government
    • Justice, Public Order and Safety Activities
    • Computer Systems Design and Related Services
    • Legal Services
    • Health Care
    • Biotech/Engineering
    • Elementary and Secondary Schools
    • Nonprofit Organizations

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