Program Overview
Our PhD programs have a long and distinguished history, having been established in the late 1960s. Overall, we typically have 35-45 PhD students at any given time, making us among the largest PhD programs at UVM. All of our PhD students receive 12-months per year funding (stipend, tuition remission) as a graduate teaching assistant and/or graduate research assistant, for 5 years.
Funding Your Graduate Degree
Ph.D. Program in Clinical Psychology
The Clinical Psychology PhD program is based on the scientist-practitioner model of training originally outlined at the 1949 Boulder Conference. The program successfully develops competent professional psychologists who can function in applied, academic, or research positions. An emphasis is placed on research that is clinically-relevant, clinical practice that is empirically-based, and a balance in research and clinical training. There are no other PhD training programs in professional psychology at the University of Vermont or in the State of Vermont; therefore, this program makes a unique contribution in the University and State.
The Ph.D. program in Clinical Psychology places equal emphasis on research and clinical training. The Clinical Psychology program is fully accredited by the American Psychological Association.
The Ph.D. program in Clinical/Developmental Psychology provides students with training in the area of developmental psychopathology. Students completing the Clinical/Developmental degree meet the requirements of the Clinical program and those of the Developmental cluster in the Experimental program.
Additional clinical, research, and adjunct faculty supervise students in clinical and research placements.
Applicants interested in the Ph.D. must apply for the Ph.D. degree only. Students whose goal is a terminal master's degree should apply through the M.A. program.
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Ph.D. Program in Experimental Psychology
The Ph.D. program in Experimental Psychology admits students in 4 broad areas of concentration ("clusters"): Biobehavioral Psychology; Developmental Psychology; Social Psychology; and Behavioral Psychopharmacology.
The Experimental Psychology PhD program involves intensive, mentor-driven training in the student’s chosen area of specialization or “cluster” (Biobehavioral Psychology; Developmental Psychology; Social Psychology; Human Behavioral Pharmacology) as well as additional coursework in methods and statistics and the major foundational areas of psychology. Students are also required to have at least one mentored teaching experience. The curriculum is designed to provide students with depth in their area of specialization, as well as breadth in other areas of psychological inquiry.
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