Graduates of our program function as scientists and providers, but are trained with a particular emphasis on the research and academic aspects of psychology.
Pacific University’s PhD in Clinical Psychology Program adheres to an integrated scientist-practitioner model where science advances our practice while and at the same time, clinical practice guides, directs, and informs research.
Students integrate the science and practice of psychology by completing specific requirements in didactic instruction and experiential practica. In accordance with competencies outlined by the APA as essential for psychologists and projections regarding the new and innovative ways in which psychologists will need to practice, students are trained to evaluate and administer programs and outcomes, develop innovative interventions, be competent supervisors and consultants, and to function effectively in integrated healthcare settings.
Students have the opportunity to gain experience in areas of faculty expertise, including mindfulness and Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction (MBSR), aging and cognitive issues (e.g., Alzheimer's disease; memory), behavioral neuroscience, pediatric neuropsychology, childhood risk and resilience, and substance abuse.
The PhD in Clinical Psychology Program is Accredited by the American Psychological Association (APA) Commission on Accreditation.
“I chose Pacific because of the small, close, and collaborative community the faculty have created and modeled for the students. The caring and loving relationship that the faculty have is rare and facilitates cross-lab collaboration and mentorship.”
PhD in Clinical Psychology Program Admission Requirements
In choosing students for the PhD program, we look for individuals with research experience and interests that match our training objectives and our faculty’s research interests, as well as academic aptitude and effective personal qualities. Students must have earned a bachelor’s degree with a preferred GPA of at least 3.4.
All PhD applicants must submit GRE scores taken within five years prior to application and complete our application packet. For more information on our program requirements, please visit our website.
International Students The Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) is required if English is not your native language. We require a minimum score of 600 for the paper test; 250 for the computer test; and 250 or 100 for the Internet test. Applicants who attended college, university or graduate school outside of the U.S. and Canada must provide a course-by-course evaluation of all international college and university transcripts. Pacific University prefers evaluations from World Education Services (WES).
Prerequisite Coursework
Strong Undergraduate Background in Psychology: A psychology major is not required; however, math-based Statistics, Research Methods and Abnormal Psychology courses are required prerequisites. Prerequisite courses must be completed with a “B-” or above before a student can matriculate into the program. These prerequisites do not need to be complete when application is submitted.
In addition, we recommend the following courses:
Clinical Psychology
Experimental Psychology
Cognition/Learning
Introduction to Psychology
Social Psychology
How to Apply Go to our website for instructions and to fill out the online application for your program of choice.
If you have a question about certain courses or admissions information, please email PsychDoctorate@pacificu.edu.
PhD Class Profile
75–90
APPLICATIONS RECEIVED
25
average age
3.7
average graduate gpa
148
average gre quantitative
8
CLASS SIZE
3.5
average undergraduate gpa
80%
number of out-of-state students
Whether you aspire to apply psychological science in your career, practice as a licensed professional or work in research, we look for students who have high personal standards and ethics.
Clinical Placement
Practicum training helps students integrate theoretical knowledge with clinical application. Our students gain supervised practice experience with a range of client populations, age groups and clinical problems.
Practicum
Each student is required to complete a minimum of two years of clinical practicum training. Each practicum experience includes 500 training hours per year, including provision of direct clinical services (e.g., assessment and psychotherapy), supervision, and other clinically relevant experiences. Training helps students integrate theoretical knowledge and research activity with clinical application, and supervised practice experience with a range of client populations and clinical problems will be gained. The PhD program places an emphasis on evidenced-based practice in clinical psychology, and students gain didactic and experientially-based training in these techniques. As a scientist-practitioner program, the course of study encourages students to integrate their research interests and clinical work, and this process is navigated through close mentorship guidance from a primary adviser.
Training Sites
The School of Graduate Psychology operates the Pacific Psychology & Comprehensive Health Clinic (PCH), a training clinic with sites in Portland and Hillsboro. The Hillsboro clinic is located in Creighton Hall on the Hillsboro Campus and provides services in Spanish and English. The Portland clinic is located in downtown Portland. These clinics offer a wide range of psychological services to the community. Most students gain some practicum experience at the program's own training clinics; other community sites in the Portland area are also available, allowing for exposure to varied sites and populations.
Internship
The clinical psychology internship is the culminating experience of the clinical psychology PhD program. It is among the last major tasks undertaken by students prior to graduation and represents a significant commitment of time and effort. The internship provides opportunity to use and refine clinical skills and knowledge and to consolidate one’s professional identity.
The internship requires either full-time supervised clinical experience for one calendar year or a comparable halftime supervised clinical experience for two consecutive years. Internship training must be taken at a site that is APA accredited or meets Association of Psychology Postdoctoral and Internship Center (APPIC) criteria. Typically internships will be outside the state of Oregon. Students apply for internships through the APPIC match procedure. We also have our own APA-accredited internship training program at the PCH.
The campus includes two LEED-certified buildings, constructed in 2006 and 2010, featuring state-of-the-art classroom spaces, labs, clinics and student areas. Pacific also has office and high-tech classroom spaces in the award-winning Intermodal Transit Facility adjacent to campus.