Ph.D. Program in Clinical-Community Psychology
A University of Alaska Fairbanks Degree Offered in Partnership with the University of Alaska Anchorage
 

Program Requirements

Minimum Requirements for Degree: 115 credits

The Ph.D. Program in Clinical-Community Psychology with a Rural Indigenous Emphasis is a partnership between the Departments of Psychology at UAF and UAA.  Program focus includes clinical, community, and cross-cultural psychology with an emphasis on indigenous, Alaska Native, and American Indian psychology.  This partnership integrates the strengths and resources of both departments to advance academic excellence, promote innovative and practical research, and provide solid graduate training in clinical-community psychology.  The program, which will seek accreditation from the American Psychological Association, ensures that graduates have obtained the full range of clinical training mandated for doctoral-level clinical psychologists and will be adequately prepared for licensure as psychologists.  The program is designed to be a four-year full-time academic program, with a pre-doctoral internship in the fifth year. 

1.  Complete the admission process including the following:

a.  Application deadline: Received by February 1 for the following fall admission.  This is the only opportunity for program admission each year.

b.  Compliance with the University Requirements for a doctoral degree and admission to graduate studies as detailed in the UAF Catalog

c.  Minimum of a Bachelor’s degree (B.S. or B.A. or B.Ed.); major in psychology or related field preferred.  All requirements for bachelor’s degree must be completed by June 30 prior to matriculation.

d.   Minimum undergraduate grade point average of 3.0

e.   Minimum 3.0 grade point average in major and in all psychology courses. 

e.  Course work in the areas of abnormal psychology, statistics, research methods, and one of the following: personality, clinical psychology, social psychology, or community psychology.  All prerequisite course work must be completed by June 30 prior to matriculation.

f.   Letter of intent describing the applicant’s interest and purpose in studying clinical psychology, the reasons why a Ph.D. in clinical psychology at UAF/UAA is sought at this point in the applicant’s professional development, and an understanding of relevant professional ethics

g.  Professional vita, including documentation regarding academic, research, and professional experiences; special projects and activities; and recognitions or honors

h.  Three professional references (preferably curriculum or research advisors, major course instructors with whom the students had contact in more than one course, and/or supervisors)

i.   Disclosure Statement, located at http://psyphd.alaska.edu/appprocedures.htm, must accompany the application to the program.  Lifetime criminal background check and Disclosure Form (to be completed upon notification and before final acceptance into the program). 

2.         Complete the general university requirements as outlined in the UAF/UAA catalog

3.         Complete the Ph.D. degree requirements as outlined in the UAF/UAA catalog

4.         Complete the following as part of the Ph.D. program requirements:

a.    Cultural Experience: During their time in the Ph.D. program, students must

       participate in a cultural experience as defined by program faculty.  The actual 

       experience will vary from year to year and may be adapted to individual student

       needs. 

b.       Coursework:  Students must complete 26 required courses (for a total of 70 credits),
18 credits of dissertation, 18 credits of predoctoral internship, and 9 credits of electives.  Students must accumulate a minimum of 115 credits to graduate and must have completed all required course work.  Students entering the program with a Master's Degree in Psychology or related field, must complete at least two-years of full-time course work, 18 credits of dissertation, and one-year of predoctoral internship, all as approved by the student's advisory committee. 

        The following 26 courses are required: 

c.       Clinical/Community Competency: Students must demonstrate clinical/community competency before being allowed to apply for internship.  Clinical competency is demonstrated through the preparation of a Clinical/Community Portfolio that will be evaluated by an ad hoc committee consisting of four clinically-trained faculty members (two per campus) who teach in the doctoral program.  Criteria for the portfolio will be clearly defined and samples will be provided for students.

d.       Research Competency: Students must demonstrate research competency before being allowed  to register for dissertation credits.  Research competency is demonstrated through the preparation of a Research Portfolio that will be evaluated by an ad hoc committee consisting of four research-trained faculty members (two per campus) who teach in the doctoral program.  Criteria for the portfolio will be clearly defined and samples will be provided for students.

e.       Advancement to Candidacy: Before students are allowed to register for dissertation credits, they will be reviewed for performance by the UAF/UAA Ph.D. committee, using existing university standards and forms for advancement to candidacy.  Review will be based on faculty experience with students to date, submitted paperwork, and student’s progress through the program.  Feedback from the review will be provided to the student by her or his advisor.  Students must have passed either the Research or Clinical-Community Competency before being able to request Advancement to Candidacy.    

f.        Doctoral Dissertation Proposal Defense:  Before commencing data collection for dissertation project, students must defend their proposal to their dissertation committee.  The defense must be based on a written dissertation proposal to be distributed to the dissertation committee after approval by the dissertation chair.  The defense will be an oral presentation to the committee by the student and will not be a public meeting.  For data-collection-based dissertations, the proposal must also be approved by the UAF or UAA Institutional Review Board before data collection can commence. 

g.        Doctoral Dissertation:  A doctoral dissertation must be carried out successfully and approved by a doctoral dissertation committee. The dissertation committee will consist of at least four members. It is recommended that the dissertation chair be on the same campus as the student. There must be at least one committee member from each Psychology Department at UAF and UAA.  Content areas can vary widely, but must be related to clinical, community, or cross-cultural issues and applicable in Alaska settings. 

h.       Advancement to Internship:  Students must apply to the local Director of Clinical Training (DCT) before being permitted to apply for a predoctoral internship.  DCTs will review the students’ course work, assure that all prior milestones have been mastered (i.e., Clinical/Community Competency, Research Competency, Doctoral Dissertation Defense, and Advancement to Candidacy) before approving the student for internship and before writing a letter of support for the student (typically required by all approved internship sites). 

i.        Predoctoral Internship:  A full-time, one-year predoctoral internship is required.  This internship should meet the criteria laid out by the American Psychological Association; selection of an Association of Psychology Postdoctoral and Internship Centers (APPIC)-approved internship is encouraged.  Placements in Alaska are preferred, but not required.

j.        Strict compliance with APA Ethical Guidelines is required throughout participation in the degree program.  Violations can result in immediate dismissal from the program and failure to graduate.  Completion of an annual Disclosure Statement is also required.  Affirmative answers may result in dismissal from the program and failure to graduate.  The Disclosure Statement may be viewed at http://psyphd.alaska.edu.

Complete list of course descriptions

Sample Curriculum

Estimate on Tuition Cost