Ph.D. Program in Clinical-Community Psychology

Offered Jointly by the University of Alaska Fairbanks and the University of Alaska Anchorage

Selection Process Overview

Each candidate's application materials to the Ph.D. Program in Clinical-Community Psychology with Rural, Indigenous Emphasis are independently evaluated and quantitatively rated by members of the Ph.D. Admissions Committee.  This committee consists of faculty members and student representatives from each campus.  Reviewers follow written guidelines for evaluating application materials. Each application is initially screened on the following dimensions:
 

1.       Undergraduate and graduate grade point average (meeting the minimum GPA required)

2.       Degree and major (completion of bachelor’s degree and relevance of major)

3.       Coursework (completion of prerequisite coursework)

4.       Letter of intent (interests and professional goals, goodness of fit with program)

5.       Professional vita (documentation of academic, research, and professional experience)

6.       Letters of recommendation

7.       Graduate Record Exam scores - optional

In addition to the preceding screening criteria, candidates applying for admission to the Ph.D. Program in Clinical-Community Psychology with Rural, Indigenous Emphasis with a Master's degree who want to use some of their graduate work to meet requirements of the Ph.D. Program will also be screened on the following dimensions:
 

1.       Completion of master’s degree (must be in clinical, community, or counseling psychology, or related field)

2.       Graduate university (if not from UAA or UAF, licensure as a psychological associate or equivalent is preferred)

3.       Graduate coursework (equivalence of coursework to first two years of Ph.D. program; assessed using the Advanced Cohort Course Listing Form)

4.       Relevant professional experience

All applications that pass this initial screening process are reviewed in greater detail by Ph.D. Admissions Committee members. This comprehensive review process follows written guidelines for evaluating materials and provides quantitative ratings on the following dimensions:
 

1.       Academic potential (e.g., demonstrated ability to learn; has performed well academically; capable of mathematical reasoning; works consistently toward academic goals; appropriate breadth of academic preparation; GPA and any optional GRE scores)

2.       Research potential (e.g., demonstrated ability and interest in doing research; interest in faculty research; evidences of presentations, publications, or grants; evidence of other creative works)

3.       Therapeutic potential (e.g., relevant clinical experiences; ability to form and maintain relationships; appears to understand others, cares about others; ability to intervene effectively; reportedly hears and uses feedback)

4.       Community potential (e.g., relevant community experiences; ability to work proactively; appears to understand community dynamics; ability to intervene effectively; commitment/interest in community-based work)

5.       Relevant personal characteristics (e.g., appropriately self-disclosing, demonstrates self-reflection, interest and motivation sufficient to succeed in the program; demonstrates interpersonal skills)

6.       Writing and communication skills (personal statement demonstrates ability to organize and clearly communicate written ideas; materials overall reflect good basic grammar, punctuation, and style)

7.       Strength of references (e.g., potential for success, verbal communication skills, ability to relate to others, personal qualities, interest and motivation in learning, capacity for critical evaluation, capacity for integration)

8.       Match with program (e.g., familiarity with the training mission [practitioner-scientist] and focus of program; committed to rural, diversity, and community service issues)

9.       Contribution to diversity (e.g., demonstrates an appreciation for ethnic diversity, religious/spiritual diversity; sexual orientation; disabilities; other demonstrated contribution or sensitivity to diversity)

10.   Commitment to Alaska (e.g., wants to practice in Alaska, especially the rural areas of the state; committed to remaining in the state after graduation)

All members of the Ph.D. Admission Committee carefully evaluate and rate each of the applications. The ratings from all members are combined to provide each candidate with one overall score. The highest scoring applicants will be invited to visit the UAA or UAF campus for a series of personal interviews with faculty.  

IMPORTANT NOTE:  Final selection needs to reflect a balance in the cohort for campus choice, with half of the students being admitted to UAF and half to UAA.  To achieve this balance, separate rankings will be made for each campus.  There will be one ranking for UAA of students indicating they only want UAA or they have no campus preference and one ranking for UAF of students indicating they only want UAF or do not have a campus preference.  Thus, students indicating that they do not have a campus preference are ranked at both campuses and increase their chances of admission. 

In-person interviews for each of the cohorts will be conducted one day on the UAA campus and one day on the UAF campus. Fairbanks interviews will take place the first Wednesday in March.  Anchorage interviews will take place the first Friday in March.  All applicants selected for interviews are invited to attend one of these two interview days, depending upon the applicant’s preferred campus. Inviting all applicants for one day of interviews allows them the opportunity to informally meet with each other, as well as with the faculty.  The personal interview is an important and required part of the admissions selection process.  Applicants are typically given about two weeks notice if they are to be invited. Failure to attend the in-person interviews constitutes a withdrawal from the admissions process and the application will not be considered further.  Alternate arrangements may be made under exceptional circumstances only.

After completion of the interviews, the Ph.D. Admissions Committee will make final decisions. Candidates are selected on the basis of their final scores and the degree of "fit" or match between applicants' interests and strengths and the faculty's research and clinical interests. The Ph.D. Admissions Committee will strive to achieve a balance in each of the two cohorts, based on campus choice, diversity, and gender, as well as match with mission of the Ph.D. Program in Clinical-Community Psychology with  Rural, Indigenous Emphasis and faculty research interests.

Student Handbook

Course Descriptions

University of Alaska Fairbanks
Department of Psychology

P.O. Box 756480
Fairbanks, Alaska 99775

telephone 907.474.7012
fax 907.474.5781

University of Alaska Anchorage
Department of Psychology

3211 Providence Drive, SSB 303
Anchorage, Alaska 99508

telephone 907.786.1640
fax 907.786.1669