Clinical Psychology PsyD Program

Appalachian State University's Doctoral Program in Clinical Psychology (Psy.D.)

Appalachian State University’s Doctoral Program (Psy.D.) in Clinical Psychology is an applied practice degree in health service psychology. The goal of our training program is to develop psychologists who are well-rounded practitioners trained in and committed to evidence-based professional practice. In addition, graduates will demonstrate competency in scientific inquiry and evaluation.

Program Overview

The Psy.D. program at Appalachian State specifically aims to train students to serve rural and other underserved populations, an important mission given the state and national needs to provide care to this underserved group which coincides with our history and heritage as a leading university in Appalachia. Effective service provision to rural populations inherently requires substantial training in applied research skills, given that there is relatively poor guidance for culturally-appropriate interventions. Consultation and evaluation will be an integral part of both training and future professional pursuits. As such, the program follows a model of training that promotes application of the foundational knowledge of the science of psychology to clinical practice, and the development of interpersonal, applied clinical, and scientific skills for use in implementing evidence-based practice.

The Appalachian State Psy.D. program maintains a low student-faculty ratio so that students receive close individual mentoring from faculty members. Individual mentoring allows students to pursue clinical and research experience that best matches their interests and to pursue the career path they seek. We admit approximately 6-8 students per year, and graduate stipend support is available for all incoming graduate students.

There are 9 core faculty members of the Psy.D. program. In addition, the Department of Psychology includes 28 other full-time faculty, many of whom contribute to existing graduate programs in Psychological Science, School, and Industrial/Organizational-Human Resource Management Psychology, as well as the Psy.D. program. The graduate program has an established Psychology Clinic for therapy and assessment training, staffed by Clinical graduate students as well as a full-time Director and Assistant Director. The graduate program also has long-standing practicum sites arranged for graduate students including the Counseling and Psychological Services Center, several regional school mental health programs (Assessment, Support, & Counseling Centers), community health center (an integrated care placement), among other placement options. The graduate curriculum provides a strong blend of applied and scientific training, and requires a three-year sequence of supervised practicum training.

Accreditation

The Psy.D. program has been approved by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.

The Psy.D. program is accredited on contingency by the Commission on Accreditation of the American Psychological Association (APA) effective February 2, 2024. Contingent status expires February 2, 2029.

For more information about APA accreditation, see: apa.org/ed/accreditation.

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

The Psy.D. program will:

• Provide training in empirically supported and evidence-based practices for the direct and indirect delivery of behavioral health services.
• Address the demand for doctoral-level psychologists in the state of North Carolina, especially in underserved and rural areas.
• Support the North Carolina western region through building the capacity for mental and behavioral health services for the region as well as through outreach, research, and collaboration for economic development.
• Support the mission of the Department of Psychology, Appalachian State University, and the University of North Carolina System.