Clinical Science at the University of Michigan
On September 1st of 2010, the clinical psychology program at the University of Michigan adopted a Clinical Science training model and began transitioning to this model. The information contained in this website refers to our new Clinical Science model. For additional information about this transition, please contact the Chair of the clinical psychology program, Dr. Sheryl Olson at slolson@umich.edu. Dr. Donna Nagata is the Director of Clinical Training nagata@umich.edu.
The clinical psychology program at the University of Michigan is committed to training clinical scientists who will pursue research careers that advance professional knowledge in the promotion of mental health and the assessment, prevention, and treatment of psychopathology and neurodevelopmental disorders. In general, the faculty view clinical practice as an applied science and aspire to contribute to the foundation of evidence that guides ethical and effective psychological services. To achieve these goals, our APA-accredited program offers rigorous training in psychopathology, cognitive and affective neuroscience, cultural processes, resilience and coping, interdisciplinary research methods, statistics, clinical and research ethics, and evidence-based assessment, prevention, and treatment interventions.
Our program recognizes clinical training as a core component in the development of clinical scientists, and we believe that clinical competency facilitates and informs clinical science. Thus, we strive to provide excellent clinical training that integrates science and practice through prevention, assessment, case conceptualization, and intervention. Nevertheless, our programmatic commitment to a clinical science training model indicates that potential applicants who desire careers in clinical practice will not be well-served by our program. Our program is optimal for those who desire careers as clinical scientists and academicians.
Strengths of our program faculty currently include cognitive and affective neuroscience, behavioral endocrinology, developmental psychopathology, risk and resilience, violence and trauma, and cross-cultural investigations of clinical problems. We encourage the multi-level integration of biological, psychological, familial, community, and lifespan approaches.
Program Mission:
The program’s broad mission is to advance scientific research in all aspects of clinical psychology including education, assessment, treatment, prevention and understanding of psychopathology and neurodevelopmental disorders.
Program Goals:
To facilitate rigorous, significant, culturally and contextually sensitive, clinically relevant psychological research utilizing innovative and diverse methods.
To prepare graduate students for top academic and research careers by providing them outstanding scientific training with an appreciation for multicultural and interdisciplinary approaches.
To train graduate students in the rigorous application of scientific principles in the promotion of mental health and the prevention, assessment, evaluation and treatment of psychological distress, psychopathology, and neurodevelopmental disorders.
To teach undergraduate students to think scientifically about human behavior, to critically assess concepts and evidence, and to engage them in clinical science research.
The clinical psychology program is accredited by the:
American Psychological Association
Commission on Accreditation
750 First Street, NE
Washington, DC 20002-4242
Phone: 202-336-5979
"APA Commission on Accreditation"
- The Department of Psychology's Program in Clinical Psychology received the Suinn Achievement Award (2005) from the American Psychological Association (APA). The award is given to university psychology departments that have demonstrated excellence in the recruitment, retention and graduation of ethnic minority students. The award, named after Richard M. Suinn—past president of the APA—was presented in August at the APA's annual meeting in Washington, DC.
Additional information:
