Ohio is an excellent location to get a graduate degree if for no other reason than there are so many schools with graduate programs. Ohio has more than a dozen public universities with graduate schools and over 50 private universities that offer graduate degrees.
This broad selection applies to psychology, too. Public and private schools, big and small schools, and urban and rural schools throughout Ohio offer graduate degrees in psychology.
And while it’s nice to have a large selection from which to choose, it can also be a little overwhelming. That’s where this guide comes in! Clinical psychology programs outlined below are among the most popular in Ohio. Explore each in detail to get your clinical psychology graduate program search underway!
Clinical Psychology Graduate Programs in Ohio
Listed below are some of the popular schools offering clinical psychology graduate programs in Ohio:
- Ohio University
- Capella University
- Ohio State University
- The University of Toledo
- The University of Cincinnati
- Walsh University
- Butler University
Ohio University
Ohio University has the distinction of being the oldest college in the Buckeye State. Founded in Athens, Ohio, in 1787, the university’s charter existed before Ohio was a state! In fact, Ohio University was established 15 years before Ohio became a territory.
It wasn’t until two years after that that Ohio joined the Union as the seventeenth state. Ohio University also has the distinction of being the first public university chartered by the United State Congress.
Much has changed at Ohio University over the years. What was once a small campus with few students on the frontier has become a large, bustling comprehensive university with around 28,000 students. You can choose from more than 250 academic programs, including more than 30 Ph.D. programs.
Ohio University consistently ranks among the top schools for affordability, and Athens is consistently ranked as one of the popular college towns in the state.
Clinical Psychology Program Information
The Clinical Psychology Ph.D. program at Ohio University is accredited by the American Psychological Association and requires 90 credits to complete if you enter the program with a bachelor’s degree. You need only 56 credits to complete the program if you already have a master’s degree.
The curriculum is divided into several categories of inquiry: Discipline-Specific Knowledge, Advanced Integrative Knowledge in Scientific Psychology, and Profession-Wide Competencies. Among the courses you will take include the following:
- Affective Aspects of Behavior
- Quantitative Methods
- Ethical and Legal Standards
- Diversity Issues in Research and Clinical Practice
- Clinical Psychopathology
Further requirements include attendance at faculty colloquia, participation in peer-reviewed research, and a teaching rotation. A comprehensive exam, a dissertation, and two twelve-month traineeships are also required. Students entering the program with a bachelor’s degree must also complete a master’s thesis.
You can apply to this program online. You must have a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university and have at least 18 hours of undergraduate psychology coursework, including at least one course in experimental research design and another in statistics. You need a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher and a 3.3 GPA or higher in your psychology coursework.
The following materials are required when you apply to the program:
- Official transcripts from each college or university you’ve attended
- A personal statement
- Three letters of recommendation
- A resume or curriculum vitae
- Non-English-speaking applicants must demonstrate English proficiency
Ohio State University
Though Ohio State University’s main campus is in Columbus – where it was founded in 1870 – the school is actually a much larger system. On the one hand, the main campus has around 68,000 students, making it the largest university in the state. On the other hand, the OSU system includes four other campuses scattered throughout Ohio, in addition to online offerings that enable you to get a degree from Ohio State without ever setting foot on campus.
Ohio State isn’t just a large school because of the number of students. It has 18 colleges and schools and more than 200 academic institutes and centers. Each year, more than 12,000 courses are offered at Ohio State as well. Academic life at Ohio State is consistently rewarded with top rankings.
Clinical Psychology Program Information
Ohio State’s Clinical Psychology Ph.D. program trains you to be a research-oriented clinical scientist. This type of training primarily leads to positions in the fields of research and academics. To prepare you for these pursuits, you will be trained in four primary areas:
- Clinical psychology
- Research methodology
- Core psychology fields (e.g., cognitive psychology, social psychology)
- Specialty training in either health or psychopathology
This six-year program includes studies of the core curriculum during the first two years, as well as a first-year research project and completion of the Master of Science degree requirements. You will also begin your clinical training during the second year.
The third year is highlighted by the completion of the candidacy exam for doctoral studies. Years four and five revolve around advanced practicum and research experiences, including the doctoral dissertation. The sixth and final year of the program is devoted entirely to an internship.
When applying, you must provide the following documentation:
- Official transcripts from each college or university you’ve attended
- Three letters of recommendation
- A resume or curriculum vitae
- An autobiographical statement
- Your first and second choice of programs
- A detailed list of all psychology courses you have taken
- A list of faculty with whom you’d like to work
The University of Toledo
The University of Toledo was founded in 1872 to educate the increasing population of the area as the United States expanded westward. Over the years, the university has grown into a world-class university with national recognition in many fields, particularly in astrophysics, astronomy, and solar energy, to name a few. All told, Toledo offers more than 300 academic programs for undergraduate and graduate students.
With 11,000 undergrads and more than 3,600 graduate students, the University of Toledo is a generously-sized school. You can enjoy more than 400 student organizations on campus, plus many opportunities to learn and grow within the greater Toledo community. But, you’ll still get the advantage of a small-school experience with small classes and a low student-to-faculty ratio.
Clinical Psychology Program Information
The doctoral program in Clinical Psychology at the University of Toledo is accredited by the American Psychological Association and offers a program that focuses your learning in three essential areas: Assessment, evidence-based psychotherapy, and clinical research.
In addition to these major areas of study, you have the option of choosing among three minor areas, too: Health Psychology, Experimental Psychopathology, or Quantitative Psychology. You can also pursue a mentorship program in experimental psychology with one of the psychology department’s faculty members.
Some of the courses you might take include the following:
- Culture And Psychology
- Quantitative Methods In Psychology
- Psychometrics and Scale Development
- Cognitive Assessment
- Professional And Ethical Issues
You will also participate in clinical experiences each of the five years you are in the program. This includes a full-time, SPA-accredited internship at a location outside of Toledo.
You can apply for graduate admission online. To qualify, you must have a master’s degree from a regionally accredited institution. You must also submit the following:
- Official transcripts from every college or university you’ve attended
- A statement of purpose
- A resume or curriculum vitae
- Three letters of recommendation
The University of Cincinnati
The history of the University of Cincinnati traces back to 1819, when Cincinnati College and the Medical College of Ohio were founded. The two schools merged in 1870 to form the University of Cincinnati, and in the more than 150 years since, the university has grown into one of the largest universities in the state. It’s also one of the most well-respected research universities in Ohio and the nation.
The University of Cincinnati has roughly 50,000 students that take courses offered in 14 distinct academic colleges. The student body is extremely diverse, with one-quarter of students identifying themselves as minorities. No matter your background or your chosen major, you will learn in a rich academic environment with top-tier professors at a school that’s renowned for its innovation.
Clinical Psychology Program Information
The University of Cincinnati’s Ph.D. program in Clinical Psychology is a 90-credit program (provided you enter the program with a bachelor’s degree) that takes around five years of full-time studies to complete. During that time, you will participate in coursework, seminars, research opportunities, and clinical experiences.
The clinical psychology track offers opportunities to specialize in one of the following areas:
- Child and Adolescent/Pediatric Psychology
- General Clinical Psychology
- Health Psychology
- Modern Couples and Family
- Community Health
- Neuropsychology
Each of these specialties requires you to complete a series of clinical placements that begin during the program’s first year. You will participate in clinical experiences both on and off campus, including inpatient mental health hospitals, the University of Cincinnati Medical Center, and community mental health centers throughout the Cincinnati area.
You can apply online to the University of Cincinnati. To do so, you must have an undergraduate degree from a regionally-accredited college or university and have a 3.0 GPA or higher for your undergraduate coursework.
The Ph.D. program requires that you show excellent academic potential, as evidenced by your undergraduate grades. Other criteria include:
- Prior experience in psychological research
- Prior professional development experiences
- The fit between your research interests and the areas of research offered by the psychology faculty
Clinical Psychology Work Opportunities in Ohio
Though clinical psychology work doesn’t just happen in urban areas, from a job opportunity standpoint, it helps that Ohio has so many large cities. Whether you seek employment in Cincinnati, Columbus, Cleveland, or Ohio’s other major cities, the chances are good that you will find a wealth of clinical psychology jobs.
For example, some clinical psychologists in Ohio work in community mental health, such as non-profit mental health organizations that provide services to underserved communities. You might work in areas of high poverty, providing crucial clinical psychology interventions to people who might not otherwise be able to afford it.
Another unique area of practice for clinical psychologists in Ohio is in the criminal justice system. For example, you might work for the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Corrections as a staff psychologist. In this role, you might assess inmates upon their incarceration, provide individual or group counseling to inmates, and provide feedback to the Department of Rehabilitation and Corrections about inmates who are up for parole.
More traditional applications of clinical psychology are available in Ohio, too. You might work in private practice, teach at the university level, or conduct clinical psychology research. Whatever path you choose, you will do work that proves beneficial for your individual clients and the larger community as well.
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