When you think of New York, you likely think of the bright lights of New York City. However, New York State is much more than its biggest metropolis. From small rural towns to exclusive coastal communities and sunny beaches to white-capped mountains, New York offers diverse environments and recreational opportunities.
The higher education opportunities in New York are equally diverse. Some students begin their studies at one of the state’s nearly 80 community colleges. Others head straight to a four-year institution, of which there are dozens throughout the state.
As a prospective clinical psychology student, though, you are likely looking for a graduate or doctoral program. You are lucky because there are many options for getting an advanced psychology degree in New York.
Clinical Psychology Programs in New York
Below is a list some of the popular schools offering clinical psychology graduate programs in New York:
- Syracuse University
- Grand Canyon University
- New York University
- Capella University
- Hofstra University
- Columbia University
- Stony Brook University
- City Colleges
Syracuse University
For more than 150 years, Syracuse University has stood testament to academic excellence. As an R1 research university, the school also offers ample opportunities to advance human knowledge in all manner of subjects, from biology to psychology to chemistry and beyond. With hundreds of academic programs at the bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral levels, Syracuse students can prepare for many different careers after graduation.
With more than 21,000 students, Syracuse is a mid-sized school. Yet, if you study on campus or online, you will enjoy small class sizes that foster strong working relationships with your classmates and professors. You will also get an education at a school with a reputation for strong academics. In fact, Syracuse holds many honors, including having dozens of programs ranked in the top 20 in the nation in their respective fields of study.
Clinical Psychology Program Information
The Ph.D. program in Clinical Psychology at Syracuse University is fully accredited by the American Psychological Association and has been since 1956. It’s a 90-credit program with approximately four years of on-campus studies. Your classes, seminars, and colloquia will explore topics such as:
- Lifespan Development
- Psychopathology
- Psychological Measurement
- Cognitive Psychology
- Social Psychology
In addition, you must complete a six-credit master’s thesis (which you earn as part of the Ph.D. program) and an 18-credit doctoral dissertation. You must also pass a qualifying doctoral examination.
As is typical of Ph.D. programs in this field, a one-year internship is required to graduate. Internship sites are located throughout Syracuse and offer a diverse pool of potential clients with whom you can develop your clinical psychology skill set.
You will also have the opportunity to take part in teaching training. Even if academics is not your desired career course, teaching university classes will expand your knowledge base, improve your skills, and enhance students’ understanding of critical psychology topics.
To apply, you must provide the following to the Department of Psychology:
- An online application
- A personal statement of purpose
- Three letters of recommendation
This is a partial list of what the Department of Psychology might request of you in your application. Other requirements might be necessary to gauge your fit with the program.
New York University (NYU)
At New York University, you will learn in a community that’s as diverse as the city in which the school was founded. There are students from each of the 50 states plus nearly 140 countries worldwide. With so many international students in attendance – NYU ranks first nationally for students from overseas – you’ll enjoy learning about cultures and traditions much different from your own.
Aside from providing you with a rich campus environment, NYU also offers well-regarded academic programs. The university is considered one of the best schools in the world and has some of the finest faculty in the nation as well. Better still, NYU students are among the best prepared to find jobs upon graduation. Ninety-five percent of the 2021 NYU graduating class had a job or was in graduate school within six months of getting their degree.
Clinical Psychology Program Information
The Master of Arts in Clinical Psychology from New York University is primarily a preparatory program for students who intend to get a Ph.D. in clinical or counseling psychology. However, this program is also good preparation for pursuing a career in psychological research or human services.
The focus of the coursework is on crucial clinical psychology topics. These include, but are not limited to:
- Treatment approaches for mental health conditions
- Psychological testing
- Social psychology
- Psychological research
- Biopsychosocial factors in abnormal behavior
You can also choose from many psychology elective courses that give you a broader understanding of human behavior. Topics like neuropsychology, psychopharmacology, health psychology, and cultural influences on behavior are among those you can study in more detail.
This 36-credit program culminates with either a master’s thesis or a written comprehensive exam. It’s important to note that this is not a licensure program. As such, there are no practicum or internship requirements to graduate.
You can apply to the NYU Graduate School of Arts and Science by meeting these basic criteria:
- Possess an undergraduate degree from an accredited institution
- Demonstrate motivation and intellectual curiosity
- Show promise of scholarly achievement
Additional program-specific criteria apply. For example, you must submit a writing sample and a statement of academic purpose.
Hofstra University
Located on a beautiful campus in Hempstead, New York, Hofstra University offers amenities for academics and recreation alike. On the one hand, Hofstra enjoys many accolades for its academic programs, including rankings in the top quarter of colleges in the nation. On the other hand, Hofstra’s location on Long Island means you have easy access to beaches, fishing, watersports, and other recreational opportunities not often found so close to a college campus.
Hofstra is a private school that focuses on experiential learning. This means that you’ll spend time out of the classroom learning in real-world environments. Doing so allows you to deepen your understanding of what you’ve learned in class and learn how to apply it in a hands-on setting. With a campus bustling with around 10,000 students and with academic offerings in 11 colleges and schools, Hofstra is a great place to advance your education.
Clinical Psychology Program Information
Hofstra’s Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology is an APA-accredited program that prepares you for work in academic and clinical settings. This is a 105-credit program that requires at least five years of full-time residential study to complete.
During your time on campus, you will take a variety of courses that focus on highly specific aspects of psychology. This includes classes in:
- Neural Bases of Behavior
- Childhood Psychopathology
- Psychotropic Medication
- Cognitive-Behavioral Counseling and Psychotherapy
- Cognition and Perception
In addition to these and other classes, you must also complete two research projects. The first project occurs during the second year of the program. The second project is a doctoral dissertation. You must also pass two qualifying exams – one focusing on psychological research and one on clinical psychology – before beginning your dissertation.
The final component of this program is a one-year off-campus internship. The internship must take place at an APA-accredited internship site that you find via the Association of Psychology Postdoctoral and Internship Centers.
This program’s admissions requirements are as follows:
- Submit a graduate application for admission
- Hold a bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution
- Submit GRE scores, including a score on the GRE Psychology Subject Test
- You must have experience in research design, statistics, psychopathology, and experimental psychology.
- Submit a personal essay and a statement of professional goals
- Submit three or four letters of recommendation
- Provide a curriculum vitae
- Participate in a personal interview with a faculty member
Columbia University
Columbia University is a private, non-profit institution in New York City. The school was founded in 1754 as King’s College, making it the oldest college in New York and the fifth-oldest institution of higher learning in the United States.
As a member of the prestigious Ivy League, Columbia has a reputation for outstanding academic programs. The school ranks in the top 20 among national universities and has many individual programs ranked in the top 20 in the nation as well.
Admission to Columbia is extremely competitive – only about four percent of applicants are admitted. But, if you are admitted to the school, you can take advantage of many academic programs in one of 20 schools and colleges.
Columbia College, founded in 1754, is the oldest undergraduate college on campus. The Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, founded in 1767, is the oldest graduate college on campus.
Clinical Psychology Program Information
Columbia’s Ph.D. program in Clinical Psychology follows a mentor-matched model. That is, your admission to the program means you’re paired with a faculty member who shares your interests in a specific area of psychological practice and inquiry.
This is a 95-credit program that typically requires about six years of study to complete. You will earn a master’s degree (either a Master of Science or a Master of Philosophy) on your way to your doctoral degree. This requires studies in a number of psychological fields, including:
- Cognitive-behavioral therapy
- Family therapy
- Professional ethics
- Clinical assessment
- Diversity in psychology
The clinical training component follows a psychodynamic model, though supervision is available in related modalities, like interpersonal therapy, family therapy, and cognitive-behavioral therapy. Regardless of the modality, you will learn how to provide assessment and intervention services to clients of various ages and in many different clinical settings.
This program requires you to complete multiple practicum and internship experiences. These experiences take place off campus in the greater New York City area and offer you the chance to gain experience in clinical settings working with clients. You can also get experience at Columbia’s Dean Hope Center for Educational and Psychological Services.
Applying to Columbia’s Clinical Psychology Ph.D. program requires that you complete the following steps:
- Submit an online application with the $65 application fee
- Submit transcripts for all college coursework
- Provide a statement of purpose
- Provide a resume
- Submit GRE general test scores
- Provide two letters of recommendation
Do You Need a PhD to be a Clinical Psychologist?
No, a PhD is not strictly necessary to become a clinical psychologist in NY, although it is one of the common paths. In the United States, the minimum educational requirement to practice as a clinical psychologist is a doctoral degree, which can be either a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Psychology or a Doctor of Psychology (PsyD).
Both types of doctoral programs typically require a bachelor’s degree (and sometimes a master’s degree) in psychology or a related field, followed by 4-7 years of graduate study. This includes coursework, clinical internships, and a dissertation or other capstone project. After completing their degree, graduates must also obtain licensure in their state, which involves passing an examination and fulfilling any additional state-specific requirements.
What are the Clinical Psychology Career Opportunities in New York?
With training from one of the clinical psychology programs outlined above, you can pursue many different types of employment in New York.
For example, with a master’s degree, you might qualify for psychological research positions with government agencies, non-profit organizations, or other entities for whom licensure is not required. As another example, you might pursue an academic teaching path if you get a Ph.D. in clinical psychology and get several years of experience providing clinical psychology services.
Since many of the programs discussed above focus on the scientist-practitioner model, you will have many skills that might enable you to pursue unique work opportunities in this field. For example, rather than working directly with clients, you might provide your services on a consultative basis to a business or organization. As another example, you might do non-profit or advocacy work in the mental health space.
Of course, the door is open for applying what you have learned in a clinical setting. You can work in private practice, a community mental health center, inpatient treatment centers, or psychiatric hospitals, to name just a few. In other words, the job possibilities you have before you are highly varied – and quite exciting, too.
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