Graduate School in Clinical Psychology: Master’s, PsyD, or PhD – Which Is Right for You?
Are you considering attending graduate school to study clinical psychology or clinical mental health counseling? There are many degree options available, including master’s and doctoral programs. It’s important to learn about each type of program and select the one that best meets your career goals.
Table of Contents:
Master’s Programs
Master’s degree programs often appeal to candidates who want to enter the field after two to three years of graduate study and to those who have limited experience with clinical populations.
Master’s degree options in clinical psychology include the Master of Arts (MA) and Master of Science (MS) in fields including clinical mental health counseling, counseling psychology, clinical psychology, and marriage and family counseling. You may also pursue a Master of Social Work (MSW) in clinical social work.
When you are researching master’s programs, be sure to find out if the program prepares graduates for licensure. Licensure in counseling varies from state to state, and available licenses include Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC), Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC), Licensed Certified Social Worker (LCSW), Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT), and Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker (LICSW). Be sure to check the state where you plan to work for its licensure requirements.
If you want to become a school counselor or school psychologist, these licenses are issued through state departments of education and are separate from mental health counseling licensure. There are joint programs that offer preparation to become both a clinical mental health counselor and a school counselor. There are also separate credentials for specific modalities, including art therapy, music therapy, and dance therapy.
To help you decide if you want to pursue a master’s degree in mental health counseling or in clinical social work, review the programs’ websites and the curriculum, including all required courses. Learn about field placements and internships, which are key parts of training to be a mental health clinician.
Although master’s programs in general psychology or psychological studies are available, these do not typically lead to licensure. Also, there are many non-clinical master’s degrees in fields including forensic psychology, industrial-organizational psychology, applied behavior analysis, developmental psychology, and sports psychology. However, these programs will not prepare you to be a mental health clinician.
Doctoral Programs
If you want to become a licensed psychologist, you will need a doctorate. Several different doctoral degrees are offered in clinical psychology, including the Doctor of Psychology in clinical psychology (PsyD in clinical psychology), the Doctor of Psychology in counseling psychology (PsyD in counseling psychology), and the Doctor of Philosophy in clinical psychology (PhD in clinical psychology). Choosing between a PsyD and a PhD program depends on your career goals, interests, and preferences. Both programs lead to a doctoral degree in psychology, but they have different emphases and outcomes.
PsyD in Clinical Psychology
If your primary goal is to work as a clinical psychologist providing therapy and counseling, a PsyD program aligns better with your career aspirations. Licensed clinical psychologists work in clinical settings including hospitals, human service agencies, university counseling centers, and private practice. They help individuals address emotional, psychological, and behavioral issues using various therapeutic modalities – such as cognitive behavioral therapy, psychoanalysis, and humanistic therapy – to help clients understand and manage their thoughts, emotions, and behaviors. Clinical psychologists are trained in conducting psychological assessments and diagnostic testing to evaluate a person’s mental health and cognitive functioning.
Experience with clinical populations is important for admission to clinical or counseling psychology PsyD programs. Although you cannot serve as a mental health clinician without a master’s degree, positions like milieu counselor, crisis hotline volunteer, mental health specialist, or behavior technician can be beneficial opportunities to develop your clinical skills.
While many candidates apply to PsyD programs with an undergraduate degree, you can also apply after you complete a master’s degree. Many PsyD programs will admit those who have master’s degrees with advanced standing, which will shorten the time for program completion.
PsyD programs typically take five to six years to complete. They have fewer research requirements than PhD programs, with the focus primarily on developing clinical skills and practical experience. When researching programs, find out when clinical experience (also called practica) begins. Some programs start field placements in the first year of doctoral study, and others begin in the second year, usually leading to a full-time clinical internship in the final year.
Some PsyD programs are located in departments of universities, and others are in “stand-alone” schools of psychology that are independent, specialized institutions focused on advanced training in psychology. Note that PsyD programs are not offered only in clinical psychology; they are also offered in fields including leadership psychology or international psychology. However, these programs will not lead to licensure as a clinical psychologist.
PsyD programs in clinical psychology may include concentrations in areas such as global mental health, geropsychology, clinical neuropsychology, health psychology, or clinical child and adolescent psychology.
American Psychological Association (APA) approval is essential for PsyD programs in clinical psychology because many states require graduation from an APA-approved program in order to sit for the clinical psychology licensing exam. Doctoral-level internship sites are also accredited by APA, so review each program’s website to find out the percentage of graduate internships that were completed at APA-approved sites.
PhD in Clinical Psychology
For candidates who are interested in career options combining research and clinical work as well as potentially pursuing an academic career, a PhD is the more appropriate degree. PhD programs emphasize research and academic scholarship. Students are trained to conduct original research, contribute to the field’s knowledge base, and publish scientific papers. PhD graduates pursue academic careers as professors, researchers, and scholars, and they may work as clinicians. They might teach at universities, conduct research, and mentor students. Others work at research institutions, government agencies, and private organizations.
PhD programs are typically longer than PsyD programs, taking five to seven years to complete. They require comprehensive exams and a dissertation based on original research. Like PsyD programs, look for PhD programs accredited by the APA and for APA-approved clinical internships.
All doctoral programs in clinical psychology are required to include on their website data on student admissions, the percentage of students who obtained APA-approved internships, and the percentage of graduates who became licensed psychologists.
While some candidates are drawn to PhD programs because many offer full funding (including tuition remission and graduate assistantships), the reason to select a PhD program is to pursue a career path that includes research and scholarly work.
While admission requirements vary, most PhD programs want to see evidence of strong research experience, which may include one to two years of post-bachelor’s research work. Poster and conference presentations, publications, and strong unpublished work are very helpful.
Whether a master’s, PsyD, or PhD is for you, always seek out an accredited program that leads to licensure. Do your school research – looking at specializations, the scope of the educational experience, the orientation to the field and subfields, the expertise of the faculty, graduation rates, and career outcome data – and start your application early.
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