Welcome from the Program Director
Thank you for your interest in the Clinical Psychology Ph.D. Program at Baylor College of Medicine. I invite you to review this web site to learn more about our program’s goals, emphasis areas, and faculty expertise.
The mission of the Baylor College of Medicine Clinical Psychology Ph.D. Program is to educate and train the next generation of scientist-practitioners who will advance research and evidence-based practice in clinical psychology to promote mental health and human well-being. Courses and training experiences prepare graduates to generate, critically evaluate, and apply scientific evidence. We offer specialized training in clinical psychology, clinical health psychology, and clinical neuropsychology. While this is a new program, our faculty bring a wealth of expertise as scientists, clinicians, and national leaders in their fields.
We welcome applicants with a variety of career goals, including future psychological scientists, clinicians, and applied practitioners. As one of relatively few clinical psychology programs housed in an academic medical center, the Clinical Psychology Ph.D. Program is an especially good fit for applicants interested in careers in academic medical centers or healthcare delivery systems. The program is located in Houston, Texas, one of the nation’s most populous and diverse cities. Baylor College of Medicine is a key institution within the Texas Medical Center, the largest healthcare complex in the world.
The Clinical Psychology Ph.D. Program is not yet accredited by the American Psychological Association. We will pursue accreditation as soon as we are eligible to do so, and we are committed to transparency throughout our accreditation journey.
This web site will continue to be updated on a regular basis. If you have any questions in the meantime, please contact us at ClinicalPsychologyPhD@bcm.edu.
Andrea Bradford, Ph.D.
Associate Professor and Program Director
About the Program
The Clinical Psychology Ph.D. Program at Baylor College of Medicine is a collaboration between the School of Health Professions and the Menninger Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences. Both have longstanding histories of integrating exceptional care and cutting-edge research with an interdisciplinary focus on academic collaboration and excellence.
This program is grounded in a scientist–practitioner model that integrates rigorous research training with evidence-based clinical practice. Students are able explore multiple research areas and mentorship styles during their first year before formally matching with a research mentor in their second year. Under their mentor’s guidance, students develop their research skills by conducting an empirical master's thesis project in Year 2 and a dissertation project in Years 3–5. Within the first two years, students develop foundational clinical skills through didactic instruction and internal clinical practicum, serving an outpatient population with a broad range of psychological concerns. This prepares them for external clinical practica in Years 3–4 and predoctoral internship placement in Year 5. Throughout the program, students can collaborate with Baylor College of Medicine faculty advisors on research projects, clinical work, and community engagement initiatives.
The BCM Clinical Psychology Ph.D. program is designed to be completed in five years. In addition to developing core scientific competencies, students receive specialized training in one of three areas of emphasis:
- General Clinical Psychology
- Clinical Neuropsychology
- Clinical Health Psychology
All students also have the option to gain additional training experiences in clinical child psychology through completion of child-focused courses, research projects, or external practicum training.
The application for the 2025-2026 cycle has closed.
Information about the 2026-2027 application cycle will be posted here in late summer or early fall.
We encourage prospective applicants to review program information available on this website. The Frequently Asked Questions section on the Admissions page also answers common questions about the program and application process. If you have additional questions, contact us at ClinicalPsychologyPhD@bcm.edu.
Clinical Psychology Program Mission
The mission of the Baylor College of Medicine Clinical Psychology Doctoral Program (Ph.D.) is to educate and train the next generation of scientist-practitioners who will advance research and evidence-based practice in clinical psychology to promote mental health and human well-being. The program aligns with and supports the broader missions of Baylor College of Medicine to create and apply scientific knowledge that enhances education, healthcare and community service. Through the integration of cutting-edge research with evidence-based clinical practice, the program is dedicated to training psychologists who will provide mental healthcare and serve high-need communities. The program aims to positively impact lives through excellent clinical care, innovative research, and impactful community engagement.
Accreditation
This program is not accredited by the American Psychological Association (APA). The program plans to seek APA accreditation and will submit an application at the earliest eligible opportunity. Questions related to the program’s accreditation status should be directed to the APA Commission on Accreditation:
750 First Street NE
Washington, DC 20002-4242
Phone: 202-336-5979
TDD/TTY: 202-336-6123
Fax: 202-336-5978
This program is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.
Why Baylor College of Medicine?
Located within the largest medical center in the world, Baylor College of Medicine is uniquely positioned to offer students cutting edge research and clinical training opportunities. Access to esteemed affiliates - including the Michael E. DeBakey VA Medical Center, Baylor St. Luke’s Medical Center, the Menninger Clinic, and Harris Health System - enables students to receive exceptional training and supervision from experts across a wide range of disciplines, including:
- Mood disorders
- Anxiety and related disorders
- Obsessive compulsive and related disorders
- Trauma-related conditions
- Addiction and substance use
BCM ranks in the top 25 in the U.S. for Life Sciences and Medical research with more than $259 million in NIH funding. The School of Health Professions and the Menninger Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences house numerous robust research and educational programs that draw strengths from a substantial core of clinical and translational faculty investigators, in addition to collaborations with other Texas Medical Center institutions and community partners. Faculty throughout BCM carry out interdisciplinary and collaborative research that advances the science and treatment of psychiatric disorders. This growth has been evidenced by an increased number of faculty obtaining grants and research contracts from federal, state and local government, foundation, and industry funders.
Our faculty have also been selected for national leadership positions such as editorships of major medical journals and reviewers or advisors for federal agencies such as the National Institutes of Health. Faculty across the college are actively engaged in research which advances our understanding of anxiety and related disorders, behavioral health, neuropsychology, community-based participatory research, women’s mental health, and more. See the Faculty page for a non-exhaustive list of affiliated faculty members available to serve as research mentors to students in our program.
About Baylor College of Medicine
School of Health Professions
The Clinical Psychology Ph.D. program is a collaboration between the Baylor College of Medicine School of Health Professions and the Menninger Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences. Visit the school’s site to learn more about other programs offered, academic and support services available to students, view the School of Health Professions Student Handbook, school-related news and events and more.