The curriculum of the BCM Clinical Psychology Ph.D. Program is designed to provide students with comprehensive education and training in the scientific foundations of psychology, evidence-based clinical assessment and intervention, ethical and professional practice, and rigorous research methodology.
All students within the program are required to complete core clinical psychology courses (15 semester hours) and statistics and research methods courses (6 hours) Students also receive training in discipline-specific knowledge through foundational area courses (15 hours) covering history, ethics, and systems; psychopathology; and biological, cognitive, affective, and social bases of behavior. Training in development throughout the lifespan is integrated within the psychopathology course.
Students begin clinical skills training during their first semester through a health behavior counseling course they take alongside students in other School of Health Professions programs. Beginning in the second year, students begin to provide clinical services under the close supervision of one or more faculty members. In later years of the program, students continue advanced clinical training at sites throughout the Texas Medical Center.
Research is a fundamental component of training in all years of the program.
The following courses are those currently listed in the SHP Course Catalog. Additional specialized courses in areas of emphasis may be offered in future years. All courses listed below are 3 hour courses unless otherwise noted.
Clinical Psychology Core (18 hour)
- Psychological Assessment I
- Psychological Assessment II
- Introduction to Psychotherapy
- Professionalism and Ethics in Practice (pre-practicum course; 2 hours)
- Multicultural Issues in Psychological Assessment and Intervention
- Advanced Topics in Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies
- Health Behavior Counseling (1 hour)
Statistics and Research Methods (6 hours)
- Experimental Design and Statistical Methods I
- Experimental Design and Statistical Methods II
Foundational Areas Courses (includes Discipline Specific Knowledge; 15 hours)
- History, Systems and Ethics of Psychology
- Psychopathology Across the Lifespan
- Biological Bases of Behavior
- Cognitive and Affective Bases of Behavior
- Social Psychology (2 hours)
Electives (minimum 9 hours)
- Scientific Writing and Peer Review (2 hours)
- Any area-specific courses outside of the chosen major area of study
- Electives may include other interprofessional learning experiences, with permission from the Program Director and the course director
Mentored Research
- Thesis OR Graduate Research (6 hours)
- Dissertation (12 hours)
The Clinical Psychology Ph.D. Program offers specialty training in three major areas of study: Clinical Psychology, Clinical Neuropsychology, and Clinical Health Psychology. Clinical psychology is a broad specialty that may include assessment, intervention, and consultation services involving adults, adolescents, children, couples, and families. Clinical health psychology and clinical neuropsychology also encompass a wide range of clinical populations, topics, techniques, and practice settings, but these specialties are somewhat narrower in their focus. Specialty training at the doctoral level can help students prepare to apply for specialty-specific internships and further training opportunities in the specialty. By the end of the first year, students will select one of these three specialty areas, which will inform their further coursework, clinical practica/externships, mentor, and dissertation topic. Area-specific coursework includes:
Clinical Psychology Specialty Courses:
- Area Seminar/Journal Club
- Advanced Seminar in Clinical Psychological Science (rotating topics)
Clinical Neuropsychology Specialty Courses:
- Area Seminar/Journal Club
- Foundations in Clinical Neuropsychology
- Functional Neuroanatomy
- Practical Applications of Neuropsychological Assessment
Clinical Health Psychology Specialty Courses:
- Area Seminar/Journal Club
- Clinical Health Psychology
- Integrated Care and Interdisciplinary Practice
The overarching goals of the Clinical Psychology Ph.D. Program are to:
- Provide students with a strong foundation in the scientific basis of psychology, including the biological, cognitive, affective, and social bases of behavior.
- Equip students with the knowledge, skills, and critical thinking abilities to deliver high-quality, culturally-responsive, and evidence-based psychological assessment and intervention services.
- Foster the development of research expertise to advance the scientific understanding of psychological phenomena and improve clinical outcomes, culminating in the successful completion of a doctoral dissertation.
- Cultivate ethical, professional, and competent clinical psychologists who are committed to serving diverse individuals, families, and communities through evidence-based practice, scholarly activity, and community engagement.
- Promote an inclusive and supportive learning environment that values diversity, empowers students to reach their full potential, and prepares them for successful careers as leaders in academia, healthcare, and other professional settings.
Psychological Assessment I (CPASA 73110)
This course is designed for clinical psychology students during their first year of training. Students will be oriented to the foundational theories, methods, and scientific principles underlying psychological assessment. The course emphasizes behavioral, therapeutic, and intellectual assessment. Students develop an understanding of the psychometric properties of assessment instruments and learn to critically evaluate the appropriateness and limitations of commonly used assessment tools. Learning activities include in-class discussion of assigned readings, student-led lectures, structured observations, and supervised administration and scoring of assessment instruments. Students will be introduced to clinical interviewing and report writing.
Credits: 3, Fall
Course Director: Jonathan Sober
Psychological Assessment II (CPASB 73120)
This course is designed for clinical psychology students during their first year of training and follows Psychological Assessment I. This course covers the use of objective, or standardized, self-report and structured behavioral, psychological, and personality assessments, primarily in the setting of clinical and diagnostic evaluation. Learning activities include in-class discussion of assigned readings, student-led lectures, observations, and supervised test administration and scoring. Students will learn to prepare reports that integrate objective testing data with other information collected during a psychological assessment.
Credits: 3, Spring Term 1
Course Director: TBD
Experimental Design and Statistics I (CPEXA 63110)
This course is designed for clinical psychology students in their first year of training. The course uses didactic lectures, discussion, guided practice, and problem sets to introduce students to methods for sampling, data collection, and hypothesis testing in clinical psychological science. Content will include fundamentals of probability, data visualization, descriptive statistics, and principles of statistical inference, with applications to descriptive and observational research designs. Students will apply standards to promote transparency and reproducibility in reporting empirical methods and findings.
Credits: 3, Fall
Course Director: Terri Fletcher & Kevin Wagner
Experimental Design and Statistics II (CPEXB 63120)
This course is designed for clinical psychology students during their first year of training and follows Experimental Design and Statistics I. The course introduces students to linear modeling as a flexible approach to data analysis for a variety of observational and experimental study designs. Other topics include nonparametric tests, logistic regression, and power analysis. While working with simulated or real data sets, students will learn to apply data management principles and basic statistical programming.
Credits: 3, Spring Term 1
Course Director: TBD
History, Systems, and Ethics in Professional Psychology (CPHSE 63112)
This course explores the evolution of psychology as a scientific and applied discipline. This is a discussion-oriented and writing-intensive course through which students will examine key developments in the field through the lenses of philosophy, history, and sociopolitical context. Throughout the course, students will critically examine the foundations of scientific knowledge claims in psychology.
Credits: 3, Fall
Course Director: Andrea Bradford
Psychopathology Across the Lifespan (CPPSY 63114)
This course is designed for clinical psychology students during their first year of training. The course introduces students to the definitions, classification, and clinical presentations of mental disorders. Emphasis is placed on the developmental bases of these disorders, including etiology and trajectories across the lifespan. Through didactic lectures, class discussions, and case conceptualizations, students acquire knowledge of diagnostic criteria, apply diagnostic skills, and critically examine scientific, cultural, and professional considerations in psychopathology.
Credits: 3, Fall
Course Director: Erika Trent
Health Behavior Counseling [cross listed as HPHBC 61201]
This course introduces counseling and behavioral science theories, skills, and tools to enhance learners’ communication skills and understanding of the process of health behavior change. Behavior change stages and processes are introduced using the Transtheoretical Model and social learning theories, with a focus on applying Motivational Interviewing skills. Learning activities include role play, observation of self-help support group sessions, simulated patient encounters, and critical reflection to help learners develop an intimate understanding of the process of change and increase empathy for patients attempting to change health behaviors.
Credits: 1, Fall
Course Director: Beth Garland
Introduction to Psychotherapy (CPITP 73122)
This course introduces students to empirically supported psychological interventions, with a primary focus on interventions for adults. Learning activities include in-class discussions of assigned readings, case formulations, and role play. Students acquire knowledge on empirically supported treatments (ESTs), critically evaluate empirical evidence, describe cultural considerations in psychotherapy, develop foundational skills in clinical interview and intervention techniques, and apply therapy techniques from specific ESTs. Emphasis is placed on cognitive and behavioral therapies, while introducing students to other empirically supported approaches.
Credits: 3, Spring Term 1
Course Director: Erika Trent
Biological Bases of Behavior (CPBBB 63122)
This introductory course provides graduate students with a foundational understanding of the biological bases of behavior. The course surveys core concepts in neuroscience relevant to functioning, including basic neuroanatomy, brain development, and the foundational neural systems underlying perception, emotion, and cognition. Students will develop fluency with key terminology and conceptual models of these relationships. Learning activities include lectures, guided discussion of assigned readings, applied examples, and integrative exercises.
Credits: 3, Spring Term 1
Course Director: Jonathan Sober
Area Seminar/Journal Club I – III (CPSEM 81101 – 81103)
This course covers a review of current literature relating to advances in clinical psychology and is required for first and second year students beginning the Spring semester of Year 1. Students may take this course up to 3 times for credit to count toward area requirements. Through this course, students will be able to: 1) review published literature and summarize significant findings, 2) analyze and critically evaluate data from the literature, and 3) present relevant data to provide an overview of key findings in the literature.
Credit: 1, Fall and Spring
Course Directors: TBD
Professionalism and Ethics in Practice (CPPRO 72120)
This course is required before entering the second-year internal practicum in the training clinic. Through this course, students will be able to integrate ethical principles, scientific evidence, and regulations governing the practice of psychology to address several areas of clinical practice including: 1) informed consent, 2) establishing limits and scope of practice, 3) communicating effectively with referring clinicians and others involved in the patient’s care, 4) maintaining patient records, 5) mandated reporting, and 6) suicide risk assessment and intervention. Students will also learn fundamentals of practice management and quality improvement. The course will consist of a combination of lecture, student discussion, role plays, and mock practice activities.
Credits: 2, Spring Term 2
Course Director: TBD
Scientific Writing and Peer Review (CPWRI 62120)
This course will serve as preparation for the master’s thesis (Thesis I) and publications. The focus of the course is written communication of scientific work through peer reviewed journals. Students in the course will be oriented to scientific writing and style, best practices for creating visual elements (e.g., tables and figures), and publication ethics. Students will also gain firsthand experience and feedback as peer reviewers.
Credits: 2, Spring Term 2
Course Director: Andrea Bradford
Internal Practicum I & II (CPIPA 83100 & CPIPB 83200)
This two-course sequence represents the clinical learning experience in the program’s in-house training clinic. Students will carry an agreed-upon case load under the supervision of one or more faculty supervisors who will directly observe a sample of the student’s clinical activities and provide feedback. Supervision will consist of both individual and group modalities, and students will be exposed to models and techniques of supervision. In addition to faculty supervision, students may receive supplemental supervision from advanced graduate students, predoctoral interns, and/or postdoctoral fellows.
Credits: 3, Fall and Spring Year 3
Thesis I & II (CPTHA 83102 & CPTHB 83202)
This two-course sequence represents a mentored experience in the conduct of research leading to a written master’s thesis. Students are eligible to enroll in the course after establishing a formal research mentoring agreement by the end of Year 1. Thesis I & II are pass/fail courses.
Defense of MS Thesis (CPDEM 80100)
Students are enrolled in this zero-credit hour course during the term in which their completed master’s thesis is evaluated.
Multicultural Issues in Psychological Assessment and Intervention (CPCUL 73210)
This course introduces students to knowledge and skills to enhance cultural competence. The course will cover major theories and perspectives on culture, identity, and social dynamics relevant to psychological science and practice. Through reflective exercises, directed readings, and in-class discussion, students will learn to incorporate knowledge and reflective practices to be inclusive and responsive to the needs of diverse populations.
Credits: 3, Fall
Course Director: TBD
Clinical Health Psychology (CPHEA 83360)
This course meets partial requirements for the clinical health psychology area of emphasis. Students will develop knowledge of key theories in health psychology and critically evaluate their applications to improving the health of individuals and populations. Topics covered include but are not limited to health behavior promotion, stress and coping in acute and chronic health conditions, and adherence to treatment.
Credits: 3, Fall
Course Director: TBD
Integrated Care and Interdisciplinary Practice (CPIIC 83362)
This course meets partial requirements for the clinical health psychology area of emphasis and prepares students to provide assessment, intervention, and consultation in primary and specialty medical care settings. Through a combination of didactics, role-plays, directed readings, and live observation/shadowing, students will acquire knowledge and skills to collaborate effectively with professionals in other disciplines, ethically navigate issues of role scope and overlap, and adapt psychological services for specific populations and medical care settings.
Credits: 3, Spring
Course Director: TBD
Advanced Topics in Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies (CPCBT 83210)
Students engage in an in-depth examination of theoretical developments in current research on behavioral and cognitive therapies. Students will learn the basis for evaluating components of therapy, mechanisms of change, and delivery modalities. Course content will cover seminal articles on efficacy and effectiveness of behavioral and cognitive therapies, as well as contemporary findings and their clinical implications.
Credits: 3, Fall
Course Director: TBD
Advanced Seminar in Clinical Psychological Science (CPCPS 83380)
This course meets partial requirements for the clinical psychology area of emphasis. The course provides and overview of contemporary topics in clinical psychological science. Topical emphasis areas may include specific disorders, treatment approaches, and/or research methods. Students complete assigned readings, conduct in-depth class discussion, and prepare relevant written work. In doing so, students learn to critically evaluate clinical psychological science and apply current knowledge and methods to their own research and practice.
Credits: 3, Fall
Course Director: TBD
Functional Neuroanatomy (CPFNA 83340)
This course meets partial requirements for the clinical neuropsychology area of emphasis. This course provides an advanced examination of the structural and functional organization of the human nervous system, with an emphasis on brain–behavior relationships relevant to clinical psychology and neuroscience. Students will integrate foundational neuroanatomy with advanced and contemporary models of neural functioning and neuroimaging. Learning activities include lectures, guided discussions of primary and applied readings, and interactive neuroanatomy exercises.
Credits: 3, Fall
Course Director: TBD
Foundations in Clinical Neuropsychology (CPNEU 83342)
This course meets partial requirements for the clinical neuropsychology area of emphasis. This course offers advanced instruction in the theoretical foundations, methods, and clinical applications of neuropsychological assessment across the lifespan. Emphasis is placed on brain–behavior relationships, neurological conditions, and the use of neuropsychological assessment in clinical contexts. Students are introduced to major cognitive systems and associated neuropsychological assessments as well as neurocognitive disorders, with attention to underlying etiological mechanisms. Learning activities include in-class discussions of assigned readings, case-based analyses, and the development of sample comprehensive neuropsychological reports for clinical referral and treatment planning.
Credits: 3, Spring
Course Director: TBD
Practical Applications in Neuropsychological Assessment (CPPAN 82344)
This course meets partial requirements for the clinical neuropsychology area of emphasis. This course provides training in administration, scoring, and interpretation of commonly used neuropsychological assessments. Students are introduced to neuropsychological test batteries and relevant individual tests. Learning activities include in-class discussion of measures, supervised observation and administration of neuropsychological measures, and integration of real word case-based examples.
Credits: 2, Spring Term 2
Course Director: TBD
Cognitive and Affective Bases of Behavior (CPCAB 63210)
This course introduces core theoretical frameworks and empirical findings in cognitive psychology and affective science. Students examine classic and contemporary theories that specify information processing architectures and representational systems underlying cognition and affect. The course will cover theoretical accounts of how these systems interact, with applications to language, reasoning, memory, decision-making, motivation, and emotion regulation. Learning activities include lectures, structured analysis of seminal and current theoretical readings, conceptual exercises, and discussion of experimental paradigms used to test cognitive and affective theories.
Credits: 3, Spring Term 1
Course Director: TBD
Social Psychology (CPSOC 62250)
This course provides an overview of major theories and seminal research findings in social psychology. Students will be introduced to the study of how social and organizational factors influence thoughts, feelings, and behaviors of individuals. Through class discussions, assigned readings, and written work, students will critically examine and apply theory to anticipate behaviors that arise within various social contexts.
Credits: 2, Spring Term 2
Course Director: TBD
Advanced Practicum I – IV (CPEXP 83301 – 83304)
This course represents an organized clinical learning experience for students who have successfully completed Internal Practicum II. Practicum placements (generally around 16 hours or two days per week) may be at BCM, other Texas Medical Center institutions, or community agencies and clinics that have been approved by the Program Director. Students will carry an agreed-upon case load under the supervision of one or more faculty supervisors. Students will participate in recurring peer supervision meetings that include other third-year and fourth-year students across different practica.
Credits: 3, Fall and Spring Years 3 & 4
Dissertation I – VI (CPDIS 83321 – 83326)
This course represents a mentored experience in the conduct of research leading to the doctoral dissertation. Students are eligible to enroll in the course after establishing a formal research mentoring agreement by the end of Year 1, after completing requirements for the MS degree, and after successfully defending their dissertation proposal. Dissertation is a pass/fail course.
Dissertation Defense (CPDED 80400)
Students are enrolled in this zero-credit hour course during the term in which their completed dissertation is evaluated.
Internship I & II (CPINA 83500 & CPINB 83520)
This two-course sequence represents the student’s engagement a formal, full-time clinical training experience for students who have matched to a predoctoral internship after Year 4. The internship is a capstone clinical training experience which, alongside successful defense of the dissertation, must be completed successfully for the Ph.D. degree. Internship I & II are pass/fail courses.
Students will complete a sequence of graduate-level courses covering core clinical psychology topics in areas such as psychopathology, psychological assessment, psychological intervention, statistics, and research design. Beginning in the second year, students participate in supervised clinical practica at BCM, gaining hands-on experience providing evidence-based psychological services to diverse populations. In the second year, students also develop their competencies in research by completing an empirical research project in collaboration with a mentor. During the third and fourth years, students pursue dissertation research and additional practica. In the fifth year, students devote their time to a full-time, year-long clinical internship at an external site. The doctoral degree is awarded after successfully completing all coursework, the dissertation, and the 1-year internship.
Students are expected to fulfill the following student learning outcomes throughout the duration of the program:
- Demonstrate broad and general knowledge of scientific psychology and its foundations, including biological, cognitive, affective, and social aspects of behavior, history and systems of psychology, psychological measurement, statistics, research methodology, and data analysis.
- Attain profession-wide competencies required for entry-level practice in health service psychology, including research, ethical and legal standards, individual and cultural diversity, professional values and attitudes, communication and interpersonal skills, assessment, intervention, supervision, and consultation/interprofessional skills.
- Develop advanced clinical competencies through experiential training in evidence-based assessment, diagnosis, and intervention for psychological disorders, as well as clinical supervision and consultation.
- Demonstrate substantial understanding of psychological research by conducting independent empirical research and contributing to the scientific knowledge base.
- Develop competencies to pursue licensure as a clinical psychologist upon program completion.