Psychology Faculty Advisor: Karen Rosen

The Undergraduate Clinical Concentration is designed for Psychology B.A. majors with a particular interest in careers in clinical or counseling psychology or clinical social work. Although the concentration does not lead to a license for such careers, it does lay a solid foundation in coursework, research, and field experiences that prepare students for applying to a graduate program in these fields. This concentration is not open to Psychology B.S. majors.

To complete the clinical concentration, students must satisfy both the Psychology B.A. major requirements and some additional requirements. We recommend completing the required 100- and 200-level courses early because some are prerequisites to later courses required for the concentration. In addition to meeting the requirements of the major, students in the clinical concentration must complete the following:

1. Distribution Requirements

When selecting 200-level courses, students need to take both PS234 Abnormal Psychology and PS260 Developmental Psychology in addition to taking a course from two of the remaining three clusters.

2. Additional Elective Courses

When selecting elective courses, students need to take at least two courses from the following list. We recommend taking more than two, since each of these courses focuses on an issue in mental health or clinical psychology.

PS329 Psychophysiology of Stress
PS331 Developmental Psychopathology
PS332 Disorders in Adolescence
PS333 Addiction and Choice
PS334 Interpersonal Violence
PS335 Family Disorder & Interventions
PS338 Topics in Abnormal Psychology
PS347 Children & Families Under Stress
PS366 Social and Emotional Development
PS380 Neuroscience of Psychopathology
PS386 Psychopharmacology
PS388 Neurobiology of Eating and Eating Disorders
PS431 Seminar in Positive Psychology
PS433 Addiction, Choice, and Motivation
PS434 Psychology of Trauma
PS437 Stress and Behavior
PS561 Advanced Seminar in Social and Emotional Development
PS581 Neurobiology of Mental Illness

3. Required Courses for the Concentration

Students must take the following courses:

PS336 Clinical Psychology
PS436 Clinical Fieldwork in Psychology

Additional Information

Research

Two semesters of research by arrangement with a faculty member in the Psychology Department are strongly recommended. This research activity is essential for students planning to apply to graduate school in Clinical or Counseling Psychology. To complete this requirement, students may enroll in:

PS206 Independent Study
PS490 and 491 Senior Thesis I and II
PS495 and 496 Senior Honors Thesis I and II (as part of the Psychology Honors Program)
Scholar of the College Project

Completion of the Concentration

At the beginning of the semester prior to graduation, students should bring a copy of their transcript to the Clinical Concentration advisor, Karen Rosen, to verify that all requirements for the concentration have been fulfilled. Dr. Rosen will then notify Student Services so that completion of the Clinical Concentration may be noted on the student’s transcript.