Indiana State University’s Clinical Psychology PsyD is a well-respected program that provides balanced training in clinical and research skills.
The PsyD Program is a traditional, on-campus program offered on the Indiana State University campus in Terre Haute, Indiana. The program is open to U.S. and international applicants. Admission is very competitive.
Indiana State’s Clinical Psychology PsyD has been known for excellence for more than 38 years. The program has maintained continuous accreditation by the American Psychological Association (APA) since 1985. Learn more about why APA accreditation matters. Questions related to the program's accredited status should be directed to the Commission on Accreditation:
Office of Program Consultation and Accreditation
American Psychological Association
750 1st Street NE
Washington, D.C. 20002
Phone (202)336-5979 / Email: apaaccred@apa.org / Web: www.apa.org/ed/accreditation
Indiana State University’s Doctor of Psychology (PsyD) Program is designed to prepare clinical psychologists to offer a variety of professional services in psychological treatment, assessment, consultation, and administration. The program follows the scientifically based practitioner model of training (practitioner-scientist model).
Our program seeks to develop in the student a professional identity that values and pursues: excellence in clinical practice; a spirit of active inquiry and critical thought; a commitment to the development and application of new knowledge in the field; an active sense of social responsibility; an appreciation and respect for the significant impact of cultural and individual differences in all aspects of practice and inquiry; and an enduring commitment to personal and professional development.
Indiana State’s PsyD involves students in clinical coursework and training beginning in the program’s first year. We also encourage students to become involved in faculty research early in the program in preparation for developing a dissertation research project. Given that our program requires a dissertation, the emphasis on research is somewhat greater than in other PsyD programs.
We have approximately 30-35 students on campus each year (1st-4th year students, 6-8 per cohort) and 6-8 students on internship. Our students come from a variety of backgrounds and many different parts of the U.S. Almost all students have a bachelor's degree in psychology and typically 1-2 students each year enter with a master's degree or having completed some graduate coursework.
The PsyD Program at ISU adheres to the belief that thoughtful training in diversity issues is crucial in developing a professional identity that values and pursues excellence in clinical practice. In addition, we are committed to creating a culture of acceptance and inclusion that values the contribution of diverse perspectives such as those influenced by gender, ethnicity, race, culture, sexual orientation, age, religion, disability, and personal experience. The program strives to develop in our students a professional identity grounded in an active sense of social responsibility combined with an appreciation and respect of cultural and individual differences.
The PsyD typically involves five years of study, including four years of academic study and one year of internship. Requirements for the degree include successful completion of 100 credits of coursework in core clinical and basic psychology areas and a clinical internship.
Clinical experience is obtained through a practicum in the University’s Psychology Clinic, third- and fourth-year off-campus practicum experience, and a full-year internship, typically completed in the 5th year.
Students must pass oral preliminary examinations. A dissertation and oral defense of the dissertation must also be completed. A master’s degree is obtained after two years of study based on completion of required courses and demonstration of basic proficiency in a specified set of clinical and research skills.
As a graduate student in the Department of Psychology, you will benefit from small classes taught by dedicated faculty mentors with diverse expertise and experience. All hold advanced degrees and all clinical faculty are licensed psychologists. All tenure-track faculty are actively involved in research and welcome student involvement.
As a graduate student in the PsyD Program, you will gain firsthand experience in the Psychology Clinic, which is part of the Psychology Department at Indiana State University.
The clinic is a nonprofit professional training facility for doctoral students in clinical psychology who are supervised by licensed faculty and staff. Students are trained in evidence-based assessment and intervention skills. Clients are community members from Terre Haute and surrounding areas. The clinic is dedicated to clinician multicultural awareness and clinical competence in working with diverse populations.
Students in the PsyD Program use the clinic for their training throughout the time they are at Indiana State University. First-year students observe therapy sessions conducted by more advanced students and also attend weekly group supervision. Second- and third-year students provide therapy and assessment services for a caseload of 3-4 clients. Fourth-year students provide peer supervision for second-year students in the program.
Students are taught to use an evidence-based approach to clinical decision making which emphasizes client preference and characteristics and clinician knowledge and experience in addition to clinical research. Students develop foundational skills in Cognitive Behavioral therapy (CBT) and are also exposed to other orientations and techniques through work with different supervisors.
The primary objective of the PsyD Program is to equip graduates for the skilled delivery of clinical services. The emphasis is on individualized clinical supervision, combined with broad practical experience and research training oriented toward clinical applications.
The program is intended to train professional psychologists who will have a firm grounding in the foundations of psychology, including biological, cognitive, social, affective, and developmental aspects of behavior. In terms of clinical skills, students are trained to apply knowledge of functional and dysfunctional behavior to the assessment and diagnostic process and to make use of assessment to develop evidence-based interventions and to evaluate intervention effectiveness. Consistent with the generalist training goals of the program, students are trained to work with a wide range of clients across the age span.
The program requires a total of 100 credits, including:
Students earn a master’s degree, as part of the 100 total credits, after the second year of the program. Completing requirements for the master’s degree involves demonstrating proficiency in specific clinical and research skills and is required for students who do not enter the program with a master’s degree.
Most students accepted into the PsyD Program receive some form of financial assistance, which is renewable each year. Fellowship awards carry a tuition and fee waiver, exclusive of building and student services fees, for up to 18 credits per academic year. Over the past 5 years, we have had 98% placement among students who participated in the Internship match.
Other forms of funding include the following:
The ISU Graduate Student Research Fund enables eligible students to receive funding to assist with research or dissemination of research by attending a conference. There are deadlines for Fall/Spring grants and for Spring/Summer grants. Students may apply only once in an academic year.
Additional funding is available through the Psychology Department to assist with the cost of registration and travel for students presenting research at a conference.
Students entering the program with previous graduate work should not assume automatic transfer of credit for graduate courses. After arrival, transfer credit will be evaluated on a course-by-course basis. Up to nine credit hours may be transferred for graduate credit. To be eligible for transfer credit, the course must be judged to be comparable to a required ISU course and should have been taken within the past four years; the student should have earned a grade of A or higher in the course and may be required to demonstrate the requisite skills associated with the course.
The majority of our graduates are employed in primary healthcare settings such as hospitals, Veteran’s Administration hospitals or clinics, public or private outpatient clinics, and correctional facilities.
Many of our graduates move into supervisory and/or administrative positions within the first five years of employment. Several of our alumni are employed in academic positions within a clinical setting (i.e., teaching hospital).
Indiana State University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
Office of Program Consultation and Accreditation
American Psychological Association
750 1st Street NE
Washington, D.C. 20002
Phone (202)336-5979 / Email: apaaccred@apa.org / Web: www.apa.org/ed/accreditation
Admission into the Clinical PsyD program is competitive, and enrollment is generally limited to 7 - 8 students per year. Applicants are selected for admission on the basis of undergraduate and graduate (if applicable) grades, letters of reference, clinical and research interests, significant accomplishments, and virtual as well as in-person interviews.
Applicants must meet the following minimum requirements.
Applicants must possess a bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited institution (for international students, a degree granted by a recognized institution) with at least 24 credits in psychology. These credits must include coursework in Abnormal Psychology, Research Methods or Experimental Psychology, and Statistics. In addition, it is preferred that students have taken a course in learning or cognition and personality.
Applicants must have a minimum cumulative 3.0 grade point average (on a 4.0 scale) in all undergraduate coursework, or a graduate GPA (if more than nine graduate credit hours in Psychology) of 3.5 on a 4.0 scale.
Three letters of reference. These letters will ideally come from psychology professors and/or mental health professionals who are familiar with your academic and/or professional and interpersonal competence and can speak competently to your ability to succeed in a doctoral program in clinical psychology. Letters from individuals who are familiar with doctoral training in psychology are strongly preferred.
Important: Have the email addresses for your references available at the time that you are completing your admission application, as you will need to enter them in the online application. Explain to your references that they will receive an email from Indiana State University requesting that they submit a letter of recommendation. Please ensure that your references expect to receive this request. It will be sent to your references immediately upon completing the application.
Applications for admission are accepted between September 1 and December 1 for the Fall cohort. All materials must be received by the deadline. Applications and application materials received after December 1 will not be considered for admission.
Please complete this departmental application and submit it with your other admission materials.