Accreditation and Training Model

The Clinical Psychology Program at Miami University has been continuously accredited by the American Psychological Association* since 1972. The program follows the scientist-practitioner Boulder Model of training, with a main focus to produce graduates who are “capable of functioning as an investigator and as a practitioner, and may function as either or both, consistent with the highest standards in psychology” (Belar & Perry, 1992, p. 72).

Program Aims

The clinical training model has, at its core, three general aims that support the scientist-practitioner model and fundamental competencies, while simultaneously allowing students to develop individualized specialties in areas of interest that are broadly reflective of the faculty areas of strength.

1. Advancing the science of psychology through original research scholarship.
2. Promoting mental health/well-being through application of knowledge and theories of scientific assessment, intervention and evaluation.
3. Developing leaders in the field of psychology with advanced foundational knowledge in human behavior and specialized expertise relevant to a dynamic profession.

Each of these aims is delineated with specific objectives, competencies, and skills. It should be noted that we endorse a developmental trajectory of skill acquisition, and as such, we expect competencies to progress and evolve throughout training.

Program Description

The program is designed such that training consists of five years of full-time training in residence followed by a full-time, one-year predoctoral clinical internship. The program admits students for the doctorate program only; there is no terminal master’s degree offered, although it is included in the sequence of training. Students entering the program with prior graduate training may accelerate their training if the faculty approves the adequacy of specific program requirements.

The clinical program provides a systematic, developmentally sequenced, and individualized program of training that is graded in complexity. Progress through the clinical program is associated with three phases, marked by sequenced, developmental clinical training experiences and completion of specific research milestones: master’s thesis, comprehensive examination, and dissertation. Throughout the curriculum, students are assessed for developmentally appropriate competencies within the areas of science and practice.

Areas of Strength

Our program has identified two primary areas of strength upon which we plan to continue building in our recruitment of graduate students and future hiring of new faculty. These areas and their associated faculty are:

1. adult psychopathology, trauma, and resilience (Al-Dajani, Messman, Soulliard, Wiese)
2. children, families, schools, and communities (Flaspohler, Green, Kiel, Luebbe, Raval)

For questions regarding the program, contact:
Director of Clinical Training: Aaron Luebbe

*For questions about accreditation, contact:
Office of Program Consultation and Accreditation
American Psychological Association
750 First ST., NE
Washington, DC 20002-4242
Voice: (202)336-5979
FAX: (202)336-5978

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