VISION AND MISSION OF THE PROGRAM

Our vision is to be considered an exemplary and competitive Ph.D. Clinical Psychology program which develops cultural sensitive psychologists that comply with the required clinical and research skills to investigate mental health issues, particularly those associated with disadvantaged populations.  The goal of the program is to produce competent professionals who are aware of the need for cultural sensitivity and mental health disparities within the social strata.  Our mission is to develop psychologists by means of a holistic, dynamic and integrated perspective, that emphasizes a balanced and interconnected sequence of didactic offerings, research opportunities, and experiential clinical training placements carried out within a context of awareness and cultural sensitivity towards the Puerto Rican society.

TRAINING MODEL

The Ph.D. Clinical Psychology Program at CAU has a clearly specified philosophy of education and training fully compatible with the CAU’s mission and appropriate to the science and practice of psychology. The Program trains the broad range of core competencies in academic psychology as described by the Council of University Directors of Clinical Psychology (CUDCP) and the substantive areas of training in accordance with the Guidelines and Principles for Accreditation of Programs in Professional Psychology (2009).

Since April 18, 2002, our training model is the Adapted Scholar-Practitioner Model (ASPM).  The training model derives from the conceptualization of scholarly activities as ongoing and dynamic processes, which encompass the creation, organization, dissemination, and application of knowledge (Halpern et al., 1998).  

The four components of the ASPM developed at CAU are: (a) the construction/creation of knowledge based upon the substantive and emerging areas of psychology, (b) the application of existing and emerging knowledge, (c) the integration of existing and emerging knowledge, and (d) creation, integration and application of knowledge with cultural sensitivity/social responsibility.

The content and sequence of the practice experiences ensure the integration of the science of psychology and the professional practice of psychology in our Program. The training for the research and clinical practices is sequential, cumulative, and graded in complexity. The first four practices combine clinical and research activities, while the last two practices include solely research practice activities.  Thus, research and clinical training practices are designed to prepare students for further organized training.

TRAINING GOALS, OBJECTIVES, AND COMPETENCIES

The Ph.D. Clinical Psychology Program’s consists of 3 main goals, 6 objectives, and 16 competencies.  Research and clinical competencies are organized sequentially.  These specific competencies are integrated throughout the clinical and research practices and the academic courses.

TIME AND RESIDENCY REQUIREMENTS

The Program is designed to be completed in 5 years; 4 years of academic training including comprehensive and qualifying exams and dissertation, and 1 year for their clinical psychology internship.  The Program’s time limitation for completion of degree requirements is 7 years.  The Program’s residency requirements are that 2 of the 4 academic training years must be at CAU, and at least 1 year of which must be in full-time residence at the Program.