About
The Clinical Psychology PhD Program (five years; 119-credit
hours) with an emphasis in health psychology follows a scientist-practitioner
or "Boulder Model" training model. The program promotes the
development of knowledge and skill base in applied clinical psychology.
Although the program's faculty members are primarily cognitive-behavioral in
their orientation, their perspectives range from neuroscience and the
physiological bases of behavior to public health and global health.
Furthermore, we encourage students to develop critical thinking skills that can
be applied to real world situations, particularly in the medical and public
health arenas. The completion of a PhD requires independent scholarly work that
represents a contribution to knowledge combined with comprehensive clinical
training.
We aim to train psychologists who are both clinically and
academically prepared to work in health care or medical settings. To achieve
this goal, our students receive in-depth training in the theoretical and
practical aspects of clinical work and research methods. Moreover, in addition
to general clinical psychology, the program provides complementary training in
health psychology, physiological bases of behavior and public health systems as
the areas of more specialized focus. This program design is based on the
premise that psychologists conducting physical and mental health-related
research in health settings need clinical skills to complement their strong
foundation in research methods, so that graduates will be capable of
formulating and pursuing meaningful clinical research questions.
In addition to broad-based training in clinical psychology
overall, the specific goals are to develop a clinical psychologist with the
following qualities:
- Effective providers of psychological/health care services who
are able to evaluate processes and outcomes
- Independent researchers capable of contributing to the
scientific body of knowledge in the field of clinical psychology applied to
diverse health issues and health care settings, and able to educate and mentor
future researchers in the field
- Comprehensive training in the professional standards and ethics
of clinical work and research
- Awareness and capability to assess, evaluate, and provide appropriate
clinical services and conduct research accounting for membership in culturally,
ethnically, socioeconomically, geographically and otherwise diverse groups
- Sequential and comprehensive training in clinical practice, theory,
and research emphasizing the intersection between clinical psychology and
health
- Enhanced awareness of diverse levels of analyses of health ranging
from physiological bases of behavior to public health and global health and
translation from one level to another
Program Goals
- Application of principles and techniques of clinical psychology
with an emphasis in health psychology
within a health care and public health context—evaluated by performance in epidemiology course and by dissertation
committee's determination of topic relevance to clinical psychology with an emphasis in health psychology,
health care and public health context
- Research in biopsychosocial bases of health—evaluated in the
following categories: competence and
execution of predoctoral research determined by onsite research adviser and Dr. Swencionis, director of research. Project
design sophistication and quality of dissertation as determined by dissertation committee
- Primary, secondary and tertiary prevention and
intervention—evaluated by clinical onsite advisers'
and Dr. Foley's (clinical director) review of their evaluation reports
Research
Students are required to develop research skills that will
enable them to function in diverse settings. The later part of a student's
career is devoted to developing advanced clinical and research skills in a particular
area of interest. General areas covered by faculty include obesity,
cardiovascular psychology, diabetes mellitus, asthma, HIV/AIDS, multiple
sclerosis, neuropsychological disorders, neuroscience, cancer, public and
international health, chronic pain and headache.
Clinical Work
Students function as a scientist-practitioner at a variety of
settings in the greater NY/NJ area. Clinical work begins during the first year
and increases in demand and responsibility over the next four years. Students
serve internship their fifth year.
Curriculum
The curriculum is a five-year, 119 credit hour program.
Coursework declines in the third and fourth years to allow time for increased
clinical work and research.
Student Manuals: A Vital Resource
The Clinical Program
Manual (PDF) contains important information regarding academic
outlines and requirements, policies and procedures, academic standards and
ethics, curriculum planner and much more. All students are urged to refer to
the appropriate manual continually throughout their education here, as both
will be updated whenever necessary.
Minor in Clinical Neuropsychology
The minor in clinical neuropsychology is
offered as an integral component of the APA Accredited Doctoral training
program in clinical psychology at Ferkauf. Following the completion of core
courses students enroll, typically in their third year of graduate studies,
into a one-year sequence that is designed to integrate didactic and practical experiences
in clinical neuropsychology. Concurrent with the coursework, students are
required to complete a formal externship in clinical neuropsychology. Faculty
who provide supervision at the externship sites also give guest lectures, which
enhances the dialogue between theory and clinical practice. The trainingis
consistent with the educational guidelines recommended in Division 40 of the
American Psychological Association. The primary faculty who contribute to the
minor hail from Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Columbia University Medical Center, New York University School of Medicine and the Multiple Sclerosis
Center at Holy Name Hospital.
Albert Einstein College of Medicine's Center for Public Health Services—Master's Degree and
Certificate in Public Health
The Public Health Certificate program
provides an introduction to public health in an 11-credit program, which can be
completed in two semesters (summer and fall). The 11-credit Public Health
Certificate program includes courses in foundations of public health,
epidemiology, biostatistiscs, social and behavioral sciences, and global
health. All courses are taken with MPH students. Eligible students
who successfully complete the Certificate program can apply the credits toward
the Master of Public Health program within two years of graduation.
The Center's MPH program has an
innovative focus on community-based research. The program's
interdisciplinary character emphasizes integration of concepts and methods from
the social and behavioral sciences, epidemiology and population health, global
health, and ethics in order to prepare students to address the complex
challenges of contemporary public health. Promoting healthy people in healthy
communities is a major goal of public health. To help fulfill this aim,
the Center for Public Health Sciences offers an innovative Master of
Public Health degree focusing on community-based research. The 42-credit
interdisciplinary program provides applied public health research training to
medical students, medical residents, doctoral students, clinicians, and
professionals from various fields. The overall goal is to produce leaders
in applied public health research who will contribute to improved population
health and help promote community well-being and health equity.
OPS
The Organization of Psychology Students (OPS) is the student organization of
Ferkauf Graduate School of Psychology. Each Ferkauf student is a member of the
organization and "dues," called student activity fees, are collected
automatically each semester with tuition. These dues constitute the budget of
OPS. The purpose of the organization is to provide Ferkauf students with
information relevant to their academic and professional careers.
Accreditation
The clinical psychology PhD health emphasis program was awarded
APA Accreditation effective October 2005.
The APA Office of Program Consultation and Accreditation
supports the APA Commission on Accreditation (CoA) in carrying out its
responsibilities as the nationally recognized accrediting body for education
and training programs in professional psychology. Contact information for the
CoA as follows:
APA Accreditation
Office of Program Consultation and Accreditation
750 First Street, NE
Washington, DC 20002-4242
Phone: 202.336.5979, 202.336.5979
TDD/TTY: 202.336.6123
Fax: 202.336.5978
If you have any questions, please contact
Program Director Sonia Suchday at sonia.suchday@einstein.yu.edu;
718.430.3856.