Time Required to Complete a Degree You can start studying to become a clinical psychologist at any point in your life. Because clinical psychology, which tries to solve problems individuals encounter because of their behavior, isn't just a science but a philosophy and even an intuitive art, students with some serious life experience tend to be much better—and more mature students—in this particular field of psychology. Depending upon dedication to the program, a clinical psychology major can take the following time to complete: - Master's degree programs generally require one-to-two years to complete
- Doctoral degree programs in clinical psychology take approximately five-to-six years to complete
- Programs in certain areas of professional psychology require a 1-year internship as part of the doctoral program.
 High School Preparation A strong college preparatory high school education is a good start for a career as a clinical psychologist. Courses in science, math, English, history, social studies, and a foreign language are important. Science and math are especially critical because they provide the necessary skills for research and analysis in college psychology courses. Psychology Experience Be sure to take a course in psychology if your high school offers one, because it can give you a general overview of what the field is about. You may also want to think about volunteering or working in a psychologist's office. Bachelor's Degree Most undergraduate programs require a blend of science and liberal arts courses for a bachelor's degree in psychology. Typically, you will be ready to take electives in psychology by the time you are a college junior. Planning for Graduate School Your junior year of college is the best time to start making graduate school plans if you know for sure this is the field you would like to pursue. As long as you take the basic electives in psychology, you don't always need to have a bachelor’s in psychology to get into a graduate program in clinical psychology. Clinical Psychology Master's Degrees Undergraduate course requirements for a master's degree are relatively few: - Background in introductory or general psychology
- Experimental psychology with a laboratory course
- Statistics
- Undergraduate grade point average (GPA)
A recent survey conducted by the American Psychological Association (APA) of 26 psychology master's programs, shows that the most commonly required courses once you are in the master's program are those with industrial/organizational content, statistics, and research design. Course work at the master’s level often includes study in ethics, assessment, program evaluation, as well as personality-related topics. Some of the popular types of online and campus-based master's degrees in clinical psychology are listed below. Clinical Psychology Doctorate Degrees Each graduate program determines its own entrance requirements. Some doctoral programs require applicants to have a master's degree in psychology. More commonly, students can enter the doctoral programs with a bachelor's degree and work directly on a doctoral degree. Earning a doctoral degree typically requires at least 4 years, with the average time to degree being closer to 7 years of study after the bachelor's degree. Early in the graduate program, you can expect to do the following: - Take course work in the core areas of psychology
- Work with a professor to learn how to do research
- Study how psychological research is applied to life situations
Once you have completed all course work, you must pass a comprehensive exam and write and defend a dissertation or other scholarly product. To become a professional clinical psychologist, you will also have to complete a 1-year internship as part of your doctoral study in your area of practice. Some of the popular types of online and campus-based doctorate degrees in clinical psychology are listed below.  |
