The Clinical Psychology PhD program is committed to educating students in clinical science, with rigorous training in both research and applied clinical work. Our program will provide you with the skills you need for a successful career in academia, research, or clinical practice. Fully accredited by the American Psychological Association Committee on Accreditation since 1972, our doctoral program reflects the scientist-practitioner model of training. Faculty work closely with students in a mentorship model. We help to tailor each student's experiences to their professional goals. In their time at AU, students work in collaborative lab atmospheres on a wide range of research projects. We have a strong reputation for excellent clinical training in evidence-based therapies. With this combination of coursework, lab work, and clinical experience, you will graduate fully prepared for your career as a clinical psychologist. The 72-credit PhD program is designed to provide students with a rigorous classroom education, innovative research opportunities, and exciting and diverse clinical experiences. With faculty guidance and mentorship, students complete a master's thesis, a doctoral dissertation, and one tool of research. Students engage in three year-long practicum experiences. In the first year, students learn humanistic and psychodynamic techniques in the American University Counseling Center. In year two, students learn and practice cognitive behavioral techniques in the department's James J. Gray Psychotherapy Training Clinic. For the third practicum, students choose between an advanced CBT practicum with adults or with children. Additionally, students complete multiple externships in DC area hospitals, mental health centers, and counseling centers and a one-year internship.