获得APA认可的临床心理学博士学位。南方卫理公会大学的该计划遵循临床科学家模型，并且是心理临床科学研究院的成员。因此，该计划的主要目标是培训临床科学家，而博士培训最重要的组成部分就是研究。为此，我们希望我们的学生通过合作，实验室指导的研究以及独立指导的项目，在整个培训过程中积极参与研究。要求学生大量参与科学出版物，会议演讲，资助申请以及对研究做出其他有意义的贡献。此外，临床科学模型认识到研究与临床应用之间的相互关系。学生应将科学知识应用到他们的临床工作中，并利用他们的临床工作为研究提供信息。将提供基于证据
The mission of SMU's doctoral program in clinical psychology is to train psychologists whose professional activities are based on scientific knowledge and methods. The program integrates rigorous research training with state-of-the-art, evidence-based clinical training. Thus, our program emphasizes the development of conceptual and research skills as well as scientifically- based clinical practice skills. The overarching goal is for our graduates to use empirical methods to advance psychological knowledge and whose approach to clinical phenomena is consistent with scientific evidence.