Doctoral degree will address growing need for mental health services in tri-state and nation
EVANSVILLE, IN (11/28/2022) The University of Evansville (UE) has received accreditation from the Higher Learning Commission for its PsyD in Clinical Psychology program. With full approval granted, UE is now accepting applications for the five-year doctoral program. It will commence in the Fall of 2023 with a cohort of 15 students.
Mental health is a growing issue not only in the tri-state but across the nation. According to the Center for Workforce Studies, there are only 19 clinical psychologists per 100,000 people in Indiana, which is much less than other parts of the country. Providing this program in Evansville will help increase mental health services for all ages, and PsyD graduates may remain in the area long-term as well. In the state, the demand for clinical, counseling, and school psychologists is projected to grow 18.5 percent over the next five years, which is much faster than other occupations.
“We spent more than a year meeting with community leaders, healthcare professionals, and members of the Mayor’s Mental Health Task Force,” said Michael Austin, PhD, executive vice president for academic affairs and provost. “We asked, ‘what is the most important thing that the University of Evansville can do to address mental health issues in our community?’ Repeatedly, the answer was a need for more people on the ground providing quality care. The PsyD program was specifically developed to meet this need.”
The PsyD in Clinical Psychology program provides a pathway for individuals who want to become a clinical psychologist. Students will gain discipline-specific knowledge and clinical core competencies as well as supervised experiences in increasingly complex settings. Coursework will span the areas of psychopathology, research methods, ethics, diversity, and more.
“I am excited for what the future holds for UE and its PsyD program,” said Kevin Jordan, PhD, associate professor and director of clinical psychology. “The students and faculty in the PsyD program will provide clinical services in the greater Evansville area that are much needed. Students who graduate from our program will be well equipped to have a fulfilling career as a clinical psychologist.”
As they work toward their doctoral degree, students will also earn a master’s degree upon completing their second year of the program. In addition to coursework, clinical experiences, and internship, students will complete an empirical dissertation that contributes to the knowledge base of clinical psychology.
The first four years of the PsyD program will be on campus. In their second and third years, students will see clients of all ages with a variety of different presenting concerns at a new UE community-based mental health clinic at Talbot Square. During years three and four, students will also be placed in local clinical settings (e.g., Ascension St. Vincent Evansville, Deaconess Health System, Easterseals Rehabilitation Center, Evansville State Hospital) to acquire additional training. The fifth year is clinical internship in which students enroll in a match process that places them in an American Psychological Association approved internship site in the United States or Canada. Upon conclusion of their clinical internship and approval of their dissertation, students will earn the PsyD in Clinical Psychology.
To learn more about the PsyD in Clinical Psychology program, please visit evansville.edu/psyd.
