Clinical Science Training Program
The Washington University Clinical Science PhD Program is grounded in a clinical science model that integrates science and practice, with a strong emphasis on conducting, disseminating, and applying rigorous empirical research. Our primary goal is to train clinical scientists who will lead the search for new knowledge regarding the assessment, understanding, prevention, and treatment of psychological disorders and the promotion of health and well-being.
Research activities in the clinical area are closely integrated with the department’s strengths in aging and development; behavior, brain, and cognition; social and personality psychology; and diversity science. Clinical faculty collaborate extensively with investigators across these areas to advance understanding of the cognitive, affective, social, developmental, and neurobiological mechanisms underlying mental health and illness.
The clinical area also has extensive collaborations with faculty across Washington University, including the School of Medicine, Bursky School of Public Health, Brown School of Social Work, and other schools and centers. This collaborative research addresses the psychological and behavioral aspects of health, including cardiovascular disease, sleep, pain, dementia, eating disorders, and other mental and physical health conditions, as well as the genetic, environmental, and social determinants of health.
Core clinical faculty investigate cognitive, emotional, motivational, interpersonal, developmental, and neurobiological processes underlying mental health and illness. Faculty also develop, evaluate, and implement innovative interventions and conduct translational and implementation research to improve the prevention, assessment, and treatment of mental health conditions and increase access to high-quality care across diverse populations and real-world settings.
A Clinical Science Approach to Research and Practice
Our program is first and foremost a clinical science program. Rigorous scientific training is central to our mission, and clinical practice is understood as both informed by—and capable of informing—scientific research. Students therefore do not need to choose between being scientists and practitioners. Instead, they learn to conduct rigorous research, translate scientific knowledge into evidence-based clinical care, and draw on clinical experience to generate and refine important research questions.
Consistent with this mission, the program places strong emphasis on research training and preparation for academic and other research-oriented careers. Some graduates pursue careers in applied settings, where they use their clinical science training to provide evidence-based services, supervise and train future clinicians, conduct and apply research, and contribute to the dissemination and implementation of effective practices.
Students may also pursue specialized training in areas such as neuroscience, neuropsychology, advanced quantitative methods, and other areas aligned with their research and professional goals.
Mentorship and Training
Students are admitted to work with faculty whose research interests align with their own. The faculty advisor typically serves as the student’s primary research mentor and provides guidance concerning research, scholarly development, and career planning.
Students whose primary research mentors are affiliated faculty outside the core clinical program are also assigned a clinical advisor from the core clinical faculty. This advisor provides an additional source of mentorship and guidance regarding clinical training and program requirements.
Students complete coursework in research methods, statistics, psychopathology, psychological assessment, intervention, ethics, and professional issues. Applied training includes supervised clinical experiences in the department’s Psychological Service Center, community-based external practicum placements, and a required one-year APA-accredited clinical internship. Please consult the Clinical Science Program Handbook for detailed and current information about the curriculum, clinical training, milestones, and other program requirements.
Accreditation
The Clinical Science Program is a member of the Academy of Psychological Clinical Science and is accredited by both the Psychological Clinical Science Accreditation System and the American Psychological Association.
The program’s APA accreditation expires in 2028 and will not be renewed. Accordingly, students entering the program in 2022 and later should expect to graduate from a PCSAS-accredited doctoral program rather than an APA-accredited doctoral program.
Please review our Clinical Science Accreditation, Licensure, and Interstate Practice Information page for additional information about accreditation, licensure, and PSYPACT.
Contact Us
For questions about the Clinical Science Training Program, please contact:
Ellen Fitzsimmons-Craft, PhD
Director of Clinical Training
Last updated: August 2026
