INTRODUCTION TO THE STUDENT HANDBOOK This Handbook outlines all program policies and procedures and should be consulted when questions arise. Covered are topics ranging from degree requirements, practicum, comprehensive examinations, grades, student evaluation, internship, student rights, and official program policies. In addition to this Handbook, faculty and students should also consult the Graduate School website (umaine.edu/graduate) and Department's Graduate Student Rules for other important information and policies. Of course, students and faculty must also adhere to the APA 2002 Code of Ethics (amended in 2010) for Psychologists.
Upon entry into the program, students sign a form acknowledging that they have access to this Handbook and pledging adherence to program, department, and university policies, as well as the ethics code. Haigh Assistant Professor and Director of Clinical Training Clinical Student Handbook | Page 2 | Return to Table of Contents TABLE OF CONTENTS INTRODUCTION TO THE STUDENT HANDBOOK 2 INTRODUCTION 6 MISSION STATEMENT 6 MODEL OF TRAINING 6 AIMS 7 GENERALIST TRAINING AND SPECIALTY EMPHASES 7 ADMISSIONS REQUIREMENTS 7 DEGREE REQUIREMENTS 8 OVERVIEW 8 ADVISORY COMMITTEE 8 COURSE REQUIREMENTS FOR STUDENTS ENTERING FALL 2019 AND BEYOND 9 General Clinical Track C ourses 9 Sample Schedule by Year: General Clinical T rack 11 Clinical Child Emphasis Courses 12 Sample Schedule by Year: C linical C hild Emphasis 13 Clinical Neuropsychology Emphasis Courses 14 Sample Schedule by Year: C linical N europsychology Emphasis 15 COURSE REQUIREMENTS FOR STUDENTS ENTERING BEFORE FALL 2019 16 General Clinical Track Courses 16 Sample Schedule by Year: General C linical Track 18 Child C linical Track Courses 19 Sample Schedule by Year: C hild C linical Track 21 Developmental-Clinical Track Courses 22 Sample Schedule by Year: D evelopmental-Clinical Track 23 COMPREHENSIVE EXAMINATION PROCESS 24 Clinical Comprehensive Exam 24 Purpose 24 Part 1- Foundational Clinical Knowledge 24 Clinical Content Area Committee 26 Clinical Content Area Scoring 26 Part 2- Research Specialty Knowledge 27 Research Specialty Reading List 27 Research Specialty Area Scoring 28 Examination Procedures (Parts 1 and 2) 28 Timeline 28 Re-examination Process 28 Faculty Involvement 9 2 MASTERS DEGREE 29 Overview 29 Required Coursework 30 Comprehensive Examination in Clinical Psychology 30 How to Apply 30 RESEARCH 30 Overview 30 Independent Research and Second Year Project Table 31 Clinical Student Handbook | Page 3 | Return to Table of Contents Directed Research 33 Clinical Research Forum 33 Second Year Project 34 Program and Departmental Research Presentations 34 Dissertation 34 Overview 34 Establishing a Committee 35 The Proposal 36 Dissertation Study Completion and Document Draft 37 Oral Defense 37 Timeline and Required Paperwork 38 Paperwork 40 CLINICAL PRACTICE 41 Overview 41 Commitment to Serving Diverse Clients 42 Clinical Practice Forum 42 Clinical Hours 43 Clinical Supervision 44 Practicum Contracts 44 Psychological Services Center (PSC) 44 Student and PSC Clinician’s Responsibilities 45 PSC Associate Director 46 Case Conference 46 Practicum Placements 47 Current Placement Descriptions 48 DIVERSITY TRAINING 52 Diversity Training Sequence 52 When Challenges Arise 53 Diversity Committee 54 INTERNSHIP 54 Overview 55 Applying for Internship 55 Registration Requirements 57 TASKS BY YEAR 57 Tasks of the First Year 57 Tasks of the Second Year 59 Tasks of the Third Year 61 Tasks of the Fourth and Fifth Years 62 GRADUATION 63 PROGRAM GOVERNANCE: STUDENT RIGHTS, RESPONSIBILITIES, AND PROGRESS 64 KEY POSITIONS AND COMMITTEES 64 GENERAL PROGRAM EXPECTATIONS 66 EVALUATION OF STUDENT PROGRESS 67 Clinical Faculty Meetings 67 Practicum Evaluation Meetings 67 Annual Performance Review 68 Departmental Review 68 Clinical Student Handbook | Page 4 | Return to Table of Contents Program Review 69 PERFORMANCE PROBLEMS, STUDENT DISMISSAL, AND GRIEVANCE PROCEDURES 69 Grades 69 Academic v. Non-Academic Progress 70 Personal Adjustment 71 Remediation Efforts 71 “Counseling Out” 73 Dismissal 73 Grievance Procedures 74 Student Complaints and Grievances 74 PROGRAM POLICIES 75 Web-based behavior policy 75 Teaching Assistantships 76 Transfer Credits and Waivers of Requirements 77 Americans with Disability Act 78 Non-Discrimination Policy 78 Non-Harassment Policy 78 STUDENT SERVICE TO PROGRAM 79 Diversity Committee 79 Diversity Committee Chairperson 80 Student Role in Governance 80 Clinical Student Representative 80 PSC Associate Director 81 FUNDING 81 TEACHING ASSISTANTSHIPS 82 FELLOWSHIPS AND OTHER AWARDS 82 CLINICAL AND RESEARCH CONTRACTS 83 GRANTS 83 FINANCIAL AID 84 APPENDICES 84 A: NEUROPSYCHOLOGY EMPHASIS 84 B: COMPETENCIES RATING FORM 87 FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS 95 Clinical Student Handbook | Page 5 | Return to Table of Contents INTRODUCTION MISSION STATEMENT The mission of the University of Maine’s Clinical Psychology Doctoral Training Program is to prepare students for the doctorate (PhD) in psychology and for careers combining research and practice. As such, all program training components heavily emphasize the interactive influences and integration of the science and professional practice of psychology.
The program philosophy and model of training are entirely consistent with the general University mission with its emphasis on teaching, basic and applied research, and public service activities that benefit the state of Maine and the larger world community (https://umaine.edu/psychology/clinicalpsychology). The program is committed to providing a supportive and open learning environment for all individuals regardless of age, gender, gender identity, race, ethnicity, culture, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, disability, socioeconomic status, or beliefs, consistent with the broad definitions of diversity accepted by the American Psychological Association (http://apa.org/ed/graduate/diversity-preparation. Our program also is committed to a training process that ensures that graduate students develop the knowledge, skills, and attitudes to work effectively with members of the public who embody intersecting demographics, attitudes, beliefs, and values. Respect for the differing opinions and attitudes of all individuals, as well as the continued acceptance of these differences, are important to the development of this environment.
We value interacting with individuals different from ourselves and find this to be vital to our education mission. MODEL OF TRAINING The philosophy and model of training for the program is consistent with the scientist-practitioner model espoused at the Boulder Conference in 1949. This model emphasizes the interactive influences and integration of the science and professional practice of psychology. Training follows the generalist tradition in which students receive a firm foundation in broad clinical knowledge and skills and engage in a variety of applied experiences with children, adolescents, and adults.
Building on this generalist foundation, students can also complete more specialized training through emphases in clinical child psychology and clinical neuropsychology. The program also adheres to the mentor model, in which faculty recruit students that match their training philosophy and research activities and act as mentors, modeling the integration of science, practice, and continuing education. Students are treated as junior colleagues and encouraged to participate in program governance and evaluation, present and publish research, review manuscripts, and attend professional workshops. Clinical Student Handbook | Page 6 | Return to Table of Contents AIMS The program’s emphasis on science-practice integration is reflected in clearly specified training aims: (1) To produce graduates who have the requisite knowledge of the broad bases of scientific psychology; (2) To produce graduates who have the requisite knowledge and skills to critically evaluate and conduct empirical research; (3) To produce scientist practitioner graduates who have an appreciation of the close links between psychological research and practice and knowledge and skills needed to integrate the two; (4) To produce graduates who have the requisite knowledge and skills for entry into the practice of professional psychology; and (5) To produce graduates with the requisite knowledge and skills to form a foundation upon which to function in an ethical and professional manner throughout their professional careers.
GENERALIST TRAINING AND SPECIALTY EMPHASES Clinical training follows the Generalist tradition in which all students develop a strong foundation in broad clinical knowledge and skills and engage in applied experiences with children, adolescents, and adults. Building on this base, students can also complete specialty training in clinical child psychology or clinical neuropsychology. The Clinical Child Psychology Emphasis offers specialized training and experiences in working with children, adolescents, and families, whereas the Clinical Neuropsychology Emphasis offers specialized training in the study of brain-behavior relationships, applied training in clinical neuropsychological assessment, and research in neuropsychology. Students in both emphases complete all of the generalist requirements, as well as related coursework, research, and practicum experiences.
ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS To be considered for admission, program candidates must complete a graduate school and a departmental application (https://umaine.edu/psychology/clinicalpsychology/admissions/). In a typical year, there are 100 or more completed applications. An initial screening is completed in order to decide which candidates will be invited for an on campus interview. This screening is based on a composite of GRE scores (advanced psychology test not required), undergraduate (and graduate if applicable) grade point average (GPA), research and clinical interests reflected in the Personal Statement, and letters of reference.
Because of the program’s heavy research emphasis, candidates with evidence of strong performance in science and mathematics courses are favored. Though no minimum scores/grades are used as “cutoffs” in the screening process, grade point averages below 3.3 and GRE scores below the 50th percentile often result in rejection. A summary of GPA’s and GRE scores of admitted candidates for the past 7 years can be found on the program’s website in the Admissions section under “Student Admissions, Outcomes and Other Data.” Low GPA or GRE scores are sometimes offset by other strengths Clinical Student Handbook | Page 7 | Return to Table of Contents and rarely are the sole reason for the rejection of an application. Finally, because of the program’s mentor-based training model, the perceived match of interests between candidates and potential faculty mentors is crucial in the admission process.
A related consideration is whether particular faculty members have the funding to make admission offers in a particular year. DEGREE REQUIREMENTS OVERVIEW The basic degree requirements set forth by the Graduate School include a minimum residency period, the successful completion of comprehensive examinations and admission into doctoral candidacy, a successfully defended dissertation, a minimum number of graduate course credits, and a program of study approved by an established advisory committee. There is no department or program language requirement. With respect to residency, the program requires a minimum of three full-time academic years of graduate study (note this is more than the minimum of two required by the Graduate School) and the completion of a clinical internship prior to awarding the doctoral degree.
“Full-time” status is defined by the Graduate School and is currently defined as being enrolled in six or more credit hours per semester, with the exceptions of the internship year in which only one internship credit per semester is necessary and/or the final semester in which one thesis credit is needed to maintain full-time status. Note that despite these “minimum” requirements, the nature of the program typically makes full-time residence essential throughout the entire course of study, which is typically four years before internship. ADVISORY COMMITTEE At the time of admission, all students are assigned to an advisor. Students must also establish an advisory committee.
This committee is typically chaired by the advisor (must be a full-time graduate faculty member or a co-chair must be appointed) and includes a minimum of three members of the graduate faculty. These faculty members do not have to be appointed to the student’s eventual dissertation committee. The advisory committee guides the student on curricular and related issues, approves the program of study (described below) and any requested modifications, and helps determine a student’s standing in the program when a grade below a B- is received in any required course. Since this committee must approve the following described program of study, it should be established within the first year of study.
In consultation with their advisor and advisory committee, students must also develop a Program of Study (form can be downloaded from the Graduate School website). The program of study is an outline of courses to be passed and research to be undertaken. Prerequisite and elective courses are part of the program of study. This should be completed and submitted to the Graduate School by the end of the first year of study and a failure to do so may interfere with registration.