Department
of Psychology
Requirements for the Specialization in Children, Families, and Cultures
Requirements for the Ph.D. Degree
Requirements for the M.A. Degree
Doctoral students wishing to specialize in Children, Families, and Cultures (CFC) must first apply and be admitted to the doctoral degree program in clinical psychology. Students must fulfill all of the requirements of the clinical training program in addition to the specific requirements for the CFC specialization, below.
Requirements for the CFC Specialization in Clinical Psychology
Competence must be demonstrated across the child, family and multicultural domains. Demonstrating competence within each of those three domains includes developing a solid knowledge base as well as performance of the research applications and clinical skills needed to succeed as a psychologist, according to the following guidelines:
Demonstrating knowledge-based competency
Requirement 1: Coursework
· Complete at least 5 courses from the CFC selections, with at least one course in child development, one course related to familial processes, and one related to culture. Note that CFC courses may also fulfill other requirements of the clinical program (e.g., cognitive/affective, biological bases, clinical, etc.).
Requirement 2: Comprehensive Exams
· Successful complete Doctoral Comprehensive Exams in Clinical Psychology in the area of Children, Families and Cultures.
Requirement 3: CFC Roundtable Meetings
· Participate in CFC roundtables and attend CFC related colloquia. Although students are expected to participate consistently throughout their tenure in the program, a minimum of two semesters of participation is required. The group meetings include student and faculty led presentations and discussions of relevant issues and readings in the CFC area.
Demonstrating performance-based competency
Requirement 4: Professional development related to research
Fulfilled by completing both of the following:
· Attend at least one CFC relevant professional conference*
· Complete a Dissertation in the area of Children, Families and Culture*
And at least one of the following:
· Write, or assist substantially in the conceptualization and preparation of, a CFC relevant grant.*
· Present (first author) CFC relevant research at a professional conference*
· Produce at least one CFC relevant research article that is accepted for publication in a peer reviewed scientific journal*
Requirement 5: Professional development related to clinical practice
Fulfilled by completing both of the following:
· Satisfactorily complete at least one practicum or externship related to children, families and/or multicultural awareness training.*
· Present a clinical “case conference” related to children, families and/or multicultural awareness in a CFC group meeting.
* CFC relevance must be approved by your academic advisor.
Students in the General M.A. program in Psychology may receive a Certificate of Specialization in Children, Families, and Cultures. Students wishing to specialize in CFC must first apply and be admitted to the general masters program.
Students must fulfill all of the requirements of the General Masters Degree in Psychology in addition to the specific requirements for the CFC specialization, below.
Requirements for the CFC M.A. Specialization
Requirement 1: Coursework
· Three of the seven electives must be taken from the CFC course offerings.
· At least four courses must be taken in the psychology department, and we encourage that at least one graduate level course be taken in a department other than Psychology.
Requirement 2: Research Apprenticeship (RP)
· Complete topic paper (RP) in the CFC area
Requirement 3: CFC Roundtable Meetings
· Participate in CFC roundtables and attend CFC related colloquia. Although students are expected to participate consistently throughout their tenure in the program, a minimum of two semesters of participation is required. The group meetings include student and faculty led presentations and discussions of relevant issues and readings in the CFC area.