Clinical Psychology Ph.D. Program

The USUHS Clinical Psychology Ph.D program is designed to train clinical psychologists to serve in the uniformed services of the United States (Army, Navy, Air Force). Training includes a strong base in the foundations of psychology with specialty training in military clinical, health, and organizational psychology. The students in the program are primarily trained as a broad based clinical psychologist with an appreciation and understanding of the unique aspects of military and public health.

• The program is open to both active-duty individuals (enlisted or officer) in the uniformed services and civilians who are eligible and willing to be commissioned as officers in the uniformed services.
• There are no tuition costs.
• Navy students receive reserve commissions in the Navy Medical Service Corps (2305), and earn full pay and benefits commensurate with their rank and service:

  • Civilian and prior-enlisted applicants will be commissioned as an Ensign/O-1.
  • Prior-service officers are granted credit for a maximum of 3 years commissioned service (i.e., LTjg/O-2).
  • Prior active-duty students will not lose their previous time-in-service (TIS).
  • Students will continue to advance in rank during their graduate training commensurate with regular promotion schedules.
    
• The program requires 4 academic years of resident graduate study, followed by completion of the internship, which is a 12-month, full-time clinical training experience provided during the fifth and final year of the program at one of the two APA-accredited Navy Internship programs at the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center (WRNMMC) in Bethesda, Maryland or the Naval Medical Center San Diego (NMCSD) in San Diego, California.
• Students incur 7 years of active-duty military obligation to be served after completion of their graduate training and internship.
• Students earn M.S. (with master’s thesis) and Ph.D. (with doctoral dissertation) degrees.
• The program is open to applicants with either a Bachelors or Masters degree (a degree in psychology is not required, but additional courses in psychology are recommended).
• Apply Early! You are advised to start application with a Medical Programs Officer recruiter by October or earlier in order to complete the extra requirements of the USU Clinical Psychology Ph.D. program by the January 15th deadline.