Bachelor of Science in Psychology, Clinical Psychology Concentration
On this page:
- Why Choose the Psychology, Clinical Psychology Program?
- Academics and Curriculum
- Admission
- Frequently Asked Questions
Why Choose the Psychology, Clinical Psychology Program?
You have the option of earning a Bachelor of Science degree with a concentration in clinical psychology in the Department of Psychology at Wright State University. This concentration prepares you for graduate studies in clinical psychology and can be easily modified to incorporate premedical requirements as well.
Clinical psychology is the study of abnormal behaviors and mental processes. It focuses on the study of mental, emotional, and behavioral disorders, by observation or experimentation, with the intention of promoting change. Clinical psychology integrates the science of psychology with the prevention, assessment, diagnosis, and treatment of diverse and complicated human problems.
The clinical psychology concentration curriculum is designed to provide opportunities to achieve five outcomes:
- Be familiar with current theory and research in diverse areas of psychology with an emphasis on topics related to clinical psychology
- Have fundamental research design and mathematical/statistical skills needed to understand psychological science
- Communicate effectively in both written and oral forms
- Have skills in integrating and communicating about psychological knowledge
- Have advanced research design, mathematical/statistical, and computing skills needed to critically evaluate and conduct research in areas related to clinical psychology
Academics and Curriculum
You are encouraged to participate in research supervised by one of the clinical psychology faculty, either in their laboratories or as independent research and coursework. As part of the coursework for the undergraduate honors track, you can enroll in the Honors Research Project Seminar (PSY 4070). This course teaches you how to conduct, analyze, and present literature reviews—one of the fundamental basis of empirical research.
View Bachelor of Science in Psychology, Clinical Psychology Concentration program information, degree requirements, and graduation planning strategy in the Academic Catalog.
Clinical Psychology Concentration Checklist (PDF)
Admission
Students must apply for admission to Wright State University.
A Bachelor of Science (B.S.) degree in Psychology with a concentration in Clinical Psychology is available in the Department of Psychology at Wright State, and this formal concentration will appear on your academic transcript.
- Completion of 60 hours of coursework, including PSY 3110
- An overall GPA at Wright State of 3.2
- Declaration of psychology B.S. as your major
- Declaration of Clinical Concentration
Applications are processed around the 10th week of each semester. You will be notified upon admittance. Although the concentration is only open to psychology majors, any student may take the listed courses provided they have the necessary prerequisites.
PLEASE NOTE: For the Clinical Psychology notation to remain on your transcript at the time of graduation, you are required to: (1) complete the required courses AND (2) maintain a psychology GPA of 3.2.
Frequently Asked Questions
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What does the Clinical Concentration prepare me for?
The clinical concentration prepares one for future training in the mental health professions. These professions include Ph.D. or Psy.D. degree in clinical psychology. A Ph.D. in clinical psychology centers more on a science-practitioner orientation. This involves conducting research in clinical settings and putting this research into practice. A Psy.D. degree in clinical psychology places greater emphasis on becoming an applied practitioner. The clinical concentration also prepares students who want to pursue a career as a licensed professional counselor (LPC), clinical social worker, marriage and family counselor, and substance abuse counselor.
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Do I have to go to graduate school?
Overall, to become a licensed mental health professional, one must complete a graduate level degree at the doctoral or masters level. To become eligible for the licensure exam in clinical psychology, one must complete a graduate doctoral degree (Ph.D. or Psy.D.) and internship. All other mental health professions require a graduate degree at the masters level. In some cases, students do not require a graduate degree, but they are limited in what they can do at the clinical level. For example, at the bachelor's level, one can pursue a career in Applied Behavior Analysis working with special needs populations such Autism, a behavioral technician in an inpatient clinical setting, or residential manager in a group home setting serving those with intellectual disabilities. Lastly, we encourage our students to pursue other graduate programs such as law school, public health, or a MBA in human resources.
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What kind of classes do I need to take?
You will need to take some basic science and math courses to gain a background in methods of scientific inquiry and analytic skills. The specific courses needed for the clinical concentration can be seen in the Academic Catalog. You can also visit the catalog for a four-year plan to finish the degree. All of the required and recommended courses for the clinical concentration will count towards satisfying your Psychology B.S. degree or your General Electives.
The concentration provides two optional but highly recommended courses to assist students in determining what professional graduate school would be most appropriate (Psy2030 Career in Clinical Psychology and the Mental Health Professions) and (Psy3100 Graduate School Preparation in Clinical Psychology and other Mental Health Professions). The latter course, usually taken in one’s junior or senior year, helps students learn and participate in the graduate school application process.
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What other preparation will I need?
We highly recommend that you obtain research experience while you are an undergraduate student. This may be obtained in a variety of ways, including working with a faculty member as a research assistant in his or her laboratory for pay or for Independent Research credit (PSY 4060). We also encourage you to participate in the many professional activities available in the department and at the university. Examples of these activities include joining the Psychology Club or Psi Chi, signing up for Independent Reading (i.e., PSY4040), attending talks by invited speakers visiting the Department of Psychology, and presenting at a scientific conference, such as the annual Midwestern Psychological Association conference that is held in Chicago each year.
