Two Psychology students talk in a study lounge

Clinical Psychology

Explore your individual interests within the broad areas of psychology through a wide range of evidence-based clinical and research training experiences involving a variety of settings and populations.

Get the Clinical Research Training You Need to Succeed

As a clinical psychology student at USD, you will receive ongoing training and have opportunities for at least two additional 9-12 month practicum experiences. Our clinical faculty maintain active research programs involving laboratory-based research, survey studies and/or community-based field research. As a result, you'll be exposed to a diversity of research methodologies, including both quantitative and qualitative methods. Designed to provide a strong theoretical base, your coursework can be readily applied to various working environments and prepares you for careers in business, industry and government.

Become a caring and competent professional as a clinical psychology graduate student at USD.                  

Degrees & Offerings

Psychology: Clinical Psychology (M.A./Ph.D.)

Master's + Doctorate
  Vermillion Main Campus

Earn your master's on the way to earning your Ph.D. in the clinical psychology program at USD. It requires 106 credit hours of core psychology and clinical psychology coursework, a master's thesis, several electives and a dissertation.

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Psychology: Clinical Psychology and Clinical/Disaster Psychology (M.A./Ph.D.)

Master's + Doctorate
  Vermillion Main Campus

Pursuing a clinical/disaster psychology specialization with your Ph.D. requires an additional 12 credit hours to the 106 credit hours required for the doctoral degree. This involves selected coursework, research, and practicum experiences that are in addition to, but co-occurring with your clinical psychology training.

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Psychology: Clinical Psychology (M.A./J.D.)

Master's + Doctorate
  Vermillion Main Campus

Students who are already enrolled in the USD Knudson School of Law and who have sufficient background in psychology may qualify for this Board of Regents concurrent degree leading to the M.A. in Psychology. Consult with the department chair for more information.

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Program Details

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Graduate Admissions

Start Your Application Today

Each program has unique application requirements and deadlines. Be sure and consult the graduate catalog for detailed program information. It will ensure your application and materials are complete and submitted on time. To learn more about the application process, visit how to apply.

Departments & Facilities

Explore the departments, facilities and centers that contribute to your education in psychology.
Group of Psychology Students and a Professor.

Psychology

Expand your understanding of the human mind and behavior as you develop strengths in research, critical thinking, advocacy and service.

Faculty & Staff

Get to know your professors in the Department of Psychology. Our faculty serve as experts in their fields and maintain active research involving laboratory-based research, survey studies and/or community-based field research.
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Douglas Peterson

Chair, Psychology
Bio Image for Faculty Member Jan Berkhout

Jan Berkhout

Professor
Bio Image for Faculty Member Chris Berghoff

Chris Berghoff

Assistant Professor
Bio Image for Faculty Member Beth Boyd

Beth Boyd

Director, Clinical Psych Prog
Bio Image for Faculty Member Jean Caraway

Jean Caraway

Associate Professor
Bio Image for Faculty Member BreAnne Danzi

BreAnne Danzi

Assistant Professor
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Sophia Gebauer

Senior Secretary
Bio Image for Faculty Member Michael Granaas

Michael Granaas

Director, Human Factors
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Kelly Gutzman

Senior Secretary
Bio Image for Faculty Member Logan Hale

Logan Hale

Visiting Instructor
Bio Image for Faculty Member Sara Lowmaster

Sara Lowmaster

Associate Professor
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Julie Nelsen

Secretary
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Timothy Ricker

Assistant Professor
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Gemma Skillman

Lecturer
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Jeffrey Simons

Professor
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Raluca Simons

Professor/Dir DMHI
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Cindy Struckman-Johnson

Professor
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JongSung Yoon

Assistant Professor
Two clinical psychology students participate in an activity at The Building Bridges Conference

Building Bridges

The Building Bridges Conference was established as a grassroots initiative in 1997 as a dream of two clinical psychology graduate students, who believed that to encourage Native American youth to persist in their education, there needed to be a bridge between their traditions and the traditions of higher education. 

This annual event is a collaborative conference sponsored by the clinical psychology program and the psychology department in the College of Arts & Sciences and by the Center of Excellence in Minority Health and Health Disparities.
Psychology students stand outside of Psychological Service Center

Psychological Services Center 

The Psychological Services Center (PSC) serves as a teaching, training and research center. At USD, the clinic provides the following services:


  • Assessment & Therapy Services to children, adults, couples and families through a variety of modalities including brief and longer-term individual, family and group psychotherapy. 
  • Consultation & Training may be arranged for individuals and groups. Examples include stress management, eating disorders, child abuse, depression, spousal/partner abuse and suicide prevention.
  • Procedures and psychological services are provided by doctoral students under the supervision of licensed psychologists. 

Surprisingly Affordable

Whether you’ve recently completed your undergraduate degree, or you want to kick your career up a notch, graduate school is the next logical step. The good news is there is funding for both online and on-campus students to get you through your program. 
Resident & WRGP
MN Residents
Non-Resident
Tuition (9 cr.)
3061.35
4398.75
5886.45
Fees (9 cr.)
497.7
497.7
497.7
Books (estimate)
360
360
360

More About Tuition & Fees

This is an estimate tuition rate* per credit hour and other factors such as special fees associated with your program may change the cost of tuition. Tuition rates are subject to change. 

If you are wondering about how to pay for graduate school, there are additional funding options to consider.

Accreditation

The clinical psychology program has been continuously accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of the American Psychological Association since 1971. Questions related to the program's accredited status should be directed to the Commission on Accreditation:

Office of Program Consultation and Accreditation
American Psychological Association
750 1st Street, NE, Washington, DC 20002-4242
(202) 336-5979
apaaccred@apa.org
apa.org/ed/accreditation

Student Admissions, Outcomes & Other Data

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