2020 Postgraduate Courses
  • Students are to follow the requirements of the Handbook for the year they commenced the course.

    However, the subject links below do not contain the subject information for the current year. You can view current subject information through the new Course Handbook.

Doctor of Philosophy (Clinical Psychology) | 2020

Testamur Title of Degree:

Doctor of Philosophy (Clinical Psychology)

Abbreviation:

PhD(ClinPsyc)

UOW Course Code:

209

CRICOS Code:

003002G

Total Credit Points

192

Duration:

4 years full-time (10 sessions inc. 2 Summer Sessions) or part-time equivalent 

Home Faculty:

Faculty of Arts, Social Science and Humanities

Intake Session(s):

Autumn

Delivery Mode:

On-campus

Delivery Campus / UAC Code:

Wollongong / N/A

Overview

The Doctor of Philosophy (Clinical Psychology) is an Australian Psychology Accreditation Council (APAC) accredited, Australian Qualifications Framework Level 10 Doctoral degree. It is designed to qualify candidates for general registration with the Psychology Board of Australia and prepare them for a registrar program leading to practice endorsement as a clinical psychologist. Applicants will already have completed a four year APAC accredited AQF Level 8 sequence in Psychology or an international equivalent.

This course provides four years of full-time education in the professional practice of psychology with expertise in clinical research. The coursework aims to develop the knowledge and skills required for clinical practice in the field of mental health with individuals, families and groups within a scientist-practitioner framework, building on the existing knowledge and skills base acquired as part of the undergraduate course. Case studies, role plays and reflective assessment tasks scaffold the development of skills in a safe environment. Seminar presentations offer a chance to test your growing clinical expertise with peers and expose you to alternative cases and methods of practice. Students are required to demonstrate at least a Credit pass in the theory components of the course.

Supervised clinical placements to a minimum of 1000 hours run alongside this course work giving you the opportunity of apply your knowledge and skills in real world cases. The external clinical placement subject is the capstone experience where clinical learning outcomes of the course are assured to a professionally acceptable level, which meets the core professional attributes and capabilities as outlined in the APAC accreditation standards. In addition, students are required to undertake in-depth supervised research that makes an original contribution to the body of knowledge in clinical psychology. The research comprises more than two-thirds of the degree. Students are provided formative assessments that lead them through the processes of conducting ethical and scientific research with appropriate analytical frameworks and statistical tools. They must complete reflective exercises, provide reports, develop a research proposal and literature review prior to completion of a thesis.

The program is taught via a combination of lectures, e-learning, face-to-face discussions and skills training workshops, research supervision, and supervised clinical placements.
 
Visit UOW's Research & Innovation website for information regarding the University's research activity, research strengths, scholarships and services. For specific information relating to research being undertaken within the Faculty of Arts, Social Sciences and Humanities, visit the Faculty's research pages

Entry Requirements and Credit Arrangements

Information on academic and English language requirements, as well as eligibility for credit for prior learning, is available from the Course Finder.

Course Learning Outcomes

Course Learning Outcomes are statements of learning achievement that are expressed in terms of what the learner is expected to know, understand and be able to do upon completion of a course. Students graduating from this course will be able to:

CLO Description
1Demonstrate competence in ethical, legal and professional matters.
2 Demonstrate professional skills working with people from across the lifespan and from diverse groups.
3Conduct valid and reliable psychological assessments and reports.
4Formulate, implement and monitor recognised psychological interventions.
5 Apply scientific research methods and knowledge to evaluate psychological practice.
6Demonstrate advanced knowledge and skills in psychopathology and psychopharmacology.
7Demonstrate advanced knowledge and skills in clinical formulation and assessment, and clinical interventions.
8Demonstrate advanced knowledge and skills in clinical research and reflective practice.
9Demonstrate substantial skills in the conduct and reporting of original psychological research.

 Course Structure

Students enrolled in the Doctor of Philosophy (Clinical Psychology) are required to complete at least 192 credit points, including:

  1. Coursework to the value of 36 credit points;
  2. Practicum to the value of 24 credit points; and
  3. Research training to the value of at least 132 credit points, comprising repeated instances of THES912, THES918 and THES924 .
Subject Code Subject Name Credit Points Session(s)
Year 1
PSYP911Assessment6Autumn
PSYP932Psychotherapy A6Autumn
PSYP934Psychotherapy B6Spring
PSYP923Practicum12Annual
THES918Thesis Part Time18Autumn, Spring
Year 2
THES924Thesis Full Time24Autumn, Spring
THES924Thesis Full Time24Autumn, Spring
Year 3
PSYP916Clinical Assessment and Interventions A6Autumn
THES918Thesis Part Time18Autumn, Spring
THES924Thesis Full Time24Autumn, Spring
Year 4
PSYP913Clinical Assessment and Interventions B6Spring
PSYP935Applied Interventions6Spring
PSYP924Advanced Practicum12Annual
THES924Thesis Full Time24Autumn, Spring

  

Professional Recognition/Accreditation

This program is accredited by the Australian Psychology Accreditation Council (APAC) for Registration as a Psychologist, and as a qualifying degree for endorsement in Clinical Psychology.

Last reviewed: 22 July, 2020