Goals, Objectives, and Competencies
The goals and objectives of our program are derived from the educational philosophy and the practitioner-scientist training model of the doctoral program, as described above. In the following section, we will list our major goals, objectives, and competencies of the five core areas of the curriculum.

Breadth of Scientific Psychology

Goal 1: To produce graduates who have knowledge of the basic areas of psychology, formulated within an ecological model. We expect that students will:

Objective 1: acquire an understanding of the biological, cognitive and affective, and social aspects of behavior

Competency 1: Students will understand the regulation of biological and emotional functions of the nervous system.

Competency 2: Students will understand the contribution of environmental factors to brain development, to the development of the mind, and to their functions.

Competency 3: Students will understand theories and research with respect to social behavior.

Objective 2: acquire knowledge of the history and systems of psychology

Competency 4: Students will demonstrate knowledge of the historical and philosophical influences on psychology.

Competency 5: Students will demonstrate knowledge of the historical development of theoretical schools of psychology and of the assumptions shaping current theoretical schools.

Goal 2: To produce graduates who have basic competence in research and scholarly activities. We expect that students will:

Objective 3: acquire a basic understanding of how to conduct research, which includes formulating research questions, designing research, choosing methodology, and collecting and analyzing data

Competency 6: Students will be able to develop meaningful research questions, based upon theories and models in the scholarly literature.  

Competency 7:  Students will be able to implement appropriate research design, methods, and statistical analyses, consistent with the research questions.

Competency 8:  Students will understand the advantages and disadvantages of various research designs, modes of inquiry, data collection methods, statistical procedures, and measurement concepts.

Objective 4: become proficient in reporting research findings

Competency 9: Students will demonstrate the ability to report their research investigations appropriately, including knowledge of the socio-cultural contexts in the interpretation of the data.

Objective 5: be able to critically evaluate research        

Competency 10: Students will demonstrate the ability to evaluate and critically assess the methodology of empirical research and the validity of research conclusions.

Assessment, Measurement, and Intervention

Goal 3: To produce graduates who are skilled in the application of clinical knowledge: assessment, intervention, and outcome evaluation within an ecological framework. We expect that students will:

Objective 6: acquire skills in the appropriate selection of assessment instruments and procedures for clients, taking into consideration contextual factors

Competency 11:  Students will understand theory and principles of test construction including reliability and validity, and uses/misuses of assessment.   

Competency 12:  Students will be able to critically analyze and evaluate appropriate assessment methods for individuals, considering contextual factors, including knowledge of and sensitivity to culturally and linguistically diverse populations.   

Objective 7: administer, score, and interpret assessment techniques, ethically and accurately

Competency 13: Students will accurately administer, score and interpret a wide variety of assessment methods from multiple sources to evaluate functioning, including, as appropriate, cognitive, social-emotional, behavioral, academic, and vocational domains. 

Competency 14:  Students will demonstrate knowledge of potential biases in the assessment process and adhere to legal and ethical guidelines.    

Objective 8: accurately integrate assessment findings from multiple sources and provide organized, useful and appropriate feedback and recommendations 

Competency 15:  Students will integrate assessment data from multiple sources and methods and present a cohesive understanding of the client’s strengths and weaknesses. 

Competency 16:  Students will demonstrate skills in writing psychological reports and verbally communicating assessment findings using jargon-free, non-pejorative language.

Competency 17: Students will demonstrate skills in linking assessment data to recommendations that are evidence-based, practical, and easily interpretable.

Objective 9: acquire knowledge and skills to formulate ecologically meaningful, culturally sensitive, and conceptually sound treatment plans

Competency 18: Students will demonstrate the ability to link knowledge of theoretical, empirical and contextual bases of intervention to specific cases.

Competency 19: Students will demonstrate the ability to conceptualize their clients in terms of psychological theory and to formulate appropriate intervention plans.

Objective 10: acquire knowledge and skills to implement evidence-based interventions with diverse populations

Competency 20: Students will develop the ability to select and apply evidence-based interventions and to assess progress and outcomes.

Competency 21: Students will develop the ability to implement a wide range of developmental, preventive, remedial, and psychoeducational interventions, including psychotherapy, crisis management, consultation and dealing with emergency psychological/psychiatric situations.

Objective 11: be familiar with the research in the area of outcome evaluation for intervention and practice

Competency 22: Students will demonstrate that they are familiar with outcome research for various intervention strategies.

Multicultural and Individual Diversity

Goal 4: To produce graduates who have the knowledge, skills, and dispositions to engage in research and practice to benefit individuals and groups in a multicultural and diverse society. We expect that students will:

Objective 12: demonstrate the awareness of personal and cultural values, and resultant biases, and their potential impact on the therapeutic encounter

Competency 23: Students will demonstrate self-awareness in the context of diversity in assessment and intervention.

Objective 13: demonstrate the awareness of the social construction and political implications of difference, and the relationship to psychological functioning

Competency 24: Students will demonstrate an awareness of the social construction of difference and the way this impacts relevant environments.

Objective 14: develop knowledge of meaningful and relevant interventions for individuals and groups in different cultural contexts across the lifespan

Competency 25: Students will be able to formulate intervention plans with consideration and understanding of individual and group differences in cultural contexts throughout the lifespan.

Objective 15: develop the attitudes, knowledge, and skills to engage in multi-culturally competent assessment, practice, and research

Competency 26: Students will demonstrate knowledge of the influences of cultural and linguistic diversity in providing psychological services and conducting research across multiple contexts.

Professional Psychology

Goal 5:  To prepare graduates who are committed to the profession of psychology, critical thinking, and to life-long professional development: We expect that students will:

Objective 16: develop a strong professional identity

Competency 27: Students will participate in professional associations as part of the development of a strong professional identity.

Objective 17: acquire knowledge of the professional standards, ethics, and laws affecting the practice of psychology

Competency 28: Students will demonstrate a thorough understanding of the ethics and laws affecting the practice of psychology, including the inherent ambiguities.

Objective 18: engage in ethical and lawful practices

Competency 29: Students will demonstrate in their fieldwork and pre-doctoral internship that they follow ethical and legal guidelines in their work with clients.

Objective 19: be prepared to sit for and pass the state licensing examination

Competency 30: Graduates of our program will be able to pass state examinations

Objective 20: be prepared to continue to be active in professional learning and activity after graduation

Competency 31: Graduates of our program will demonstrate an active, continued interest in professional development.