Program Philosophy -Consistent with the Practitioner-Scholar training model (Vail Model), the Doctorate of Psychology program at Southern Utah University trains professional, doctoral-level practitioner-scientists, who specialize in clinical practice. Located in rural southwestern Utah, the program is founded on principles of community and rural mental health. Extensive practical placements afford professional experience in a variety of settings, including schools, residential treatment centers, community mental health settings, substance abuse treatment programs, native health centers, homeless resource centers, crisis centers, community clinics, public hospitals, and government agencies (see Practicum Manual). The scientific foundations of psychology provide the philosophical grounding, and evidence-based practices are at the core of our clinical training. Through this program, students become informed consumers of scientific inquiry, educators, and skilled clinicians.
The program is a full-time day program offering a course of study leading to the Psy.D. degree. Coursework and practical training prepare students for licensure as psychologists, with an emphasis on educating emerging psychologists for the underserved areas of rural and frontier southern Utah, and adjoining regions. The program’s goals and objectives are based on the American Psychological Association’s profession-wide competencies of clinical education and training, required accreditation domains, and discipline-specific professional knowledge areas.
