Doctoral Project

Completing Your Doctoral Project

The Doctoral Project (DP) process provides an opportunity for the student to demonstrate research competence by applying research skills acquired through the following courses: Introduction to Psychological Research, Statistics, Psychometrics, and Research I and II. It also provides an opportunity for consolidation of the student's professional development and bridges her/his relationship to the larger psychological community through dissemination of their research findings. 

With guidance from a faculty Chairperson and Committee Member(s), the student initiates, carries out, and critically evaluates a piece of professional research that contributes to the field by providing new psychological knowledge. This involves the identification and critical review of psychological research studies. 

The student selects a topic from an area of psychological theory and practice that is relevant and of particular interest and applicability in his/her developing professional work and is consistent with the research interests of at least one faculty member in the Clinical PsyD program. A listing of faculty research labs and interests is available here

During years two and three of the program, the student forms a Doctoral Project (DP) Committee, constructs a research proposal consistent with current scientific standards in psychology, conducts the research study, completes a Final DP write up of the study, and disseminates the findings through a DP Colloquium. 

Alumna’s Work Explores Online Identity, Social Media, and Self Esteem

Dr. Michelle Solomon studies social media impacts on self-esteem and identity. Her 2016 dissertation has been among the most accessed papers in a national research database for several years running.

Read more

Student’s Neuropsychology Research Finds More Comprehensive Way to Assess Depression in Alzheimer’s Patients

In his research, Clinical PsyD student Dov Gold, compared patients' ratings of depression with those from their caregivers or other informants.

Read More