2008 Woodie Awards
USA pursuing Ph.D. in psychology
Hannah Skewes
Senior Reporter
Issue date: 11/5/07 Section: News
- Page 1 of 1
The University of South Alabama psychology department is in the final stages of completing a proposal that will go to the Alabama Commission on Higher Education to request a clinical psychology Ph.D. program.
ACHE approves all new programs started at every university in the state. The Ph.D. proposal is a joint effort between the education and psychology departments to establish the program. The doctorate program would offer degrees in clinical and counseling psychology.
"They have a formal process that you have to go through," Frank Hurley, director of institutional research and planning, said about the process of approval from ACHE.
The first step is turn in a Notification of Intent to Submit a Proposal, or NISP. The University of South Alabama has already completed this step of the process. The next step comes two months after submitting the NISP and involves sending a full proposal. The last step comes three to four months later, when the commission formally votes on whether or not to approve the program.
"They have already submitted the NISP," Hurley said. "They are in the final stages on working on the proposal, which should be ready to submit by late November. If they follow this timeline, the proposal will be voted in March during the full commission meeting of ACHE. This is when the commissioners vote on every new program."
If ACHE approves, then the department can continue with development. However, if they decline, Foster said they will try again. The psychology department as a whole is extremely hopeful for the project's implementation, according to Dr. Joshua Foster, professor of psychology.
"There isn't a Ph.D. program for clinical psychology within 100 miles," Foster said. "There is a crisis shortage in the area compared to the need for treatment. Current clinics are trying to meet rising needs."
The psychology department currently has a graduate program for psychology including both an experimental and applied tracks. An experimental psychologist can conduct research and teach theories in a classroom. A clinical psychologist, applied psychology, can teach and conduct research, as well as treat patients.
"I think the program has a good chance of getting approved," Hurley said. "It would be an excellent program for the University. It would offer a lot of opportunities for students and would fit in perfectly with the University's current health-care programs. It is important to have clinically trained psychologists."
ACHE approves all new programs started at every university in the state. The Ph.D. proposal is a joint effort between the education and psychology departments to establish the program. The doctorate program would offer degrees in clinical and counseling psychology.
"They have a formal process that you have to go through," Frank Hurley, director of institutional research and planning, said about the process of approval from ACHE.
The first step is turn in a Notification of Intent to Submit a Proposal, or NISP. The University of South Alabama has already completed this step of the process. The next step comes two months after submitting the NISP and involves sending a full proposal. The last step comes three to four months later, when the commission formally votes on whether or not to approve the program.
"They have already submitted the NISP," Hurley said. "They are in the final stages on working on the proposal, which should be ready to submit by late November. If they follow this timeline, the proposal will be voted in March during the full commission meeting of ACHE. This is when the commissioners vote on every new program."
If ACHE approves, then the department can continue with development. However, if they decline, Foster said they will try again. The psychology department as a whole is extremely hopeful for the project's implementation, according to Dr. Joshua Foster, professor of psychology.
"There isn't a Ph.D. program for clinical psychology within 100 miles," Foster said. "There is a crisis shortage in the area compared to the need for treatment. Current clinics are trying to meet rising needs."
The psychology department currently has a graduate program for psychology including both an experimental and applied tracks. An experimental psychologist can conduct research and teach theories in a classroom. A clinical psychologist, applied psychology, can teach and conduct research, as well as treat patients.
"I think the program has a good chance of getting approved," Hurley said. "It would be an excellent program for the University. It would offer a lot of opportunities for students and would fit in perfectly with the University's current health-care programs. It is important to have clinically trained psychologists."
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