Clinical Psychology Graduate Program
Preparing students for careers in research, teaching, and clinical practice.
About the Clinical Psychology Program
Our Clinical Psychology program utilizes a scientist-practitioner model that trains students to become competent researchers and clinicians whose work is informed by science. Clinical training is conducted from various cognitive behavioral approaches.
Consistent with this philosophy, the aims of our training program are that students will:
- Acquire and exhibit broad knowledge of psychology, and show the ability to integrate these areas into clinical psychology.
- Obtain the requisite knowledge and skills necessary to evaluate, conduct, and utilize psychological research.
- Attain a theoretical and empirical understanding of methods of assessment and clinical intervention, as well as develop skills necessary for clinical practice.
- Develop an understanding of ethics along with skills necessary to behave ethically and professionally as they carry out their various professional responsibilities.
Admission to the Clinical Psychology Program
APPLICATION DEADLINE: December 1
We strongly encourage you to submit your application several days before the deadline, as transcripts and letters of recommendation usually take several days to be received and processed.
Submitting GRE scores is optional. Applications without GRE scores receive full consideration. If submitted, scores will be reviewed and can offset a lower GPA, but a low or missing GRE score will not negatively impact your application.
Students should apply to the psychology graduate programs through the Graduate School. The entire application process is completed online.
- Go to the application portal at the Graduate School website:
Apply Now - Click “New Application”.
- Complete application using the left sidebar as a guide.
- You will need to upload supplemental documents and enter in recommender contact info prior to submitting the application. If needed, you can save your progress and log back in and pick up where you left off.
Please take the time to review your application before you submit. Once you have submitted your application, the graduate school is unable to change information. - Once submitted, it will take 24-48 hours for your recommenders to be contacted and your application to be uploaded in the database.
Your personal statement should address the following (no more than 2 pages, single spaced):
- Your reason(s) for pursuing a doctoral degree in Experimental Psychology
- A discussion of how your background led to your decision and has prepared you to pursue graduate education in psychology. This may include, but is not limited to:
- Your academic preparation for your proposed field of study
- Your research experiences
- Personal experiences that have uniquely prepared you for graduate school or that sparked your interest in psychology
- Relevant volunteer or paid work experience
- An explanation of why the University of Mississippi is a good fit for your graduate education, addressing:
- Your current research interests
- The name(s) of faculty with whom you would like to work
- The match between your goals and the aims of the clinical program (above) and our department's mission and values.
Your recommenders will upload their letters online via the link sent to them by the graduate school. Please do not have your recommenders mail, fax, or email your letters directly to the department.
Other supplemental materials may include but are not limited to:
- Writing sample
- GRE Scores
By Mail:
Official transcripts should be sent to the Graduate School using the following address:
University of MS Graduate School
54 Galtney-Lott Plaza
PO Box 1848
University, MS 38677
By Email:
Official electronic transcripts from domestic (US only) institutions may be sent to gschool@olemiss.edu.
Only transcripts received directly from the college or university will be considered official. Do not send junior/community college transcripts. Transcripts are manually scanned by staff and you should have them sent well in advance of the deadline.
Visit the Graduate School for more information on transcript submission.
Historically we have been able to provide a full tuition scholarship, subsidized health insurance, and monetary stipend each year to every student while enrolled on campus, so long as they are making satisfactory progress and matriculate through the program in a timely manner.
Additional financial support is available through the Graduate School Recruiting Fellowships, and each year we nominate multiple eligible individuals for these awards. The Department also provides funds to help with graduate student travel costs to conferences.
The Graduate School's financial aid webpage lists a variety of funding possibilities.
Accreditation and Program Details
The clinical psychology Ph.D. program has been accredited by the American Psychological Association (APA) since 1973.* The Clinical Program ordinarily requires a minimum of five years beyond the baccalaureate degree to complete. This time is devoted to a combination of course work, research and clinical training, clinical practicum experiences, and completion of a full-time clinical internship at an APA-accredited training site.
Students in the Ph.D. program earn the Masters of Arts and complete a Master's thesis as part of the Ph.D. program. We do not offer a terminal (stand-alone) Master's degree. Students entering with a Master's degree in psychology that involved a data-based thesis are not typically asked to complete another thesis.
Policies and Procedures Manual Student Admissions, Outcomes, and Other Data
Program Sequence
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Psychological Services Center
Clinical work begins in the Psychological Services Center or PSC, which is the department’s in-house clinic. First-year students observe supervision team meetings while second-year students begin seeing clients at the PSC. Supervision teams, led by clinical faculty, have a mix of students with different levels of clinical experiences, allowing for some peer supervision. Students serve as direct providers of assessment and therapy services, with specialty staff who provide training in comprehensive psychological assessment and report-writing.
Psychological Services Center
Psychology Practica and Internships
The Consumer Information Disclosure describes our understanding of how well our doctoral program prepares you for licensure as a Ph.D. psychologist across US states and territories.
The university and practicum sites will conduct a criminal background check before you begin seeing clients. Some practicum sites, as well as many internship sites, will conduct background checks and drug screens. Criminal convictions may make you ineligible to participate in these experiences, impacting your ability to successfully complete course and program requirements. Criminal convictions may also prevent professional licensure.
Some external clinical practicum sites and many internship sites require vaccinations. Being unvaccinated may prevent or delay attainment of the Ph.D.
The following agencies have served as practicum training sites the past few years.
- Psychological Services Center at UM
- Baddour Center
- Behavior, Attention, and Developmental Disabilities Consultants
- Haven House
- Communicare
- North Mississippi State Hospital
- St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital
- University Counseling Center
- Semmes Murphey Clinic
- Cardinal Clinical Consulting
- Oxford Pediatric Group
- Oxford City Schools
- William Magee Center
Our students have matched to the following sites over the last seven years.
- University of Alabama-Birmingham-VA Birmingham Health Care, Birmingham, AL
- Johns Hopkins All Children's Hospital, St. Petersburg, FL
- Johns Hopkins Behavioral Psychology, Baltimore, MD
- Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN
- VA Hospital, Hines, IL
- VA Medical Center, Durham, NC
- VA St. Louis Health Care System, St. Louis, MO
- VA Long Beach Healthcare System, Los Angeles, CA
- Memphis VA Medical Center, Memphis, TN
- Missouri Health Sciences Psychology Consortium, Columbia, MO
- Bay Pines VA Healthcare System, Bay Pines, FL
- Gulf Coast Veterans Health Care System, Biloxi, MS
- Charleston Consortium, Charleston, SC
- Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center, New Orleans, LA
- Salem VA Medical Center, Salem, VA
- University of Texas Health Science Center-Houston, Houston, TX
- Nebraska Internship Consortium, Lincoln, NE
- Sepulveda Ambulatory Care Center, North Hills, CA
- Stanford University, Stanford, CA
- Southern Illinois University, Carbondale, IL
- VA Salt Lake City Health Care System, Salt Lake City, UT
- Southeast Louisiana Veterans Health Care System, New Orleans, LA
- Mississippi State Hospital, Whitfield, MS
- University of Texas Health San Antonio, San Antonio, TX
- VA North Texas Health Care System, Dallas, TX
- Central Arkansas Veterans Healthcare System, North Little Rock, AR
- Nebraska Internship Consortium, Lincoln, NE
- Fulton State Hospital, Fulton, MO
- Rochester Institute of Technology—Health Science, Rochester, NY
- University of Florida Health Science Center, Gainesville, FL
- Southwest Consortium/New Mexico VA Health Care System, Albuquerque, NM
- Montefiore Medical Center/Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY
- Atlanta VA Health Care System, Decatur, GA
- Nebraska Internship Consortium Munroe-Meyer Institute, Lincoln, NE
- Corporal Michael J. Crescenz VA Medical Center, Philadelphia, PA
- Mount Washington Pediatric Hospital, Baltimore, MD
- Cherokee Health Systems, Knoxville, TN
- Madison VA Medical Center, Madison, WI
- VA Central Texas Health Care System, Temple, TX
Graduate Student Spotlight
Colter Clayton
What is your favorite thing about living in Oxford?
See Colter’s Answer
Brianna Davis
What research have you been working on lately?
See Brianna’s AnswerDirector of Clinical Training
Please contact me if you'd like to learn more or have specific questions about the Ph.D in Clinical Psychology program.
Todd A Smitherman
Professor of Psychology and Director of Clinical Training
Clinical Faculty
Kristin Austin
- Clinical Assistant Professor and Director of the Psychological Services Center
Sarah Bilsky
- Assistant Professor of Clinical Psychology
Lee Cohen
- Dean of the College of Liberal Arts and Professor of Psychology
Laura J Dixon
- Associate Professor of Psychology
Carey Dowling
- Instructional Professor of Psychology
Laura Drislane
- Assistant Professor of Psychology
Laura Johnson
- Professor of Psychology
Aaron Lee
- Assistant Professor of Clinical Psychology
Vanessa Oliphant
- Visiting Assistant Professor of Psychology
Taylor Rodriguez
- Visiting Assistant Professor of Psychology
Stefan Schulenberg
- Professor of Psychology, Director of Interdisciplinary Minor in Disaster Sciences and Director of the Clinical- Disaster Research Center
Todd Smitherman
- Professor of Psychology and Director of Clinical Training
John Young
- Professor of Psychology
The Value of an Advanced Degree in Psychology
"My psychology degrees from Ole Miss have been valuable in a multitude of ways. In our current climate, navigating through syndemics has highlighted the value of psychology and mental health for everyone in our society. Psychology is front and center not only during times of crisis and stress but also in daily activity. Network and mentorship have proven priceless in my career and beyond. These elements have also served as a model for me to pay it forward and assist others, particularly those from underrepresented communities, to attain leadership positions."
Dr. Erica Marshall-Lee
(B.A. in Psychology '91; M.A. and Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology '01) Clinical Psychologist, Assistant Professor, and Assistant Vice Chair for Faculty Development – Diversity in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at Emory School of Medicine
Careers & Alumni
The majority of our graduates over the last several years became post-doctoral fellows at university medical centers and VA medical centers for their first position after graduation. From there, most stay on at those sites as full-time psychologists, are hired at other medical centers and other applied settings (eg, counseling centers, private practice), or obtain tenure-track faculty positions.
- Katelyn Sharpe, 2024, Staff Psychologist, Biloxi VA, Biloxi MS
- Jaime Murtagh, 2024, Postdoctoral Fellow, Private Practice, St. Louis, MO
- Mikaela Raley, 2024, Graduate Psychologist, Tampa VA, Tampa FL
- Molly Schadegg, 2023, Postdoctoral Fellow, NYU Langone Health, New York NY
- Diana Tinsley, 2023, Postdoctoral Fellow, Scottish Rite for Children, Dallas TX
- Alexandra Gilbert, 2023, Postdoctoral Fellow, Hines VA, Chicago IL
- Jeffrey Pavlacic, 2023, Postdoctoral Fellow, Medical University of South Carolina
- Megan Perry, 2023, Postdoctoral Fellow, Children’s Medical Center, Dallas TX
- Jennifer Petell, 2023, Postdoctoral Fellow, Memphis VA, Memphis TN
- Tracy Protti, 2022, Postdoctoral Fellow, New Orleans VA
- Christian Courson, 2022, Postdoctoral Fellow, Munroe-Meyer Institute
- Rachel Marsh, 2022, Postdoctoral Fellow, Portland Psychotherapy Clinic, Research & Teaching Center
- Ashley Polk, 2022, Staff Psychologist, Salt Lake VA
- Brittany Spence Sapp, 2022, Postdoctoral Fellow, Private Practice
- Victoria Torres, 2022, Postdoctoral Fellow, Baylor Scott and White Health
- Molly Wickenhauser, 2022, Postdoctoral Fellow, San Diego VA
- Sara Witcraft, 2022, Postdoctoral Fellow, Medical University of South Carolina
- Lavinia Ho, 2022, Postdoctoral Fellow, Sepulveda VA
- Daniel Pineau, 2022, Clinical Position, Georgetown Law Center
- Enoch Sackey, 2022, Postdoctoral Fellow, University of Washington
- Anandi Ehman, 2021, Assistant Professor, St. Mary’s College of Maryland
- Kristen Johnson, 2021, Postdoctoral Fellow, Nebraska Consortium
- Marcela Weber, 2021, Postdoctoral Fellow, Little Rock VA MIRECC
- Daniel Rogers, 2021, Postdoctoral Fellow, West Haven CT VA
- Alexis Liberto, 2021, Postdoctoral Fellow, Ochsner Hospital for Children
- Shilpa Boppana, 2021, Staff Psychologist, Birmingham VAMC
- Gina Bouillion, 2021, Staff Psychologist, Alexandria VA
- Curtis Hooks, 2020, Postdoctoral Fellow, Atlanta VA Health Care System, Decatur, GA
- Yash Bhambhani, 2020, Postdoctoral Fellow, Montefiore Medical Center/Albert Einstein College of Medicine
- Adam Sattler, 2019, Postdoctoral Fellow, University of Minnesota Department of Family Medicine
- Sarah Scott, 2019, Postdoctoral Fellow, Little Rock VAMC
- Tanja Seifen, 2019, Instructor, University of Mississippi Medical Center Dept of Psychiatry
- Yolanda Rodriguez, 2019, Postdoctoral Fellow, Cherokee Health Systems
Those seeking academic careers have obtained faculty jobs at institutions such as:
- West Virginia University
- Virginia Commonwealth University
- University of Georgia
- University of Pittsburgh
- Augusta University
- Blackburn College
- Boston University School of Medicine
- Nova Southwestern University
- Harvard School of Medicine
- Harding University
- University of Wyoming
- Florida Institute of Technology
- Georgetown/Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center
- Missouri State University
- Northern Iowa University
- Eastern Washington University
- Stephen F. Austin University
- Brown University
- University of Miami
- Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi
- University of Maryland
- University of North Texas
- University of Mississippi
- University of Mississippi Medical Center
- University of Vermont
- University of South Carolina School of Medicine
- University of St. Thomas
- University of Nebraska
- University of Nebraska Medical Center
- University of Louisiana-Lafayette
- University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School
- University of Louisville, School of Medicine
- North Texas State University
- Duke University School of Medicine
- Western Kentucky University
- Metropolitan State University
- Morehouse School of Medicine
- Southeast Missouri State University
- Pittsburgh State University
- Many Self-Employed Psychologists
- Psychologist, North Shore Psychological Services
- Attending Psychologist, Montefiore Health System
- Clinical Psychologist, Baylor, Scott & White
- Licensed Psychologist, Sparrow House
- Clinical Psychologist, Southeast Kansas Mental Health Center
- Clinical Neuropsychologist, Jackson Health System
- Owner, Rosedale Psychological Services
- Psychologist, Bryce Hospital
- Clinical Psychologist, Spokane Mental Health
- Clinical Psychiatrist, Bristol Psychiatry Services
- Psychologist, Central Alabama Psychology
- Psychologist, Lafayette Psychotherapy Group
- Clinical Psychologist, Grayson & Associates
- Clinical Psychologist, Germantown Psychological Associates
- Clinical Psychologist, Stephens Psychiatry
- Clinical Psychologist, Cardinal Clinical Consulting
- Psychologist, The Fowler Institute
- Licensed Clinical Psychologist, Bearden Behavioral Health
- Clinical Psychologist, LeFleur Behavioral Health
- Psychologist, Kaiser Permanente
- Executive Director, Kaiser Permanente Center for Research and Evaluation
- Psychologist in Pain Management, Kaiser Permanente
- Psychologist, Hastings Regional Center
- Assistant Supervisor, Western Mental Health Institute
- Psychologist, Maxim Healthcare
- Clinical Psychologist, Broughton State Hospital
- Licensed Clinical Psychologist, Weathers Wellness & Consulting
- Licensed Psychologist, Mayo Clinic Health System
- Licenced Psychologist, Fox Evaluation and Consulting
- Program Director, Helen Devos Children’s Hospital Intensive Feeding Program
- Clinical Psychologist, Methodist Le Bonheur
- Clinical Psychologist, Chicago Heights Vet Center
- Clinical Psychologist, Cherokee Health Systems
- Clinical Health Psychologist, GI Psychology
- Psychologist/Owner, Ascend Health and Wellness Center
- Director, Marcus Autism Center
- Clinical Psychologist, Benchmark Behavioral Management Systems
- Clinical Psychologist, Kennedy Krieger’s Center for Child and Family Traumatic Stress
- Clinical Psychologists at Veterans Hospitals (VA) in Mississippi, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Georgia, Michigan, Texas, Alabama, Connecticut, Florida, Louisiana, California
- (retired) Executive Director of LGBTQ+ Health Program, US Department of Veterans Affairs
- Psychologist, Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health
- Drug Abuse Program Coordinator, Federal Bureau of Prisons
- Psychologist, US Department of Defense
- Clinical Psychologist, California Department of Corrections & Rehabilitation
- Chief Psychologist, California Hospital System
- Clinical Psychologist, US Army
- Clinical Director/Operational Psychologist, Charlottte-Mecklenburg Police Dept
Alumna Spotlight
Dr. Gilberte (Gigi) Bastien is an Assistant Professor of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences and Associate Director of the Office of Global Health Equity at Morehouse School of Medicine. She earned her M.A. ('11) and Ph.D. ('13) in Clinical Psychology at UM where her dissertation focus was disaster response and resilience following the devastating 2010 earthquake in Haiti.
An experienced mental health professional with research and clinical interests in trauma resiliency, multicultural and global mental health aimed at advancing health equity, Dr. Bastion was a NIH Fogarty Global Health Fellow where she researched the mental health and psychosocial impacts of Ebola virus disease in Liberia. She also held a Health Policy and Leadership Fellowship at the Satcher Health Leadership Institute at Morehouse School of Medicine.
Dr. Gilberte (Gigi) Bastien
(M.A. '11 and Ph.D. '13 in Clinical Psychology) Assistant Professor of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences and Associate Director of the Office of Global Health Equity at Morehouse School of Medicine