The Clinical Psychology-Military Track prepares students to serve as Military Clinical Psychologists. In addition to the core curriculum for Clinical Psychology, Military Track students complete two additional courses in Military Psychology. Additionally, Military Track students are encouraged to complete at least one practicum at a military site. Students are trained as scientist-practitioners with a focus on the biopsychosocial factors that affect well-being. Military Track students are expected to complete the program in 5 years (i.e., 4 years at USU and 1 year internship). Given this timeline, and the expected positions that graduates will fill, more emphasis is placed on developing clinical skills relative to research skill development.
Students enrolling in the Clinical Psychology-Military Track are commissioned in the Air Force, Army, or Navy. Applicants may currently be Active Duty enlisted or officers, or may be civilians. Students in the Clinical Psychology-Military Track are required to complete the equivalent of a minimum of four academic years of full-time graduate study at USU and complete a 12-month APA accredited internship (i.e., typically one of the military internship sites).
Specific information for applicants to the Air Force, Army, and Navy are available on this website.
Military Track graduates incur a 7-year commitment to the military after internship. During this time graduates serve as Military Psychologists.
Students in the Clinical Psychology-Military Track are required to complete the equivalent of a minimum of four academic years of full-time graduate study at USU and completion of a 12-month APA accredited internship.
Major milestones for the Military Track are provided below. Additional detail is available in the MPS Handbook.
Clinical Psychology-Military Track Milestones
Year | Requirement | Description | Due Date |
1 | First Year Paper | Article (approximately 15-20 pages) based on research; reviewed by advisor | End of Summer Quarter |
2 | Ph.D. Qualifying Exams | General and Clinical Psychology Exam Questions | End of Spring Quarter |
2 | Master's Thesis (Optional) | Empirical study conducted in close collaboration with advisor. Paper to be written in manuscript format appropriate for submission to a peer reviewed journal. Submitted in format required by Graduate School for Master's Thesis | End of Summer Quarter |
3 | Written Proposal and Oral Defense for Dissertation | Complete a research proposal and defend the study to the dissertation committee | End of Spring Quarter (must be defended before applying for internship) |
4 | Complete Dissertation | Dissertation completed, defended, revised (if necessary), and submitted to graduate school | End of Spring Quarter (must be completed before internship) |
5 | Complete Internship | Successfully complete internship; traditionally at military internship site | End of Summer Quarter |
