Research Training
A broad range of research training opportunities is available in the Division of Psychology and the Department of Psychiatry. A formal research apprenticeship leading to the dissertation begins in the third year. Students are encouraged to identify research mentors and become involved in research early in their training. Students interested in research careers often decide to choose a mentor early in their training and volunteer on other research projects.
Research Concentration Areas
Three major areas of research concentration within psychology include:
- Health psychology
- Neuropsychology
- Child/adolescent psychology
Students interested in pursuing a research emphasis in any of these areas are encouraged to indicate this interest when applying to the Clinical Psychology Graduate Program.
Curriculum
The curriculum is designed as a full-time, four-year program, including four summers of full-time work. During the academic year, students may simultaneously be involved in classes, seminars, research apprenticeship, and clinical work. Formal research apprenticeships are required for the third and fourth years. Clinical experiences are offered in a wide variety of settings.
In addition, there are many other learning opportunities through workshops, seminars, conferences, and Grand Rounds available through UT Southwestern.
Recent Dissertation Titles
Recent dissertation titles from the Clinical Psychology Graduate Program at UT Southwestern Medical Center include:
- “The Impact of Obesity on Treatment for Depression in Youth”
- “Comparative Ability of the Pain Disability Questionnaire in Predicting Health Outcomes and Healthcare Costs”
- “Cross Cultural Differences in Cardiovascular Risk and Depressive Symptoms”
- “Predicting the Rate of Cognitive Decline in Alzheimer Disease: The Role of Qualitative Neurocognitive Variables”
- “Self-Disclosure, Secrecy, and Parental Knowledge in Caucasian and Latino Youth Managing Type 1 Diabetes”
- “Factors Affecting Resting-State Functional Connectivity Across Three Intrinsically Connected Networks in Traumatic Brain Injury”
- “The Relationship of Coronary Atherosclerosis Progression to Cognition: The Dallas Heart Study”
- “The Relationship Between Duration of Metabolic Syndrome and Cognitive Functioning”
- “Longitudinal Changes in Quality of Life and Distress Among Cancer Survivors Enrolled in a Community Survivorship Program”
- “Longitudinal Changes in Resting State Network Connectivity during a Period of Recovery in Patients with Traumatic Brain Injury”
- “Impact of Psychological Variables on Health Status Over Time in Adolescents with Inflammatory Bowel Disease”
- “Anxiety Experienced by Families after a School Scoliosis Screening Referral”
- “The Impact of Depressive Symptomatology on the Efficacy of a Weight Loss Interventions Program in African American Children and Adolescents”
- “Peer and Media Exposure to Nonsuicidal Self-Injury and Suicide Attempts in Adolescents”
