UHCL adds psychology doctorate

University of Houston-Clear Lake received approval from the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board to add a third doctoral program to its educational offerings.

The new program, a Doctor of Psychology in Health Service Psychology (combined clinical psychology and school psychology), is one of only four such programs nationwide and is the first doctoral program in the university’s School of Human Sciences and Humanities. The program will accept students for the fall 2016 semester, with an application deadline of March 1.

“The new doctoral program is a strategic initiative to better serve the educational needs of our community,” UH-Clear Lake Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs and Provost Carl A. Stockton said. “I congratulate the faculty for all their hard work.”

UHCL School of Human Science and Humanities Dean Rick Short said the new program is part of the university’s ongoing mission.

“The School of Human Sciences and Humanities looks forward to taking the next step in strengthening our academic program offerings by adding this doctoral degree,” he said. “But, not only does this new degree add to the school, it also emphasizes our community-minded mission statement by educating professionals who can strengthen health services in the greater Houston area.”

Professor of Clinical Psychology Mary Short called the new program a “beautiful fit” with the needs of the community, the aspirations of students and the goals of the university. UHCL’s existing graduate degree programs in psychology are already successful, and adding a doctoral degree is a natural extension.

“We have a great reputation in the community, our students are sought after when they graduate and they’re sought after for internships,” she said.

A Doctor of Psychology offers a stronger focus on clinical practice and experience than many other professional psychology doctoral programs, which may focus more on psychological science than practice.

Traditionally, school psychology and clinical psychology have had separate identities in American professional psychology. School psychology primarily dealt with the practice of psychology in the school setting, while clinical psychology emphasized general practice in other settings. As mental health services take a more holistic approach to treatment, programs such as UHCL’s will better equip professionals for using evidence-based evaluation and treatment in schools, communities, agencies and hospitals to support healthcare and behavioral health.

“Kids, even some adults, come to an educational institution and have mental health issues. More and more, school psychologists have to deal with those mental health issues within the classroom, within the school. As a pediatric psychologist myself, so much of what my kids struggle with is not just mental health issues, but how those issues affect their school work,” Mary Short said. “How do we get these children the best education and also meet their health and mental health needs? This blend will be very marketable to schools and other agencies.”

Initially, applicants to the program will be required to already have a master’s or specialist degree and should be able to show research evidence or potential, such as through publication, thesis work or previous research projects.

The doctoral degree is the latest addition to UHCL’s psychology offerings, which include master’s degrees in family therapy, school psychology, clinical psychology, behavior analysis and industrial/organizational psychology, among others, and bachelor’s degrees in social work and general psychology.

“We’re changing the face of UHCL, and not only with downward expansion and the four-year initiative. We’re expanding up,” Mary Short said.

Prospective Doctor of Psychology students are encouraged to email Mary Short, shortmb@uhcl.edu. For more information about the School of Human Sciences and Humanities, visit http://hsh.uhcl.edu/ or call the advising office, 281-283-3333.