Applied psychology

Encyclopedia of Psychology, Apr 06, 2001

Like psychologists engaged in research, the majority of those who practice applied psychology hold Ph.D. degrees in the field. Doctoral programs generally require completion of a four- to six-year program offered by a university psychology department. The course of study includes a broad overview (including courses in such areas as statistics, personality theory, and psychotherapy), as well as specialization in a particular subfield and completion of a practicum, internship, and dissertation. Some clinical psychologists hold a Psychology Doctorate (Psy.D.), a degree that was introduced at the University of Illinois in 1968 and is geared exclusively toward the training of clinicians rather than researchers. Offered at universities and at independent, "free-standing" professional schools of psychology, the Psy.D. program stresses course work in applied methods of assessment and intervention and eliminates the dissertation requirement.

• Beck, Robert C. Applying Psychology: Critical and Creative Thinking. 3rd ed. Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice-Hall, 1992.
• Wise, Paula Sachs. The Use of Assessment Techniques by Applied Psychologists. Belmont, CA: Wadsworth Publishing Co., 1989.