For clinical psychology students, West Virginia Universitys graduate program provides an attractive option. And the American Psychological Association agrees, re-accrediting the doctoral program for seven years, citing no deficiencies.

The program within the Department of Psychology in WVU s Eberly College of Arts and Sciences has two areas of study: clinical and clinical child. It has been continuously accredited since 1966.

After WVU submitted an intensive self-study of the program, a site visit was conducted by a team of professional colleagues.

The Committee on Accreditation reviewed the respective reports and made a decision based upon the record and its judgment of the programs quality.

Receiving the maximum period of re-accreditation (seven years) is a testament to the excellent quality of our training programs in clinical and clinical child psychology, and the students and faculty that comprise these programs,said Professor Kevin Larkin, director of clinical training and coordinator of the clinical program. Larkin has taught at WVU since 1986.

WVU s program utilizes the scientist-practitioner model of training, where students train as both a researcher and practitioner. Students spend four years taking campus courses, doing research and working at clinics throughout the community. The fifth year is a full-time clinical internship, similar to a medical residency.

The placement rate of students in the program is 100 percent. One-third of the students go on to positions in academics; one-third are placed in medical center settings; and another one-third do clinical work. The remainder do consulting or software assessment.

The program was previously recognized as the 2001 Outstanding Training Program from the Association for Advancement of Behavior Therapy.