Clinical Psychology Schools in West Virginia

What are your options if you want to attend a clinical psychology school in West Virginia? What clinical psychology schools are within commuting distance for West Virginia residents?

West Virginia University has a clinical psychology program recognized by the American Psychological Association. West Virginia University’s doctoral program includes a clinical training program, behavior analysis, life-span development, behavioral neuroscience and clinical child psychology.

The clinical psychology program at WVU is at the doctoral level, but it also offers undergraduate and graduate level psychology degrees. Graduates with a doctorate in psychology are considered doctors trained in the practitioner-scholar model. About 200 students graduate with a degree in psychology from WVU each year, most with bachelor’s degrees.

According to the West Virginia University website of its psychology department, WVU has received the Award for Innovation in Graduate Education by the APA. It is also ranked the 42^nd best clinical psychology program in 2012 by US News in its Best Graduate Schools rankings.

Marshall University in Huntington, West Virginia offers students the option to enroll in a clinical psychology program accredited by the American Psychological Association. Marshall University’s main campus has undergraduate, masters and doctoral degrees in psychology. Psychology classes are also offered at the South Charleston, West Virginia campus, though not all doctoral classes are offered there. Marshall University follows the practitioner-scholar model in its psychology program.

West Virginia clinical psychology graduate students work in the Marshall University clinics on campus, in Dunbar and in Barboursville, under the supervision of instructors. The PSYD program has averaged two to three graduates with clinical degrees in psychology since 2005. However, the Marshall University program for clinical psychology was reaccredited by the American Psychological program in 2012. Marshall University’s clinical psychology school was ranked 161 in the country by US News in 2012.

For those who want to work with children, Marshall University offers an Education Specialist program within its “school psychology” plan of study. According to the Marshall Psychology department website, the Education Specialist program is accredited by NASP, the National Association of School Psychologists. This certification requires only a Master’s degree in psychology with additional coursework in the “school psychology” program.

Since West Virginia does not require a doctorate in psychology to work as a counselor in the state, this program is an option for those who wish to work with children without earning a doctorate in clinical psychology.

For those living in the eastern portion of West Virginia, several colleges right across the state border with Virginia offer a degree in clinical psychology. The University of Virginia in Charlottesville, Virginia has a clinical psychology program.

The West Virginia clinical psychology doctoral program is sponsored by the Curry School of Education and requires five years of study. Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University in Blacksburg, Virginia has a clinical psychology program.

Virginia Polytechnic has a child study center, autism clinic and research labs to develop real world expertise for its students. Social Psychology Network has ranked universities based on the scores of graduates taking the Examination for Professional Practice in Psychology or EPPP exam. By this measure, the University of Virginia ranks 48in the nation, using data for graduates taking the EPPP from 1997 to 2006.

For those living in the northern portion of West Virginia and around Wheeling, the University of Pittsburgh has an accredited doctoral program in clinical psychology. Its Clinical Psychology Program is part of the ground-breaking Academy of Psychological Clinical Science. Based on the Social Psychology Network rankings using EPPP test scores, University of Pittsburgh has a rank of 165.