Clinical psychology

The Psy.D. in clinical psychology is a 120-125 credit in-person doctoral program in Moscow. Students complete at least four years of full-time in-residence study before beginning a full-time, one-year predoctoral internship.  

View the program handbook

Explore program courses in the University Catalog 

Hands-on learning

In addition to course work, students will have community-based practicum placements to gain a breadth of clinical experiences in both therapy and assessment. Students in the program will also engage in research and may be able to partner with the team at the Idaho Office of Underserved and Rural Medical Research (IOURMR) on research projects to gain hands-on experience.

What students study

The curriculum is sequential, cumulative and increasing in complexity across clinical practice and research. Students build discipline-specific knowledge in psychology while developing profession-wide competencies in health service psychology.

Psy.D. curriculum includes:  

• Psychopathology, diagnosis and case conceptualization.
• Theories of psychotherapy and evidence-based intervention, including humanistic, emotion-focused, cognitive behavioral, third-wave, child/adolescent and family systems approaches.
• Personality, cognitive and academic assessment, psychometrics and measurement theory.
• Research methods, statistics, dissertation development and applied scholarship.
• Developmental, social, cognitive, biological/health and neuropsychology foundations.
• Ethical and legal standards, professional identity, supervision, consultation and interprofessional practice.
• Clinical practicum experiences and a full-time predoctoral internship.

Clinical training, internship and dissertation

Students begin clinical practice in the spring semester of their first year, starting with a small caseload at a practicum site. During this time, training is carefully supervised by licensed mental health providers, including licensed psychologists, ensuring they receive guidance and support as they develop their skills.  

As they progress through the program, practicum experiences gradually become more complex, allowing students to work with a wider variety of clients and across diverse service settings. In the final year, students complete a full-time predoctoral internship, where their training is tailored to the specific site to which they are matched.

All students complete a doctoral dissertation that demonstrates rigorous, ethical and clinically relevant scholarship. Acceptable formats may include empirical research, clinical case study, program evaluation, resource development or critical analysis of literature.

Faculty mentorship and advising

Students are assigned a major professor during the first year and are matched with a faculty research advisor after exploring faculty fit during the spring semester of the first year. Students also meet with the director of clinical training at least once per semester to review program progress, clinical training development, professional behavior, practicum planning and internship preparation. Students submit a College of Graduate Studies (COGS) study plan before the end of the first year.

Through faculty guidance and mentorship, the program aims to:

• Prepare graduates for competent, evidence-based practice in health service psychology.
• Cultivate strong foundations in scientific knowledge and the integration of science with clinical practice.
• Promote ethical, legally informed and professionally responsible practice.
• Foster professional identity formation and lifelong learning as clinical psychologists.
• Prepare graduates for varied career paths in clinical psychology, including health care systems, community mental health, private practice, integrated primary care, schools, forensic or correctional settings, academia and leadership roles.

Areas of emphasis and certificate opportunities

Students may have opportunities to work toward two academic certificates in chemical addictions: 1) principles and practice, and 2) professional skills in chemical addictions counseling. Certificate-related courses are reflected in the curriculum map as scheduled options or electives.  

Research opportunities  

Students can explore research and scholarship through SHAMP’s Idaho Office of Underserved and Rural Medical Research (IOURMR).

Students may present research or scholarly work through the SHAMP Research Symposium, Three Minute Thesis (3MT), university research opportunities, professional conferences, community presentations or clinical training settings. 

2026-27 Psy.D. program costs 

Psy.D. students pay University of Idaho graduate tuition and fees based on residency, enrollment and academic term, plus a $5,000 per semester professional fee for the fall and spring semesters.

Estimated total full-time tuition and fees per academic year (fall and spring semesters), including the per semester professional fee:

• Idaho residents: $21,796
• Nonresidents: $41,272 

Your total cost may vary based on your course load and other factors.

View the estimated Psy.D. cost of attendance

Note: The program also requires summer session attendance, with the required credit load varying from 1–7 credits per summer session depending on the student’s year in the program. Summer tuition is billed separately at $655 per credit hour for both Idaho residents and nonresidents.  

For more information about summer tuition and fees, visit the Student Accounts website.

WRGP-eligible program  

The Psy.D. program is eligible for the Western Regional Graduate Program (WRGP) award. Learn more about WRGP eligibility and benefits. 

Qualifying professional degree

The Doctor of Psychology in Clinical Psychology (PsyD) qualifies as a professional degree program for federal financial aid purposes.

Financial support

University of Idaho is committed to making graduate education accessible and helping students navigate the cost of earning an advanced degree. In addition to financial aid and scholarship opportunities, many graduate students receive funding through assistantships, research opportunities and other forms of academic support.

Here are a few key resources to help you understand graduate tuition, funding opportunities and available financial support:

• Submit your FAFSA: Completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is an important first step in accessing federal financial aid and certain institutional funding opportunities.  
• Explore scholarships and graduate funding opportunities: Graduate students may qualify for scholarships, fellowships and other funding opportunities based on academic achievement, area of study and professional experience.  
• Learn about assistantships: Many graduate programs offer Research Assistantships (RAs), Teaching Assistantships (TAs) or Graduate Assistantships (GAs), which may provide tuition support, stipends and valuable professional experience. Assistantship availability and funding levels vary by program and department.  
• Connect with your program: Some graduate funding opportunities are coordinated directly through academic departments or faculty research projects. Prospective students are encouraged to review department funding information and speak with program representatives about available opportunities.  

If you have questions about financial aid, scholarships or graduate funding, U of I’s experienced financial aid counselors and graduate program staff can help you explore options and make informed financial decisions throughout the admissions process.  

View financial aid resources 

School of Health and Medical Professions, contact:
Thomas Farrer, PhD. ABPP
tfarrer@uidaho.edu

School of Health and Medical Professions (SHAMP) Admissions: 
shamp-adm@uidaho.edu

For questions related to admissions, application materials, transcripts or enrollment steps, contact Graduate Admissions: 

Graduate Admissions contact:
208-885-4001 
graduateadmissions@uidaho.edu

Interested in research areas or finding a faculty mentor? Explore faculty expertise, research interests and advising opportunities on the department’s faculty page.

Meet SHAMP faculty and staff

All graduate school applicants must satisfy university and degree-specific graduate admissions requirements to be considered for graduate admission to University of Idaho.

Program availability

• Semester intake: Fall
  • Eligible for out-of-state tuition waiver through the Western Regional Graduate Program (WRGP) for qualifying applicants
  • Not eligible for international applicants  requiring F-1 visa status
• Deadlines: December 30
  • General application deadlines
• Start dates: View the academic calendar to see start and end dates

Applicants for the Psy.D. in clinical psychology must meet the following degree-specific admission requirements:

University requirements

• Education level: Bachelor's degree in psychology or a closely related field from an accredited or recognized university, earned or expected prior to the start of the first graduate semester.
  • Applicants with a degree in a field other than psychology must have completed a minimum of 18 credit hours of psychology including:
    • Introduction to psychology
    • Human development or developmental psychology
    • Psychological statistics or research methods
    • Abnormal psychology (psychopathology)
  • Additional recommended courses include:
    • Biological/physiological psychology or cognitive psychology
    • Personality psychology
    • Social psychology
    • History and systems
• Transcripts for all post-secondary education will be required. Official transcripts, including transcripts from schools where you have courses in progress, are required. Please follow the instructions in the PsychologyCAS application regarding how to submit your transcripts. If admitted, final official transcripts from any schools where you had courses in progress at the time of application must be sent directly to Graduate Admissions by the issuing institution(s). View more information on the Graduate Admissions page.  
• GPA: 3.0 (Applicants with a lower undergraduate GPA who have relevant professional experience in the field, have already earned a graduate degree, or have completed graduate-level credits may still be considered for admission with approval from the academic program.)
• GRE: Not required
• English proficiency (for applicants whose education was completed in countries where English is not an official language).  
• Accepted tests: TOEFL: 4.5, IELTS: 6.5, Duolingo: 115, PTE-A: 58. Learn what qualifies as proof of English proficiency.
• Number of references: Three
  • Letters are typically from professors, researchers or clinical supervisor
• Other requirements:  
  • CV or resume
  • Personal statement  
  • Admissions interview

Apply through PsychologyCAS

Our program participates in PsychologyCAS, a centralized application service that allows you to apply to multiple psychology programs using one application. Please carefully follow the steps below to complete your application.

Step 1: Create a PsychologyCAS Account and select University of Idaho PsyD Program

Step 2: Complete the PsychologyCAS Application, including academic history, official transcripts, resume, personal statement, and letters of recommendation

Next steps after submission:

• The admissions committee reviews applications and determines which applicants are invited to Admissions Interview Day.
• During Admissions Interview Day, applicants are evaluated through individual interview(s) and a group activity.
• After interviews, applicants are notified whether they have been accepted, placed on the waitlist or declined admission.

Post admission requirements:

Admitted students are required to complete a background check prior to matriculation.

Accreditation status 

The University of Idaho Doctor of Clinical Psychology (Psy.D.) program is a new program and is not currently accredited by the American Psychological Association (APA) Commission on Accreditation (CoA). The program plans to apply for APA accreditation as soon as eligible, which is after two student cohorts are enrolled on campus. No assurance of accreditation can be given. For questions about APA accreditation, contact the APA Office of Program Consultation and Accreditation, 750 First Street NE, Washington, DC 20002-4242; (202) 336-5979; TDD/TTY (202) 336-6123; apaaccred@apa.org 

The program is designed as a five-year doctoral program, including at least four years of full-time, in-residence study before a full-time, one-year predoctoral internship. University policy allows a maximum of eight years for completion.

Students must complete a minimum of 120 credit hours to earn the PsyD in clinical psychology.

No. GRE scores are not required for admission.

Yes. Applicants with a bachelor's degree in a closely related field may apply, but must have completed at least 18 credits in psychology, including introduction to psychology, developmental psychology, psychological statistics or research methods, and abnormal psychology/psychopathology. 

Clinical practicum begins in the spring semester of the first year and continues with increasing complexity throughout the program.

Yes. All students must complete a doctoral dissertation and a final dissertation defense. 

The program is new and is not currently APA accredited. The program plans to apply for APA accreditation as soon as eligible. No assurance of accreditation can be given.