Press Release

Tuesday, February 6th 2007

WVU clinical psychology programs receive national rankings

A leading trade publication has given West Virginia University’s Department of Psychology high marks for the research effort it puts behind its clinical and clinical child training programs.

A recent article in the Journal of Clinical Psychology, “Research Productivity and Academic Lineage in Clinical Psychology: Who Is Training the Faculty to Do Research?,” ranked the research productivity of 169 clinical psychology programs across the country in schools accredited by the American Psychological Association. 

See Full Journal Article

WVU ranked 13th for the total numbers of publications generated by faculty, and placed sixth in the nation for the mean number of publications – which is adjusted for publications by the number of graduates.

Other numbers:

  • WVU was number 32 in the country for the number its psychology graduates who are currently faculty in doctoral programs.

  • From 2000-04, some 19 graduates of WVU psychology programs went on to be faculty members at approved graduate clinical training programs.

  • A total 308 articles in that same period were published by WVU psychology graduates.

Dr. Kevin Larkin, who directs the department’s clinical training programs, said he’s pleased with WVU’s showing, since the placement is based on actual research output – and not by “reputation” surveys other publications use to rank academic programs.

“Many program rankings are based upon ratings of prominent educators,” Larkin said. “The weakness is that program chairs rarely have knowledge of all programs in the country in order to make accurate appraisals of their quality. This could be compared to voting without knowing the qualifications of all candidates.”

The Clinical Training Program has been an American Psychological Association-accredited program since 1966. It is designed to help students develop careers in academic and clinical service settings. It operates on the scientist-practitioner model of training – so its graduates are prepared for a future in either research or practice.

“It is very common for our students to acquire multiple publications prior to graduating,” Larkin said. “It is a testament to our junior-colleague model of graduate training.”

The department last February earned the American Psychological Association’s Award for Innovation in Graduate Education for its junior-colleague model.

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Wednesday, September 28th, 2005

WVU clinical psychology doctoral program receives re-accreditation

For clinical psychology students, West Virginia University’s 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 program’s 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.