Professional Psychology

Office: Ammi Hyde Building
Mail Code: 2450 S. Vine Street, Denver, CO 80208
Phone: 303-871-3736
Email: gsppinfo@du.edu
Web Site: www.du.edu/gspp/

Doctor of Psychology in Clinical Psychology (PsyD)

The PsyD program at the University of Denver is housed in the Graduate School of Professional Psychology (GSPP). The mission of the PsyD program is to educate competent doctoral level practitioner-scholars who meet and exceed standards of the profession-wide competencies and discipline-specific knowledge to become Health Service Providers.

The PsyD program has four aims that prepare students to become Health Service Psychologists using the practitioner-scholar model. We seek to educate future Clinical Psychologists who will:

1)    contribute to the common good by using communication and interpersonal skills and individual and cultural diversity competencies,

2)    be grounded in the research, ethical and legal standards, professional values, attitudes, and behaviors competencies,

3)    provide profession-wide services and work in the areas of assessment, intervention, supervision, consultation and interprofessional/interdisciplinary skills.

4)    produce competent, entry-level graduates who can function in a variety of settings and grow with the profession and the health needs of local, national, and global communities.

Program Accreditation

The PsyD Program is accredited by the American Psychological Association. The program has been accredited since 1979, upholding a practitioner-scholar model of training.

Master of Arts in Forensic Psychology

The Master of Arts in Forensic Psychology (MAFP) was first offered at the GSPP in 1999 in response to the growing interest in the rapidly developing field of forensic psychology. The degree supplements fundamental master's level clinical psychology training with course work and practicum experiences in the area of psychology and law. The Master’s Degree in Forensic Psychology concerns the application of psychological theory, knowledge, skills and competencies to the civil and criminal justice systems. It is designed to train students to become mental health professionals, able to work in a variety of clinical settings within the criminal and civil legal system, including but not limited to: adult, juvenile and child populations; victim assistance; police consultation; correctional institutions; intimate partner violence and child abuse programs; and trial consulting. The MAFP Program is unique in many respects. Our curriculum, consisting of 90 credits, is forensically and clinically based, with an emphasis on applied practice. Students complete two field placements (up to a year in duration), allowing for the exploration of different forensic interests and providing them with a solid clinical foundation. Students benefit from the expertise of core and adjunct faculty who are active practitioners and scholars in the field.

Master of Arts in International Disaster Psychology: Trauma and Global Mental Health1 

The University of Denver's Graduate School of Professional Psychology is proud to offer our Master’s Program in International Disaster Psychology: Trauma and Global Mental Health (MAIDP). This degree is designed for those who wish to provide effective mental health and psychosocial services to individuals and communities in the US and globally who are affected by traumatic events, acute and chronic civil conflict, natural disasters, and health-related pandemics. Our program is recognized for ‘Innovative Graduate Training’ by both the American Psychological Association & the National Council of Schools and Programs of Professional Psychology, and is the first master’s program of its kind in the nation.  

Through academic coursework and practical experiences, students develop a solid foundation for knowledge and skills in the mental health field and unique and specific approaches in the field of international disaster psychology. Students receive essential opportunities to integrate knowledge with practice in contextually relevant and culturally competent ways. Internship experiences domestically and abroad, disaster simulation exercises, and classroom case studies support an integrated training experience helping students bring a “best practice” model to their work in a variety of psychosocial and mental health contexts internationally and in the U.S.

Instruction is provided in diverse areas including international disaster psychology, trauma intervention, disaster mental health, gender-based violence, crisis intervention, group dynamics, loss and grief, the effects of trauma on life-span development, psychotherapeutic models, program evaluation and research, global health, and cross-cultural foundations. Faculty expertise addresses the full span of mental health and psychosocial work that is necessary for effective work in this innovative field.

Our graduates work in a variety of professional settings providing direct services to populations affected by trauma, training and consulting with community, non-governmental and government agencies to promote psychosocial wellness of affected populations, developing emergency preparedness and response plans, and monitoring and evaluating psychosocial interventions. With comprehensive and specialized training in this emerging field of international disaster psychology, our students are prepared to make a difference in the world.

Master of Arts in Sport & Performance Psychology

The University of Denver's Graduate School of Professional Psychology, with its history of pioneering innovative training in psychology, is proud to offer a Master of Arts degree in Sport and Performance Psychology (MASPP). This degree is intended for individuals in the sport, performing arts, business, high risk occupations, health and fitness, or mental health fields who want to develop their ability to improve the performance and lives of those with whom they work. Those applicants involved in coaching and teaching in sport and performance settings are encouraged to add to their skills and abilities through this training. Denver's passion for sports and a thriving performing arts scene make it a perfect place to master the practice of sport and performance psychology.

The field of sport and performance psychology is concerned with the psychological factors that influence human performance and the psychological effects of participation in performance domains. It involves assessment and intervention strategies that enhance an individual's or group’s performance, personal growth, and enjoyment in their performance area.
 

GSPP's program is unique and pioneering in many respects. There are several areas in which this program truly stands out from other educational opportunities in the field of sport and performance psychology, including: our applied focus, the curriculum, practicum opportunities, and the faculty. The program provides the necessary training for an individual to become a competent, proficient sport and performance psychologist with the completion of a psychology doctoral program. The Master of Arts degree in Sport and Performance Psychology will help those who consult, coach, and work with others do their job more effectively and experience more rewarding outcomes.

Master of Arts in Sport Coaching (Online)

The Sport Coaching program is housed in the Graduate School of Professional Psychology, which has a rich history of innovative professional preparation. Psychologists and sport psychologists were pioneers to study coach effectiveness and coach education. In recent years, coach education at a university setting has become more popular, and more important to produce quality coaches. The Sport Coaching program is the only master’s level degree program in coaching offered in a school of psychology in the country. Our program builds upon the innovative preparation of the GSPP and the successful Master of Arts in Sport & Performance Psychology, but diverges in important ways.

The Sport Coaching curriculum was built from the ground up with student and coach success in mind. From idea to implementation, nearly two years went into planning and designing the curriculum, collaborating with leading experts in teaching, learning and student success, hiring quality instructors with experience in sport and coaching settings, and crafting our courses. Students may complete all of the degree requirements fully online. The Sport Coaching program, like all programs in GSPP, maintains the highest level of accreditation offered by The Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and schools. In 2016, the Sport Coaching program was officially recognized by the National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA) as a Graduate Studies Applied program. The program was also designed around the standards put forth by the National Committee for Accreditation of Coach Education (NCACE). The Sport Coaching program has maintained official recognition by the National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA) as a Graduate Studies Applied program since 2016.


1Degree on transcript for the Master of Arts in International Disaster Psychology: Trauma and Global Mental Health transcript will be worded as MA in Global Trauma & Disaster Psych.