Drexel’s PhD in Clinical Psychology is a rigorous, APA-accredited program grounded in the scientist-practitioner model. Designed for students committed to both clinical practice and psychological research, the program offers comprehensive training that prepares graduates for licensure and leadership in clinical, academic, and research settings.

Over five years of full-time study, students gain:

• A strong foundation in psychological theory and evidence-based practice
• Hands-on experience in psychological assessment and intervention
• Extensive training in clinical research design, implementation, and analysis
• Opportunities to develop teaching and supervision skills

The curriculum aligns with APA accreditation standards and incorporates state licensing requirements. Students may also pursue specialized training in areas such as clinical health psychology, forensic psychology, and clinical child psychology.

At Drexel, you’ll join a collaborative, research-active department where clinical expertise and scientific inquiry go hand in hand—preparing you to make a meaningful impact in the lives of individuals and communities.

Program Format

• Full-time, five-year program.
• Accredited by the American Psychological Association (APA).
• Dedicated mentorship model places each student in a faculty member’s research lab.
• Completion of a doctoral dissertation.

Program Deadlines

The deadlines below are the dates by which applications must be submitted and all application requirements received.

• Fall (Domestic/International) – December 1
• No Spring or Summer intake

Quicklinks

Accreditation

Drexel's doctoral (PhD) program in Clinical Psychology is fully accredited by the American Psychological Association. Please direct any questions about the program’s accredited status to:

American Psychological Association
Commission on Accreditation: Office of Program Consultation and Accreditation
750 1st Street, NE
Washington, DC 20002
202.336.5979 | apaaccred@apa.org
apa.org/ed/accreditation

Student Admissions, Outcomes and Other Data

Additional Information

• APA accredited programs outcomes(PDF)
• APA accredited programs outcomes: Match rates (PDF)
• APA accredited programs outcomes: EPPP scores combined (PDF)

Program Overview

The PhD in Clinical Psychology program admits full-time students only and coursework is required in years one through four of the degree program. It is designed to be completed in five years, although students who enter with a master’s degree may be able to complete all requirements within four years. Students are required to work in 12-month practicum placements in years two through three; optional in year four. A pre-doctoral internship is typically conducted in year five. Students earn a Master of Science (MS) degree upon completion of two years of coursework and their master's thesis. The program begins annually in the fall; classes are scheduled for the fall, winter and spring terms only.

Major Areas of Study

In addition to general clinical training, with an emphasis on cognitive-behavioral approaches to assessment and intervention, the Drexel doctorate program in Clinical Psychology offers students the option to elect one of three major areas of study. While training in the major area of study is not all that is necessary for individuals to specialize in one of these areas, it does prepare students to continue further training that will eventually facilitate professional specialization.

Health Psychology

Health psychology adopts a broad-based, bio-psycho-social perspective in order to: (1) better understand the interplay among behavioral, emotional, cognitive, social, and biological factors regarding health, wellness, and physical disease; (2) promote and maintain wellness and positive physical health; (3) prevent, treat, and rehabilitate illness and disability, and (4) improve the health care delivery system. The health psychology area of study aims to provide students with specialty training in order to prepare them for academic, clinical, and/or administrative positions where the primary focus is on medical and physical health problems.

1. One clinical health psychology practicum (800 hours)
2. A clinical health psychology-focused thesis and dissertation
3. At least two years of research in an area related to clinical health psychology
4. Two required classes: Health Psychology, Biological Basis of Behavior and Treatment
5. At least three electives in health psychology: Mindfulness and Acceptance-Based Treatments, Substance Use, Behavioral Stress Management, Weight and Eating Disorders, Advanced Topics in Health Psychology, Advanced CBT, Psychology of Rehabilitation

Forensic Psychology

Forensic psychology involves the application of assessment and intervention techniques to informing legal decision-makers and attorneys on questions in criminal, civil, and family law. The goal of the forensic psychology area of study is to provide students with advanced training in relevant law, behavioral science research, and assessment and intervention approaches with a particular focus on juvenile and criminal issues.

1. One forensic psychology practicum (800 hours)
2. Forensic psychology-focused thesis and dissertation
3. At least two years of research in an area related to forensic psychology
4. Three required courses: Forensic Assessment I (PSY 648) and II (PSY 649), Mental Health Law (T 880).
5. At least two forensic psychology electives: Neuropsychological Assessment, Neuropsychological Case Analysis and Integration, Child Psychopathology and Treatment, Mindfulness and Acceptance-Based Treatments, Multilevel Regression, Evidence-Based Psychotherapy, Substance Use, Advanced Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy, Psychology of Rehabilitation

Clinical-Child Psychology

The clinical child psychology major area of study is designed for students who have strong clinical and/or research interests in working with children and adolescents. Students in this major area of study will complete the required courses taken by all clinical psychology students and will also enroll in child-related elective courses designed to help them develop a greater degree of expertise in working with child and adolescent populations. It is expected that students completing this specialization will develop an appreciation of the research literature in the clinical child area and will possess specialty skills that enable them to function as competent practitioners in the child/adolescent area upon graduation.

1. One pediatric / child / or adolescent practicum (800 hours)
2. A clinical child psychology-focused thesis and dissertation
3. At least two years of research in an area related to clinical child psychology
4. Two required courses: Child Psychopathology & Treatment and Pediatric Psychology
5. At least two additional electives from the following list: Neuropsychological Case Analysis and Integration, Forensic Assessment I, Behavioral Analysis, Family Therapy, Trauma and the Families

Faculty Accepting Students: 2026-2027

Consistent with our scientist-practitioner philosophy of training, our department and core adjunct faculty serve as dedicated mentors to our graduate students. Students work under the mentorship of one or two faculty members who serve as the incoming student’s advisors. For students who are admitted to work under two faculty members, one faculty member is established as the student’s major advisor, and the other as the student’s minor advisor.

	Faculty Member	Expertise
	Meghan L. Butryn, PhD Professor; Associate Department Head Stratton 286 mlb34@drexel.edu	Obesity prevention and treatment Physical activity promotion Lifestyle modification Behavioral therapy Cancer prevention For Academic Year 2025-26, Dr. Meghan Butryn is accepting MS in Psychology students.
	David DeMatteo, JD, PhD, ABPP (Forensic) Professor of Psychological and Brain Sciences; Professor of Law; Director, JD/PhD Program in Law and Psychology Stratton 338 David.DeMatteo@drexel.edu	Psychopathy Forensic Psychology Forensic mental health assessment Testing in forensic assessment contexts Drug policy research
	Nancy Raitano Lee, PhD Associate Professor; Director, Clinical Training; Director, Clinical Neuropsychology Major Area of Study Stratton 290 nancy.raitano.lee@drexel.edu	Neuropsychology Clinical child psychology Down syndrome Autism spectrum disorder Brain Neuroimaging Developmental disorders
	Matthew Lerner, PhD ml3823@drexel.edu

All Program Faculty

The Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences is actively engaged in vibrant research initiatives to advance the science and practice of psychology. Faculty publish widely in top-tier, peer-reviewed journals; are featured experts in national and international media; and are the recipients of major research awards from prestigious grantors including the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the National Science Foundation (NSF).

View All

	Faculty Member	Expertise
	Meghan L. Butryn, PhD Professor; Associate Department Head Stratton 286 mlb34@drexel.edu	Obesity prevention and treatment Physical activity promotion Lifestyle modification Behavioral therapy Cancer prevention For Academic Year 2025-26, Dr. Meghan Butryn is accepting MS in Psychology students.
	Evangelia G. Chrysikou, PhD Associate Professor of Psychological and Brain Sciences; Associate Dean for Research, College of Arts and Sciences; Director, Applied Cognitive & Brain Sciences PhD Program; Co-Leader, B.S. Neuroscience major Stratton 324 lilachrysikou@drexel.edu	Cognitive control Creativity Semantic memory Cognitive and affective regulation Design cognition Cognitive flexibility Noninvasive brain stimulation Functional neuroimaging
	Brian P. Daly, PhD Professor of Psychological and Brain Sciences; Department Head; Interim Director, WELL Center Stratton 118 brian.daly@drexel.edu	School mental health Leadership Mental health promotion Socioemotional learning (SEL) Evidence-based practice Risk and resilience Child and adolescent intervention
	David DeMatteo, JD, PhD, ABPP (Forensic) Professor of Psychological and Brain Sciences; Professor of Law; Director, JD/PhD Program in Law and Psychology Stratton 338 David.DeMatteo@drexel.edu	Psychopathy Forensic Psychology Forensic mental health assessment Testing in forensic assessment contexts Drug policy research
	Pamela A. Geller, PhD Professor of Psychology, Ob/Gyn and Public Health Stratton 280 pg27@drexel.edu	Clinical and health psychology Stressful life events and mental and physical health outcomes particularly in the area of women's reproductive health
	Naomi E. Goldstein, PhD Professor of Psychology; Co-director of the JD/PhD Program in Law and Psychology; Director of the Juvenile Justice Research and Reform Lab Stratton 328 neg23@drexel.edu	Juvenile justice System reform Policy and practice Adolescent development Social science research Psychology, criminal justice, and law Forensic psychology
	Kirk Heilbrun, PhD Professor; Director, Reentry Project 334 Stratton Hall kirk.heilbrun@drexel.edu	Forensic mental health assessment Violence risk assessment Risk-reducing interventions Accepting Students: Dr. Heilbrun will not be accepting a clinical doctoral student for AY26-27.
	John Kounios, PhD Professor Stratton 318 jk342@drexel.edu	Cognitive Neuroscience Creativity Problem Solving Individual Differences Brain Aging
	Nancy Raitano Lee, PhD Associate Professor; Director, Clinical Training; Director, Clinical Neuropsychology Major Area of Study Stratton 290 nancy.raitano.lee@drexel.edu	Neuropsychology Clinical child psychology Down syndrome Autism spectrum disorder Brain Neuroimaging Developmental disorders
	Michael R. Lowe, PhD Professor Stratton 284 lowe@drexel.edu	Please visit the Lowe Lab for more details about the research topics below: Obesity Set point Eating disorders Dieting Hedonic hunger Weight variability
	Christine Maguth Nezu, PhD, ABPP Professor Emeritus, Department of Psychological & Brain Sciences; Professor, Department of Medicine, College of Medicine Stratton Hall, Room 278 cn25@drexel.edu	Emotion-Centered Problem Solving Therapy Clinical Case Formulation Psychotherapy Training & Supervision Adaptive Functioning in Adults with Intellectual Disability Suicide Risk Reduction
	Arthur M. Nezu, PhD, DHL, ABPP Distinguished University Professor Emeritus of Psychological and Brain Sciences; Professor of Medicine; Professor of Public Health Stratton 268 amn23@drexel.edu	(Emotion-Centered) Problem-Solving Therapy Stress and coping Depression Suicide Ethics
	Diana Robins, PhD Professor, Director, AJ Drexel Autism Institute; Department of Community Health & Prevention, Dornsife School of Public Health diana.l.robins@drexel.edu	Autism Toddler screening Early detection
	Maria T. Schultheis, PhD Professor of Psychology; Interim Director of Clinical Training 3180 Chestnut Street, Suite 104 schultheis@drexel.edu	Neurorehabilitation Application of technology to psychology Virtual reality technology Driving capacity after neurological compromise Rehabilitation of functional, everyday activities
	Giacomo Vivanti, PhD Associate Professor of Psychology; Program Area Leader in Early Detection & Intervention, AJ Drexel Autism Institute giacomo.vivanti@drexel.edu

The Doctoral Dissertation in Clinical Psychology

The Drexel PhD program in clinical psychology first requires independent scholarly work in the form of a master’s thesis where students prepare and present a proposal and final defense of their thesis to a committee. Once this requirement is satisfied, students progress to independent scholarly work in the form of a doctoral dissertation, where they prepare and present a proposal and final defense to a dissertation committee.

All dissertations must be based on original research, and must clearly demonstrate the candidate's ability to work at the frontiers of the field. A variety of resources are available to all graduate students when conducting research during their training at Drexel University. One important feature of the Clinical Psychology program is that it was established with very close relationships to many supporting hospitals and facilities. There is considerable integration of research capabilities and agendas.

All doctoral dissertation examinations and committee appointments are monitored by the Office of Graduate Studies which approves the committees and the examinations.

Drexel Library: Theses, Dissertations and Projects

Recent Dissertations

We proudly invite prospective student to review recent dissertations authored by our PhD in Clinical Psychology degree recipients.

Recent Dissertations