The Ph.D. Program in Clinical-Community Psychology with Rural, Indigenous Emphasis desires to attract mature, committed, and responsible individuals of diverse personal, cultural, and ethnic backgrounds who are interested in both clinical and community research and practice with a rural and indigenous emphasis.

Given this philosophy, the program has many unique features that combine to make for a rigorous training experience that requires a student's full-time commitment.  The following features of the program are particularly noteworthy and more detail can be gleaned from the Student Handbook: 

• The primary mission and aims of the program are to train students to be skilled in the professional practice of rural clinical-community psychology.
• Although the program is designed to meet the current psychologist licensure requirements in Alaska, students are responsible for documenting their coursework and professional training to satisfy licensing requirements. 
• The program requires a cultural experience and requires cultural integration in all courses and activities.
• Students are expected to complete the program as full-time students.
• Students cannot be in the program successfully and maintain full-time employment; indeed, given that the program is always considered a full-time commitment and classes are taught during daytime hours, the faculty strongly discourage employment or studies outside of the university.
• The program makes every attempt to offer paid teaching, research or service assistantships to all interested students; however, assistantships cannot be guaranteed.
• The program is difficult, course intensive, and demanding; students are advised to enter the program with full knowledge and awareness about program demands.
• The program is designed to be an intense study for at least five full-time years; there are no short-cuts.

The program functions on a cohort and mentorship model. Students are strongly encouraged to be full-time students (i.e., not engage in other full-time gainful employment or other studies) throughout their attendance in the Ph.D. Program in Clinical-Community Psychology with Rural, Indigenous Emphasis.  Admissions to the program occur only once yearly, specifically for the Fall Semester. 

To identify candidates, the Ph.D. faculty has designed a screening and selection process intended to evaluate all applicants in a manner that is comprehensive, fair, and objective. All candidates who are finalists for admission are required to attend a zoom interview during the designated interview day.   For the Fall 2024 admission cycle, the interviews will take place Monday, February 12th from 1:00pm-5:00pm AKST and Friday, February 16th from 1:00pm - 2:00pm AKST for a one-hour closure meeting. Interviews will take place within the second week in February. The interview process is an opportunity for you to learn about our program as well as for us to learn about you. This interview is an essential part of the application process; thus, we will not be able to conduct telephone interviews or further consider applicants who choose not to appear for interviews. 

The deadline for RECEIPT of applications is January 15.  Please note that any applications received after this date will not be considered under any circumstances.

Final decisions regarding admissions to the Ph.D. Program in Clinical-Community Psychology with Rural, Indigenous Emphasis will be completed by April 1, as recommended and adopted by the Council of University Directors Clinical Psychology.