Doctor of Philosophy Program in Human Services Psychology
The Ph.D. in Human Services Psychology program is composed of three interrelated and complementary programs which provide education and training in clinical psychology, behavioral medicine and community-social psychology.
Program Description
Initiated in 1983, the Human Services Psychology Program represents a reconceptualization of clinical psychology and several related specialties. The program's rationale derives from a general systems theory perspective which focuses on the generic nature of the knowledge and skills upon which these specialties draw and the multidimensional nature of the problems with which they are concerned. We believe that this approach fosters a more comprehensive and integrative approach to both research and professional practice. It also represents a more cost-effective and flexible approach to professional training than most traditional single-specialty professional training programs since it allows us to provide training for a number of specialties within the framework of a single program.
Human Services Psychology is defined as that sector of professional psychology concerned with the promotion of human well-being through the acquisition and application of psychological knowledge and principles concerned with the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of psychological and physical disorders. Thus, the program is designed to prepare students to contribute to the growth of knowledge in this area, as well as to apply this knowledge to a broad range of human problems. Consequently, the program is based upon a scientist-practitioner model of training which aims to provide students with skills as both researchers and practitioners.
The Human Services Psychology Program uses a biopsychosocial approach as the integrative perspective for its training of human service providers and researchers. The HSP program encourages a focus on the boundaries of biopsychosocial interactions as well as a solid understanding of each individual aspect in order to promote a more holistic and integrated approach to psychology research, service and practice.
Program Structure
The Human Services Psychology Program has an integrative conceptual structure encompassing three component specialty programs in behavioral medicine or health psychology, clinical psychology (APA accredited), and community and applied social psychology. Within the HSP Program's conceptual framework, these programs are regarded as differing primarily in their particular focus within the human services matrix and in how they conceive of and approach the generic problems of diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of psychological and physical disorders.
The Behavioral Medicine Program focuses on problems involving relations between behavioral and biological levels of human functioning, problems more typically seen in medical settings, and problems related to physical health.
The Clinical Psychology Program (APA accredited) focuses on problems involving behavioral and psychological functioning of adults, children, and families, and includes assessment and treatment of those problems.
The Community and Applied Social Psychology Program focuses on the community settings, social resources, and human services policies that influence the effective functioning of both individuals and communities.
The HSP program's primary commitment is to training psychologists for research and service in the public sector, placing special emphasis on the problems of inner-city, minority and poor populations, and of children, youth, and the aged. The program is integrative in that all students are required to have some course work from each of the specialty programs and are encouraged to consider a combination specialty program such as Clinical/Behavioral Medicine, Clinical/Community or Community/Behavioral Medicine.
We believe that the location of these three programs within the Human Services Psychology Program offers students in each program a broader and richer educational experience (and the potential for a more integrative perspective) than they would otherwise receive. In addition, students are encouraged to combine areas of focus. Thus there are subspecialties spanning several programs: Clinical/Behavioral Medicine, Clinical/Community and Applied Social, Child Clinical/Behavioral Medicine, Child Clinical/Community and Applied Social, and Community and Applied Social/Behavioral Medicine.
The program also includes a master's degree in Applied Behavior Analysis, offered by the department in collaboration with the Department of Behavioral Psychology at the Kennedy Krieger Institute in Baltimore. Applied behavior analysis addresses significant problems at the level of the behavior of the individual. Its many applications include behavior problems in children, parent training, developmental disabilities, education and behavioral medicine. Mastery of applied behavior analysis calls for competence in the detailed knowledge base of learning theory, behavior analysis, observational measurement techniques, treatment design, and the various skills essential to delivering services and maintaining their effectiveness.
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