School of Professional Psychology
Preparing tomorrow’s psychologists for a diverse world

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About SOPP

The School of Professional Psychology (SOPP) at Wright State University is a separate School within the University structure. The SOPP was among the nation’s first doctoral programs to develop a practitioner model program and to confer the Doctor of Psychology (Psy.D.) degree. The SOPP believes that generalist education and training at the doctoral level best prepares psychologist to meet the current and future challenges posed by changes in health care delivery. As a university-based program, SOPP students benefit from campus resources including financial support.

With the most diverse faculty and student body of any psychology program in the region, SOPP embraces its mission of serving the underserved and promoting cultural sensitivity and diversity appreciation. The SOPP remains committed to diversity in all its forms, emphasis on social responsibility, preparation of students for applying research and practicing in a broad array of settings, and emphasis on lifelong learning and the welfare of others.

  • Message from the Dean

    photo of Larry JamesThe brilliance, expertise, and richness of our school continues to allow the SOPP faculty, staff, and students to lead by example in the community and nationally as well. The SOPP is held in high esteem and remains one of the top PsyD programs in the country. Many of our faculty and students continue to receive prestigious awards for their innovative research, ground-breaking clinical programs and the school's cutting-edge diversity model. We continue to be a leader among doctoral programs of professional psychology.

    Our program has been continuously accredited by the American Psychological Association since the graduation of our first graduating class. We have recently been reaccredited by the American Psychological Association (APA) for seven years, the highest honor bestowed upon a doctoral program by APA. Indeed these are exciting times for SOPP. We're going international!

    We are currently in discussions with universities in India, Nigeria and China to partner and offer graduate clinical psychology programs for these nations. Opportunities as such will offer the SOPP to help develop cutting edge clinical psychology graduate programs around the globe and transform the quality of mental health care in these nations.

    I invite you to contact us about our doctoral program, scholarships, faculty research or giving opportunities.

    Larry C. James, Ph.D., ABPP
    Dean & Professor
    School of Professional Psychology
    Wright State University 

  • Mission & Vision Statements

    School Mission

    SOPP educates students for excellence and innovation in the practice of psychology. We aspire to ensure training that is oriented to both personal and professional development within a challenging and respectful environment which values diversity among faculty, staff, students, clients, and community.

    Diversity Mission

    Valuing and celebrating diversity, in all its forms, is a central theme of the WSU SOPP mission statement. The WSU SOPP continues to devote itself to diffusing diversity throughout the program and is currently pioneering an innovative multiple identities approach to teaching diversity content and theory. In recent years, approximately half of the WSU SOPP student body has been composed of ethnic minority and international students. This diversity is reflected among faculty and staff as well.  In additional, the school has been able to accommodate a number of students and faculty who have physical disabilities. It is open and affirming of GLBTQ persons and those of minority religious backgrounds. Many students are the first in their families to achieve post-secondary education.

    Vision

    Preparing Tomorrow's Psychologists for a Diverse World

  • Program Goals

    The program follows a practitioner model of training. The curriculum of the SOPP is organized around the core competencies of the National Council of Schools and Programs in Professional Psychology.  These competency areas are considered fundamental to the practice of psychology: diversity, relationship, assessment, intervention, basic science/research and evaluation, consultation/ education, and management/supervision.

    Goal 1

    To provide doctoral students with the scientific knowledge foundation needed for the practice of clinical psychology.

    Objectives for Goal #1: To develop student knowledge in the science underlying the practice of clinical psychology.

    Competencies Expected for these Objectives: Understanding of the knowledge base in the Basic Sciences/Research/Evaluation competency sequence, specifically:

    1. Understanding of the current body of knowledge of scientific psychology in biological, cognitive, affective, and social aspects of behavior, the history and systems of psychology, research methods, and techniques of data analysis, human development and individual differences.
    2. Appreciation of the interplay between the scholarly and scientific base of psychology and professional practice.
    3. Development of attitudes for life-long learning.

    Goal 2

    To train culturally competent clinical psychologists.

    Objectives for Goal #2: Acquisition of knowledge, skills and attitudes necessary for culturally competent practice as a clinical psychologist.

    Competencies Expected for these Objectives: Demonstrate effective, knowledge, skills, and attitudes in the Diversity competency, specifically:

    1. Understanding of issues of power, privilege and oppression from self and other perspectives.
    2. Understanding of the management of multiple identities.
    3. Integration of theory and knowledge about multiculturalism with clinical practice.

    Goal 3

    To provide doctoral students with the skills and attitudes that will prepare them for the effective practice of clinical psychology.

    Objectives for Goal #3: To develop student knowledge, skill, and attitudes in the Relationship, Assessment, Intervention, Consultation/Education, and Management/Supervision competencies.

    Competencies Expected for these Objectives: Demonstrate effective knowledge, skills and attitudes in the Relationship, Assessment, Intervention, Consultation/Education, and Management/Supervision competency areas, specifically:

    1. Demonstrate knowledge, skill and attitudes necessary for the development and maintenance of effective professional relationships.
    2. Demonstrate knowledge, skill and attitudes necessary for effective assessment and diagnosis, intervention, consultation/education, and management/supervision in clinical psychology practice.

  • APA Accreditation

    The Wright State University School of Professional Psychology (WSU-SOPP) maintains an American Psychological Association (APA) accredited Doctor of Psychology (Psy.D.) program in Clinical Psychology, an APA accredited doctoral internship program. The WSU-SOPP was among the first doctoral programs in the country to open a practitioner model of training in which the primary emphasis is on the application of psychological science rather than on generative research. The program continues to be one of a few to offer education and training across the predoctoral and postdoctoral domains. Accepting its first class in 1979, WSU-SOPP has been fully accredited by APA since the graduation of its charter class in 1982.

     

    APA Accredited since 1982
    American Psychological Association
    Education Directorate
    Office of Program Consultation and Accreditation
    750 First Street, NE
    Washington, DC 20002-4242
    Phone: (202) 336-5979
    TDD/TTY: (202) 336-6123