Bryant University launches first doctoral program

SMITHFIELD, R.I. — Bryant University is welcoming their first-ever doctoral program as a means to alleviate the mental health crisis in our nation.

The school’s first doctoral program, the Doctor of Clinical Psychology (Psy.D.) degree, will begin taking applications on September 5, 2024 for the first cohort beginning in Fall of 2025.

The COVID pandemic contributed to accelerated mental health crisis across the nation, and since then, there has been a notable shortage of licensed clinical practitioners, the university shared.

According to the National Alliance of Mental Illness, a reported 178,000 Rhode Island adults suffer from a mental illness.

The university said there is a “mental healthcare desert” in the Washington and Newport counties, leaving one quarter of a million people without access to care.

This new doctoral program serves as Bryant University’s School of Health and Behavioral Sciences’ commitment to improving healthcare.

“We are in the midst of a severe behavioral health crisis, with access to care being a major issue,” Joseph Trunzo, Ph.D., Associate Director of Bryant’s School of Health and Behavioral Sciences and clinical psychologist shared.

Bryant University President Ross Gittell, Ph.D expressed, “Our strong doctoral program will increase access to mental healthcare for Rhode Islanders by bringing qualified clinicians into the communities where they are most needed.”

Future students can expect the following from this new program:

Bryant’s Psy.D. curriculum adheres to the scholar-practitioner model of training, which emphasizes clinical practice backed by scientific research. Psy.D. students will receive a well-rounded education in psychological science and the practice of clinical psychology. Bryant is a leading university in experiential education and Psy.D. students can expect critical hands-on experience treating patients in clinical settings through practicum placements and a doctoral internship. 

The curriculum and educational experience have been designed to follow APA standards.

Bryant shared that the American Psychological Association will not allow for accreditation until the program has reached its second cohort.

For further details on the program, visit Bryant University’s website.