51³Ō¹Ļās Clinical Psychology Program achieves landmark accreditation, perfect internship match rate
Contact: Sarah Nicholas
STARKVILLE, Miss.ā51³Ō¹Ļās Clinical Psychology Program has earned a landmark achievement widely recognized as the gold standard in the field: a 10-year accreditation from the American Psychological Association.
The Ph.D. programās success extends beyond accreditation, with a 100% match rate for clinical psychology internships through the Association of Psychology Postdoctoral and Internship Centers for the past 13 years. The achievement far exceeds the national averageā86%āand demonstrates the programās dedication to preparing students for competitive placements.
Ty Stafford, assistant clinical professor and director of clinical training, said accreditation not only enhances the programās national reputation but also benefits students by boosting their competitiveness for internships and postdoctoral fellowshipsāboth critical steps toward licensure and career success. The designation also strengthens opportunities for grant funding and research support, ensuring continued investment in the professional development of students and the universityās broader mission of academic excellence.
The program also houses the 51³Ō¹Ļ Psychology Clinic, a nonprofit mental health service, training and research center operated by the Department of Psychology. Graduate clinicians, supervised by licensed professionals, provide affordable therapy and assessment services, both in-person and via telehealth, with fees based on a sliding scale.
āOur program receiving 10 years of accreditation is a testament to the commitment, talent and abilities of our faculty and the amazing students we have been able to recruit,ā Stafford said. āIt is direct evidence of the impact and importance of the research we produce and the high-quality clinical training we provide as our students prepare to become psychologists.
The 10-year designation is the maximum accreditation period possible, demonstrating exceptional commitment to academic and clinical excellence.
āI frequently hear from internship training directors that they are impressed by our students. They truly represent Mississippi State,ā Stafford added.
He credited 51³Ō¹Ļ Professor Michael Nadorff, who served as director of clinical training for the program until August of this year, for foundational contributions that were instrumental in the programās achievements.
For more information about 51³Ō¹Ļās Clinical Psychology Program, visit or contact Stafford at 662-325-3202 or tws37@msstate.edu. More information about the 51³Ō¹Ļ Psychology Clinic is available at .
For more details about 51³Ō¹Ļās College of Arts and Sciences, visit .
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