Students begin working in their mentors laboratory when they arrive on campus. Research is viewed as an integral component of the Clinical Ph.D., and is a continuous activity throughout training. Faculty research interests are grouped into 4 major areas: health psychology, geropsychology, psychopathology and mental health disparities. Students are expected to be involved in presentation and publication of their work. 80% of all students in the last 3 years have presented at conferences.

Students are required to complete a Master's Research Portfolio, which includes submissions to conferences and at least one submittable manuscript. When faculty judge that previous thesis work is comparable in scope to this requirement, students may submit that work for their portfolio.

After completion of the Master's Portfolio, students write their preliminary examination, an integrative review paper and then move on to their dissertation work. A dissertation proposal must be defended by September of the year the student is applying for internship.