Areas of Emphasis

The Diversity and Community Mental Health (DCMH) area of emphasis at PAU gives you specialized knowledge and clinical training to provide psychological services for the public mental health sector.

The PhD emphasis in Forensic Psychology at PAU trains specialists in the clinical application of psychology to the legal system. We focus on broad and general clinical training, along with specialized forensic elective courses and practical experiences.

There is an enormous and increasing need for clinical psychologists who are prepared to work effectively in medical settings. Integration of psychologists into medical settings helps reduce health disparities for people of color, sexual and gender minorities, and others with marginalized identities by enhancing access to behavioral health services, reducing stigma, and facilitating holistic care.

From theory and research to clinical approaches, Palo Alto University’s unique LGBTQ Area of Emphasis focuses on expanding our understanding and treatment of these under-served populations.

The Meditation and Psychology Emphasis in the PhD Clinical Psychology program involves clinical and research training concerning the interplay of mind-body factors in health and well-being. The Meditation and Psychology emphasis will not be enrolling students for the 22-23 academic year.

Memory. Concentration. Reasoning. Logic. Language. Perception. Personality. The impact of brain function on human behavior is endlessly fascinating – and it’s a great career path for science-minded psychology students.

The Pediatric Behavioral Health Care (PBHC) emphasis at PAU has evolved from a general “child and family” focus to reflect recent bench science, translational community studies, advances in clinical intervention, policy/funding initiatives, and workforce trends.

When you choose an emphasis in Trauma at Palo Alto University, you’ll work alongside researchers, teacher, policy makers, and clinicians to treat patients in crisis and address the growing public health needs.