Partners & Placements


The Chicago School believes that higher education is not merely about transferring knowledge, but about equipping students with both the desire and the ability to use their knowledge, skills, and attitudes to serve the greater good. In addition to their classroom work, our students learn through ongoing professional mentorship, career planning support, and an unparalleled range of relevant, hands-on training experiences - equating to more than 800,000 hours of high-impact, resume-building work in the community every year. Our students participate in the following opportunities, tailoring experiences to their unique career aspirations and personal callings.


Internships and Practicums

Each year, students are linked with enriching practicums and internships at approximately 500 diverse organizations across the country, where they provide invaluable psychology services to thousands of individuals and families with diverse backgrounds and needs, while refining their skills as top-notch professionals. Learn about our Office of Applied Professional Practice.

Community Service Opportunities

In addition to required clinical training placements, Chicago School students have the opportunity to participate in community-engaged scholarship - learning by working in the local community to identify, bring awareness to, and develop solutions to universal societal problems. Working alongside faculty and staff, our students help nonprofit and for-profit organizations conduct research, answer critical strategic questions, strengthen treatment models, build new programs, and more. Learn about our Office of Community Partnerships.

Clinical Service Work

In keeping with our mission to expand the reach of psychology to underserved populations, many of our students help bring psychology services to organizations that would like to offer mental health services but do not have the resources and capacity to do so - by essentially setting up and counseling centers within existing agencies and organizations. Many students choose to contribute their expertise at these sites, broadening their professional experience while helping countless organizations meet the needs of those they serve. Learn about our Clinical Services department.

Career Support

Chicago School students enjoy one of the most robust career support programs among all psychology schools. Our Career Services department provides personal coaching as well as dynamic trainings and workshops to assist students with making marketable and meaningful career choices, preparing for licensure, and becoming sophisticated networkers and job seekers. Learn about Career Services department.

Changing the Face of Latino Mental Health

Though Latinos are the nation’s largest and fastest growing ethnic group, health care professionals who understand the unique needs they face are scarce. A nationally recognized Chicago School initiative headed by Dr. Hector Torres is teaching students culturally relevant approaches to Latino health care and, in turn, changing the mental health playing field.
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Latino Mental Health

Dr. Richard Ackley

“Being right and being heard are two different things. Being right is in the plan. Being heard is in the message and its reinforcement.”-Dr. Richard Ackley, Professor, Business Psychology

Dr. Richard Ackley

Inspiring Others to Reach Their Goals

Alumna and adjunct faculty member Dawgelene Sangster is using I/O principles to help others overcome obstacles and achieve their personal and professional goals.
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Inspiring Others to Reach Their Goals