Psy.D. Clinical Psychology – Dallas

Application to The Chicago School’s Clinical Psychology program in Dallas is open to any person who has earned a bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution and who meets other entrance requirements. Applicants must demonstrate an undergraduate grade point average of 3.0 or higher for consideration.

Students applying to the Psy.D. Clinical Psychology program must submit the following:

• Application
• Application Fee: $50
• Resume or Curriculum Vitae
• Interview
• Two Essays
• Three Letters of Recommendation
• Official College/University Transcripts
  • Transcripts must reflect 18 hours of psychology credit with an earned grade of C or better, including one course in Child/Human Development or Lifespan, Abnormal Psychology, and Statistics.

Send materials to:

Admissions Operations
c/o The Chicago School of Professional Psychology
203 N. LaSalle Street, Suite 1900
Chicago, IL 60601

Accreditation

The Psy.D. Clinical Psychology program at our Dallas Campus is accredited, on contingency, by the American Psychological Association (APA).

Questions related to the program’s accredited status should be directed to the Commission on Accreditation:

The American Psychological Association
Office of Program Consultation and Accreditation
750 First Street, NE
Washington, D.C. 20002-4242
202.336.5979

Licensure

For information on whether a program at The Chicago School meets or does not meet licensure eligibility requirements for the state in which you wish to be licensed, please visit our licensure disclosures page.

Practicum Experience

The practicum is an integral component of clinical training. It provides a closely supervised clinical experience in which students use the knowledge obtained in the classroom to understand their clients and to develop skills in assessment, psychotherapy, and other discipline related areas. As such, the practicum serves to integrate the theoretical and practical aspects of the education of the professional psychologist. It allows students to become familiar with professional collaboration and consultation in a clinical setting.

All students are required to take six semester hours each of Basic and Intermediate Practica, and four semester hours of Advanced Practicum coursework. Additionally, students participate in three years of organized, sequential, and well-supervised practicum experiences that increasingly expose them to the range of roles and responsibilities of a clinical psychologist.

Sample placement sites include hospitals, community mental health clinics, college counseling centers, and forensic settings.

The practicum requirements include:

• Year 2: 600-hour basic practicum
• Year 3: 600-hour intermediate practicum
• Year 4: 600-hour advanced practicum

Internship

All students are required to complete an internship—consisting of a minimum of 2,000 hours of training over a 12-month period—following the completion of all coursework, practica, and dissertation requirements. On internship, students integrate academic knowledge with clinical skills and demonstrate the effective and ethical use of these skills in clinical practice. Through intensive supervised training, students gain direct experience in applying their knowledge to a clinical population. The internship is a vital component of the educational experience and is never waived or transferred. Students are required to register for Internship on a semesterly basis during their training.

Competency and Comprehensive Examinations

Clinical Psy.D. students at our Dallas Campus are required to pass a series of competency and comprehensive exams, which evaluate the student’s knowledge of the theory, research, and practice of a chosen theory of intervention, as well as competency to practice that theory in an ethical and culturally sensitive manner.

• Pre-Practicum Qualifying Examination
• Research Competency Examination
• Scientific Psychology Competency Examination
• Clinical Comprehensive Exam (Written and Oral)

Dissertation

The dissertation is an essential aspect of a student’s academic experience and clinical education, and should clearly and concisely demonstrate the student’s command of the body of knowledge in a chosen area, as well as the ability to critically evaluate and synthesize this knowledge.

Residency Requirements

Students must complete coursework in residence at The Chicago School in part through full-time study as defined as: successfully completing three full-time academic years of graduate study; at least two of the three full-time academic years of graduate study must be at the student’s home Chicago School campus; at least one of the full-time academic years must be in full-time residency.

Diversity in Clinical Psychology

By blending theory and literature, cross-cultural immersion, and personal introspection, this course lays a theoretical and experiential foundation for students in multicultural psychology. The course provides a basic framework for understanding privilege and power, systems of oppression and domination, worldview, cultural competency, and identity. It will explore the impact and social construction of culture, gender, ethnicity, religion/spirituality, class, race, abledness, and immigrant status. Students will address the intersection of multiple identities and will explore the impact of their own culture and personal stereotypes, beliefs, and assumptions.

Personality Assessment

The primary objective of this course is the development of skills essential to the interpretation of test findings. Emphasis is placed upon the integration of test material into a comprehensive understanding of the client. Students will continue to develop their skills in report writing, differential diagnosis, and formulation of effective therapeutic recommendations.

Introduction to Human Neuropsychology

This course will survey topics and empirical research on neuropsychological functioning and assessment. The topics covered will include an overview of neuroanatomy, brain-behavior relationships in major neurocognitive domains, neuropathology of major neurological disorders (including traumatic brain injury, cerebrovascular disease, Alzheimer’s disease, and seizure disorders), and common assessment techniques. Diversity variables in neuropsychological assessment will be explored, as well as a consideration of the clinical relevance of theories and research reviewed in the context of relevant case studies and test data.

The Chicago School’s Dallas Campus offers students unique opportunities for professional training and community service. The city of Dallas also boasts the largest urban arts district in the country and offers a range of entertainment options for students to explore, including hundreds of museums, public galleries, community theatres, and music venues.

Read more about our Dallas Campus here.

The Chicago School’s Psy.D. Clinical Psychology at the Dallas Campus equips graduates with the skills necessary to work in a variety of professional settings, such as:

• Clinics
• Private practice
• Hospitals
• Government agencies
• Nonprofit agencies
• Educational institutions

After completing the program, graduates will be able to:

• Offer effective, evidence-based assessment and interventions for individuals, families, and communities.
• Mentor, supervise, and educate future practitioners.
• Provide ethical, culturally competent services to diverse communities.
• Critically evaluate relevant research and share knowledge with clients and the public.
• Promote social justice in the practice of clinical psychology.

The Chicago School is dedicated to keeping our academic programs accessible to anyone, regardless of financial status. In addition to the scholarships that may be available, our Financial Aid Department will provide you with information to determine what financial arrangements are right for you.

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