Psy.D. Clinical Psychology – Chicago

At The Chicago School, we take great pride that our students represent a wide range of ethnic and cultural backgrounds as well as academic and professional experiences. The Chicago School Admissions Committee employs a holistic, structured evaluation process to identify applicants who are, by aptitude and prior achievement, appropriate for the program.

Application to The Chicago School’s Clinical Psychology program is open to any person who has earned a bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution and who meets other entrance requirements. Successful applicants typically have an undergraduate grade point average of 3.2 or higher.

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

• Application
• Application Fee: $50
• Resume or Curriculum Vitae
• Essays
• Letters of Recommendation
• Faculty Interview
• Official College/University Transcripts
  • Completion of at least 18 credit hours of psychology, including one course in each of the following with a “B-” or better: Abnormal psychology; Lifespan (human development); Statistics.
• The Graduate Record Examinations (GRE) are not required; however, an applicant may submit scores (GRE School Code 1119) if they wish to have them considered in the application process. This is recommended for students whose undergraduate Cumulative GPA is below 3.2.

Send materials to:

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

Accreditation

The Clinical Psy.D. program at the Chicago Campus is accredited 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 sixteen semester hours of practicum: six Basic, six Intermediate and four Advanced. Basic practicum is primarily devoted to training in psychological assessment. Intermediate and Advanced practicums may be devoted to training in evidence-based models of intervention or advanced assessment training, or a combination of these activities. All practicums require two hours of supervision weekly offered by the practicum site, as well as small group seminars offered by the school.

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

Optional Advanced Practicum

The Optional Advanced Practicum Sequence allows students who have completed the program’s required practicum sequence to pursue additional supervised clinical training hours. For students who require additional time to complete dissertation work or who need to extend their progress through the program by one year, this elective training experience can serve as an opportunity to increase one’s clinical hours, to pursue additional specialized training, or to continue active practice of one’s clinical skills during the year prior to internship.

Internship

All students are required to complete an internship—consisting of a minimum of 2,000 hours of training over a 12-24 month period—following the completion of all course work, 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.

The clinical Psy.D. program in Chicago offers a broad scope of training to prepare students for practice in health service psychology. The APA Council of Specialties of Professional Psychology (COSPP) has developed a taxonomy to identify program offerings that prepare students for practice in recognized specialty areas in health service psychology.

While the program design ensures broad and general preparation for practice as a clinical psychologist, students can elect to pursue advanced training and education in a specialty area.

Students in the Chicago Campus Clinical Psychology (Psy.D.) Program can choose from the following specialties:

• Forensic Psychology (Major Area of Study)
• Clinical Neuropsychology (Major Area of Study)
• Clinical Health Psychology (Emphasis)
• Clinical Child and Adolescent Psychology (Emphasis)

Students are not required to select an area of experience, emphasis, or major area of study. Rather, these options are available to students to pursue within the required curriculum if they desire such specialization.

Specialization at the desired level in the COSPP level is not guaranteed as some required elements are beyond the control of the program (e.g., required practicum training experiences).

Program elective courses are subject to change from year to year. Their offering is based on identified student interest (as determined by periodic surveys). Additional courses related to a topic area may be developed in addition to or to replace previously offered courses Special topics (elective) courses including Study Abroad courses may also be offered.

Comprehensive Examination

Students are required to pass a Clinical Comprehensive Exam (CCE), which evaluates 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.

Dissertation

Additionally, 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.

Social Bases of Behavior

This course will survey a range of theories and empirical research examining social influences on the behavior of individuals and groups. Among the topics covered are social perception and social cognition, attitude formation and prejudice, persuasion, obedience and compliance, aggression, prosocial behavior, and group dynamics. Current controversies will be explored as well as a consideration of the clinical relevance of theories and research reviewed.

Trauma: Theory and Treatment

This course will examine the impact of trauma on individuals, families, and communities across the lifespan.  Particular consideration will be paid to issues of acute reactions, adaptations to trauma, memory mechanisms and processes, and practical applications in therapy and within systems. Developmental, social, and multicultural issues in assessment and treatment and trauma and traumatic stress will be explored, as well as the physiological, emotional, behavioral, and psychological impacts of trauma necessary for a holistic conceptualization.  The course will address multiple types of trauma and a variety of interventions, on an individual and collective level.

Culturally Responsive Interventions

Culturally Responsive Interventions builds on the knowledge, skills and attitudes cultivated in Diversity in Clinical Psychology I and II. Students will assess the psychological components of a health disparity defined by the population of focus and develop a culturally informed intervention after reviewing relevant literature and completing an ethical impacts reflection. This process will involve community consultation, assessment and outcome evaluation. The course spans two semesters, during which students will attend and conduct meetings on and off campus.

The Chicago School’s Psy.D. Clinical Psychology at the Chicago 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 evidence-based assessment and effective interventions at the individual, group, organization, and community level.
• Mentor future practitioners and teach responsibly.
• Serve diverse populations with skill and ample cultural competence.
• Adhere to legal, psychological, business, and personal ethical standards while building rapport with clients and peers alike.
• Critically create and evaluate knowledge and disseminate ideas beyond the field of psychology.

The Chicago Campus is located right on the Chicago River in the heart of the Windy City. Attending school in a metropolitan location like Chicago gives you an opportunity to immerse yourself in a culturally vibrant city overflowing with opportunities to network with working professionals and national and international organizations. Chicago is also home to some of the nation’s finest dining, entertainment, museums, and other activities that we are sure you will enjoy.

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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