Ethical Psychology Care With Diverse Clients
The Psy.D. Applied Clinical Psychology post-master's program at The Chicago School will train you to become an informed and critical practitioner who seamlessly integrates extensive scientific and theoretical knowledge into diverse clinical scenarios.
Our actively engaged practitioner-scholar faculty incorporate a wide variety of clinical examples into classroom activities, while integrating Core Competencies from the National Council of Schools and Program of Professional Psychology. You will become well prepared for your career through rigorous coursework, practicum training, an immersive internship experience, and by completing a dissertation project, synthesizing your educational achievements.
Upon successful completion of this 3-year Psy.D. program, you will be able to:
- Deliver effective and ethical psychotherapeutic services.
- Conduct culturally competent interviews, goal-setting, and treatment with diverse clients.
- Balance ethical, legal, and professional standards of psychotherapy.
- Critically evaluate research in clinical psychology for practice and broader communication.
Psy.D. Program Online
This Applied Clinical Psychology online Psy.D. program offers flexibility for our students. Students are required to attend four, in-person, mandatory residencies, which help establish community and networking in the field. Also, students may request or be requested for face-to-face assistance or additional meetings with the faculty for their dissertation. Our Psy.D. online program has the same standards and expectations of coursework, quality of work, and rigor as the in-person Applied Clinical Psychology program.
Sean Sterling, Ph.D., ABPP
Admissions Requirements
Application to The Chicago School’s in-person and online Psy.D. Applied Clinical Psychology program is open to any person who has earned a master's degree in a mental health field 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. Applied Clinical Psychology program must submit the following:
- Application
- Application Fee: $50
- Resume or Curriculum Vitae
- Two essays
- Letters of recommendation
- Official College/University Transcripts
Send materials to:
Admissions Operations
c/o The Chicago School
203 N. LaSalle Street, Suite 1900
Chicago, IL 60601
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.
Fieldwork Experience
Practicum Experience
The Applied Clinical Psychology 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, including the Psy.D. online students, are required to complete an 800-hour practicum as part of this program.
Internship
All in-person and online Psy.D. program students are required to complete a 1,500-hour internship following the completion of all coursework, practicum, and dissertation requirements. On internship, Applied Clinical Psychology 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.
Additional Program Components
Comprehensive Examination
The Applied Clinical Psychology Comprehensive Exam will focus on the eight areas of professional psychological practice identified by the Association of State and Provincial Psychology Boards:
- Biological Bases of Behavior
- Cognitive-Affective Bases of Behavior
- Social and Cultural Bases of Behavior
- Growth and Lifespan Development
- Assessment and Diagnosis
- Treatment, Intervention, and Prevention and Supervision
- Research Methods and Statistics
- Ethical/Legal/Professional Issues
The Comprehensive Exam will evaluate the student’s knowledge of the above domains as well as competency to practice at an internship level in an ethical and culturally sensitive manner. Ultimately, the Comprehensive Exam allows the department to assess the student’s abilities as a future clinical psychologist.
Dissertation
The Applied Clinical Psychology dissertation is an essential aspect of a student’s academic experience. The dissertation evaluates the student’s ability to contribute to the field by applying theory and research to areas of clinical psychology, thinking critically and creatively about professional psychology, and demonstrating self-direction and professional and scholarly writing.
Sample Courses
Below are a few examples of courses offered to students enrolled in the 3-year Psy.D. Applied Clinical Psychology program.
Advanced Legal and Ethical Principles
Analysis of the application of advanced legal and ethical issues in clinical psychology to such topics as clinical interventions, research, and teaching. This Applied Clinical Psychology course will address the role and process of developing clinically competent decision-making skills in all aspects of a clinical psychologist’s role.
Trauma and Crisis Intervention
This Psy.D. program online and in-person course addresses various types of trauma, the lasting effects of trauma exposure, and the implications of treatments in individuals, groups, and diverse populations. A variety of theoretical frameworks and intervention approaches will be explored. The Applied Clinical Psychology course will also promote the development of skills focused on both the prevention of and response to various types of crisis events.
Sport Psychology
This Psy.D. Applied Clinical Psychology course will provide an overview of the psychological principles of sport, exercise, and recreational activity. Emphasis is given to the conceptual frameworks and the applied aspects of sport-performance enhancement and mental skills, exercise behavior and motivation, sociological factors, and overall health and well-being. Critical elements such as anxiety, self-confidence, goal setting, leadership, and group dynamics across settings (individual or group sports settings, recreational or competitive activities, etc.) will be explored.
Residency Requirement for Psy.D. Program Online/Distance Learning Students
Students in the online program version of the Psy.D. Applied Clinical Psychology program attend four, in-person, mandatory residencies. Each residency is two and one-half days and takes place at a Chicago School or affiliate ground campus. Students must successfully complete all four in-person residencies as a requirement of their doctoral program. The residencies occur during the fall and spring semesters of the program during the first two years. The Applied Clinical Psychology residencies are designed to bring together community aspects, research aspects, and clinical skills work including therapy and assessment that are best accomplished in person and supplement and extend work completed during the online coursework.
Career Pathways
The Chicago School’s Psy.D. Applied Clinical Psychology program 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
Career Outcomes
The Chicago School prepares you to make an impact in a variety of high-demand careers. Below, you will find possible career options and salaries associated with this degree.
Data is pulled by a third-party tool called Lightcast, which includes data from sources including the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the U.S. Census Bureau, online job postings, and other government databases. The information below represents a regional and national career outlook related to this degree program*. The Chicago School is dedicated to assisting you in achieving your career goals.
*Many degree programs are intended to fulfill licensure requirements in specific states. The data shown here may not represent the state where you currently reside. For more information on how this program is applicable to the requirements of your state, please speak with your admissions representative.
Financing Your Education
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 and our Applied Clinical Psychology program.
Psy.D. Applied Clinical Psychology FAQs
What does an applied clinical psychologist do?
These mental health professionals provide psychotherapeutic services and treatment, as well as analyze research in clinical psychology for practice and broader communication within the field.
What is the difference between applied clinical psychology and clinical psychology?
Applied clinical psychology is the practical application of clinical psychology methods, which focuses on assessment, case conceptualization, and treatment of mental illness in real-world settings. Graduates of this program are trained to be leaders in their field. The Clinical Psy.D. program emphasizes therapeutic interventions for severe mental health conditions with a broader and deeper clinical and theoretical foundation for advanced practice and leadership than the Applied Clinical Psychology program. The Psy.D. and Applied Clinical Psychology doctoral programs are designed to meet psychologist or clinical psychologist licensure, depending on the campus of the program or the state in which you wish to practice. Please review the program licensure descriptions and your state's requirements.
What can I do with an applied clinical psychology degree?
Graduates of the Applied Clinical Psychology doctoral program may pursue a variety of careers in the field of psychology. This program may lead to licensure as a psychologist; graduates may also work as counselors or therapists. Other opportunities include pursuing education, teaching, or research. The educational, licensing, and clinical requirements may vary based on the career you choose.
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