phd in clinical psychology programs

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Loyola University Chicago

Department of psychology, clinical psychology program.

• Clinical Psychology PhD Program Information
• Prospective Graduate Students
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• Clinical Psychology Faculty
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Clinical Psychology PhD Program Overview

Learning outcomes.

• Knowledge of the substantive content in the field of clinical psychology
• Knowledge of theories and methodological approaches in psychology
• Design and implementation of psychological research
• Specialized knowledge of clinical assessment, treatment, and psychopathology, including integration of research and practice
• Effective communication of psychological information across contexts
• Knowledge of and adherence to the ethical standards of the profession
• Awareness and integration of intersectional dimensions of diversity and individual differences in the application of psychological principles and approaches

Accreditation and Admissions

• Undergraduate
• Graduate/ Professional
• Adult Education

• Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology
• Academic Programs

With a recent 10-year re-accreditation decision from the American Psychological Association , Illinois Tech’s Ph.D. in clinical psychology offers intensive training based on the Boulder Scientist/Practitioner model and cognitive-behavioral theoretical foundations. The program emphasizes a balance of clinical practice and the understanding and conduct of clinical psychological research, generally preparing you for licensure eligibility (although licensing requirements vary by jurisdiction). Practice experiences include exposure to diverse populations. A student’s training in practice and research begins in the first year and continues throughout their graduate career.

Clinical Psychology Program Statement Against Racism, Police Brutality, and Systematic Oppression Against Black People

Program Overview

Illinois Tech trains students from the cognitive-behavioral framework to be scientist-practitioners. You'll learn the scientific process of psychological research, and receive extensive clinical training to prepare you to become a clinical psychologist and thought leader in the field.

Career Opportunities

Our graduates typically work in universities, medical centers, and multidisciplinary clinical settings in the following roles:

• Research/scholarship
• Clinical practice
• Supervision
• Administration
• Program Development

This program incorporates a series of substantive courses required by the American Psychological Association, in addition to research requirements, electives, and clinical training . Information on course requirements can be found in the  Graduate Bulletin .

Research training is an important aspect of your education. Here you will be educated in the scientific process of psychological research. Training begins in the first year working with faculty on their projects and continues through conducting your own research. This will prepare you to present posters and papers at conferences, which will provide valuable experience and professional contacts. Research activities are normally conducted with your adviser, but you may also work with other clinical and non-clinical faculty members. You also have flexibility to change your primary research mentor if your interests change during the course of training.

Clinical practicum experiences  will prepare you for work as a clinician and provide you with valuable contacts in the field. They also allow you to develop your clinical expertise by working in the community, reinforcing skills taught in the classroom. In addition,  an American Psychology Association (APA)-accredited internship  culminates your training as a practitioner. This year-long experience will facilitate the integration of your graduate training with valuable real-world experience. Optional participation on a variety of program committees provides an additional professional opportunity for students.

The clinical psychology doctoral program is also pleased to partner with our counseling and rehabilitation science faculty to offer a concentration in rehabilitation. This concentration includes APA-accredited clinical psychology doctoral training plus a unique emphasis for students who are interested in working with people across the lifespan affected by any injury or chronic condition that leads to disability.

Admission Requirements

Illinois Tech's Ph.D. in clinical psychology accepts applications for fall entrance only. Each year the program typically admits five to seven students.

The psychology faculty recruiting clinical psychology students to mentor in their research labs beginning fall 2025 include:

• Dr. Nicole Ditchman
• Dr. Arryn Guy
• Dr. Alissa Haedt-Matt
• Dr. Lindsay Sheehan

Please submit your online application as soon as possible. Your supplemental material cannot be entered into our database without a completed application. All applications and supporting documents must be submitted online by January 1, 2025 .

Requirements for admission to the program include:

• Bachelor's degree with 18 hours of undergraduate psychology, including successful coursework in research methods or statistics
• Completed online application, including payment of application fee
• Professional statement of 1,000 words or fewer outlining academic and career goals, academic potential, and relevant research and/or applied experience
• Three (3) letters of recommendation, which referees will upload directly into the application system
• Transcripts from all post-secondary institutions; transcripts must be uploaded directly into the application system. Please do not send them by mail.
• A curriculum vitae (CV)

The clinical psychology Ph.D. program at Illinois Tech no longer requires students to submit general GRE scores.

Please do not submit any extra materials, including writing samples, thesis papers, books, etc.

The clinical psychology faculty will review all applications and then invite a portion of applicants for virtual interviews at a later date. Invited applicants will receive more information closer to the interviews.

Tuition and Student Funding

Tuition for the clinical psychology program at Illinois Tech is detailed on the Graduate School website on the  Graduate Costs and Aid  page.

Illinois Tech provides partial funding of Ph.D. students through a variety of mechanisms. Funding is typically arranged on a year-to-year basis.

Funding Opportunities

Incoming first-year clinical students have an opportunity to participate in a clinically relevant experience through Illinois Tech’s Center for Research and Service by testing children applying to the Chicago Public Schools Selective Enrollment Program. This is an assistantship opportunity with tuition assistance and compensation. There is an expectation of participation. After the first year, limited testing and supervising positions may be available with the center for students.

A limited number of departmental teaching assistantships are available each semester for graduate students. More advanced doctoral students (i.e., those who have completed the master’s degree) may have opportunities to teach undergraduate psychology courses as an adjunct instructor.

Individual faculty members may have research grants that fund student effort. Although not guaranteed, the Department of Psychology often offers funding opportunities to help cover costs of student research projects (e.g., recruitment expenditures, material costs, participant incentives).

Many clinical students work part-time in a clinical research setting for at least some of the time they are at Illinois Tech. Although not arranged by Illinois Tech, these positions are typically excellent psychology experiences (e.g., as research assistants or neuropsychology testing technicians) and are often passed down from Illinois Tech student to Illinois Tech student.

Although not guaranteed, the Department of Psychology often offers funds for student travel to conferences to facilitate the presentation of student-authored research.

Standing Program Committee Opportunities for Students

Committee work is an important component of a job description in most clinical psychology settings (e.g., university departments, clinical practices or hospital settings, and professional non-profits organizations such as the Association for Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies). For this reason, we highly encourage doctoral students to participate in several of the program’s standing committees.

Diversity Committee

The Diversity Committee promotes activities and program priorities that emphasize the integration of knowledge and practice related to respecting human diversity of all kinds, such as different ethnicities, cultures, nationalities, sexual orientations, genders, and religions (a non-exhaustive list).

Colloquium Committee

The Colloquium Committee organizes lectures and talks for students and faculty in the program to enhance professional development and education.

Social Committee

The Social Committee organizes activities in the service of promoting a sense of community and cohesion in the program.  

Ad Hoc Technology Committee

The Technology Committee facilitates the web-based presence of the clinical psychology doctoral program and other technology-driven tasks.

Accreditation

Illinois Tech's Ph.D. in clinical psychology has been fully accredited by the American Psychological Association (APA) since 1982. For more information on APA accreditation, please visit  the  APA's accreditation website  or write to the address below. 

750 First Street, NE Washington, DC, 20002-4242 Phone: 202.336.5979 TDD/TTY: 202.336.6123 Fax: 202.336.5978 Email:  [email protected] g

For more information about the Illinois Tech's Ph.D. in clinical psychology, contact:

Alissa Haedt-Matt, Ph.D. Associate Professor and Director of Clinical Training Clinical Psychology Program 201 Tech Central 3242 S. State Street Chicago, IL 60616 Phone: 312.567.3514 Email:  [email protected]

Ph.D. Student Recognized for Eating Disorder Research

Clinical psychology Ph.D. student Elizabeth Dougherty is investigating the link between mental health and eating disorders.

Featured Faculty

Joyce Hopkins

Alissa Haedt-Matt

Steff Du Bois

Nicole Ditchman

Frank J. Lane

Eun-Jeong Lee

Nicole Legate

Arlen C. Moller

"My experience in the Clinical Psychology Ph.D. program at Illinois Tech has been an excellent balance of training in clinical work and research design and methodology. Above all, through the program’s courses, curriculum, rigor, and collaboration with faculty, I have cultivated an enduring skill and attitude of critical thinking. This is an invaluable asset to a dynamic career as a clinical psychologist working as a clinician, teacher, program manager, or researcher."

Arryn Guy (Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology Student)

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THE GRADUATE SCHOOL

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Clinical Psychology

• MA Requirements
• PhD Requirements

Learn more about the program by visiting the Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences

See related Interdisciplinary Clusters and Certificates

Degree Types: MA, PhD

The PhD Program in Clinical Psychology within the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine is one of only a handful of programs in the United States based in an academic medical center and housed in a psychiatry department. This unique setting provides opportunities for translational research and practice that span molecular to social models of disease, and epidemiologic to clinical and neuroimaging methodologies.

This scientist-practitioner program effectively balances clinical and research training to produce graduates who are competent in the science and practice of clinical psychology. The PhD program also provides opportunities for major areas of study within clinical psychology, including Adult Clinical Psychology, Behavioral Medicine or Clinical Health Psychology, Clinical Child and Adolescent Psychology, Clinical Neuropsychology, and Forensic Psychology. Training is provided through core and emphasis-specific curricula, intensive research mentoring, and exceptional clinical practica. Major milestones include a research qualifying paper and master's thesis, a clinical qualifying exam, an empirical dissertation with original research, and an APA-accredited clinical internship.

Our mentor-based program prepares students to be competitive for careers as clinical psychologists in academic health centers, children's hospitals, VA medical centers, and related medical facilities.

The Clinical Psychology Master of Arts (MA) Program within the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine is intended for students interested in pursuing a career in academic clinical psychology. The MA program is designed to provide a foundation in academic clinical psychology at the graduate level, while also allowing students to gain educational and research exposure to major areas of study within clinical psychology, including Adult Clinical Psychology, Behavioral Medicine or Clinical Health Psychology, Clinical Child and Adolescent Psychology, Clinical Neuropsychology, and Forensic Psychology. 

The goals of the MA Program in Clinical Psychology are to:

• Develop foundational competencies in research design, analytics, and ethics within academic clinical psychology.
• Explore major areas of study within academic clinical psychology.
• Understand educational and career opportunities within academic clinical psychology.

Note: the MA Program in Clinical Psychology does not include clinical training and is not intended to prepare students for clinical practice. Given the academic and research focus of the MA Program, the degree will not lead to licensure for independent practice.  For those interested in master's level programs that prepare students for licensure and practice, please visit the  MA in Counseling website , the  MS in Marriage and Family Therapy website  and  The Family Institute website . 

The MA Program in Clinical Psychology was designed for a variety of students, including students who:

• Are not yet ready to apply to a PhD program, but are considering doing so in the future.
• Wish to improve their competitiveness for a PhD program.
• Are interested in exploring a career in academic clinical psychology.
• With interests in related fields for which a background in academic clinical psychology may be of value.

The MA Program is embedded in the Clinical Psychology PhD Program, with coursework and lab work completed alongside PhD students. Although students in the MA Program are welcome to apply to Northwestern's PhD Program in Clinical Psychology, the MA Program is not intended to be a "gateway" into the PhD Program in Clinical Psychology at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine.

Additional resources:

• Department Website
• Pro gram Handbook

Program Statistics

Visit Master's Program Statistics and PhD Program Statistics for statistics such as program admissions, enrollment, student demographics and more.

Program Contact

Contact Sarah Bratta Program Coordinator

Degree Requirements

The following requirements are in addition to, or further elaborate upon, those requirements outlined in  The Graduate School Policy Guide .

MA Degree Requirements

Total Units Required: 17

The MA program requires at least 17 units for graduation across five (5) quarters (15 months) of full-time enrollment; part-time and early graduation is not permitted. Students are required to take the Research Core, including Research Methods/Statistics (3 units), Advanced Research Methodology (1 unit), and Scientific and Professional Ethics in Psychology (1 unit). In addition to these required courses, students are expected to select between five to eight elective courses across the Summer I, Fall, Winter, Spring, and/or Summer II quarters. Elective courses can include Discipline Specific Knowledge and Profession Wide Competency courses, as well as courses in one or more Major Areas of Study. 

In addition to the Research Core and Elective courses, all MA students participate in the weekly Professional Development Seminar for the first four quarters of the MA Program. This Seminar orients students to the MA program, introduces students to various mentors and labs across Northwestern, explores career options in academic clinical psychology, refines interests in academic clinical psychology, and prepares students for the next steps in their careers (e.g., developing applications for PhD programs; preparing for interviews). 

Other MA Degree Requirements

• Research/Projects:  In addition to completion of the coursework requirements, students engage in a Research Lab Experience for at least 10 hours a week.
• Master's Thesis :   Optional (see below)
• Master’s Culminating Academic Experience:  Through the Research Lab Experience, the student will work with her or his research mentor to complete a Capstone Project. The Capstone Project is the culmination of the Research Lab Experience provided by the research mentor, providing the final evaluation of the student’s research competencies. Examples of capstone projects include: Substantial participation (i.e., authorship level) on one or more empirical studies submitted for publication in a peer-reviewed journal. First author submission of one or more peer-reviewed poster/oral presentations at regional, national, or international conferences. A comprehensive review paper that is submitted to and graded by the research mentor. A grant proposal (e.g., F31 style) that is submitted to and graded by the research mentor.  

Last Updated: September 6, 2024

PhD Degree Requirements

Total Units Required: 30

Other PhD Degree Requirements

• Examinations:  defense of a research paper and a clinical qualifying project serving as examination for admission to candidacy
• Research/Projects:  independent, empirical research study completed in fulfillment of the research qualifying paper
• PhD Dissertation:  original research following third year of coursework
• Final Evaluations:  oral defense of dissertation

Explore the 10 Best Graduate Clinical Psychology Programs

Graduates with Ph.D. degrees in clinical psychology often work in academia.

(Getty Images) |

Clinical psychologists help treat mental illness.

With the rise in mental health awareness, clinical psychology has become an attractive career path for those who care about mental health issues. Clinical psychologists diagnose and treat mental health problems and often work in private practice or health care facilities. These are the Best Graduate Clinical Psychology Doctorate Programs , based on the results of peer assessment surveys sent by U.S. News to academics in the field in fall 2019.

Scott Goldsmith | Aurora for USN&WR

• 10 (tie). Harvard University

Location: Cambridge, Massachusetts

Peer reputation score (scale of 1-5) : 4.3

Key facts about the program: "The main emphasis of the program is research, especially on severe psychopathology," Harvard's website explains. "The program includes research, course work, and clinical practica, and usually takes five years to complete." Required courses for the program include classes in psychological testing, diagnostic interviewing and psychometric theory.

Learn more about Harvard University .

Indiana University |

• 10 (tie). Indiana University—Bloomington

Location: Bloomington, Indiana

Key facts about the program: This graduate program is very small and highly selective; it usually admits between three and five students per year. The curriculum of each student is tailored to the needs of that student, which means that students can define their own majors. "We have minimal course requirements, which enables our students to learn by doing," the program website states.

Learn more about Indiana University—Bloomington .

Andy Colwell |

• 10 (tie). Pennsylvania State University—University Park

Location: University Park, Pennsylvania

Key facts about the program: This clinical psychology Ph.D. program offers two tracks, one that focuses on adults and another that focuses on children. Doctoral students generally spend three to four years on coursework, and then spend a year apiece on producing a dissertation and completing a predoctoral internship. "The program includes courses in clinical psychology, neuroscience, personality, research design, psychopathology, psychotherapy, clinical assessment, and statistics," the Penn State website explains.

Learn more about Pennsylvania State University—University Park .

Temple University photography |

• 10 (tie). Temple University

Location: Philadelphia

Key facts about the program: "The overarching mission of the program is to train creative and accomplished clinical scientists who produce, consume, and disseminate psychological science and who function successfully in academic, research, and applied settings," the program website states. From the start of their Ph.D. program, Temple University clinical psychology graduate students gain research and clinical experience, and they receive education on mental, behavioral and emotional disorders, according to the university.

Learn more about Temple University .

Photo by Glenn Asakawa | University of Colorado

• 10 (tie). University of Colorado—Boulder

Location: Boulder, Colorado

Key facts about the program: The university's clinical psychology Ph.D. students are encouraged to work on interdisciplinary projects, according to the university website, which notes that the school has several interdisciplinary academic institutes that relate to clinical psychology. These include the Institute for Behavioral Genetics, the Institute of Behavioral Science and the Institute of Cognitive Science. The clinical psychology graduate program also operates several clinics, such as The Raimy Psychology Clinic, Sutherland Center for Bipolar Disorder, The Attention Behavior and Learning Clinic, and Brain Behavior Clinic.

Learn more about the University of Colorado—Boulder .

Daryl Marshke | MichiganPhotography

• 10 (tie). University of Michigan—Ann Arbor

Location: Ann Arbor, Michigan

Key facts about the program: Alumni of this program often find jobs at top-flight academic institutions. "Our recent graduates have obtained post-doctoral appointments at some of the most prestigious programs such as the University of Minnesota, UCLA, and the University of Pittsburgh Western Psychiatric Institute and Clinic," the program website states. "Our graduates also hold tenure track positions at leading universities such as the University of Michigan, the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill, Emory University, and NYU."

Learn more about the University of Michigan—Ann Arbor .

The University of Texas at Austin |

• 10 (tie). University of Texas—Austin

Location: Austin, Texas

Peer reputation score (scale of 1-5): 4.3

Key facts about the program: Doctoral students must complete four years of graduate-level coursework, a second-year research project and a clinical practicum sequence to gain hands-on experience interacting with patients. They also need to finish a one-year predoctoral internship at a specific treatment site and successfully defend a dissertation in order to qualify for a doctorate. It typically takes six years, particularly for students who want to compete for academic positions, to complete the program, according to university faculty.

Learn more about the University of Texas—Austin .

Joe Angeles | WUSTL Photo

• 10 (tie). Washington University in St. Louis

Location: St. Louis

Key facts about the program: This clinical science training program is accredited by the American Psychological Association and the Psychological Clinical Science Accreditation System, according to the program website. Students sometimes specialize in neuropsychology, clinical aging or health psychology. "Our students do not need to choose whether they will be scientists or practitioners; they must see these activities as being inherently intertwined, and they must be able to function in both roles," the program website states.

Learn more about Washington University in St. Louis .

University of Pennsylvania | University Communications

• 8 (tie). University of Pennsylvania

Peer reputation score (scale of 1-5) : 4.4

Key facts about the program: This program is tailored to the needs of aspiring clinical researchers, according to the program website. "Clinical training (in assessment, diagnosis and psychotherapy) is seen as an integral part of the education of highly qualified, creative clinical scientists," the website states, adding that "the principal goal of Penn clinical students is to become expert psychological scientists, not simply expert clinicians, and the program is designed to support that goal."

Learn more about the University of Pennsylvania .

University of Pittsburgh |

• 8 (tie). University of Pittsburgh

Location: Pittsburgh

Key facts about the program: The mission of this program is to prepare future research scientists to conduct groundbreaking research on mental health issues and to advance understanding of those issues, according to the university. "Program faculty members include presidents of national organizations, journal editors, and members of federal grant review committees," the program website states. "Faculty research funding was several million dollars for the past year, which supports extensive laboratory facilities."

Learn more about the University of Pittsburgh .

University Relations Department, University of Minnesota Crookston |

• 5 (tie). University of Minnesota—Twin Cities

Location: Minneapolis

Peer reputation score (scale of 1-5) : 4.5

Key facts about the program: According to the university, the Clinical Science and Psychopathology Research program's faculty particularly excel in personality and behavioral genetic research, as well as research into psychological disorders. The program's faculty conduct psychological experiments and epidemiological studies. "Our program is designed to train students who wish to become academic clinical psychologists or research scientists, although of course graduates will also find themselves well-prepared for various careers as clinicians or more applied researchers," the university website states.

Learn more about the University of Minnesota—Twin Cities .

Dennis Wise | University of Washington

• 5 (tie). University of Washington

Location: Seattle

Key facts about the program: A goal of the Ph.D. program in clinical psychology is to prepare students to become excellent researchers who can discover new information about mental health conditions and potential treatments, according to the university website. "Our training program is primarily an apprenticeship for a career that will encompass making significant contributions to scientific clinical psychology," the university website states. "The program is not appropriate for those interested solely in clinical practice and not in research."

Learn more about the University of Washington .

Bryce Richter | UW-Madison

• 5 (tie). University of Wisconsin—Madison

Location: Madison, Wisconsin

Key facts about the program: Because this program involves mentorships between faculty and students, one of its admissions criteria is the alignment of student and faculty research interests, according to the university website. Most students selected for the program majored in psychology, but some have majors in other related academic disciplines. The university encourages prospective clinical psychology students to conduct research on the school's faculty in this field.

Learn more about the University of Wisconsin—Madison .

Stony Brook University |

• 3 (tie). Stony Brook University—SUNY

Location: Stony Brook, New York

Peer reputation score (scale of 1-5) : 4.6

Key facts about the program: This Ph.D. program in clinical psychology is most appropriate for students interested in either a research or academic career, according to the Stony Brook University website. The program historically placed a heavy emphasis on behavioral psychology, but it has evolved to embrace a broader array of psychological perspectives while still providing a strong foundation in behavioral psychology. The program is designed to teach students how to take an empirical approach to the practice of psychology, according to the university.

Learn more about Stony Brook University .

Steve McConnell | UC Berkeley Public Affairs

• 3 (tie). University of California—Berkeley

Location: Berkeley, California

Key facts about the program: Doctoral students are matched with a faculty mentor at the beginning of their first year, and that person oversees the student's research, according to the university. The psychology clinical science program involves a combination of research and "hands-on clinical experience," according to the program website. It includes a one-year clinical internship. Berkeley's program is a member of the Academy of Psychological Clinical Science, a coalition of doctoral programs that is focused on advancing clinical science.

Learn more about the University of California—Berkeley .

Dan Sears UNC-Chapel Hill |

• 2. University of North Carolina—Chapel Hill

Location: Chapel Hill, North Carolina

Peer reputation score (scale of 1-5) : 4.7

Key facts about the program: Students in this program have a choice between two tracks, one focused on adult mental health and the other on the mental well-being of children and families. "We emphasize training in clinically-informed research and evidence-based clinical work and recognize that students have varying career aspirations that may evolve over the course of graduate training," the program website states.

Learn more about the University of North Carolina—Chapel Hill .

• 1. University of California—Los Angeles

Location: Los Angeles

Peer reputation score (scale of 1-5) : 4.8

Key facts about the program: This is a six-year, full-time-only Ph.D. program. UCLA's psychology department does not offer separate M.A. or Psy.D. programs. The Ph.D. course of study includes a full-time, one-year internship. The Ph.D. program's mission is to train influential experts in the field of clinical psychology.

Learn more about the University of California—Los Angeles .

Learn more about top graduate schools.

Find out what you can do with a psychology degree , and check out all of the 2021 Best Graduate Schools rankings to find the right program for you. Stay up to date on education news by following U.S. News Education on Facebook ,  Twitter  and LinkedIn . 

(Christa Renee | Getty Images)

Explore the highest-ranked clinical psychology doctoral programs.

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College of Science and Health > Academics > Psychology > Graduate Programs > Clinical Psychology (MA/PhD)

Clinical Psychology (MA/PhD)

Be a leader and an advocate.

DePaul’s Clinical Psychology MA/PhD program emphasizes training in both scientific research and practice and has been recognized by the APA for training in diversity. You’ll gain a deep understanding of the societal and systemic forces that influence mental health and contribute to disparities in access to adequate health care for poor, urban and ethnically diverse populations. You’ll be prepared to work in the public sector, in an urban environment, with diverse ethnic and socio-economic populations, and with children, teens and families who have been traditionally underserved by psychology.

Applications are due December 1st. 

Choose from two areas of emphasis:

• The community track emphasizes training in prevention, program development, consultation, empowerment and health promotion.
• The child track focuses on developmental psychopathology and treatment of underserved youth in schools and community settings.

The Clinical Psychology MA/PhD is a combined degree. The MA is non-terminal, and the program admits only students intending to earn the PhD. Classes are offered on the Lincoln Park Campus, and this program can be completed in five or six years.

Get a closer look at what it’s like to be in the program. See our Student Admission, Outcomes and Other Data ,  Program Manual ,  Program Highlights ,  Faculty Diversity Manuscripts and Timeline . See our department's DEI website for more information.

Hone your skills at DePaul’s own clinic and in greater Chicago

You will receive extensive training while making an impact in the community. Through DePaul’s in-house clinic, you’ll have opportunities to provide mental health services to local families with diverse ethnic and socio-economic backgrounds. You’ll also gain advanced experience in a number of settings in the Chicago area, such as Howard Brown Health Center, Advocate Illinois Masonic Medical Center and John H. Stroger Jr. Hospital of Cook County.

Application Deadlines

Submit an online application, GRE scores, official transcripts, course history form, letters of recommendation and a personal statement.

Required Courses

To earn the master’s, you’ll take 20 courses and complete a practicum and thesis. You’ll then take three core PhD courses and three courses in your area of emphasis, complete two practica, an internship and a dissertation.

of Clinical Psychology graduates were employed, continuing their education or pursuing other goals within six months of graduation.

DePaul’s Clinical Psychology program has received three APA awards—two focused on overall excellence in training and one focused on diversity.

Learn with respected contributors and mentors

Professor Antonio Polo and his students conduct research that addresses youth depression and the needs of early adolescents. Their team works on a coping skills program called Act and Adapt that helps young students learn to handle stress, improve their mood and gain control. They partner with school districts to train and support counselors, social workers and psychologists to deliver this program at dozens of Chicago schools.

“DePaul provided me with opportunities to build my research and teaching portfolio while I was a graduate student in ways that absolutely set me apart when I went on the academic job market. As the director of a sliding-scale community mental health training clinic serving sexual and gender minority clients, I am frequently grateful for the ways my current role supports continued practice of the Vincentian values that were so central to my experience at DePaul.”

Liz (MA/PhD ’19)

Assistant professor & director, sexual and gender identities clinic, palo alto university.

Alumni Network

You’ll join a network of psychology alumni working in corporate and nonprofit settings and at colleges and universities around the country. You’ll also join a community of more than 201,000 DePaul alumni, the majority of whom live in the Chicago area.

DePaul’s APA-accredited clinical psychology doctoral program trains students in a scientist-practitioner model.

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

Office of Program Consultation and Accreditation American Psychological Association Education Directorate 750 1st Street, NE, Washington, DC 20002 Phone: (202) 336-5979 Email: [email protected] Web: https://www.apa.org/ed/accreditation

Scholarships

All entering students receive a full-tuition waiver and a stipend for the first five years of study.

Contact Information

For more information about applying, contact The Office of Graduate Admission for DePaul’s College of Science and Health at (773) 325-7315 or [email protected] .

Take the next step

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College of Liberal Arts and Sciences

The UIC Department of Psychology offers an APA-accredited doctoral training program in clinical psychology. The mission of the division of clinical psychology is to educate innovative research-oriented scholars. Following the Boulder Model/scientist-practitioner approach to training, we emphasize the integration of research and clinical work to produce leading researchers who will advance theory, research, and application in the areas of assessment, treatment, and the prevention of psychopathology. Within this context, practicum training provides experiences that enable students to learn evidenced based assessment and treatment approaches, as well as strategies for the prevention of behavioral problems and the promotion of health. Our educational philosophy emphasizes a scientific and socially responsible approach to clinical psychology, including a sensitivity to ethical issues as well as gender, ethnic, and cultural diversity. Whereas we offer intensive and rich clinical training experiences to our doctoral students, we do not aim to train students for careers in private practice or full-time service delivery. Consistent with this philosophy, our program is also a member of the  Academy of Psychological Clinical Science .

Our program espouses a mentorship model of training emphasizing intensive individual attention. Opportunities exist for research, training, and collaboration in health psychology, prevention, statistics, psychology and law, addictive behaviors, adult and adolescent psychopathology, and school-family programming to promote children’s social, emotional, and academic learning. Also, there are opportunities for research on issues including psychotic disorders, autism, mood and anxiety disorders, treatment outcome, smoking cessation, and HIV/AIDS. Clinical faculty members and clinical affiliates utilize a range of exciting and state-of-the-art research methods, including psychophysiological assessment, ecological momentary assessment, fMRI, PET, eye movement studies, randomized clinical trials, and longitudinal designs, to name but a few. Participant research samples are also diverse in nature across studies, including nicotine dependent adolescents and adults, clinical samples, including those with major psychotic disorders, major depression, anxiety disorders, patients with HIV/AIDS, and preschool to high school students and teachers in urban and suburban schools.

The UIC Department of Psychology maintains an outpatient clinic called the  Office of Applied Psychological Services (OAPS) . OAPS functions as a training, research, and service facility; clinical students conduct diagnostic psychological assessment and individual or group therapy, under the supervision of licensed clinical psychologists. We espouse an evidence-based practice approach to the training of clinical scientists. As such, we provide clinical training opportunities in psychological treatments that have received ample empirical scrutiny and support. Subsequent to training at OAPS, clinical skills continue to be acquired through supervised practica in a wide variety of settings, both on and off campus.

We emphasize and value transdisciplinary approaches to the study of clinical science and actively promote collaborative approaches to research. As such, our students have access to a wide variety of research and clinical facilities both within and outside the Department of Psychology. These include UIC Center for Cognitive Medicine, the Collaborative for Academic, Social, and Emotional Learning (CASEL), UIC Institute for Juvenile Research, UIC Department of Psychiatry, UIC's affiliated programs on developmental disabilities. Rush University Medical Center, Jesse Brown VA Hospital, Edward Hines Jr. VA hospital, and University of Chicago Department of Psychiatry.   Additional facilities throughout the Chicago area include several community mental health centers, community organizations, other university-based hospitals and clinics, and private hospitals and clinics.

We select students who have the greatest potential for, and commitment to careers as research oriented scientist-practitioners. In addition to strong records of academic achievement, reflected in high undergraduate GPAs and GREs, we look for a record of research accomplishments and a demonstrated commitment to pursue careers in research settings. Further, we attempt to recruit an incoming class that is geographically and culturally diverse. In addition, we select students who have interests in the content areas that match the research themes represented among the Clinical faculty. We invite 10-20 of the most highly qualified applicants to a Department-wide Visitation Day which includes meetings with current students, prospective advisors, and other faculty. The program also includes presentations on faculty research as well as an overview of the curriculum, a tour of the clinic, and a lunch meeting with current students. The purpose of the interview event is for applicants to become clearly aware of our program's goals and expectations and for faculty to assess the likely promise of the applicants and their match to the program. The 'Student Characteristics' link (see left navigation bar under the Clinical Division) provides information regarding numbers of applications and GRE scores of current students.

The Clinical program has been APA accredited continuously since 1974.Questions regarding accreditation may be addressed to the Directors of Clinical Training, Margaret Wardle, PhD, ( [email protected] ).  Further questions regarding the accreditation status of the Clinical Psychology Area may be directed in writing to the Office of Program Consultation and Accreditation of the American Psychological Association, 750 First Street NE, Washington, DC 20002 or by telephone to (202) 336-5979. E-mail:  [email protected].   https://www.apa.org/ed/accreditation

Directors of Clinical Training Margaret Wardle, PhD, ( [email protected] ) Assistant Professor 312-413-5564