Our approach to education integrates strong training in the theoretical frameworks underlying evidence-based practice in clinical psychology, along with application of these skills via diverse clinical experiences within the greater Chicagoland area. We believe that clinical psychologists should be both scientists who are knowledgeable in formulating and solving scientific problems, as well as professionals who are experienced in the use of empirically-based clinical techniques. Furthermore, we are committed to training students to understand and value the unique experiences of individuals from diverse backgrounds and the implications of those experiences for mental health and treatment.
Our core curriculum is designed to immerse students in clinical experiences early on, while providing high quality coursework to prepare them for success at the internship level and beyond. Of note, our internship match rate for the past 4 years has been 100%, which far exceeds the national average. Our graduates obtain highly competitive fellowship placements and go on to work in a variety of settings including academic medical centers and community agencies across the US and Canada.
In addition to didactic training, the individual instruction and supervision provided by the core program faculty are major strengths of our program. We offer specialty tracks in neuropsychology, health psychology and psychopathology, and as a part of these tracks, students obtained specialized didactic and clinical training in their area of interest, while being mentored by research-focused faculty with expertise in these domains. This clinical program is fully accredited by the American Psychological Association and received the maximum term for reaccreditation during our last site visit. Our program offers a number of clinical, research and educational opportunities related to diversity, equity and inclusion.
Each year, applications for our doctoral program open early September and close around the beginning of December. Currently, our interviews are conducted fully virtually through Zoom in early February. Applicants who have been selected for an interview will be notified by mid-January. Please refer to our application requirements to guarantee a strong application, and individual faculty pages for information about faculty interests. Specific information regarding each year’s application cycle is updated on our website in August.