Psy.D. in Clinical Psychology: Illinois

About the Psy.D. in Clinical Psychology

The Doctor of Psychology (Psy.D.) in Clinical Psychology degree program at the Illinois School of Professional Psychology (ISPP) has been designed to educate and train students so that they may eventually be able to function effectively as health service psychologists.

In 1976, the Illinois School of Professional Psychology opened in Chicago. It was founded by a group of psychologists, educators, and other professionals who called for a clinical psychology degree that emphasized teaching and practical training over the research-oriented approach of the traditional Ph.D. degree.

Today, it is our goal that ISPP programs continue to build on that pioneering tradition in the field of professional psychology—as innovators in education and practice for health service psychologists.

Our programs follow the practitioner-scholar model of clinical training, which prepares aspiring psychologists to develop the essential knowledge, skills and attitudes required for successful clinical practice.

To ensure that students are prepared adequately, the curriculum is designed to provide for the meaningful integration of theory, training, and practice. This program emphasizes the development of attitudes, knowledge, and skills essential in the formation of professional psychologists who are committed to the ethical provision of quality services.

National Louis University offers the Psy.D. program in an in person, intensive, full-time learning environment, with classes held during the day. Our classes are held at our downtown Chicago campus- there are no online or hybrid classes during this program.

Choose our Psy.D. in Clinical Psychology program in Illinois if you want to:

• Deliver basic diagnostic and therapeutic services to diverse populations, whether on an individual, family, or group basis
• Assume leadership positions within the healthcare delivery system
• Work with professionals from other disciplines as part of an effectively functioning healthcare team
• Evaluate and use clinical research applications of psychology
• Integrate biological, psychological, and sociocultural aspects of human functioning into your clinical approach

Specialize your coursework with an optional concentration in:

• Client-Centered and Experiential Psychotherapies
• Health Psychology
• Trauma Psychology
• Child and Adolescent Psychology

Illinois School of Professional Psychology Accreditation

The Illinois School of Professional Psychology at National Louis University’s Psy.D. in Clinical Psychology program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of the American Psychological Association (APA).

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

Office of Program Consultation and Accreditation 
American Psychological Association 
750 1st Street, NE, Washington, DC 20002 
Phone: (202) 336-5979 / E-mail: apaaccred@apa.org 
Web: www.apa.org/ed/accreditation

We would love to hear from you!

We strongly recommend connecting with our Outreach and Enrollment Specialist for Clinical Psychology, Dr. Tina Simmons:  

• tsimmons10@nl.edu

• Schedule an Appointment

• Click to Call

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• Apply Now

  • We are currently still accepting applications for Fall 2024 on a rolling basis.

Additional Program Information

• 15 Minute Program Overview: https://youtu.be/U0n0mXwB8ro
• Hour Long Program Overview with Time Stamps: https://youtu.be/WGxjFTEE4Vg
• ISPP Program Overview Slides
• PSYCAS Submission Instructions
• ISPP Core Faculty Bios
• Fall Suggested Course Sequence
• Scholarship Information 

What You Will Learn

The Illinois School of Professional Psychology’s Doctor of Psychology (Psy.D.) in Clinical Psychology degree program aims to prepare graduates to engage the world as health service psychologists. The program employs a practitioner-scholar model and offers a curriculum designed to prepare clinicians who provide scientifically grounded, theoretically informed, and culturally responsive psychological services. Combining a strong foundation in the science of psychology, close guidance in clinical practice, and encouragement of growth through experiential learning, ISPP aims to prepare ethical, competent clinical psychologists who respect the multidimensionality of human diversity.

Program Competencies

1. Students will critically evaluate the current and evolving body of scholarly literature in psychology and demonstrate knowledge of research methods and the ability to apply this knowledge by completing a clinical research project, and disseminating their research findings.
2. Students will demonstrate knowledge of ethical and legal standards, application of ethical decision making processes, and ethical conduct in professional activities.
3. Students will apply the theoretical and empirical knowledge necessary to address the multidimensionality of human diversity and work effectively with issues of difference.
4. Students will demonstrate self-awareness of the impact of their own social and cultural identities and biases.
5. Students accept responsibility for their own actions, integrate feedback from peers, colleagues, and supervisors in a non-defensive manner, and behave in a professional manner across settings.
6. Students will demonstrate professionalism through clear and effective written and verbal communication.
7. Students will demonstrate effective interpersonal skills and the ability to manage difficult communication well, forming and maintaining productive and respectful relationships with clients, colleagues, supervisors, and other professionals.
8. Students will demonstrate competency in assessment, including knowledge of psychometric theory, and the ability to select, administer, score, and interpret psychological tests. They will show an ability to make appropriate diagnoses and recommendations for treatment that take into account both personal and cultural client strengths and challenges.
9. Students will demonstrate competency in intervention by developing, applying, and evaluating evidence-based treatment plans that are grounded in a coherent orientation.
10. Students will demonstrate knowledge of supervision models and practices
11. Students will demonstrate knowledge of consultation models and practices, and exhibit respect for the roles and perspectives of other professions.
12. Students will know and apply the scientific bases of psychology, including affective, biological, cognitive, developmental, and social psychology; and they will demonstrate knowledge of the history, and systems of psychology.

Program Admissions Requirements

The program accepts students who have a minimum of a bachelor’s degree. Although prior degrees need not be in psychology, some psychology courses are required (as foundation courses), and some experience in psychological services is desirable.

Psychology Foundation Coursework

The Psy.D. in Clinical Psychology degree program requires applicants to successfully complete, with a “B” or better, five undergraduate courses that serve as a basic foundation for course work in clinical psychology. Several of these courses serve as direct prerequisites to Psy.D. courses. Students must complete foundation courses before they matriculate in the Psy.D. program.

The following courses are required:

1. Introduction to Psychology or General Psychology (This course may be waived if the applicant has completed a Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Psychology)

2. Abnormal Psychology, Psychopathology, or Maladaptive Behavior

3. Statistics or Research Methods

Two additional courses in psychology must also be completed.

To apply to the Psy.D. in clinical psychology degree program, applicants must have:

• Foundational courses: Intro to Psychology (waived for psychology majors); Psychopathology/Abnormal Psychology; Research Methods or Statistics; two additional psychology courses
• A bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited institution or an appropriately certified foreign institution
• An undergraduate degree grade point average of at least 3.0 (on a scale of 4.0) -or- a conferred graduate degree grade point average of 3.25 (on a scale of 4.0)
• A minimum score on a pre-approved English language proficiency test is required for all applicants whose native language is not English or who have not graduated from an institution at which English is the language of instruction as specified in the admission policies, English language proficiency
• Completion of an interview with members of the program admissions committee

All applications for admission must be submitted to the admissions department. A clinical psychology enrollment specialist is available to help interested applicants complete the following required documentation:

• Completed application for admission form, submitted via PSYCAS
• Professional goal statement with a self-appraisal of qualifications for the profession
• Current résumé
• Three recommendation letters
• Official transcripts from all post-secondary schools attended

Admissions Committee Decisions

All applicants will receive written notification of the Admissions Committee’s decision. Admissions Committee decisions are final and not subject to appeal. Accepted applicants are required to remit a non-refundable deposit of $150.00 by the date stipulated on the written notification to reserve a place in the entering class. This deposit will be applied toward the tuition of the student’s first semester. An applicant, if rejected, can reapply by following the reapplication policy.

Curriculum

 Sample Psy.D. Five-Year, 112 Credit Hour Curriculum

Student progress through the Clinical Psychology program is intended to be sequential. Certain courses offered to first-year students are designed to provide a theoretical and practical foundation for courses that follow in subsequent years. In addition, certain advanced courses require the student to have the background of more basic courses in order to benefit fully from the course experience.

The following is a sample schedule. Courses and sequence may vary by individual student experience.

First Year -- 32 Credits

Fall Semester -11.5 Credits

• PSYD 719 Health and Dysfunction I (3)
• PSYD 732 Child and Adolescent Development (3)
• PSYD 742 Cognitive Assessment (3)
• PSYD 745 Psychometric Theory (1.5)
• PSYD 715 Professionalization Group I (1)

Winter Semester -13 Credit Hours

• PSYD 722 Health and Dysfunction II (3)
• PSYD 757 Objective Personality Assessment (2)
• PSYD 758 Projective Personality Assessment (2)
• PSYD 753 Survey of Multicultural Psychology (3)
• PSYD 708 Personal and Professional Development (2)
• PSYD 716 Professionalization Group II (1)

Summer Session I - 7.5 credit hours

• PSYD 710 Professional Issues: Ethics, Conduct, Law (3)
• PSYD 759 Integrated Assessment (1.5)
• PSYD 738 Clinical Interviewing (3)

Second Year -- 29.5 Credits

Fall Semester -11 Credits

• PSYD 802 Person Centered Theory and Therapy (3)
• PSYD 718 Statistics (3)
• PSYD 847 Adult Development and Aging (3)
• PSYD 815 Practicum I (2)

Winter Semester- 12.5 Credits

• PSYD 709 Social Psychology (3)
• PSYD 723 Research Methods (3)
• PSYD 860 Group Psychotherapy (1.5) PSYD 805 Family and Couples Therapy (3)
• PSYD 816 Practicum II (2)

Summer Session I – 6 credits

• PSYD 809 Cognitive Behavioral Theory and Therapy (3)
• Research Elective (1) choose 1 of 2
• PSYD 816E Diagnostic Seminar summer (2)

Third Year -- 29.5 credits

Fall Semester- 12.5 credits

• PSYD 849 Dissertation Proposal Development (3)
• PSYD 705 Biological Bases of Behavior (3)
• PSYD 817 Therapy practicum Seminar (2)
• PSYD 865 Assessment & Treatment of Substance Use & Addictive Disorders (1.5)
• PSYD 840 Trauma Psychology (3)

Winter Semester- 12 credits

• PSYD 707 Cognitive and Affective (3)
• PSYD 741 Assessment & Treatment of Racially and Ethnically Diverse Populations (3)
• PSYD 806 Psychoanalytic Therapy (3)
• PSYD 818 Therapy Practicum Seminar (2) •PSYD 856 Dissertation I (1)

Summer Semester- 5 credits

• PSYD 761 Introduction to Clinical Psychopharmacology (2)
• PSYD 856a Dissertation II (1)
• PSYD 818E Therapy Seminar summer (2)
• PSYD 819 Science Capstone Examination (0)

Fourth Year -- 21 credits

Fall Semester- 8 credits

• Elective (3)
• PSYD 856b Dissertation III (1)
• PSYD 735 Clinical Supervision (1.5)
• PSYD 755 Consultation in Diverse Settings (1.5)
• PSYD 853 Advanced Practicum (1)

Winter Semester- 8.5 credits

• •Advanced Intervention Elective (3)
• Diversity Elective (3)
• PSYD 788 Advocacy Psychology (1.5)
• PSYD 854 Advanced Practicum (1)

Summer Semester- 4.5 credits

• Elective (1.5)
• PSYD 703 History and Systems of Psychology (2)
• PSYD 754E Advanced Practicum (1)

Fifth Year -- 0 credits

Fall/Spring/Summer Internship

Optional Concentrations

Child and Adolescent Psychology

Client-Centered and Experiential Psychotherapies

Health Psychology

Trauma Psychology