According to the most recent rankings published by the US News and World Report, Illinois is home to very highly ranked clinical psychology doctoral
programs, including the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign and Northwestern University. The rankings were based on the result of peer assessment surveys, and only included accredited programs in good standing. OnlinePsychologyDegrees.com makes it easy to request information from multiple universities in Illinois that offer doctoral programs in clinical psychology. Our directory features programs that are accredited by the American Psychological Association, the professional
organization that represents psychology in the United States. Begin your search by reviewing the featured universities below. Clinical Psychology Schools in Illinois Students who wish to earn a doctoral degree in clinical psychology typically enter their program after having earned a master’s in psychology. This is not required, however. It’s also possible to earn your master’s degree as you work towards your doctoral degree, but be forewarned that most schools don’t grant the master’s if you leave the program before earning your doctorate. Clinical psych doctoral students have two main degree options: the first is a Ph.D., the most common degree awarded in psychology and the better option for students who want careers in research, education, assessments, and treatment. The second is a Psy.D., and is a better option for students who want to become clinical practitioners with a strong basis in the science of psychology. Scholarships for Clinical Psychology in IllinoisBoth public and private programs in Illinois offer full tuition scholarships to their clinical psychology Ph.D. students as fellowships, teaching positions, and stipends. Other programs such as the Chicago School of Professional Psychology offer a number of scholarships to their Psy.D. students to offset the cost of tuition. Psy.D. degrees are typically more costly than Ph.D. programs, so the APA’s database of scholarships is a great resource to find different funding options, most of which are not location specific. License RequirementsThe Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation requires clinical psychologist license applicants to fulfill the following requirements:
2017 Career OutlookOnce you have completed your Ph.D. or Psy.D. and earn your professional license, you can join the growing number of clinical psychologists practicing in Illinois. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) most recent figures, clinical psychologists in Illinois earn an average annual salary of $77,700, just below the national average of $78,690 (BLS, 2017). As demand for clinical psychologists continues to increase, the BLS projects that the employment rate of psychologists will increase nationwide by 19 percent into 2024. To learn more about how you can enter this rewarding field, request information from the schools that interest you and review it thoroughly to choose the program that can best help you reach your career goals. Illinois is a national center of psychology. Home to many of the nation’s top institutions with leading professors and researchers on staff, Illinois offers prospective doctoral students a tremendous amount of choice when it comes to selecting a PhD or practice-focused PsyD program. The world-renown psychology programs found in Illinois attract some of the most lucrative grants, donations, and other sources of funding, making it possible for many of the state’s schools to offer generous tuition assistance, scholarship programs, grant opportunities, and additional financial assistance to promising potential doctoral candidates. Adler UniversityAlfred Adler, who would go on to become the namesake for Adler University, first pioneered Adlerian psychology, also referred to as individual psychology. As an individual who cherished the values of democracy, mutual respect, civil rights, and equality as core values, the beliefs of Alfred Adler continue to be core principles of Adler University. Today the university is the oldest independent psychology school in all of North America. Clinical Psychology PsyDThis program has a national reputation for producing clinical psychologists who are culturally competent, providing a unique emphasis in socially-aware psychology practice. Over the course of five years (114 credits), an internship, practicum, and dissertation, students will complete their advanced education to become leaders in their field. Accreditation
Contact Adler School of Professional Psychology (312) 662-4100 The Chicago School of Professional PsychologyAs one of the largest psychology-focused graduate programs in the Chicago area, the faculty of this program dedicate themselves to the mentoring and success of their students. This school offers specializations that include behavior analysis, forensic psychology, clinical counseling, business psychology, educational/school psychology, and even international psychology. Clinical Psychology PsyDThis psychology program prepares students to be leaders in assessment venues, treatment venues, non-profit agencies, and government agencies. Graduates of this program are trained to approach psychological intervention from four different philosophical frameworks: cognitive behavioral, psychodynamic, humanistic existential, and systems. Students can complete this program in five years, which includes a practicum and minimum 2,000-hour internship. Accreditation
Contact Chicago School of Professional Psychology (312) 329-6600 DePaul UniversityCollege of Science and HealthCreated recently in 2011, the College of Science and Health benefits from the latest developments and research in the fields for which it offers advanced degrees. Included in all programs is a strong Vincentian commitment to civic engagement and social justice. Clinical Psychology PHDThis program instructs students according to the scientist-practitioner model. Students can choose a child clinical psychology track or a community clinical psychology track. Education includes contextually and culturally relevant research and treatment methods, with DePaul being nationally recognized for its diverse training programs. Graduates of this program are qualified to conduct psychology research, practice in a clinical environment, and teach in academic settings. Students complete at least 94 quarter credits, including training at DePaul Family and Community Services, and advanced practica at sites located throughout the Chicago area. Accreditation
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Health and Science (312) 362-8000 Illinois Institute of TechnologyLewis College of Human Sciences, Department of PsychologyThe Department of Psychology trains and educates students from a perspective that integrates practice and science. The distinguished faculty who are part of this department maintain active research labs, serve on the editorial boards of respected scientific journals, and maintain active speaking and presenting schedules at locations throughout the world. Graduates of its psychology program have gone on to achieve notoriety as leaders in the local and national business, scientific, and clinical fields. Clinical Psychology PHDThis program integrates clinical practice and clinical research to produce students who are prepared for state licensure and to become distinguished professionals in their career field. Students complete 107 semester credits that include clinical courses, a clinical practicum, research, and a dissertation. Students can also participate in testing and supervision positions, teaching assistantships, and other opportunities to gain experience and funding for their doctoral education. Accreditation
Contact Michael Young (312) 567-3503 Illinois State UniversityDepartment of PsychologyWith 35 full-time faculty members, the Department of Psychology is proud of the fact that students work closely with professors – not teaching assistants – in close and informative collaborations. Faculty at in this department hold achievements such as President of the Midwest Psychological Association, as well as doctoral degrees from the nation’s leading universities. School Psychology PHDStudents are engaged in this program in the scientist-practitioner model as they are trained to become competent school psychologists who will have a positive and constructive impact on the lives of children, adolescents, and their families. Graduates of this program are eligible to take the exam to gain accreditation as a Nationally Licensed School Psychologist. Students complete a minimum of 113 semester credits over five years, which includes a doctoral research dissertation, internship, and practicum. Accreditation
Contact Illinois State University (309) 438-8651 University of Illinois at ChicagoCollege of Liberal Arts and Sciences, Department of PsychologyThe Department of Psychology offers students classes taught by 30 tenured professors, four visiting assistant professors, two research professors, and six lecturers. As one of the most respected departments of its kind in Illinois, doctoral degrees are offered in a range of subjects designed to prepare students to be experts in fields that relate to cognitive processes, affective processes, individual emotional patterns, individual attitudinal patterns, groups, and communities. Clinical Psychology PHDThis program prepares research-oriented scholars in clinical psychology, integrating research and clinical work to develop well-rounded and competent graduates. Students are instructed based on a mentorship model of training that emphasizes individual attention. As part of their studies students complete advanced research, internships, and practicum training. Clinical research opportunities include opportunities for psychophysiological assessments, ecological momentary assessments, fMRIs, PET scans, eye movement studies, and longitudinal designs. Students complete training at the university’s outpatient clinic, Office of Applied Psychological Services (OAPS). Most students become licensed clinical psychologists after completing this program, and most students take six years to earn their PhD. Accreditation
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of Psychology (312) 996-3036 University of Illinois at Urbana-ChampaignPsychology DepartmentThe first psychology professor arrived on campus in 1890, and two years later the school had its first psychological laboratory. By 1893 the Psychology Department was established. Since then the department has grown to include over 100 distinguished instructors, including 60 permanent full-time faculty members. Today the department has numerous facilities at its disposal, including laboratories that specialize in human and animal behavior. Students have access to an extensive research laboratory and a well-equipped psychological instrument shop. Clinical/Community Psychology PHDThis program provides education to achieve several main goals: prepare students to be independent scholars in the field of clinical/community psychology, prepare students to integrate scientific knowledge with clinical practice, prepare students to conduct effective research, and prepare students to be university professors if they choose. As part of their education students complete two year-long practica, one semester of teaching, and graduate theses (MA and PhD). Students have ample opportunity to gain experience and conduct research at the university’s Psychological Services Center, and also work with the school’s counseling center and the health center’s mental health unit. College of EducationMore than 100 years after its founding in 1905, today the College of Education is known throughout the nation as being a leader in groundbreaking research and is home to the National Institute for Learning Outcomes Assessment. USA Today reports that graduates from the College of Education are in the top-10 nationwide for earning the highest salaries. Counseling Psychology PHDThe College of Education is proud to report that its counseling psychology PhD program is ranked fourth in the nation by CounselingPsychology.org. Students approach this subject through the scientist-practitioner orientation that holds research and practice as two interdependent, complimentary sets of skills. For their first two years students learn closely with faculty as they complete core-courses and research. This is followed by research, practica, and an internship. Most students complete this program in six to seven years, and choose to become licensed upon graduation. After their studies, students have a 97 percent success rate in obtaining internship placements. Accreditation
Contact Psychology Department (217) 244-3664 Educational Psychology (217) 333-2245 Loyola UniversityDepartment of PsychologyStriving to foster research in many areas of applied and theoretical psychology, this department’s faculty are nationally nationally renown in their fields of expertise. Through the study of the human experience and behavior, the goal of the Department of Psychology is to apply psychological principles to find solutions for social as well as individual problems. Clinical Psychology PHDStudents complete at least 800 hours of a practicum experience or an internship, followed by an advanced-level externship with one of the school’s many partners, which include local hospitals, mental health facilities, clinics, and medical centers. This is followed by another internship that lasts one year, and may be completed at any APA-approved site in the nation. Throughout their studies students will also be completing a master’s thesis and doctoral dissertation. The program takes around five years to complete for a total of 72 semester credits. School of EducationThis school offers tomorrow’s leading school professionals a full range of options when it comes to completing an education for teachers, psychologists, counselors, researchers, and administrators. This includes options for many doctoral degrees, including four EdD programs and five PhD programs. Two of these latter programs are structured for counseling psychology and school psychologists. School Psychology PHDDoctoral students enrolled in this program use a scientific problem-solving approach to become experts in their field. Students learn to make response-to-treatment interventions and decisions based on data. The program instills a teamwork ethic as students learn to solve problems collaboratively in groups. Studies total 99 semester credits including four years of coursework and two additional years allocated for thesis research and writing. Counseling Psychology PHDUsing the scientist-practitioner model, this program covers the essentials of counseling psychology for prospective professional practitioners, researchers, and teachers. Graduates of this program fulfill the education requirements to sit for Illinois’ clinical psychologist licensure examination. Requiring a master’s degree in a related field for admission, this program is comprised of 66 semester credits which include a doctoral dissertation and a 2,000-hour internship. Accreditation
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School of Education (312) 915-6800 Program Website (school psychology) Midwestern UniversityCollege of Health SciencesSince 1992 this college has been producing graduate degree-prepared professionals in fields as diverse as biomedical sciences, speech language pathology, physical therapy, and clinical psychology. Graduates have gone on to serve as leaders in their fields and gain national renown. Clinical Psychology PsyDEducation in this program is based on the understanding that graduates need strong foundational knowledge in psychological theories, awareness of evidence-based clinical practice, knowledge regarding the scientific bases of behavior, and the ability to apply this knowledge in a diverse range of clinical situations. Taking an average of five years to complete, upon graduation most students decide to become professionally licensed as well. Graduates can pursue careers like outpatient mental health or substance abuse clinics, counseling in school systems, contracting with management consulting firms, or employment with social service agencies. Accreditation
Contact Midwestern University (800)
458-6253 Northern Illinois UniversityCollege of Liberal Arts and Sciences, Department of PsychologyThis department relies on its more than 30 full-time faculty with doctoral degrees to prepare graduate students for their master’s and PhD terminal degrees. Recently Department of Psychology faculty have received accolades that include being named the Presidential Engagement Professor, the APA’s Distinguished Early Career Scientific Contribution award, and a National Research Service Award from the National Institute of Health. Two particularly relevant doctoral degrees offered by this department include a PhD in school psychology and a PhD in clinical psychology School Psychology PHDThis program strives to prepare students to excel in careers in schools, state agencies, clinical practices, and university settings. Students’ coursework and practica experience theoretical and applied approaches to respond cognitive, behavioral, developmental, and social issues. The program is 90 semester credits in length, usually taking students five years to complete. In this time students complete at least 1,125 hours of practica experience, an internship, and a doctoral dissertation. Clinical Psychology PHDStudents graduating from this program are well prepared for careers in teaching, research, and clinical practice. Didactic and clinical studies focus on topics that include psychological assessments, abnormal behavior, and methods of therapeutic intervention. Students have the additional option to focus in either developmental psychopathology or trauma psychology. Most students complete their studies in seven years, which includes a one-year internship, for a total of 90 semester credits. Accreditation
Contact Department of Psychology (815) 753-0372 Northwestern UniversityWeinberg College of Arts and Sciences, Department of PsychologyIn 1909 the Department of Psychology became its own entity, separating from the Philosophy Department, and relying on two faculty members who taught eight courses. Since then it has come a long way, and today over 41 faculty members teach more than 80 courses. Important names in the field of psychology have called this department home, including Carl Duncan and Walter Dill Scott. Clinical Psychology PHDAs part of the PhD program in clinical psychology, students must complete at least 27 graduate courses. As students reach their second year of studies they complete their practica, usually at one of the school’s participating institutes. Throughout the rest of their studies students will be involved in practica. During their fourth year of studies students should submit a doctoral dissertation proposal, which is then completed during the fifth year of studies. Once the doctoral dissertation has been defended, students may apply for an internship. Feinberg School of Medicine, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral SciencesOffering its students advanced research initiatives, excellent clinical affiliates, and an appealing curriculum; this school has been attracting the top minds in a range of fields since 1859. Standing out among the country’s leading medical research-medical schools, Feinberg is regularly praised in reviews from US News and World Report surveys. Clinical Psychology PHDWorking from the scientists-practitioner model, this program prepares graduates to be competent researchers, clinicians, and academicians in the field of psychology. Over the course of six years students complete research labs, clinical practica, doctoral dissertation, advanced practica, and a full-time clinical internship. Accreditation
Contact Department of Psychology (847) 491-5190 Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences (312) 926-2323 Roosevelt UniversityCollege of Arts and Sciences, Psychology DepartmentPart of the university’s largest college, the Psychology Department offers students several programs designed to meet the needs of modern complex society. Relying on a faculty staff that includes some of the sharpest minds in the field of psychology, this department considers its students as its greatest hope in making an important impact in this field – both practically and scientifically. Clinical Psychology PsyDUsing the practitioner-scholar model, this program focuses on training students to become competent clinical psychologists who are able to treat and diagnose psychological problems. Most students earn their doctoral degree in five to six years, completing at least 105 semester credits, and go on to earn their Illinois state license after graduation. The doctoral program includes at least four practica at different locations in the local community, a pre-doctoral internship, and a doctoral project. Accreditation
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Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and ScienceCollege of Health ProfessionsThis school got its start in 1912 as the Chicago Medical School, where persons with day jobs could come at night to study medicine. Specializing in a wide range of medical areas, students completing their degree within this college can find a program that is right for them. One of these is a doctoral program in psychology. Clinical Psychology PHDStudents enrolled in this program receive an integrated education that combines a strong theoretical framework in psychology with a broad experience in the practice of psychology. Core curriculum is organized into theory-research-practice lessons, and students have the option of choosing a specialty track in health psychology or neuropsychology. Most students complete their degree in six to seven years, including a one-year post-dissertation internship, and move on to become licensed to practice psychology in Illinois. Accreditation
Contact College of Health Professions (847) 578-3000 Southern Illinois University CarbondaleDepartment of PsychologyStudents are at the center of curriculum design in this department, which offers doctoral degrees in subjects like clinical psychology and counseling psychology. Along the way to a PhD students earn their master’s degree, however the department does not offer a terminal master’s. Students can apply once each year for fall admission. Clinical Psychology PHDThe goal of this program is to develop tomorrow’s clinical psychologists who are prepared to apply their skills in a field with ever-changing opportunities. Students can choose to specialize in adult or child clinical psychology. Throughout the program students complete clinical practica, specialty practice, summer field placements, and clinical training assignments. Students also participate in research training and have opportunities to develop teaching and presentation skills. Most students earn their degree in five to six years and go on to become professionally licensed in Illinois. Counseling Psychology PHDThe counseling psychology PhD curriculum approaches student learning from the traditional Boulder model, emphasizing both the science and practice of psychology. Students complete their program in approximately five to six years, with opportunities for four practica, including an advanced and specialty practica, group counseling experience, dissertation research, pre-professional training, and a final internship that lasts one year. Upon graduation most students become professionally licensed as counseling psychologists. Accreditation
Contact Graduate Admissions (618) 453-3564 Wheaton CollegeWheaton’s graduate school has been offering advanced degrees since 1937. Emphasizing the Christian elements of justice, service, and holistic development, the school combines these with professional education to prepare students to work as adept professionals in their chosen field. Wheaton offers two doctoral programs: a PhD in theology and a PsyD in clinical psychology, the latter of which is one of only six such Christian programs in the nation. Clinical Psychology PsyDThe full PsyD program is comprised of 120 semester credits. Studies include core courses designed to prepare students to become practitioner-scholars. As such, students complete practicum training, practicum seminars, core didactic courses, applied research, clinical training, a clinical dissertation, and advanced practica and clerkships. Students have the opportunity to perform their research in 13 active research labs. Accreditation
Contact Graduate School Admissions (630)752-5933 Illinois offers its in-state residents tremendous opportunities for choosing renown doctoral program in psychology that is a perfect fit. In addition to having many options, prospective students can also find many helpful resources when it comes to funding their education, from teaching assistant positions to grants and scholarships. Is Urbana Champaign good for psychology?UIUC Psychology Rankings
UIUC is in the top 10% of the country for psychology. More specifically it was ranked #67 out of 1,003 schools by College Factual. It is also ranked #4 in Illinois.
What is the difference between a PsyD and a PhD in clinical psychology?Like a PhD in Psychology, the Doctor of Psychology degree (PsyD) prepares students to practice psychology in a wide range of clinical settings. A PsyD, however, focuses more on clinical practice and less on research. As a result, this degree requires fewer research and statistics courses and thus takes less time.
What are the requirements for a PhD in psychology?Postgraduate degree in Psychology, completed from a recognized institute/university.. A minimum aggregate score of 55% (50 % for SC/ST candidates) or equivalent grade at the level of post-graduation.. At least 5 years of teaching/ industry/ professional experience at a senior level.. Should I get a PhD in psychology?PhDs in psychology are intended for students who want to work in research, academia, or administration. The degree's emphasis on research and analysis is a good fit if you're interested in a career as a university professor, researcher, consultant, or program director.
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