Psy.D. in Clinical Psychology

Psychopathology I

This course surveys the major theories of the etiology of mental disorders emphasizing a biopsychosocial approach and familiarizes students with the DSM approach to diagnosis and classification. Disorders of childhood and adolescence are covered, as well as dementia, schizophrenia, mood disorders, and substance abuse. Cultural and developmental factors related to mental illness are emphasized.

Applied Neuropsychology

This course will familiarize students with the most commonly used neuropsychological tests including their administration, scoring, and interpretation, with emphasis on integrating test results with interview, observational, historical, and medical information for the purposes of diagnosing brain disease or dysfunction, assessing change in brain function, and making recommendations

Pediatric Behavioral Health Seminar

This course is designed to provide students with an overview of the field of pediatric (child health) psychology, including underlying historical foundations. Course topics will include an introduction to the specialty area in psychology, incorporating theoretical perspectives and research, as well as evidence-based assessments and interventions. Students will also explore overarching psychosocial and contextual factors relevant to pediatric behavioral health assessment and intervention. An overview of different presenting issues, disorders, and diseases within the specialty area will be provided (via presentation of clinical case studies). Finally, issues such as comorbidity and legal and ethical concerns will be discussed for topics as appropriate.

For information on where The Chicago School of Professional Psychology meets, does not meet, or has not determined if the program meets licensure eligibility requirements for the state in which you wish to be licensed, please visit: https://staging.thechicagoschool.edu/admissions/licensure-disclosures/.

The 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, interprofessional practice, and consultation in a clinical setting.

All students are required to take four credit hours each of Basic and Advanced Practica, and six credit hours of Intermediate Practicum (see below). The first three-semester (Basic) practicum sequence is focused on developing rapport with clients, developing proficiency with diagnostic interviewing, differential diagnoses, developing case formulations, and beginning to understand how to implement treatment and evaluate its outcome.

The second three-semester (Intermediate) sequence is primarily focused on strengthening case formulation skills, understanding how to identify, implement, and appropriately modify evidence-based interventions, understanding how to evaluate treatment outcomes, and implementing relapse-prevention strategies.

The third three-semester (Advanced) sequence enables students to work with specialized populations and begin to develop emphases. All practica require individual and group supervision offered by the practicum site, as well as small group seminars offered by the school.

Internship

All students are required to complete an internship following the completion of all course work, practicum, and dissertation requirements. On internship, 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 with a clinical population.

The internship experience consists of a minimum of 2,000 hours of training over a 12-24 month (full- or part-time, respectively) period. Appropriate sites for internship training include programs that are approved by the American Psychological Association (APA) and programs that are members of the Association of Psychology Pre-doctoral and Post-doctoral Internship Centers (APPIC) or The California Psychology Internship Council (CAPIC). The internship is a vital component of the educational department and is never waived or transferred. Students are required to register for Internship during each semester they are on internship. Registration for Internship automatically assigns full-time student status.

Application to The Chicago School of Professional Psychology’s PsyD Clinical Psychology program, in Los Angeles, is open to any person who has earned a bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited institution and who meets other entrance requirements. The program admits students whom it judges to possess sufficient academic aptitude, as well as the emotional and social maturity to function effectively as future professional psychologists. Applicants will be evaluated on their overall ability to do graduate work. Factors considered are: undergraduate performance, relevant work history (i.e., volunteer and professional experience, including, but not limited to, clinical, research, teaching and related experience), the content of essays describing applicants rationale for wanting to become a clinical psychologist and what the applicant would contribute to interactions with people form diverse backgrounds, writing skills, admission interviews, and recommendations from academic professors or supervisors from professional or volunteer experiences. An undergraduate GPA of a 3.0 or higher on a 4.0 scale is required for admission to the Program. Applicants not meeting this requirement will not be considered.

Applicants must submit the following:

• official transcripts from all schools where a degree was earned,
• curriculum vitae or resume,
• three letters of recommendation, and
• two essays.

The program faculty scores each of the above items, along with the interview. The Clinical Psychology Doctoral Program requires 18 semester hours of psychology credit, including three specific courses (e.g., Statistics, Abnormal Psychology, and Child/Human Development) that must be completed with a grade earned of ‘C’ or better prior to enrollment (please see the application for admission for detailed requirements). An applicant missing the required undergraduate coursework or hours may substitute graduate coursework or hours, provided a grade of ‘C’ or better was earned in the course(s). Graduate coursework used to meet prerequisites will be considered for transfer on a case-by-case basis.

Based on the evaluation of these materials, selected candidates may be invited to interview for further consideration of their application. Please see the application for detailed instructions and information regarding application requirements, application deadlines, and letters of recommendation. Applications must be submitted with a $50 (US) non-refundable fee in order to be evaluated. This fee may be waived for TCSPP alumni, McNair Scholars and military personnel.

International Application Requirements

The Chicago School is dedicated to keeping our professional degree programs accessible to anyone regardless of financial status. In addition to the scholarships that may be available, our Financial Aid department will help provide you with information to determine what financial arrangements are right for you.

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