Clinical Psychology, M.A. - Illinois School of Professional Psychology
The M.A. in Clinical Psychology with the Illinois major option is not a license-eligible degree and can’t be completed as a standalone master’s degree program. Students who do would like to earn a standalone master’s degree but do not qualify for the Psy.D. program are referred to the M.S. Counseling (licensure program) or M.A. Psychology (non-licensure program).
Program Learning Outcomes (PLOs):
1. Research: Students will demonstrate knowledge of research methods and the ability to apply this knowledge to critically evaluate research literature.
2. Ethics: Students will demonstrate knowledge of ethical and legal standards, application of ethical decision making processes, and ethical conduct in professional activities.
3. Diversity Application: Students will apply the theoretical and empirical knowledge necessary to address the multidimensionality of human diversity and work effectively with issues of difference.
4. Diversity Self-Awareness: Students will demonstrate self-awareness of the impact of their own social and cultural identities and biases.
5. Professionalism: 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. Communication: Students will demonstrate professionalism through clear and effective written and verbal communication.
7. Interpersonal Effectiveness: 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. Clinical Assessment: Students will demonstrate an ability to make appropriate diagnoses and recommendations for treatment that take into account both personal and cultural client strengths and challenges.
9. Intervention: Students will demonstrate competency in intervention by articulating a theory-driven case conceptualization and; developing, applying, and evaluating evidence-based treatment plans that are grounded in a coherent orientation.
In order to be admitted to the master’s degree, students must meet the same admission criteria as Psy.D. candidates.
In addition to the College of Psychology and Behavioral Sciences Graduate Admission Requirements, applicants must:
- Submit official transcripts from all post-secondary institutions attended
- Submit a personal/ professional goal statement with a self-appraisal of qualifications for the profession
- Submit a minimum of three professional letters of reference, preferably speaking to the applicant's academic and clinical suitability for the program.
- Complete an interview with members of the program Admissions Committee
Note: All applicants are automatically admitted to both degrees, M.A. and Psy.D. in Clinical Psychology, if admission criteria are met and acceptance by the Program Admission’s Committee is granted. For Psy.D. Admission, 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) is required.
Program Details:
- Requires 51 SH for completion
- Requires successful completion of the M.A. Clinical Capstone tasks
- Requires completion of all courses in the program with a grade of "B" or better with an overall program GPA no lower than 3.0 on a scale of 4.0
- Requires completion of all program requirements within five years of matriculation into the program
- Students may transfer a maximum of 15 semester hours of graduate level degree coursework, certain rules apply
Required Courses
Core Courses - 33 SH
| PSYD 708 | Personal and Professional Development Group | 2 |
| PSYD 710 | Professional Issues: Ethics, Conduct, and Law | 3 |
| PSYD 718 | Statistics | 3 |
| PSYD 719 | Health and Human Dysfunction I | 3 |
| PSYD 722 | Health and Human Dysfunction II | 3 |
| PSYD 732 | Child and Adolescent Development | 3 |
| PSYD 738 | Clinical Interviewing | 1.5 |
| PSYD 742 | Cognitive Assessment | 3 |
| PSYD 745 | Psychometric Theory | 1.5 |
| PSYD 753 | Survey of Diversity and Multicultural Psychology | 3 |
| PSYD 757 | Objective Personality Assessment | 2 |
| PSYD 758 | Projective Personality Assessment | 2 |
| PSYD 847 | Adult Development and Aging | 3 |
Note:
PSYD 708 must be taken for 2 SH.
PSYD 710 must be taken for a total of 3 SH.
Intervention Electives - 6 SH
Students must choose two of the following courses:
| PSYD 802 | Person-Centered and Experiential Theory and Therapy | 3 |
| PSYD 805 | Family and Couples Therapy | 3 |
| PSYD 806 | Psychoanalytic Theory and Therapy | 3 |
| PSYD 809 | Cognitive Behavioral Theory and Therapy | 3 |
General Electives - 6 SH
Students must choose 6 SH from the list of courses below:
Professionalization Group Requirements - 0 SH
Practicum and Practicum Seminar Requirements - 6 SH
| PSYD 815 | Diagnostic Practicum & Seminar I | 1 TO 3 |
| or | |
| PSYD 817 | Psychotherapy Practicum and Seminar I | 1 TO 3 |
| and | |
| PSYD 816 | Diagnostic Practicum & Seminar II | 1 TO 3 |
| or | |
| PSYD 818 | Psychotherapy Practicum and Seminar II | 1 TO 3 |
| and | |
| PSYD 816E | Diagnostic Practicum & Seminar II - Extension | 0 TO 2 |
| or | |
| PSYD 818E | Psychotherapy Practicum & Seminar II - Extension | 0 TO 2 |
| and | |
| PSYD 816A | Diagnostic Capstone Sequence | 0 |
| or | |
| PSYD 818A | Psychotherapy Capstone Sequence | 0 |