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 708Personal and Professional Development Group

2

PSYD 710Professional Issues: Ethics, Conduct, and Law

3

PSYD 718Statistics

3

PSYD 719Health and Human Dysfunction I

3

PSYD 722Health and Human Dysfunction II

3

PSYD 732Child and Adolescent Development

3

PSYD 738Clinical Interviewing

1.5

PSYD 742Cognitive Assessment

3

PSYD 745Psychometric Theory

1.5

PSYD 753Survey of Diversity and Multicultural Psychology

3

PSYD 757Objective Personality Assessment

2

PSYD 758Projective Personality Assessment

2

PSYD 847Adult 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 802Person-Centered and Experiential Theory and Therapy

3

PSYD 805Family and Couples Therapy

3

PSYD 806Psychoanalytic Theory and Therapy

3

PSYD 809Cognitive Behavioral Theory and Therapy

3

General Electives - 6 SH

Students must choose 6 SH from the list of courses below:
PSYD 703History and Systems of Psychology

3

PSYD 705Biological Bases of Behavior

3

PSYD 707Cognitive and Affective Processes

3

PSYD 709Social Psychology

3

PSYD 721Advanced Quantitative Methods

1 TO 3

PSYD 723Research Methods

3

PSYD 724Advanced Qualitative Methods

1

PSYD 759Integrative Assessment

1.5

PSYD 761Clinical Psychopharmacology

3

 

Professionalization Group Requirements - 0 SH

PSYD 715Professionalization Group I

0

PSYD 716Professionalization Group II

0

Practicum and Practicum Seminar Requirements - 6 SH

PSYD 815Diagnostic Practicum & Seminar I

1 TO 3

or

PSYD 817Psychotherapy Practicum and Seminar I

1 TO 3

and

PSYD 816Diagnostic Practicum & Seminar II

1 TO 3

or

PSYD 818Psychotherapy Practicum and Seminar II

1 TO 3

and

PSYD 816EDiagnostic Practicum & Seminar II - Extension

0 TO 2

or

PSYD 818EPsychotherapy Practicum & Seminar II - Extension

0 TO 2

and

PSYD 816ADiagnostic Capstone Sequence

0

or

PSYD 818APsychotherapy Capstone Sequence

0