Clinical Psychology

Degree Types: MA, PhD

The PhD Program in Clinical Psychology within the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine is one of only a handful of programs in the United States based in an academic medical center and housed in a psychiatry department. This unique setting provides opportunities for translational research and practice that span molecular to social models of disease, and epidemiologic to clinical and neuroimaging methodologies.

This scientist-practitioner program effectively balances clinical and research training to produce graduates who are competent in the science and practice of clinical psychology. The PhD program also provides opportunities for major areas of study within clinical psychology, including Adult Clinical Psychology, Behavioral Medicine or Clinical Health Psychology, Clinical Child and Adolescent Psychology, Clinical Neuropsychology, and Forensic Psychology. Training is provided through core and specialized elective curricula, intensive research mentoring, and exceptional clinical training. Major milestones include a research qualifying paper and master's thesis, a clinical qualifying exam, an empirical dissertation with original research, at least three years of clinical practicum or externship training, and a yearlong APA-accredited clinical internship.

Our mentor-based program prepares students to be competitive for careers as clinical psychologists in academic health centers, children's hospitals, VA medical centers, and related medical facilities.

The Clinical Psychology Master of Arts (MA) Program within the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine is intended for students interested in pursuing a clinical career at the master’s level. Please note that the prior MA program, which focused on research and research-related coursework and was designed to prepare students for doctoral study in academic clinical psychology, is no longer accepting applications. The MA program in Clinical Psychology is designed to meet the educational requirements for licensure as Professional Counselors and Clinical Professional Counselors within the state of Illinois. The intention of this MA program is to prepare graduates to deliver science-based services at the master’s level to care for the mental health of individuals, couples, families, and groups. 

Additional resources:

• Department Website
• Program Handbook

Degree Requirements

The following requirements are in addition to, or further elaborate upon, those requirements outlined in The Graduate School Policy Guide.

MA Degree Requirements

Total Units Required: 28

The MA program requires at least 28 units for graduation across eight (8) quarters (24 months) of full-time enrollment; part-time and early graduation is not permitted. In compliance with licensing rules in the State of Illinois, courses are 33 hours of instruction per quarter (1.13 units).  Students are required to take the following courses:

• Career & Lifestyle Development (1.13 units)
• Professional Orientation, Ethics, and Laws (1.13 units)
• Family Therapy and Systems Theory (1.13 units)
• Group Therapy (1.13 units)
• Social and Cultural Foundations (1.13 units)
• Psychotherapy & The Helping Relationship (1.13 units)
• Human Growth & Development Across the Lifespan (1.13 units)
• Psychological Assessment & Treatment Planning (1.13 units)
• Psychology of Addiction (1.13 units)
• Psychopathology, Diagnosis, and Treatment Planning (1.13 units)
• Research Methods and Evaluation (1.13 units)
• Counseling Techniques (1.13 units)
• Child Diagnosis and Treatment (Elective; 1.13 units)
• Practica/Internship (5.65 units across 5 quarters)
• Research (1.5 units across 3 quarters)

Other MA Degree Requirements

• Research Experience: The Clinical Psychology Master of Arts Program is designed to prepare students for careers as professional counselors with a strong foundation in science-based practice in clinical psychology. To facilitate the goal of grounding future professional counselors in the science of psychology, all students will join a research lab for at least three quarters (0.5 units per quarter) during the Fall, Winter, and Spring quarters of their first year in the program. This research experience is designed to expose students to the process of research and to facilitate the integration of science and practice throughout their careers.
• Clinical Training: Students engage in the clinical Internship/Practicum experience starting in the summer of their first year through the entirety of their second year (5 quarters in total; 1.13 units each quarter). The clinical practicum and internship trainings occur within the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at Northwestern Medicine. The primary clinical experience is within the Department's Outpatient Clinic, with rotations in diagnostic assessment, the inpatient unit, and the emergency department. The clinical Internship/Practicum training is designed to provide students with practical clinical experience to develop individual and group counseling skills.  The Internship/Practicum experience will include 15-20 hours in the clinic per week for a minimum of 700 clock hours on-site. Students will engage in a range of clinical experiences with a minimum of 280 hours of direct, face-to-face contact with patients.  These experiences are designed to provide students with opportunities to engage in some of the counseling activities that a licensed counselor will be expected to perform throughout their career.  All clinical experiences will be supervised by licensed clinicians with expertise in the provision of mental health services.
• Clinical Competency Exam: In the summer quarter of the second year, students will complete the Clinical Competency Exam (CCE) as the final milestone for the MA degree.  The purpose of the CCE is to demonstrate competence that is sufficient for minimally competent supervised clinical practice at the master’s level. The CCE involves completion of an evidence-based case study, written and taped practice samples, and an oral exam by a faculty committee to determine clinical competence..  

Degree Requirements

The following requirements are in addition to, or further elaborate upon, those requirements outlined in The Graduate School Policy Guide.

PhD Degree Requirements

Total Units Required: 30

Other PhD Degree Requirements

• Examinations: Research Qualifying Paper and Clinical Qualifying Exam serving as examinations for admission to doctoral candidacy
• Clinical Competencies: Successful attainment of clinical competencies through at least three (3) full-year clinical practica/externships
• Research/Projects: Participation in a research lab (20 hours a week) while in residency; completion of an independent, empirical research studies
• PhD Dissertation: Original research following third year of coursework and attainment of doctoral candidacy 
• Final Evaluations: Oral defense of final PhD dissertation; Successful completion of year-long Clinical Internship