northwestern clinical psychology phd application

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THE GRADUATE SCHOOL

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Clinical Psychology

• MA Requirements
• PhD Requirements

Learn more about the program by visiting the Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences

See related Interdisciplinary Clusters and Certificates

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 emphasis-specific curricula, intensive research mentoring, and exceptional clinical practica. Major milestones include a research qualifying paper and master's thesis, a clinical qualifying exam, an empirical dissertation with original research, and an 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 career in academic clinical psychology. The MA program is designed to provide a foundation in academic clinical psychology at the graduate level, while also allowing students to gain educational and research exposure to 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. 

The goals of the MA Program in Clinical Psychology are to:

• Develop foundational competencies in research design, analytics, and ethics within academic clinical psychology.
• Explore major areas of study within academic clinical psychology.
• Understand educational and career opportunities within academic clinical psychology.

Note: the MA Program in Clinical Psychology does not include clinical training and is not intended to prepare students for clinical practice. Given the academic and research focus of the MA Program, the degree will not lead to licensure for independent practice.  For those interested in master's level programs that prepare students for licensure and practice, please visit the  MA in Counseling website , the  MS in Marriage and Family Therapy website  and  The Family Institute website . 

The MA Program in Clinical Psychology was designed for a variety of students, including students who:

• Are not yet ready to apply to a PhD program, but are considering doing so in the future.
• Wish to improve their competitiveness for a PhD program.
• Are interested in exploring a career in academic clinical psychology.
• With interests in related fields for which a background in academic clinical psychology may be of value.

The MA Program is embedded in the Clinical Psychology PhD Program, with coursework and lab work completed alongside PhD students. Although students in the MA Program are welcome to apply to Northwestern's PhD Program in Clinical Psychology, the MA Program is not intended to be a "gateway" into the PhD Program in Clinical Psychology at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine.

Additional resources:

• Department Website
• Pro gram Handbook

Program Statistics

Visit Master's Program Statistics and PhD Program Statistics for statistics such as program admissions, enrollment, student demographics and more.

Program Contact

Contact Sarah Bratta Program Coordinator

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: 17

The MA program requires at least 17 units for graduation across five (5) quarters (15 months) of full-time enrollment; part-time and early graduation is not permitted. Students are required to take the Research Core, including Research Methods/Statistics (3 units), Advanced Research Methodology (1 unit), and Scientific and Professional Ethics in Psychology (1 unit). In addition to these required courses, students are expected to select between five to eight elective courses across the Summer I, Fall, Winter, Spring, and/or Summer II quarters. Elective courses can include Discipline Specific Knowledge and Profession Wide Competency courses, as well as courses in one or more Major Areas of Study. 

In addition to the Research Core and Elective courses, all MA students participate in the weekly Professional Development Seminar for the first four quarters of the MA Program. This Seminar orients students to the MA program, introduces students to various mentors and labs across Northwestern, explores career options in academic clinical psychology, refines interests in academic clinical psychology, and prepares students for the next steps in their careers (e.g., developing applications for PhD programs; preparing for interviews). 

Other MA Degree Requirements

• Research/Projects:  In addition to completion of the coursework requirements, students engage in a Research Lab Experience for at least 10 hours a week.
• Master's Thesis :   Optional (see below)
• Master’s Culminating Academic Experience:  Through the Research Lab Experience, the student will work with her or his research mentor to complete a Capstone Project. The Capstone Project is the culmination of the Research Lab Experience provided by the research mentor, providing the final evaluation of the student’s research competencies. Examples of capstone projects include: Substantial participation (i.e., authorship level) on one or more empirical studies submitted for publication in a peer-reviewed journal. First author submission of one or more peer-reviewed poster/oral presentations at regional, national, or international conferences. A comprehensive review paper that is submitted to and graded by the research mentor. A grant proposal (e.g., F31 style) that is submitted to and graded by the research mentor.  

Last Updated: September 6, 2024

PhD Degree Requirements

Total Units Required: 30

Other PhD Degree Requirements

• Examinations:  defense of a research paper and a clinical qualifying project serving as examination for admission to candidacy
• Research/Projects:  independent, empirical research study completed in fulfillment of the research qualifying paper
• PhD Dissertation:  original research following third year of coursework
• Final Evaluations:  oral defense of dissertation

Clinical Psychology PhD/MA

The Division of Psychology within the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences offers a doctoral degree (PhD) in clinical psychology that has been continuously accredited by the American Psychological Association (APA) since 1972.

Our program has the advantage of our interdepartmental and interdisciplinary placement within Northwestern University to offer students a true balance of research and clinical training.”

Jason Washburn, PhD, ABPP Director of Graduate Studies

Founded on a scientist-practitioner model, the overall goal of the Clinical Psychology PhD Program is to graduate academic psychologists who are competent, ethical and productive in the science and practice of clinical psychology. Our program emphasizes the integration of science and clinical practice.

Program Length: 5-6 years

Program Size: 4-6 students per year

An MA program is embedded in the Clinical Psychology PhD Program, with coursework and lab work completed alongside PhD students. Although students in the MA program are welcome to apply to the PhD program, the MA program is not intended to be a "gateway" into the PhD program. 

Visit PhD Program Site   Apply Visit MA Program Site Give to the Program

Eligibility and Program Requirements

DEPARTMENT OF PSYCHOLOGY

  Hello and welcome to the Graduate Student section of our website.

Northwestern University's Psychology Department is one of the strongest and most prestigious departments in the United States. We offer Ph.D. programs in five areas: Clinical Psychology; Personality, Development, and Health Psychology; Cognitive Psychology; Cognitive and Affective Neuroscience (CAN); and Social Psychology. Faculty and graduate students in all five areas are conducting some of the most exciting and influential research being done in the psychological sciences today. Graduate students in our program receive rigorous training in methodology, statistics, and broad content areas in psychology and the behavioral sciences. From the first year onward, graduate students are involved in research projects under the supervision of Psychology Department faculty members. Early in their graduate school careers, they present the findings of their work at professional conferences and publish their research in leading psychological journals. They also receive invaluable experience as teachers and mentors of undergraduate students. Northwestern's Psychology Department aims to train the best and brightest of the next generation's scientists in Psychology and the related behavioral sciences. Our graduates have gone on to attain prestigious academic and research positions in universities, colleges, hospitals, and other venues where psychological research is conducted.

All Ph.D. students in the Psychology Department receive full funding (tuition and stipend) for five academic years (including four summers). Many graduate students also receive outside funding through NSF fellowships and other awards. Students work closely with faculty in the Psychology Department in class work and in the laboratory. In addition, students may take courses and do research with faculty in other departments at Northwestern University, including those in the Weinberg College of Arts and Sciences, the School of Education and Social Policy, and the Medical School. Many students are involved in interdisciplinary research.

Northwestern's Psychology Department offers an exciting, dynamic, and friendly community of scientists and scholars, set on the beautiful lakefront campus of a world-class university, minutes from one of the world's greatest cities, Chicago. If you would like to learn more about our community and our programs, please contact us.

Program Areas for Graduate Study

• Cognitive and Affective Neuroscience
• Personality, Development, and Health

For more information about graduate study at Northwestern:

The Graduate School http://www.tgs.northwestern.edu/

Learn more about the education components of the our Clinical Psychology PhD Program, including a timeline by program year, courses and clinical and research training expectations.

• Timeline See a breakdown of what you can expect during each year of the program.
• Courses Get a rundown of the courses routinely available to students.
• Clinical & Research Training W e provide a true balance of research and clinical training; learn more .

Our Mission

The mission of the PhD Program in Clinical Psychology is to graduate clinical psychologists who are highly competent, ethical and productive in the science and practice of clinical psychology, particularly within academic healthcare systems and similar settings (e.g., VA medical centers, children’s hospitals). This mission is accomplished through the following aims:

  Provide core knowledge and methods in psychological science.

This includes work within:

• The origins and development of major ideas in the discipline of psychology.
• The basic psychology-specific content areas of scientific psychology, in particular the affective, biological, cognitive, developmental and social aspects of behavior.
• Psychological research methods, statistical analysis and psychometrics.

  Develop competencies in the integration of different areas of psychological science.

  develop competencies in the integration of science and practice.,   develop competencies in research..

Specifically the substantially independent ability to: 

• Formulate research or other scholarly activities that are of sufficient quality and rigor to have the potential to contribute to the scientific, psychological or professional knowledge base
• Conduct research or other scholarly activities
• Critically evaluate and disseminate research or other scholarly activity via professional publication and presentation at the local, regional or national level

  Develop competencies in ethical and legal standards.

• Be knowledgeable of and act in accordance with: a) the current version of the APA Ethical Principles of Psychologists and Code of Conduct; b) relevant laws, regulations, rules and policies governing health service psychology at the organizational, local, state, regional and federal levels; and c) relevant professional standards and guidelines
• Recognize ethical dilemmas as they arise and apply ethical decision-making processes in order to resolve the dilemmas
• Conduct self in an ethical manner in all professional activities

  Develop competencies in individual and cultural diversity.

• Demonstrate an understanding of how their own personal/cultural history, attitudes and biases may affect how they understand and interact with people different from themselves
• Demonstrate knowledge of the current theoretical and empirical knowledge base as it relates to addressing diversity in all professional activities, including research, training, supervision/consultation and service
• Demonstrate the ability to integrate awareness and knowledge of individual and cultural differences in the conduct of professional roles (e.g., research, services and other professional activities); this includes the ability to apply a framework for working effectively with areas of individual and cultural diversity not previously encountered over the course of their careers; also included is the ability to work effectively with individuals whose group membership, demographic characteristics or worldviews create conflict with their own
• Demonstrate the requisite knowledge base, ability to articulate an approach to working effectively with diverse individuals and groups and apply this approach effectively in their professional work

  Develop professional values and attitudes.

• Behave in ways that reflect the values and attitudes of psychology, including integrity, deportment, professional identity, accountability, lifelong learning and concern for the welfare of others
• Engage in self-reflection regarding one’s personal and professional functioning; engage in activities to maintain and improve performance, well-being and professional effectiveness
• Actively seek and demonstrate openness and responsiveness to feedback and supervision
• Respond professionally in increasingly complex situations with a greater degree of independence as they progress across levels of training

  Develop competencies in communication and interpersonal skills.

• Develop and maintain effective relationships with a wide range of individuals, including colleagues, communities, organizations, supervisors, supervisees and those receiving professional services
• Produce and comprehend oral, nonverbal and written communications that are informative and well-integrated; demonstrate a thorough grasp of professional language and concepts
• Demonstrate effective interpersonal skills and the ability to manage difficult communication well

  Develop competencies in psychological assessment.

• Select and apply assessment methods that draw from the best available empirical literature and that reflect the science of measurement and psychometrics; collect relevant data using multiple sources and methods appropriate to the identified goals and questions of the assessment as well as relevant diversity characteristics of the service recipient
• Interpret assessment results, following current research and professional standards and guidelines, to inform case conceptualization, classification and recommendations, while guarding against decision-making biases and distinguishing the aspects of assessment that are subjective from those that are objective
• Communicate orally and in written documents the findings and implications of the assessment in an accurate and effective manner sensitive to a range of audiences

  Develop competencies in psychological intervention.

• Establish and maintain effective relationships with the recipients of psychological services
• Develop evidence-based intervention plans specific to the service delivery goals
• Implement interventions informed by the current scientific literature, assessment findings, diversity characteristics and contextual variables
• Demonstrate the ability to apply the relevant research literature to clinical decision-making
• Modify and adapt evidence-based approaches effectively when a clear evidence base is lacking
• Evaluate intervention effectiveness and adapt intervention goals and methods consistent with ongoing evaluation

  Develop competencies in supervision.

  develop competencies in consultation and interprofessional/interdisciplinary skills.,   develop competencies to prepare students for careers within an academic healthcare system, va medical center and/or children’s hospital..

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