Considered by some to be the heart of America, both geographically and culturally, Illinois is a microcosm of the United States, with a sprawling metropolis, small towns, idyllic farmland, and industrial might. While it is one of the major producers of soybean and corn, it also boasts some of the world’s tallest skyscrapers. On account of its central location, Illinois is an important nexus of transportation for the nation and has the busiest airport in the world as well as the most active rail hub in the United States. The state also has some of the best graduate programs in psychology the nation has to offer. Below, you’ll find a description of each of these programs as well as the universities that sponsor these programs.
Ball State University
Department of Psychological Science
Ball State University is a public university in Muncie, a small city in east central Indiana. Founded in 1918, the university offers its students over 180 different undergraduate majors and over 100 master’s programs. As far as state universities go, Ball State is relatively small, with 16,652 undergraduate students and 4,401 graduate students. The U.S. News & World Report ranked the university eighth in its “Up-and-Coming” colleges and universities in 2001, and the Princeton Review named it as one of the best universities in the Midwest.
The Psychology Department at Ball State University emphasizes an immersive and hands-on approach to learning, encouraging its students to solve problems in the real world. It also stresses the importance of interdisciplinary study and offers its students opportunities to work with and learn from other relevant departments on campus.
Master of Arts in Clinical Psychology
The Clinical Psychology master’s program is a two-year program that trains students based on the scientist-practitioner model. Upon completing the program, students will have a solid foundation in abnormal psychology, psychotherapy, and assessment. The program includes a substantial internship requirement. Students are placed in environments such as the university counseling center, the Veteran’s Administration Hospital, the Riley Children’s Hospital, community mental health centers, and many other facilities that serve children and adolescents. Although students are not required to complete a thesis, the department strongly urges them to work on an independent research project in order to better prepare them for graduate study. The program is selective and accepts a maximum of eight students a year. Class sizes are small, allowing students greater and more intimate contact with their instructors.
Contact
Department of Psychological Science
North Quad (NQ), room 104
Ball State University
Muncie, IN 47306
Link
Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology
The aim of the Ph.D. program in counseling psychology is to prepare its students to work in various settings. It trains its students to become scientist-professionals who are comfortable working in both research and intervention settings. The faculty includes experts in gifted and talented populations, behavioral medicine, multicultural counseling, and family psychology. The doctoral program is highly selective and accepts only 10 students a year. Students who have completed a master’s program are eligible to apply. Students with bachelor’s degrees are also eligible to apply if they fulfill certain requirements. All doctoral students are offered an assistantship in addition to a full tuition waiver in their first year. Assistantships are usually available to students for three years. . Furthermore, students are given financial support to conduct research and to present their research at conferences.
Contact
Counseling Psychology and Guidance Services
Teachers College (TC), room 605
Ball State University
Muncie, IN 47306
Link
Chicago School of Professional Psychology
The Chicago School of Professional Psychology, sometimes called “The Chicago School,” is a non-profit, accredited institution for graduate study in psychology. Their pedagogy is based on what the school calls “The Engaged Professional Model of Education,” which centers on clinical training in community settings. Its emphasis on community outreach has earned the school wide praise. The school was named to the President’s Higher Education Community Service Honor Roll for its efforts in promoting and sponsoring civic engagement. Its graduates work in a variety of settings such as schools, hospitals, community centers, and non-governmental organizations.
Master of Arts in Counseling Psychology
The master’s program in counseling psychology is designed to provide its students not only with a foundation in the principles of counseling psychology, but also to prepare them to engage with a variety of clinical populations, each with their own set of psychological conditions. In this program, students will become acquainted with the theory and science behind counseling psychology, the ethical standards expected of practitioners, and the effects of diversity and cultural differentiation in the field of mental health. The program emphasizes an integrative and hands-on approach to learning, and students will be able to select a concentration that caters to their academic interests and professional aspirations. These concentrations include child and adolescent treatment, treatment of addiction disorders, health psychology, trauma and crisis intervention, Latino mental health, and marital and family therapy.
Contact
The Chicago School of Professional Psychology – Downtown Chicago
325 N Wells
Chicago, IL 60654-1822
Link
Eastern Illinois University
Department of Psychology
Eastern Illinois University is a public university located in Charleston, Ill. Founded in 1895 as a teacher’s college, it gradually branched out into other disciplines. It is now a comprehensive university with schools in the arts, humanities, business, applied sciences, education, and the theoretical sciences. It is ranked 36th in the Regional Universities (Midwest) category by U.S. News & World Report.
The Psychology Department at the Eastern Illinois University includes 20 tenured or tenure-track faculty members, all of whom graduated from established graduate programs and have diverse research interests. There are over 50 graduate students and 500 undergraduate students in psychology.
Master of Arts in Clinical Psychology
Approved by the Council of Applied Master’s Programs in Psychology, the Master of Arts in Clinical Psychology prepares students for clinical practice at the master’s level or for further graduate study. The pedagogical framework of the program is based on the scientist-practitioner model. Students are taught the theoretical and scientific frameworks behind clinical psychology and the ethical dimensions of clinical practice. They are instructed in assessment, diagnosis, and therapy strategies. At the end of the program, students participate in a mandatory internship for two semesters. Furthermore, they are trained in research design and analysis and given the opportunity to utilize and demonstrate their learning in a required thesis under the close supervision of a faculty adviser.
Contact
Graduate Program in Clinical Psychology
Psychology Department
Eastern Illinois University
600 Lincoln Avenue
Charleston, IL 61920
Link
Illinois State University
Department of Psychology
Founded in 1857, Illinois State University is the oldest public university in Illinois. It is located in Normal, near the center of the state. It was ranked 81st in the nation by the U.S. News World Report. It was also included in the Washington Monthly’s “Best Bang for the Buck” list, which cited the high percentage of students graduating on time from the university.
The Psychology Department at Illinois State University offers over 100 courses each year that lead to a bachelor’s, master’s, or doctoral degree. The department includes over 43 full-time faculty who have graduated from distinguished psychology programs throughout the country. There are approximately 480 undergraduate students and 130 graduate students in the department.
Master of Science in Clinical-Counseling Psychology
The program in clinical-counseling psychology is designed to provide students with a thorough foundation in the principles of psychology and as well as the practical tools they need for assessment, counseling, diagnosis, and treatment. Because the department includes faculty members who have been trained in both clinical and counseling psychology, students will have the opportunity to incorporate both disciplines into their studies. The program’s practicum includes a class seminar, individual therapy supervision, and clinical placement in one of many community agencies in the area. Each practicum assignment includes an assistantship as well as a full tuition waiver. Students are given the option of either completing a clinical competency project or a master’s thesis. Graduates of the program have had success in entering established doctor programs or starting professional practice.
Contact
Department of Psychology
Campus Box 4620
Normal, IL 61790-4620
Phone: (309) 438-8651
FAX: (309) 438-5789
Link
Loyola University Chicago
Department of Psychology
Founded by Jesuits in 1870, the Loyola University of Chicago has since expanded to become the largest Jesuit university in the nation, with four campuses in Chicago and approximately 15,000 students and over 150,000 alumni. The U.S. News and World Report ranked the university 101st among national universities and named it as a “Best Value” school. Its stated mission is to serve humanity through faith, justice, and learning.
The Department of Psychology offers bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral programs in social, clinical, and developmental psychology. Ranked 117th in the nation, it offers its students a variety of opportunities to work with its distinguished faculty on their individual research interests or as a member of the faculty member’s research team.
Master of Arts in Applied Social Psychology
The aim of the master’s program in applied social psychology is to provide students with a broad background in social psychology and prepare them to study human behavior in a social context. Graduates of the program will be prepared to improve the welfare of both individuals and organizations by utilizing their understanding of social psychology. In particular, they will be able to identify and understand significant social problems, to design and execute solutions to these problems, and to determine the effectiveness of those solutions. This program was one of the first to emphasize an applied research orientation, and it remains one of the strongest in the nation. It is highly selective, and incoming students will not only have strong credentials but also have prior research experience. From over an average of 70 applicants, approximately 14 students are selected for the program each year.
Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology
The doctoral program in clinical psychology trains students to become clinical professionals equally capable to function in academic, clinical, and research environments. Based on the scientist-practitioner model, the program provides students with experience in clinical work, research, and teaching. Moreover, the program strives to attune its students to cultural differences and prepare them to engage effectively with these differences. There are nine full-time faculty members in clinical psychology, each of them with a variety of research interests and fields of expertise. Since 1959, the doctoral program has been accredited by the American Psychological Society. Admission to the program is highly competitive: Only six to eight students are admitted to the program each year. In total, there are approximately 55 doctoral students in the program. These students come from diverse backgrounds and each has their own unique set of experiences and interests.
Contact
Psychology Department
1032 W. Sheridan Road
Chicago, IL 60660
Link
Link
National Louis University
College of Arts and Sciences
With campuses in and around Chicago, the National Louis University is known for being one of the most diverse universities in the United States as well as for its focus on education and instruction. It offers over 60 programs for both graduates and undergraduates in a broad range of fields, including education, management, business, arts, and the sciences.
The College of Arts and Sciences offers bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral programs that specifically prepare non-traditional students for service-oriented careers in the social and behavioral sciences, such as psychology, counseling, and public policy.
Ph.D. in Community Psychology
The doctoral program in community psychology is devoted to training students interested in working with communities. Students will learn to work with communities in order to tackle difficult social issues such as child abuse, crime, pregnancy, and substance abuse. Students will also learn the essentials of abnormal, health, and organizational society, human development, ethical challenges, research design and application, and other topics. In addition to acquiring an in-depth background in the fundamentals of psychology, students are given the opportunity to acquire professional skills. The program will provide its students with both a solid methodological background in research as well as the facilitator skills necessary to working with communities. Most importantly, the program allows students to pursue their academic goals in their own time. Working students will be able to take advantage of the university’s online and evening courses.
Contact
College of Arts and Sciences
122 S. Michigan Ave.
Chicago, IL 60603
Link
Northern Illinois University
Department of Psychology
Located in DeKalb, Ill., Northern Illinois University is a public research institution with a student body of over 25,000 students and over 25,000 alumni. It was ranked 166th among all national universities by the U.S. News & World Report and 135th by the Washington Monthly. Its seven colleges include more than 39 departments and offer 57 undergraduate majors, 71, undergraduate minors, and 80 graduate programs.
The Department of Psychology at Northern Illinois University offers bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral programs with a variety of specializations, including clinical, cognitive and instructional, developmental, school, social, and industrial/organizational psychology. However, it does not offer any terminal master’s programs.
Master of Arts in Clinical Psychology
Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology
Accredited by the American Psychological Association since 1972, the graduate program in clinical psychology takes a multi-faceted pedagogical approach to preparing students for careers in clinical practice, research, and teaching. It is a continuous program that offers both an M.A. and a Ph.D. upon completion. In addition to providing students with a solid background on the scientific principles of clinical psychology, students will gain invaluable hands-on experiences in the assessment and diagnosis of abnormal behavior as well as therapeutic intervention. During the first year of the program, students take a pre-practicum course that introduces them to the fundamentals of clinical work. Students continue their clinical work in various externships and practica over the next few years of their study. The department’s clinical faculty members come from a variety of backgrounds and hold diverse research interests and experiences. Some of these research interests include trauma and post-traumatic stress disorder, emotion regulation and temperament, anxiety disorders, risk and resilience, family violence and child abuse, adult perceptions of children’s behavior problems, developmental psychopathology, and parent-child relationships. Faculty members not only provide students with close and constant supervision over their own work, but they also offer them the opportunity to participate in faculty research projects. Entering students receive a full-time graduate assistantship which includes a tuition waiver for the academic year. Admission to the program is highly selective. To be considered, applicants must either have at least a 3.00 grade point average based on a 4.00 scale or have completed at least 15 hours of graduate study with a 3.25 grade point average.
Contact
Department of Psychology
Psychology-Computer Science Building, Rm. 400
Northern Illinois University
DeKalb, IL 60115
Link
Southern Illinois University Carbondale
Department of Psychology
Southern Illinois University Carbondale was founded in 1869 in Carbondale, Ill., as a teacher’s college, but over the course of over a century, it became a comprehensive public university with over a dozen academic departments. The university is home to about 17,964 students, which includes 13,306 undergraduates and 4,613 graduate students. It was ranked as the 142nd best national university by the U.S. News & World Report.
The Department of Psychology at Southern Illinois University Carbondale offers both undergraduate and graduate degrees in Psychology. For graduate students, there are four specializations that students may choose: applied psychology, brain and cognitive sciences, clinical psychology, and counseling psychology. While the department does not offer any terminal master’s degrees for any of their programs, students earn an M.A. while completing a doctoral program.
Master of Arts in Clinical Psychology
Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology
The doctoral program in clinical psychology prepares students as clinical psychologies with the tools and knowledge they need to take on and adapt to the dynamic needs of the field. To this end, the program is designed to provide students with an expansive and thorough grounding in an array of professional skill that combines both scientific and practical learning. Students will be learn to conduct research on significant problems in the field, to evaluate and incorporate new methodologies into their practice, to adapt to the perpetual changes in scientific knowledge, and to assess and supervises clinical programs. In addition to providing students with a variety of opportunities to participate in clinical environments, it trains them in applied research. Students work closely with their faculty advisers on their theses, and they are given funding to publish their research or to present it at conferences nation-wide. The program prides itself on the balance, breadth, and flexibility of its students.
Contact
1125 Lincoln Drive
Mail Code 6502
Southern Illinois University
Carbondale, IL 62901-6502
Link
Southern Illinois University Edwardsville
Department of Psychology
Founded in 1957, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville was originally an extension of Southern Illinois University Carbondale, but it expanded to become a major university in its own right. It is located in Edwardsville, which is only about 20 miles northeast of St. Louis, MO. It was recognized by the U.S. News & World Report as one of the “Top 50 Midwest Universities” in 2013 and as one of the top ten universities in the category, “Best Regional Universities-Midwest (Master’s).”
The Department of Psychology at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville offers master’s and specialist programs in clinical adult psychology, school psychology, clinical child and school psychology, and industrial/organizational psychology. Almost all students who apply are provided an assistantship, which includes a stipend and tuition remission.
Master of Arts in Clinical-Adult Psychology
The master’s program in clinical-adult psychology at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville is considered one of the best clinical training programs in the greater St. Louis region. The aim of the program is to prepare students for further training in the nation’s best doctoral programs or for clinical practice at the master’s level. Many graduates successfully apply to doctoral programs in clinical or counseling psychology. Other graduates find positions immediately after graduation in private hospitals, research institutions, mental health centers, state hospitals, and other agencies. Students also have the option of taking additional practice for the sake of obtaining a license for counseling or independent practice.
Contact
Department of Psychology
Campus Box 1121
Alumni Hall 0118
Southern Illinois University Edwardsville
Edwardsville, IL 62026
Link
Western Illinois University
Department of Psychology
Western Illinois University was founded in 1899 in Macomb, Ill., a small city in Western Illinois. Today, the university offers a variety of programs for undergraduates and graduate students, including bachelor’s, master’s, doctoral, pre-professional, and certificate programs. Ranked by the Princeton Review as a “Best Midwestern College” and by the U.S. News and World Report as “Best Regional University,” it upholds high standards of academic excellence.
The Department of Psychology at Western Illinois University offers master’s and specialist degrees in general experimental psychology, in clinical/community mental health, and in school psychology. Over 90 percent of its graduates are successful in securing employment in mental health agencies.
Master of Science in Clinical/Community Mental Health
The Clinical/Community Mental Health program at the Western Illinois University is designed to prepare students with a combination of scientific understanding and practical skills. In addition to being thoroughly trained in the scientific fundamentals of clinical psychology, students will learn methodologies practiced in research and to apply their theoretical knowledge to real-world problems. The program acquaints them with a variety of clinical perspectives and treatment theories. They are encouraged to develop their own individual approach to treatment. Their diverse and solid background in clinical health issues will enable them to address issues of importance in either a research or clinical setting.
Contact
Department of Psychology
Waggoner Hall 100
1 University Circle
Macomb, IL 61455
Link
Whether you’re looking to study in a quiet or a metropolitan environment, or whether you’re hoping to work in a research setting or a clinical environment, you’ll find something in the list that will suit you. All of the programs listed are solid choices to earn psychology degrees in Illinois.
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