Clinical Psychology MA Programs

Roosevelt University offers MA programs in clinical psychology. The Clinical Psychology (Counseling Practice) program [opening in Fall 2012] and the Clinical Professional Psychology program [admitting its final students in Fall 2012] both prepare students to apply for professional counselor licensure. The 60-semester hour Clinical Psychology (Counseling Practice) is a four course extension of the 48-semester hour Clinical Professional Psychology program and seeks to provide more comprehensive training in the science that supports counseling practice. An additional program, Clinical Psychology, is 39-semester hours long, but does not prepare graduates to apply for professional counselor licensure.

MA in Clinical Psychology

The MA program in Clinical Psychology is a 39 to 40 semester hour program that provides broad-based training in psychological assessment and intervention as well as in the theory and research that supports these practices. This program is designed for those who are currently employed in fields such as social work, counseling, nursing, or business, and wish to broaden their areas of expertise. Students who wish to seek the professional counselor’s license (LPC, or later, LCPC) should apply to the Clinical Psychology (Counseling Practice) MA program. Graduates of this program are NOT eligible to apply for licensure as a professional counselor.

MA in Clinical Psychology (Counseling Practice)

The MA program in Clinical Psychology (Counseling Practice) is designed for those who are interested in clinical practice at the master’s level. In Illinois (and in many other states), completion of this program qualifies graduates to apply for licensure as a professional counselor (LPC and, later, LCPC). This is a 60-semester hour program that provides broad-based training in psychological assessment and intervention as well as in the theory and research that supports these practices. This program also provides appropriate preparation for those wishing to apply to PsyD and PhD programs in clinical psychology. Those planning to apply to PhD programs should ensure that they secure research experience within the program while they pursue their MA degree.

The curriculum of the Clinical Psychology (Counseling Practice) satisfies the educational requirements for the professional counselor and clinical professional counselor licenses in Illinois, Roosevelt's home state, and in many other states. Students are urged to check with the Board that oversees these licenses in the state in which they intend to practice after completing the degree to ensure that this curriculum satisfies the state's requirements. (An index of State Licensing Boards can be found by visiting the National Board for Certified Counselors at this web address: www.nbcc.org/directory).

Being Admitted to the Clinical Programs

Students who wish to be considered for admission to one of the clinical MA programs must apply for admission to the Graduate Division of Roosevelt University. In addition to the University’s Graduate Application, students must complete a Supplemental Application for the Clinical Psychology MA programs.

Applicants must have completed at least 18 semester hours in psychology at the undergraduate level with at least a 3.0 (B) average. Undergraduate courses must include general psychology, abnormal psychology, introductory statistics, research methods, theories of personality, and one junior/senior level undergraduate course. Some students may be admitted with undergraduate deficiencies. In such cases, undergraduate deficiencies may be taken concurrently with some graduate courses with the permission of the program director, but these courses will not earn graduate credit. Continuation in the program is conditional upon satisfactory completion of all undergraduate deficiencies.

Applications are considered for the Fall and Spring semesters.

For priority consideration for the Fall semester, applications are due February 1. The final application deadline for the Fall semester is May 1. The application deadline for the Spring semester is November 1.

Succeeding in the Clinical Programs

All students in the clinical MA programs must satisfy the Competency Requirement within their first 18 semester hours of graduate credit.
Students must maintain, at least, a 3.0 (B) grade point average.
No more than two grades of "C" may be counted toward the MA degree.
Only courses taken within six years of admission to the graduate program will count toward an MA degree.
Students are responsible for staying informed of University requirements on grading, academic integrity, and academic discipline. (See also Academic Integrity: A Guide for Students.)
Upon approval of the Director of Clinical Psychology MA Programs, the Department of Psychology will accept up to nine semester hours of transfer credit for graduate courses equivalent to program requirements taken at other, accredited, universities. The student must have earned a grade of, at least, “B” in such courses. These courses must not have been applied to another, already awarded, graduate degree.
Termination from the program may result if the student fails to satisfy the competency requirement within the first 18 semester hours of graduate study, or if the faculty determines the student is not performing suitably in academic, clinical, or interpersonal domains. Also, students who fail to comply with regulations regarding the Practice of Psychology by Graduate Students (see below) will be terminated from the program.
Practice of Psychology by Graduate Students: The Department believes strongly that clinical counseling skills are acquired over time and experiences. As “clinical counselors in training,” students are considered not yet competent to practice in mental health services. Students who are employed in such services must make their employment known to the chair of the Department of Psychology who will determine if the student is practicing within, or outside of, his/her competence. Students who are judged to be employed outside their areas of competence must cease that activity or risk dismissal from the program.

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