The Counseling Psychology program has curricular strengths in multiculturalism, prevention and outreach, and career development that make it unique among APA-approved Counseling Psychology programs. We emphasize collaborative research training, experiences in teaching and clinical supervision, and clinical experiences within urban settings with diverse populations. The program educates students to become both scientists and practitioners. It is the only Counseling Psychology program in the Chicago area.

Admissions

Faculty review all applicants and we look at each applicant’s "total package". We look closely at GPAs, graduate level coursework, personal statements, letters of recommendation, research and clinical experiences. We take particular note of research experiences. Finally, we personally interview applicants to determine if there is a good match between the applicant and our program. In other words, it is important for us to attempt to determine if the applicant's personal and professional interests would be met by our programs strengths and emphases.

The average graduate GPA for those students that we have accepted into the program since 2004 is 3.8/4.0. The average GRE scores are: Verbal = 561, Quantitative = 612, and the Psychology Subject test = 587. In particular, for the students admitted into the class of 2010, the average verbal score was 563 with a range from 420 to 650, average quantitative score was 713 with a range from 555 to 800, the average psychology subject test score was 710 with a range from 640 to 780 and the average GPA was 3.9.

We attempt to achieve diversity in our student body along multiple dimensions that include gender, race/ethnicity, age, and sexual orientation. Fifty-two percent of our current students are Students of Color and 74% are women.

Program Costs    

For the current incoming class, all students are supported with Graduate Assistantships which provide stipends of at least $11,000 plus a tuition scholarship.  The majority of students are supported with Graduate Assistantships of some sort while they are taking coursework in the program (typically 3 years). Students are required to pay student activities fees and health insurance together these total approximately $1800 annually.   Students are also required to purchase books and materials for courses.

Time to completion

The overall mean number of years to completion for all graduates since 2004 is 6.4 years. All of our doctoral students enter with a Masters degree. Most students complete their coursework by the third year, thus only the dissertation and pre-doctoral internship remain. The average years to completion is decreasing due to some structural changes in our program to facilitate the completion of dissertation proposals prior to pre-doctoral internship.

Attrition

Since 2004, 4 of 42 matriculated students have left the program (9%).

Pre-doctoral Internship

According to the Association of Psychology Postdoctoral and Internship Centers (APPIC) from 2005 to 2010, we have successfully matched 74.4% of our applicants for pre-doctoral internships, most at APA-accredited sites.

Recent Internship Placements

• Internships 2010-2011
  • University of Illinois at Chicago - Counseling Center (Chicago, IL)
  • Southern Illinois University - Counseling Center (Carbondale, IL)
• Internships 2009-2010
  • University of Maryland - Counseling Center (College Park, MD)
  • V.A. Medical Center (North Chicago, IL)
  • Western Missouri Mental Health Center (Kansas City, MO)
  • Advocate Illinois Masonic Medical Center (Chicago, IL)
  • California State University (Sacramento, CA)
  • University of Illinois - Urbana/Champaign (Urbana, IL)
• Internships 2008-2009
  • Chicago Area Christian Training Consortium (Carole Stream, IL)
  • University of Oregon Counseling Center (Eugene, OR)
  • Notre Dame University Counseling Center (Notre Dame, IN)
  • Salesmanship Club Youth & Family Center (Dallas, TX)
  • Illinois State University Counseling Center (Normal, IL)
• Internships 2007 – 2008
  • University of California, Santa Cruz Counseling Center (Santa Cruz, CA)
  • University of Illinois Urbana -Champaign Counseling Center (Champaign, IL)
  • Advocate Illinois Masonic Medical Center (Chicago, IL)
  • Salesmanship Club Youth and Family Centers (Dallas, TX)
• Internships 2006-2007
  • Hines VA Hospital (Hines, IL)
  • University of Michigan Counseling and Psychological Services (Ann Arbor, MI)
  • Northwestern Memorial Hospital (Chicago, IL)
  • VA Medical Center, North Chicago (North Chicago, IL)
  • University of Illinois at Chicago Counseling Center (Chicago, IL)
  • University of California, Santa Cruz Counseling and Psychological Services (Santa Cruz, CA)
  • University of San Diego Counseling Center, (San Diego, CA)
• Internships 2005-2006
  • University of California, Davis Counseling and Psychological Services (Davis, CA)
  • University of Illinois at Chicago Counseling Center (Chicago, IL)
  • VA Medical Center, North Chicago (North Chicago, IL)
  • Suffolk University Counseling Center (Boston MA)
  • University of Massachusetts-Amherst Counseling and Assessment Services (Amherst, MA)
  • Lutheran General Hospital (Park Ridge, IL)
• Internships 2004-2005
  • University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Counseling Center (Champaign, IL)
  • VA Maryland Healthcare System: Child Outpatient Services (Baltimore, MD)
  • University of Illinois at Chicago Counseling Center (Chicago, IL)
  • University of Maryland Counseling Center (College Park, MD)
  • VA Medical Center, North Chicago (North Chicago, IL)
  • VA Chicago Health Care System (Chicago, IL)
  • Children’s Memorial Hospital (Chicago, IL)

Licensure Outcomes

Total graduates since 2004 is 40.  Of the graduates surveyed in 2010, 20 or 50% are licensed.