Offered in: Chicago | Schaumburg

Roosevelt offers both master's and doctoral degrees in psychology: the Master of Arts (MA) and the Doctor of Psychology (PsyD). The MA degrees are in the areas of general psychology, clinical psychology (counseling practice), and industrial/organizational psychology (including an option for a combined IO MA/MBA). The PsyD is in clinical psychology.

This program is designed for those who are interested in clinical practice at the master's level. In Illinois (and in many other states), completing this program qualifies graduates to apply for licensure as a professional counselor (LPC and, later, LCPC). This is a 60 credit hour program that provides broad-based training in psychological assessment and intervention and the theory and research that support these practices. This program also provides appropriate preparation for those wishing to apply to PsyD and PhD programs in clinical or counseling psychology. Those planning to apply to PhD programs should ensure they secure research experience within the program while pursuing their MA degree.

The Clinical Psychology (Counseling Practice) curriculum satisfies the educational requirements for the professional counselor and clinical professional counselor licenses in Illinois, Roosevelt's home state, and many other states. Students are urged to check with the Board that oversees these licenses in the state they intend to practice to ensure this curriculum satisfies the state's requirements. An index of State Licensing Boards can be found by visiting the National Board for Certified Counselors. Applicants planning for a career in professional counseling should be aware that Roosevelt University's College of Science, Health and Pharmacy (CSHP) also offers a program designed to prepare students for this profession, the MA in Clinical Mental Health Counseling.

Admission

To be considered for admission into the program, applicants must have the following: GPA 3.0 (B)average; It is recommended that applicants have completed the following prerequisite courses with at least a 3.0 (B) average: general psychology, abnormal psychology, and research methods; a strong written letter of intent; and at least one letter of recommendation. Some students with undergraduate deficiencies may be considered for admission with faculty recommendation to complete one or more of these three prerequisite courses as a condition of admission. 

Applications are considered for the fall semester (Chicago and Schaumburg campuses) and spring semester (Schaumburg campus only). Space in the Chicago campus is limited, and applications will be considered as space is available.

For priority consideration for the fall semester, applications are due May 1. The final application deadline for the fall semester is June 1.  For priority consideration for the spring semester, the application deadline is November 1. The final application deadline for the spring semester is  December 15. 

Standards:

General GPA standards: Students must maintain a minimum 3.0 (B) grade point average. No more than two grades of C+, C, or C- (six credit hours) will be counted toward the MA degree. For additional information concerning grading and academic discipline, see the general university regulations.

Time limit: Students are allowed six years to complete the MA degree, and only courses completed within six years from the time the student enters the program will be counted toward the degree.

Academic integrity: The Department of Psychology holds graduate students to professional standards of academic integrity. The Department considers actions that present the work of another as one's own to be unethical and inappropriate. Cheating and plagiarism are never tolerated. The department defines plagiarism as presenting the ideas or words of another as one's own. Students must follow the rules for appropriate citation and quotation of the words of others, as outlined in the current edition of the American Psychological Association's publication manual, in all papers and theses. Students who violate these standards regarding cheating and plagiarism will be considered for dismissal from the program.

Ethical, professional and interpersonal competency: Because the psychology programs prepare mental health practitioners, the department is accountable to the public regarding the development of professional and ethical behavior. Thus, in addition to the evaluation of academic performance, students will be evaluated regularly on appropriate professional and interpersonal behavior. Students who fail to meet academic standards or fail to meet expectations of appropriate professional and interpersonal behavior will be considered for dismissal from the program.

Program Governance and Personnel

The Department of Psychology appoints a Program Evaluation Group to oversee the administration and development of the MA programs in Clinical Psychology and Clinical Psychology (Counseling Practice). The PEG is led by the Director of Clinical MA Programs and is additionally composed of several other faculty members appointed each academic year. In addition, each year, a student in one of the clinical MA programs from each campus is invited to represent student interests on the PEG. The PEG is responsible for decisions on student admission and recommendations on student remediation or dismissal.

Requirements

Total program is 60 credit hours. This includes six credit hours for a practicum seminar in which students enroll while they are on internship/practicum.  Students are approved to begin internship/practicum after they have completed 36 to 48 credit hours of required program credits. The majority of students complete the program in three years. The term practicum and internship are often used interchangeably in the field. The internship consists of not less than 750 hours of professionally supervised training and service in an approved agency or institution, over a period of not less than two semesters. This experience satisfies the requirements for the professional counselor and the clinical professional counselor licenses in Illinois, Roosevelt's home state. As other states may have slightly different licensing requirements, students are urged to consult the Board that oversees licensing in the state in which they intend to practice.

Given the time demands of the internship experience, it is not possible for a student to maintain full-time employment during semesters in which the internship is completed. A student who has not completed the internship during the semesters in which he/she is registered for PSYC 697A MA CLINICAL INTERNSHIP and PSYC 697B MA CLINICAL INTERNSHIP must maintain continued registration during subsequent semesters until completion of the internship by registering for PSYC 697Y MA CLINICAL INTERNSHIP CONTINUED (zero-credit course). Internship placements are located in the broader Chicagoland area. Students are able to apply to various clinical settings that include but are not limited to: hospitals, community mental health and substance abuse centers, forensic settings, schools, psychiatric facilities, social service agencies, and private practices.

Students must maintain a minimum 3.0 (B) grade point average. No more than two grades of C+, C, or C- (six credit hours) will be counted toward the MA degree.

Your degree map is a general guide suggesting courses to complete each term on the academic pathway to your degree. It is based on the most current scheduling information from your academic program. Your program’s degree map is reviewed annually and updated as schedules change (although you retain the same course requirements as long as you are continuously enrolled in your degree program).

Always work closely with your academic advisor to understand curriculum requirements and scheduling, as each student’s academic plan can look slightly different. No more than two grades of C+, C, or C- (six credit hours) may be applied toward the 60 hours used for the degree. A graduate course can only be repeated once; no more than two courses can be repeated.

Students who begin in the Spring are advised to take summer courses during their first year in order to remain on track for practicum during their third year.