Plan of Study

The master's program in Clinical-Counseling Psychology provides rigorous training in basic areas of psychology and their application in assessment, counseling, and psychotherapeutic treatment. The goal of the program is to produce graduates who are:

Informed by a scientific approach in their provision of mental health services
Holistic in their approach to mental health, incorporating strengths from traditional clinical psychology and counseling psychology philosophies in their work
Highly competitive for professional positions in mental health agencies, which includes community mental health, substance abuse treatment, and child welfare
Prepared to pursue a career path that may include doctoral study in psychology and related fields, and
Eligible for licensure in Illinois as a licensed clinical professional counselor, and likely to grow in leadership roles in mental health agencies.

The program seeks to accomplish these goals by emphasizing:

Critical thinking skills
Methodological training that prepares individuals to be sophisticated consumers of psychological and psychiatric research
Multiple philosophies of human development, etiologies of psychological distress, and treatment.
Integration of research with practice, and
Personal and professional development of students.

The typical plan of study for most students is presented below. While departmental and licensing requirements determine most of the curriculum, each student meets with the program advisor, to prepare a plan of study that considers academic preparation and professional objectives. The graduate program's required courses meet the Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor (LCPC) requirements in Illinois. To compare each requirement with the appropriate course, see the list of LCPC requirements below.

When courses are offered may change depending on scheduling and faculty availability. The courses identified below are for three credits, unless otherwise noted.

Year 1

Fall

PSY 420 Theories of Personality
PSY 440 Statistics: Data Analysis and Methodology
PSY 468 Advanced Psychopathology and Mental Health Diagnosis
PSY 470 Legal, Ethical, and Practice Issues in Clinical-Counseling Psychology

Spring

PSY 438 Techniques of Objective Assessment
PSY 464 Theories and Techniques of Counseling: Adults
PSY 467 Family Therapy
PSY 490 Clinical-Counseling Capstone Project^ (1 credit) or PSY 499 Master's Thesis (1 credit)^^
- PSY 490 or PSY 499 enrollment this semester is recommended in order to maintain project progress

Summer

PSY 421 Advanced Behavior Modification
PSY 436A02 Practicum in Clinical-Counseling Psychology (1 credit)^^^
PSY 466 Substance Abuse Counseling
PSY 490 Clinical-Counseling Capstone Project (1 credit) or PSY 499 Master's Thesis (1 credit)
- PSY 490 or PSY 499 enrollment this semester is recommended in order to maintain project progress

Year 2

Fall

PSY 436A02 Practicum in Clinical-Counseling Psychology
PSY 437 Group Psychotherapy
PSY 490 Clinical-Counseling Capstone Project (1 credit) or PSY 499 Master's Thesis (1 credit)
- PSY 490 or PSY 499 enrollment this semester is recommended in order to maintain project progress

Spring

PSY 436A02 Practicum in Clinical-Counseling Psychology
PSY 451 Psychology of Diversity
PSY 465 Vocational Counseling
PSY 490 Clinical-Counseling Capstone Project (1 credit) or PSY 499 Master's Thesis (1 credit)
- PSY 490 or PSY 499 enrollment this semester is recommended in order to maintain project progress

Note

^ Students completing a clinical-counseling capstone project must register for three total credits of PSY 490 (for one or more semesters) plus an approved elective for three credits.

^^ Based on past experiences, if a student finishes their thesis proposal by the end of spring or summer semesters of Year 1, the student will have a very good chance of defending the thesis by the end of the spring semester of Year 2. A student who presents their thesis proposal after completing the first year of graduate study most likely will not defend the thesis until the summer semester of Year 2 and possibly later. Students completing a thesis must register for PSY 499 for 4-6 total credits.

^^^ In order to register for PSY 436A02, students must have earned a cumulative 3.0 GPA and grades of B or better in PSY 464 and PSY 470. Furthermore, a grade of B or better in PSY 436A02 is required in order to continue this course in subsequent semesters.

LCPC Requirements and Relevant Psychology Courses

Human Growth and Development: PSY 420 Theories of Personality
Counseling Theory: PSY 464 Theories and Techniques of Counseling
Counseling Techniques: PSY 421 Advanced Behavior Modification
Group Dynamics, Process, and Counseling: PSY 437 Group Psychotherapy
Appraisal of Individuals: PSY 438 Techniques of Objective Assessment
Research and Evaluation: PSY 440 Statistics: Data Analysis and Methodology
Professional, Legal, and Ethical Issues: PSY 470 Legal, Ethical, and Practice Issues in Clinical-Counseling Psychology
Social and Cultural Foundations: PSY 451 Psychology of Diversity
Lifestyle and Career Development: PSY 465 Vocational Counseling
Practicum/Internship: PSY 436A02 Practicum in Clinical-Counseling Psychology
Psychopathology and Maladaptive Behavior: PSY 468 Advanced Psychopathology and Mental Health Diagnosis
Substance Abuse: PSY 466 Substance Abuse Counseling
Family Dynamics: PSY 467 Family Therapy