Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology
With a recent 10-year re-accreditation decision from the American Psychological Association, Illinois Tech’s Ph.D. in clinical psychology offers intensive training based on the Boulder Scientist/Practitioner model and cognitive-behavioral theoretical foundations. The program emphasizes a balance of clinical practice and the understanding and conduct of clinical psychological research, generally preparing you for licensure eligibility (although licensing requirements vary by jurisdiction). Practice experiences include exposure to diverse populations. A student’s training in practice and research begins in the first year and continues throughout their graduate career.
Program Overview
Illinois Tech trains students from the cognitive-behavioral framework to be scientist-practitioners. You'll learn the scientific process of psychological research, and receive extensive clinical training to prepare you to become a clinical psychologist and thought leader in the field.
Career Opportunities
Our graduates typically work in universities, medical centers, and multidisciplinary clinical settings in the following roles:
- Research/scholarship
- Clinical practice
- Teaching
- Supervision
- Administration
- Policy
- Program Development
This program incorporates a series of substantive courses required by the American Psychological Association, in addition to research requirements, electives, and clinical training. Information on course requirements can be found in the Graduate Bulletin.
Research training is an important aspect of your education. Here you will be educated in the scientific process of psychological research. Training begins in the first year working with faculty on their projects and continues through conducting your own research. This will prepare you to present posters and papers at conferences, which will provide valuable experience and professional contacts. Research activities are normally conducted with your adviser, but you may also work with other clinical and non-clinical faculty members. You also have flexibility to change your primary research mentor if your interests change during the course of training.
Clinical practicum experiences will prepare you for work as a clinician and provide you with valuable contacts in the field. They also allow you to develop your clinical expertise by working in the community, reinforcing skills taught in the classroom. In addition, an American Psychology Association (APA)-accredited internship culminates your training as a practitioner. This year-long experience will facilitate the integration of your graduate training with valuable real-world experience. Optional participation on a variety of program committees provides an additional professional opportunity for students.
The clinical psychology doctoral program is also pleased to partner with our counseling and rehabilitation science faculty to offer a concentration in rehabilitation. This concentration includes APA-accredited clinical psychology doctoral training plus a unique emphasis for students who are interested in working with people across the lifespan affected by any injury or chronic condition that leads to disability.
Illinois Tech's Ph.D. in clinical psychology accepts applications for fall entrance only. Each year the program typically admits five to seven students.
The psychology faculty recruiting clinical psychology students to mentor in their research labs beginning fall 2024 include:
- Dr. Nicole Ditchman
- Dr. Steff Du Bois
- Dr. Arryn Guy (joining core clinical faculty as a tenure-track Assistant Professor in Fall 2024)
- Dr. Alissa Haedt-Matt
- Dr. Eun-Jeong Lee
- Dr. Nicole Legate
- Dr. Lindsay Sheehan
Please submit your online application as soon as possible. Your supplemental material cannot be entered into our database without a completed application. All applications and supporting documents must be submitted online by January 1, 2024.
Requirements for admission to the program include:
- Bachelor's degree with 18 hours of undergraduate psychology, including successful coursework in research methods or statistics
- Completed online application, including payment of application fee
- Professional statement of 1,000 words or fewer outlining academic and career goals, academic potential, and relevant research and/or applied experience
- Three (3) letters of recommendation, which referees will upload directly into the application system
- Transcripts from all post-secondary institutions; transcripts must be uploaded directly into the application system. Please do not send them by mail.
- A curriculum vitae (CV)
The clinical psychology Ph.D. program at Illinois Tech no longer requires students to submit general GRE scores.
Please do not submit any extra materials, including writing samples, thesis papers, books, etc.
The clinical psychology faculty will review all applications and then invite a portion of applicants for virtual interviews at a later date. Invited applicants will receive more information closer to the interviews.
Tuition and Student Funding
Tuition for the clinical psychology program at Illinois Tech is detailed on the Graduate School website on the Graduate Costs and Aid page.
Illinois Tech provides partial funding of Ph.D. students through a variety of mechanisms. Funding is typically arranged on a year-to-year basis.
Funding Opportunities
Incoming first-year clinical students have an opportunity to participate in a clinically relevant experience through Illinois Tech’s Center for Research and Service by testing children applying to the Chicago Public Schools Selective Enrollment Program. This is an assistantship opportunity with tuition assistance and compensation. There is an expectation of participation. After the first year, limited testing and supervising positions may be available with the center for students.
Teaching
A limited number of departmental teaching assistantships are available each semester for graduate students. More advanced doctoral students (i.e., those who have completed the master’s degree) may have opportunities to teach undergraduate psychology courses as an adjunct instructor.
Research
Individual faculty members may have research grants that fund student effort. Although not guaranteed, the Department of Psychology often offers funding opportunities to help cover costs of student research projects (e.g., recruitment expenditures, material costs, participant incentives).
Many clinical students work part-time in a clinical research setting for at least some of the time they are at Illinois Tech. Although not arranged by Illinois Tech, these positions are typically excellent psychology experiences (e.g., as research assistants or neuropsychology testing technicians) and are often passed down from Illinois Tech student to Illinois Tech student.
Travel
Although not guaranteed, the Department of Psychology often offers funds for student travel to conferences to facilitate the presentation of student-authored research.
Standing Program Committee Opportunities for Students
Committee work is an important component of a job description in most clinical psychology
settings (e.g., university departments, clinical practices or hospital settings, and professional
non-profits organizations such as the Association for Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies). For this reason, we highly encourage doctoral students to participate in several of the
program’s standing committees.
Diversity Committee
The Diversity Committee promotes activities and program priorities that emphasize the
integration of knowledge and practice related to respecting human diversity of all kinds, such
as different ethnicities, cultures, nationalities, sexual orientations, genders, and religions (a
non-exhaustive list).
Colloquium Committee
The Colloquium Committee organizes lectures and talks for students and faculty in the
program to enhance professional development and education.
Social Committee
The Social Committee organizes activities in the service of promoting a sense of community
and cohesion in the program.
Ad Hoc Technology Committee
The Technology Committee facilitates the web-based presence of the clinical psychology
doctoral program and other technology-driven tasks.
Accreditation
Illinois Tech's Ph.D. in clinical psychology has been fully accredited by the American Psychological Association (APA) since 1982. For more information on APA accreditation, please visit the APA's accreditation website or write to the address below.
750 First Street, NE
Washington, DC, 20002-4242
Phone: 202.336.5979
TDD/TTY: 202.336.6123
Fax: 202.336.5978
Email: apaaccred@apa.org
Contact Us
For more information about the Illinois Tech's Ph.D. in clinical psychology, contact:
Alissa Haedt-Matt, Ph.D.
Associate Professor and Director of Clinical Training
Clinical Psychology Program
201 Tech Central
3242 S. State Street
Chicago, IL 60616
Phone: 312.567.3514
Email: ahaedtma@iit.edu
Ph.D. Student Recognized for Eating Disorder Research
Clinical psychology Ph.D. student Elizabeth Dougherty is investigating the link between mental health and eating disorders.
Learn MoreFeatured Faculty
Joyce Hopkins
Alissa Haedt-Matt
Steff Du Bois
Nicole Ditchman
Frank J. Lane
Eun-Jeong Lee
Nicole Legate
Arlen C. Moller
"My experience in the Clinical Psychology Ph.D. program at Illinois Tech has been an excellent balance of training in clinical work and research design and methodology. Above all, through the program’s courses, curriculum, rigor, and collaboration with faculty, I have cultivated an enduring skill and attitude of critical thinking. This is an invaluable asset to a dynamic career as a clinical psychologist working as a clinician, teacher, program manager, or researcher."
