Clinical

Mental health in the United States has become a national priority.  Clinical psychology has taken an important role in the development of new interventions, and assessment devices, as well as sophisticated research evaluations of them.  Clinical psychology has also made important contributions to our understanding of the causes of various mental disorders.  An understanding of causal factors is necessary before prevention progress can be developed.  There is a growing need for scientists within this field.

The Clinical Psychology Program of the Department of Psychology at Northwestern University on the Evanston Campus is designed to train students for primary careers in research and teaching in clinical psychology.  The program a member of the Academy for Psychological Clinical Science and follows a clinical scientist model with a somewhat eclectic, adult focus. In May 2011, the program became one of the first 10 programs to be accredited by the Psychological Clinical Science Accreditation System (PCSAS). PCSAS was created in 2008 to promote superior science-centered education and training in clinical psychology, to increase the quality and quantity of clinical scientists contributing to the advancement of public health, and to enhance the scientific knowledge base for mental and behavioral health care. The program is also American Psychological Association (APA) accredited.  Through course work and practical experience, students receive training in the diagnosis, etiology, and treatment of emotional disorders.  However, the major emphasis of the program is clinical research and research methods. 

Applicants should be aware that there is a second Clinical Psychology Program in Northwestern's Medical School on the Chicago Campus.  That program is also APA accredited, but it is oriented more toward professional training and applied research.  In submitting applications, you should CLEARLY specify the program to which you are applying because the admissions committees are completely separate.  Your application will be forwarded to the wrong department unless you have the correct department number on your Graduate School application.  The department number of Clinical Psychology on the Evanston Campus is 0451.  The department number of Clinical Psychology on the Chicago Campus (Medical School) is 1447.  Please check the two department’s web pages to understand the difference more clearly.  The address of the web page of the Department on the Evanston Campus is http://www.psych.northwestern.edu.  The address for the Chicago Campus is http://www.clinpsych.northwestern.edu.

As already noted our clinical psychology program is accredited by PCSAS and also by the APA.  More information about PCSAS, including its goals and history, can be found at the following website: www.pcsas.org. Any questions about the status of the program’s APA accreditation should be directed to:

The Commission on Accreditation
American Psychological Association
750 First Street, NE
Washington DC, 20002-4242
TEL: 202-336-5979