psychology phd northwestern

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Clinical Psychology

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Learn more about the program by visiting the Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences

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Degree Types: MA, PhD

The PhD Program in Clinical Psychology within the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine is one of only a handful of programs in the United States based in an academic medical center and housed in a psychiatry department. This unique setting provides opportunities for translational research and practice that span molecular to social models of disease, and epidemiologic to clinical and neuroimaging methodologies.

This scientist-practitioner program effectively balances clinical and research training to produce graduates who are competent in the science and practice of clinical psychology. The PhD program also provides opportunities for major areas of study within clinical psychology, including Adult Clinical Psychology, Behavioral Medicine or Clinical Health Psychology, Clinical Child and Adolescent Psychology, Clinical Neuropsychology, and Forensic Psychology. Training is provided through core and emphasis-specific curricula, intensive research mentoring, and exceptional clinical practica. Major milestones include a research qualifying paper and master's thesis, a clinical qualifying exam, an empirical dissertation with original research, and an APA-accredited clinical internship.

Our mentor-based program prepares students to be competitive for careers as clinical psychologists in academic health centers, children's hospitals, VA medical centers, and related medical facilities.

The Clinical Psychology Master of Arts (MA) Program within the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine is intended for students interested in pursuing a career in academic clinical psychology. The MA program is designed to provide a foundation in academic clinical psychology at the graduate level, while also allowing students to gain educational and research exposure to major areas of study within clinical psychology, including Adult Clinical Psychology, Behavioral Medicine or Clinical Health Psychology, Clinical Child and Adolescent Psychology, Clinical Neuropsychology, and Forensic Psychology. 

The goals of the MA Program in Clinical Psychology are to:

• Develop foundational competencies in research design, analytics, and ethics within academic clinical psychology.
• Explore major areas of study within academic clinical psychology.
• Understand educational and career opportunities within academic clinical psychology.

Note: the MA Program in Clinical Psychology does not include clinical training and is not intended to prepare students for clinical practice. Given the academic and research focus of the MA Program, the degree will not lead to licensure for independent practice.  For those interested in master's level programs that prepare students for licensure and practice, please visit the  MA in Counseling website , the  MS in Marriage and Family Therapy website  and  The Family Institute website . 

The MA Program in Clinical Psychology was designed for a variety of students, including students who:

• Are not yet ready to apply to a PhD program, but are considering doing so in the future.
• Wish to improve their competitiveness for a PhD program.
• Are interested in exploring a career in academic clinical psychology.
• With interests in related fields for which a background in academic clinical psychology may be of value.

The MA Program is embedded in the Clinical Psychology PhD Program, with coursework and lab work completed alongside PhD students. Although students in the MA Program are welcome to apply to Northwestern's PhD Program in Clinical Psychology, the MA Program is not intended to be a "gateway" into the PhD Program in Clinical Psychology at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine.

Additional resources:

• Department Website
• Pro gram Handbook

Program Statistics

Visit Master's Program Statistics and PhD Program Statistics for statistics such as program admissions, enrollment, student demographics and more.

Program Contact

Contact Sarah Bratta Program Coordinator

Degree Requirements

The following requirements are in addition to, or further elaborate upon, those requirements outlined in  The Graduate School Policy Guide .

MA Degree Requirements

Total Units Required: 17

The MA program requires at least 17 units for graduation across five (5) quarters (15 months) of full-time enrollment; part-time and early graduation is not permitted. Students are required to take the Research Core, including Research Methods/Statistics (3 units), Advanced Research Methodology (1 unit), and Scientific and Professional Ethics in Psychology (1 unit). In addition to these required courses, students are expected to select between five to eight elective courses across the Summer I, Fall, Winter, Spring, and/or Summer II quarters. Elective courses can include Discipline Specific Knowledge and Profession Wide Competency courses, as well as courses in one or more Major Areas of Study. 

In addition to the Research Core and Elective courses, all MA students participate in the weekly Professional Development Seminar for the first four quarters of the MA Program. This Seminar orients students to the MA program, introduces students to various mentors and labs across Northwestern, explores career options in academic clinical psychology, refines interests in academic clinical psychology, and prepares students for the next steps in their careers (e.g., developing applications for PhD programs; preparing for interviews). 

Other MA Degree Requirements

• Research/Projects:  In addition to completion of the coursework requirements, students engage in a Research Lab Experience for at least 10 hours a week.
• Master's Thesis :   Optional (see below)
• Master’s Culminating Academic Experience:  Through the Research Lab Experience, the student will work with her or his research mentor to complete a Capstone Project. The Capstone Project is the culmination of the Research Lab Experience provided by the research mentor, providing the final evaluation of the student’s research competencies. Examples of capstone projects include: Substantial participation (i.e., authorship level) on one or more empirical studies submitted for publication in a peer-reviewed journal. First author submission of one or more peer-reviewed poster/oral presentations at regional, national, or international conferences. A comprehensive review paper that is submitted to and graded by the research mentor. A grant proposal (e.g., F31 style) that is submitted to and graded by the research mentor.  

Last Updated: September 12, 2023

PhD Degree Requirements

Total Units Required: 30

Other PhD Degree Requirements

• Examinations:  defense of a research paper and a clinical qualifying project serving as examination for admission to candidacy
• Research/Projects:  independent, empirical research study completed in fulfillment of the research qualifying paper
• PhD Dissertation:  original research following third year of coursework
• Final Evaluations:  oral defense of dissertation

Clinical Psychology PhD/MA

The Division of Psychology within the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences offers a doctoral degree (PhD) in clinical psychology that has been continuously accredited by the American Psychological Association (APA) since 1972.

Our program has the advantage of our interdepartmental and interdisciplinary placement within Northwestern University to offer students a true balance of research and clinical training.”

Jason Washburn, PhD, ABPP Director of Graduate Studies

Founded on a scientist-practitioner model, the overall goal of the Clinical Psychology PhD Program is to graduate academic psychologists who are competent, ethical and productive in the science and practice of clinical psychology. Our program emphasizes the integration of science and clinical practice.

Program Length: 5-6 years

Program Size: 4-6 students per year

An MA program is embedded in the Clinical Psychology PhD Program, with coursework and lab work completed alongside PhD students. Although students in the MA program are welcome to apply to the PhD program, the MA program is not intended to be a "gateway" into the PhD program. 

Visit PhD Program Site   Apply Visit MA Program Site Give to the Program

Eligibility and Program Requirements

Clinical Psychology MA

The Clinical Psychology Master of Arts (MA) Program within the Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine is intended for students interested in pursuing a clinical career at the master’s level.

Please note that the prior MA program, which focused on research and research-related coursework and was designed to prepare students for doctoral study in academic clinical psychology, is no longer accepting applications.

The new MA program in Clinical Psychology, which will start its first cohort in September 2025, is designed to meet the educational requirements for licensure as Professional Counselors and Clinical Professional Counselors within the state of Illinois. The intention of this MA program is to prepare graduates to deliver science-based services at the master’s level to care for the mental health of individuals, couples, families, and groups.

About the Program

  goals.

The goals of the Clinical Psychology Master of Arts Program are to:

• Prepare graduates to pursue a career as a professional counselor to deliver science-based mental health services.
• Develop discipline-specific knowledge and profession-wide competencies in clinical psychological science.
• Integrate clinical psychological science and practice.
• Enhance competencies in communication and interpersonal skills, as well as responsible and ethical values, attitudes, and behaviors.
• Develop competencies in psychological assessment, and use of psychological assessment to inform psychological intervention.
• Develop competencies in psychological intervention, including major theories of psychological interventions, intervention factors common across models, specific science-based intervention models, and group interventions.
• Enhance knowledge of supervision models in clinical psychology.
• Develop competencies in consultation and interprofessional and interdisciplinary skills.

  Prerequisites

The following criteria are most desired in MA applicants:

• Undergraduate GPA of 3.2 or above on a 4.0 scale
• An essay describing interests in and preparation for the MA program
• Three letters of recommendation
• For international students, demonstration of English language proficiency (see below for details)
• Interest in engaging in a career as a master's level professional counselor based in clinical psychological science.
• Exposure to clinical populations (via volunteering, employment, or research)

Please note that the above criteria are desired, but not required. The MA program will consider mitigating circumstances when conducting holistic reviews of applicants who may not meet all of these criteria.

  English Language Proficiency

For students to be successful in our MA program, it is necessary for them to have proficiency in understanding, reading, writing, and speaking in English. An English proficiency score is required for applicants whose first/primary language is not English. English proficiency scores may not be self-reported; these must be submitted officially via the appropriate testing organization as part of the application.

For admission into the MA program, you must certify your proficiency in the English language in one of the following three ways:

• Providing official scores for either the TOEFL, IELTS, or MET exam. The test must be taken no more than two years before the intended quarter of entry (e.g., if you are applying for fall 2025 entry, test scores must be no older than September 2023.) For the TOEFL, you must score 577 or higher on the paper-based test, 233 or higher on the computer-based test, 90 or higher on the internet based test. For the IELTS, you must receive a score of 7.0 or higher. For the MET, you must receive a score of 54 or higher. We  do not accept DuoLingo or TOEFL Essentials to meet the requirement.
• Providing official transcripts verifying an undergraduate degree from an accredited four-year institution or equivalent, where the language of instruction is English. For your application, only unofficial transcripts are required. If you receive an offer of admission to our program, official transcripts will be required. 
• Providing official transcripts verifying a graduate degree from an accredited institution where the language of instruction is English. For your application, only unofficial transcripts are required. If you receive an offer of admission to our program, official transcripts will be required. 

For more information on English proficiency requirements, please see: https://www.tgs.northwestern.edu/services-support/international-student-services/language-testing-support.html

  Curriculum

The Clinical Psychology Master of Arts Program is designed to be completed within eight quarters over two years (24 months).

The MA program requires full-time study (3-4 units per quarter) for eight quarters over two years (24 months). The following courses are offered as part of the program:

Fall (Year 1)

• Introduction to Psychotherapy
• Psychological Assessment
• Individual and Cultural Diversity

Winter (Year 1)

• Transdiagnostic Psychotherapy
• Career & Lifestyle Development
• Psychology of Addiction

Spring (Year 1)

• Group Therapy
• Psychopathology
• Clinical Ethics and Laws

Summer (Year 1)

• Research Methods
• Lifespan Developmental Psychology
• Practicum/Internship

Fall (Year 2)

• Family Therapy and Systems Theory
• Advanced Assessment and Intervention I

Winter (Year 2)

• Advanced Assessment and Intervention II

Spring (Year 2)

• Advanced Scientific Foundations of Behavior

Summer (Year 2)

• Proseminar in Professional Counseling

Research Experience

The Clinical Psychology Master of Arts Program is designed to prepare students for careers as professional counselors with a strong foundation in science-based practice in clinical psychology. To facilitate the goal of grounding future professional counselors in the science of psychology, all students will join a research lab for at least two quarters. This research experience is designed to expose students to the process of research and to facilitate the integration of science and practice throughout their careers.

Clinical Training

Students engage in the clinical Internship/Practicum experience starting in the summer of their first year through the entirety of their second year (5 quarters in total). The clinical practicum and internship trainings occur within the inpatient and outpatient Behavioral Health Services offered by the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at Northwestern Medicine. The clinical Internship/Practicum training is designed to provide students with practical clinical experience to develop individual and group counseling skills.  The Internship/Practicum experience will include 15-20 hours in the clinic per week for a minimum of 700 clock hours on-site. Students will engage in a range of clinical experiences with a minimum of 280 hours of direct, face-to-face contact with patients.  These experiences are designed to provide students with opportunities to engage in some of the counseling activities that a licensed counselor will be expected to perform throughout their career.  All clinical experiences will be supervision by licensed clinicians with expertise in the provision of mental health services.

Clinical Competency Exam

In the spring and summer quarters of the second year, students will complete the Clinical Competency Exam (CCE) as the final milestone for the MA degree.  The purpose of the CCE is to demonstrate competence that is sufficient for minimally competent supervised clinical practice at the master’s level. The CCE involves completion of an evidence-based case study, written and taped practice samples, and an oral exam by a faculty committee to determine clinical competence.

  Tuition & Financial Aid

Information on tuition can be found at the   tuition and fees page   on The Graduate School’s website.

All students admitted to the MA program receive a Graduate Scholarship that provides a 45 percent tuition remission for each of the eight quarters of the program.

Additional information on financial aid is provided through our   Chicago Office of Financial Aid   and through the   financial aid pages   of The Graduate School’s website.

How to Apply

Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis until the final deadline of May 1. Offers will also be made on a rolling basis until the incoming cohort class is completely filled. Applicants may be asked to do a phone or video interview before an offer is made for admission. Onsite interviews will not be conducted, nor will individual tours of the program be provided to applicants; however, interested applicants are always welcome to visit the campus. 

To apply, complete the steps listed below.

Our program eliminated the GRE General Test as an admissions requirement for the 2021-2022 class. In an effort to maximize holistic review and move toward greater equity and fairness in our admissions process, we will continue to NOT accept or consider GRE scores for applications. Applicants should NOT submit their GRE scores through ETS nor report their scores in the application portal or on their CVs or personal statements. We will revisit our GRE policy annually.

  1. Complete the online application form.

Online applications will open in September. Deadline for receipt of completed applications and supporting materials for the MA program is May 1, although applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis and offers of admissions will also be made on a rolling basis until the cohort is filled.

To begin the application process, read the instructions and complete the application on   The Graduate School website . In the Personal Information section on page one, choose “Clinical Psychology: MA (C30MA)” as your Academic Program from the pull-down menu (Select "Feinberg School of Medicine" to find it faster).

The nonrefundable application fee must be paid via credit card at the time of application submission; it will not be processed without payment. The application fee cannot be waived by the PhD program; however, eligible students can apply for a fee waiver .   See additional information regarding the application fee.

  2. Please DO NOT request that ETS submit official GRE scores!

  3. toefl, ielts, or met scores.

• Providing official scores for either the TOEFL, IELTS, or MET exam. The test must be taken no more than two years before the intended quarter of entry (e.g., if you are applying for fall 2025 entry, test scores must be no older than fall 2023.) For the TOEFL, you must score 577 or higher on the paper-based test, 233 or higher on the computer-based test, 90 or higher on the internet based test. For the IELTS, you must receive a score of 7.0 or higher. For the MET, you must receive a score of 54 or higher. We do not accept DuoLingo or TOEFL Essentials to meet the requirement.
• Providing transcripts verifying an undergraduate degree from an accredited four-year institution or equivalent, where the language of instruction is English. For your application, only unofficial transcripts are required. If you receive an offer of admission to our program, official transcripts will be required.

  4. Submit all supporting documents.

You will also need to submit the following supporting materials to complete your application. All of the supporting documents must be submitted online; paper or "hard" copies will not be accepted for the application. Please include the following supporting documents in your online application:

Letters of Recommendation

Transcripts.

Transcripts from each postsecondary institution you attended are required for your application to be complete. You must   upload scanned versions of your official transcripts online . We no longer will accept paper copies in the mail.

If you are accepted into the program, TGS will require that you submit official paper copies of your transcripts (including degree awarding transcripts) directly to its admission office. TGS will compare the official transcripts received via mail to the versions uploaded during the application process to ensure that no tampering/fraud occurred. Any student found to have submitted false documentation during the application process will be immediately dismissed. Registration holds will be placed on any student’s account if their official transcripts are not received by the end of the first quarter of enrollment.

Academic Statement

Please include the following information in the Academic Statement you complete as part of   your online application :

• Discuss how your background, life experiences, educational preparation, research experience and clinical exposure have contributed to your decision to pursue this degree at this point in your life.
• Indicate what you hope to obtain from your MA degree, and what you ultimately want to do after graduating from our program.
• Discuss your specific areas of interests in clinical psychology. You are welcome to discuss your alignment with specific research or clinical emphasis.

You are encouraged to submit abstracts or reprints as supplementary uploads. Please write succinctly (one to two pages, single-spaced, in a 12-point font).

Personal Statement

You are welcome to complete the optional Personal Statement according to the instructions provided on the online application. 

For more information on the differences between the Academic and Personal Statements, see  https://www.tgs.northwestern.edu/admission/application-procedures/application-requirements/essays.html  

  Is the MA program in Clinical Psychology a STEM program?

The MA Program in Clinical Psychology is not identified as a Science, Technology, Engineering, or Mathematics (STEM) program. 

  Can I apply to the MA program separate from the PhD Program

Yes! The MA program is a separate program from the PhD program, with a separate admissions process, requirements, and degree type (Master of Arts).

  Is the MA program funded?

Yes, all students in the MA program receive a 45% tuition scholarship.  See 'Tuition and Financial Aid" above. Students are responsible for the remaining 55% tuition expense.  The MA program does not provide a stipend. MA students, however, are allowed to have employment outside of the MA program (either within or outside of Northwestern).  

  Are there specific prerequisites for the MA program?

  can i transfer credits from another university,   does the program accept 3-year international undergraduate degrees must the degree be wes evaluated,   does the program provide a waiver for the application fee.

Application fee waivers are not provided by the University or the MA Program. You can learn more about the application fee here:  https://www.tgs.northwestern.edu/admission/application-procedures/application-requirements/fee.html  

Please do not contact the MA program to request a waiver of the application fee. 

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2023-2024 Edition

Psychology PhD

Degree requirements.

The following requirements are in addition to, or further elaborate upon, those requirements outlined in  The Graduate School Policy Guide .

The department offers no terminal master's degree, but students must earn a master's degree as one of the requirements for the PhD degree. To obtain the MA or MS degree, students take the courses required for the specialized field and complete a master's thesis.

Total Units Required: 27

  See Department Guide for more Information

Other PhD Requirements

• Examinations: For admission to candidacy, written examination or paper.
• Research/Projects:  In addition to master's project and PhD dissertation, students are expected to engage in supervised research projects
• PhD Dissertation:  Result of independent research in specialized field
• Final Evaluations:  Oral examination on dissertation
• Other:  Teaching assignment ( see department guide )

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Turn your passion into a lifetime of learning

A PhD from Kellogg provides you with a solid foundation within your discipline, exposes you to new ideas and equips you with the tools necessary to engage in research as you discover solutions to today’s most challenging problems.

As you explore the PhD program, get an understanding of the degree requirements, funding and the application process.

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A non-refundable $95 fee must be paid by credit or debit card within the online application. The application fee is $175 for those applicants participating in the dual application option with the Economics PhD program. For those who wish to be considered for a fee waiver, please refer to the Northwestern Graduate School’s website .

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Kellogg’s PhD program welcomes highly-motivated candidates dedicated to their field of study. The program is tailored to individual backgrounds, qualifications and research interests, with an annual class size of 20-25 students.

Our students are distinguished by a deep curiosity for learning and the desire to be inspired by new challenges. Our PhD programs are ideally suited for those with backgrounds in the social sciences, such as economics, political science, psychology and sociology, as well as those with interests as diverse as engineering, math or the natural sciences.

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Policy Aug 26, 2024

People want to know sustainable policies can work. so show them., success stories about policies from other countries make people more likely to support similar policies in the u.s., new research finds..

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From rising sea levels to extreme weather events, climate change is considered one of the largest threats to human existence . The longer we delay action, the worse the potential consequences.

But while many people in the U.S. believe addressing climate change is important , doing something about it can be challenging, as structural and other societal factors can get in the way.

“When it comes to sustainability, it’s hard to get people to behave differently,” says Matejas Mackin , a Kellogg doctoral student in marketing. “For example, it’s great to bike or walk to work instead of driving, but unless you live in one of a few U.S. cities, that may not be possible because public transportation infrastructure is insufficient.”

Trevor Spelman , a Kellogg doctoral student in management and organizations, adds that “there’s a strong aversion to changing the status quo.” Inertia can be a powerful factor that prevents people, even motivated ones, from acting.

So the students teamed up with Adam Waytz , a Kellogg professor of management and organizations, to see whether they could design an intervention that would make people more amenable to taking action. Specifically, the researchers developed ways to educate people about the positive impact that sustainability policies were currently having in other countries. Then they tested the impact of this information in a series of experiments with U.S.-based participants.

“We hypothesized that if we could get people to think outside of their current here and now, they would be more amenable to different policies to promote sustainability,” Waytz says.

Across four studies, the researchers found that informing U.S. residents about the successful implementation of sustainability policies abroad, such as policies leading to new wind energy infrastructure and reduced automobile use, increased support for similar legislation at home. It also increased people’s intentions to change their behavior to align with the policies.

“We see this intervention as a potential tool that could collectively motivate citizens to take action to change their own personal behaviors, and importantly, to support these policies that challenge the status quo,” Spelman says.

Sustainability lessons from abroad

The researchers devised multiple experiments to assess how learning about sustainability policies and efforts outside the U.S. would impact how participants felt about domestic efforts. The studies collectively included over 2,500 participants, all based in the U.S.

“Lack of imagination is often a barrier to adopting novel behaviors.” — Adam Waytz

In one experiment, for example, a group of participants was shown a short article on sustainable urban-planning policies in Paris. These policies prioritized biking and walking over driving cars. A control group read an article on U.S.-based planning emphasizing driving. Multiple measures revealed that those who’d read about the Parisian sustainability policies subsequently expressed more support for similar policies and planning here in the U.S., such as repurposing on-street automobile parking for bike lanes. That group was also more likely to express intent to engage in sustainable behavior such as reducing reliance on cars.

“Lack of imagination is often a barrier to adopting novel behaviors,” Waytz says.

“And so seeing transformative policies implemented abroad,” Mackin adds, “makes people feel like, ‘Maybe I can support these kinds of policies at home.’”

This is true even for policies that could directly impact participants, the researchers found. When the team ran a similar study on Chicago residents specifically, they found that learning about the success of urban-planning policies in Paris increased their support for policies that would improve public transportation and reduce automobile traffic on Lake Shore Drive, a major area thoroughfare.

“It’s an opportunity to see if people put their money where their mouth is by supporting a policy that might change their real-life status quo,” Spelman says.

A broad-ranging positive effect

This finding is not specific to urban planning. The researchers found similar results using an article about wind-energy infrastructure in Denmark.

The existing sustainability policies that participants learn about, moreover, needn’t be those from European or other Western, educated, industrialized, rich, democratic (what researchers call “WEIRD”) nations. Another follow-up study used both Colombia and France as reference countries, finding similar positive effects on U.S. participants for both. “So, it’s simply learning about a sustainable policy and its effectiveness in another country that leads to increased support domestically,” Spelman says.

Of note, the effect was evident for both self-identified Republicans and Democrats. “You might think conservatives may be less receptive to this kind of intervention because it means implicitly that America’s not ‘number one’ in this context or there’s less interest in sustainability,” Mackin says. “That’s not what we found.”

A route to change

The research suggests that even simple ways of communicating the success of sustainability policies abroad—such as via social media or brief blog posts—could have a big impact on how people view sustainability at home.

“There’s a growing trend on Twitter right now for this kind of messaging,” Spelman says. “It’s a tool that’s effectively applicable for both grassroots organizers and institutional policymakers to engage the population.”

The researchers started their effort looking at how to motivate U.S.-based participants, in part because of America’s outsized contribution to climate change and dependence on vehicles. But they don’t intend to stop there.

“We also want to explore how this applies across nations and different populations who receive this messaging. Everything we did was U.S.-centric,” Spelman says. “If we can teach people in the Netherlands about a process in Nepal that improves the city bus system, it would increase the scope of this all-hands-on-deck approach to climate change through this intervention.”

PhD student in marketing

PhD student in management and organizations

Morris and Alice Kaplan Professor of Ethics & Decision in Management; Professor of Management and Organizations; Professor of Psychology, Weinberg College of Arts & Sciences (Courtesy)

Sachin Waikar is a freelance writer based in Evanston, Illinois.

Mackin, Matejas, Trevor Spelman, and Adam Waytz. 2024. “Learning about successfully implemented sustainability policies abroad increases support for sustainable domestic policies.” Scientific Reports . Sci Rep 14, 11983.

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