Psy.D. Clinical Forensic Psychology | The Chicago School (2024)

• $50 application fee
• GPA from undergraduate and any graduate schools; generally an undergraduate or graduate GPA of 3.0 or higher on a 4.0 scale is required for admission
• Successful work history after completion of the baccalaureate degree
• The admission essay
• Three letters of recommendation from academic professors or supervisors from professional or volunteer experiences
• Bachelor's degree from an accredited institution
• 15 semester hours of psychology (or related field) credit at the undergraduate or graduate level, including a course in Abnormal Psychology and a course in Statistics
• The admission interview

The Psy.D. Clinical Forensic Psychology program is designed to meet the educational requirements for licensure or certification as required for employment as a forensic psychologist. For additional information on where The Chicago School meets, does not meet, or has not determined if the program meets licensure eligibility requirements for the state in which you wish to be licensed, please visit: .

Practicum

The practicum is an integral component of clinical psychology training. It provides a closely supervised clinical experience in which students use the knowledge obtained in the classroom to understand their clients and to develop skills in assessment, psychotherapy, and other discipline related areas. As such, the practicum serves to integrate the theoretical and practical aspects of the education of the professional psychologist. It allows students to become familiar with professional collaboration and consultation in a clinical setting. All students are required to complete at least six semester hours each of Assessment and Therapy practicum. Additional Advanced and Supplemental practicum experiences are available. Practicum requires successful completion of at least 1,200 hours of supervised clinical training; at least 600 hours accrued each academic year during two consecutive semesters; over at least a nine-month period; and with at least 40-60% direct service hours. Some or all Comprehensive Psychological Test Batteries may be completed at practicum.

Students registered in this program incur a one-time $195 Experiential Learning Technology Fee.

Internship

All students are required to complete an approved internship following the completion of all course work, practicum, and dissertation requirements. At internship, students integrate academic knowledge with clinical skills and demonstrate the effective and ethical use of these skills in clinical practice. Through intensive supervised training, students gain direct experience in applying their knowledge with a clinical or clinical forensic population. Internship requires successful completion of at least 2,000 hours of supervised clinical training at a site, and with supervision, that is acceptable for licensure by the California Board of Psychology. Some or all Comprehensive Psychological Test Batteries may be completed at internship.

Clinical Forensic Competency Examinations

Students completing the Clinical Forensic Psychology Psy.D. program are required to complete the Assessment and Therapy Clinical Forensic Competency Examinations (CFCE). The aim of the Assessment CFCE is to evaluate the student’s knowledge regarding psychological testing and psychometric theory, as well as her or his ability to assess the various dimensions of human experience in an ethical, culturally sensitive, and professional manner. The goal of the Therapy CFCE is to examine the student’s ability to apply the theory, research, and practice of a chosen theory of intervention, as well as her or his ability to practice that theory competently and in an ethical, culturally sensitive, and professional manner. Ultimately, the CFCEs are both formative capstones used to measure student learning, and evaluative tools that allow the department to assess the student’s abilities as a future clinical forensic psychologist.

Dissertation

The dissertation is an essential aspect of a student’s academic experience and clinical training. The purpose of the dissertation is two-fold: 1) to provide evidence of a student’s mastery of the program’s required research and content competencies; and 2) to provide faculty with a measurement of program effectiveness. The student uses the dissertation to demonstrate mastery of four critical research objectives: 1) professionalism, 2) methodological rigor, 3) conceptual rigor, and 4) contribution to the field of clinical forensic psychology. These objectives form a summative rubric for dissertation evaluation. The student’s dissertation committee is responsible for assessing the student’s abilities and giving final approval to the dissertation.

Psychopathology

This course provides an in-depth survey and understanding of the range of mental disorders. The overall objective of the course is to enable students to appropriately diagnose psychopathology for purposes of efficacious treatment and the facilitation of clear clinical dialogue and agreement with fellow professionals. The course emphasizes research as it pertains to empirically-based treatments for a variety of mental health disorders. Additionally, issues of culture and gender as it relates to mental health diagnoses are discussed. Diagnostic criteria are drawn primarily from the DSM-V-TR with some contribution from other sources considered as appropriate.

Clinical and Diagnostic Interviewing

This course addresses theoretical and practical issues related to clinical forensic interviewing and diagnosing that includes information gathering, effective listening, rapport building, and the assessment of mental status. In addition, the impact of culture and diversity on interviewing and diagnosing are explored.

Mental Health Law

This course explores in an advanced manner landmark legal cases that have shaped the activities and practices of mental health professionals, the civil rights of persons with mental disabilities, and the uses of mental health knowledge within the legal arena. Students are exposed to the legal system, constitutional law, and case law. Topics covered include, but are not limited to expert witness testimony, criminal responsibility (insanity), civil commitment (including that of sex offenders), civil and criminal competencies, confidentiality, and professional liability.

Graduates from the in-person Clinical Forensic Psychology Psy.D. program are prepared to apply their skills to a variety of fields and professions, including:

• Child welfare agencies
• Forensic units in state mental health facilities
• Jails and prisons
• Community mental health centers
• Juvenile correctional facilities
• Family courts
• Private practice
• Social service agencies

The Chicago School is dedicated to keeping our professional degree programs accessible to anyone regardless of financial status. In addition to the scholarships that may be available, our Financial Aid Department will provide you with information to determine what financial arrangements are right for you.

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