Psychology - Clinical-Counseling Psychology
Overview
The master's degree in the Clinical-Counseling Psychology Program provides rigorous training in basic areas of psychology and their application in assessment, counseling, and psychotherapeutic treatment.
To learn more about Clinical Psychology, see the American Psychological Association's Society of Clinical Psychology website. To learn more about Counseling Psychology, see the APA's Society of Counseling Psychology website.
One of the strengths of this Program has been the presence of faculty who have been trained in Clinical Psychology and Counseling Psychology, which has provided a valuable opportunity for collaboration between faculty and graduate students. The master's degree can be completed with two years of full time enrollment on campus.
Point of Pride
Students who complete the master's program in Clinical-Counseling Psychology are eligible to sit for both the Illinois Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor and Licensed Professional Counselor Examinations.
How to Apply
University Admission Requirements
A student applying to a master's program must:
- Have earned a four-year bachelor's degree or its equivalent from a college or prior to fall admission
- Send official transcripts from each college or university, other than Illinois State, where graduate, undergraduate, or non-degree credit was earned. Transcripts should be emailed from the school to Admissions@IllinoisState.edu or mailed in a sealed envelope to: Office of Admissions, Campus Box 2200, Normal, IL 61790-2200
International students can learn more about specific application requirements by visiting the Office of Admissions.
Additional Program Admission Requirements
A student applying to this program must:
- Submit a complete application by December 15
- Have a cumulative 3.0 GPA (on a 4.0 scale) for either the last 60 hours of undergraduate coursework or at least a 3.0 GPA for 9 hours of graduate coursework
- Have completed at least 15 hours of undergraduate psychology courses that include general psychology, psychological statistics, research methods, abnormal psychology, and learning theory. Applicants should have a proficiency in math based on a passing grade in finite math or Precalculus (MAT 120 or 144 or equivalent), a grade of B or better in psychological statistics (PSY 340 or equivalent) or a score of 144 or higher on the Quantitative Reasoning section of the GRE General Test. Applicants who have not completed the required undergraduate courses may be admitted, but the missing course(s) will be added to the master's program's curriculum. Any missing courses must be completed during the first year of graduate study.
A complete application requires:
- Official GRE General Test scores (use institution code 1319)
- A curriculum vitae or resume that includes the following information, if applicable:
- Any experiences (paid, unpaid, internship, volunteer, etc.) including dates, employer or organization, business addresses, and the nature of the experiences that are relevant to admission to this graduate program
- Any academic honors and awards including the year it was received and, if not evident from the title, briefly explain what the honor or award recognizes
- Any research experiences, skills, and accomplishments
- A writing sample (scholarly work approximately 5-15 pages long)
- A personal statement (approximately 2-3 pages, double-spaced that addresses the following:
- Professional and career goals
- Qualifications for admission to this graduate program
- Research interests and experiences
- Clinical practice interests
- Your interests in this graduate program
- How your interests and goals fit with this graduate program
- Three recommendations (see application instructions about providing names and email addresses; recommendations must be uploaded to the application)
Applicant Interview Day: March 1, 2019 (Friday)
Some applicants may be invited to visit the department during the spring semester. The Applicant Interview Day schedule includes meeting with current graduate students and other invited applicants, interviews with faculty members, lunch, and a late afternoon social. Invited applicants will be contacted by the graduate coordinator.
Admission is offered only for the fall semester and is very competitive. Meeting the minimum requirements does not guarantee admission. Admission offers are sent in February. The Council for Graduate Schools stipulates that an applicant has until April 15 to accept or decline an admission offer. Some admission offers may be delayed until applicants notify the department that they are declining admission.
Application Deadlines
- Fall (August) Term — December 15
- Spring (January) Term — No spring admission
- Summer (May/June) Term — No summer admission
Graduate Assistantships
The University provides graduate assistantships as a means of financial support. They are intended as a way to facilitate a student's progress to degree while providing important professional development.
Eligibility
To be eligible for an assistantship a student must, generally,
- be admitted as a degree-seeking student to a graduate program
- be in good-standing
- be enrolled full-time (typically at least 9 credits) during the fall or spring semesters
Benefits
Graduate assistants receive
- monthly wages paid in the form of either a stipend or an hourly wage
- a waiver for 100% of tuition during a semester of appointment
- a waiver for up to 12 credit hours of tuition for the summer term immediately following a fall or spring appointment
The department routinely awards graduate assistantships to applicants who accept admission to Illinois State. Applicants who accept our admission offer will receive information about completing the assistantship application process. Graduate assistantships are subject to verification of employment eligibility under U.S. immigration laws and the receipt of anticipated state funding.
Costs & Funding
See Student Accounts for information on tuition and fees. Funding for graduate students is available from several different sources. Students who have been admitted from continuous states including Iowa, Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Missouri, and Wisconsin will receive in-state tuition.