Master of Science (M.S.) in Clinical Psychology
College: College of Liberal Arts
Department: Psychology
Student Type: Graduate Semester
Degree: Master of Science (M.S.)
Campus: Lisle Campus
Introduction
If you are making a commitment to professional training, it is a significant life decision. It takes more to become a successful clinical counselor than any college or university can teach you. Beyond the textbooks and assessments, individuals must dedicate themselves willingly to human service. It should be noted that the work of a counselor requires a variety of interpersonal and attitudinal skills. Some of these skills can be taught and are cultivated in the program. Other important traits associated with being a counseling professional include, but are not limited to, carrying a curious and respectful demeanor toward others, offering respect to others, being open to feedback and bringing tolerance and temperance to learning and to relationships. These are considerations that are relevant in planning a career as a counselor. Self-reflection and self-understanding will go a long way in assisting the prospective student in finding the right career fit.
Anyone entering the field of clinical counseling also must understand that despite the expertise of the counselor, or the advances in available treatment, the accessible knowledge and wisdom in the profession will always fall short of public hope and expectation. This fosters a healthy modesty about the value and power of this helping profession. But it also makes it essential that counselors maintain a willingness to learn, develop and hold themselves with both the competence and the courage they will need to act upon the wisdom their experiences have afforded them.
Overview
For more than 35 years, the Clinical Psychology program at Benedictine University has been preparing students for careers in counseling, psychotherapy, mental health services and social services for all age groups. The Clinical Psychology program consists of academic and professional education that emphasizes client-centered skill training. However, care is taken to introduce students to a variety of theoretical orientations. Extensive field experience in mental health settings is also an essential part of the requirements. The curriculum provides all the courses that the state of Illinois requires of applicants to take the licensing examinations. This includes both the Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) examination and the Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor (LCPC) examination. The program also offers an excellent foundation for future doctoral study. With a superior reputation for preparing students for the workforce, our graduates are employed primarily in private practice, public mental health centers, hospitals, residential treatment facilities and social service agencies serving individuals and families.
Starting the Program
Students are admitted to Benedictine’s Clinical Psychology program five times per year, at the beginning and middle of the fall and spring semesters and at the start of the summer semester. Both day and evening classes are available. A new student orientation meeting is scheduled at the start of each semester for all new students. In addition, each new student meets with his or her academic advisor to create a curricular plan that fits the student’s interests, individual commitments and responsibilities. Individual advising is then provided regularly throughout the student’s academic career.
Policies
All students are required to have satisfactorily completed undergraduate courses in Introduction to Psychology, Abnormal Psychology, and a course in Statistics. At least two of these classes must be taken prior to being considered for admission to the program. The remaining undergraduate courses may be taken concurrently with graduate work. Recognizing that there are professional competencies and conduct not measurable by academic achievement, the graduate program and the University reserve the right to discontinue students who, in the judgment of the faculty, do not meet the standards promulgated by professional organizations in the human services field in which the student is studying.
Career Opportunities
Graduates are employed primarily in private practice and public mental health centers, hospitals, residential treatment facilities and social service agencies serving individuals, families and special clientele of various age groups. Others are in academic institutions, staff training and development or are engaged in doctoral studies.
Psychology & MCP 3+2
Students who major in psychology and who plan to complete the Master’s in Clinical Psychology (MCP) program at Benedictine can apply to the Psychology & MCP 3+2 program. High school seniors will apply to the Psychology & MCP 3 + 2 Program at the time of their admission to the University. Requirements to apply will include a high school GPA of 3.200 and one letter of recommendation from their high school psychology instructor or advisor. Applicants will be interviewed by the MCP program director in the summer before their first year to determine their suitability (maturity and motivation) for the program and the profession and will be conditionally admitted to the 3+2 program before the start of their fall semester.
Those students who are accepted to the 3+2 will then complete a psychology major, all general education requirements along with elective credits completing at minimum 90 hours by May of their junior year. Students must maintain a minimum GPA of 3.000 to remain in 3 + 2 program. Application to the graduate program will be finalized with the submission of all application materials currently required of MCP applicants (career goals, autobiographical statement, and 3 additional letters of recommendation) by February of their junior year.
Current BU psychology majors who wish to transition to the 3 + 2 program must begin the application process and sit for an interview before the start of their junior year. They must also be on track to complete the required 90 hours of undergraduate coursework and complete the application process by the end of their junior year. Students must maintain a minimum of a 3.000 GPA to be eligible to complete the application process. Those students who have met the requirements and successfully completed the application process by May of their junior year will be formally accepted into the MCP program and will begin MCP coursework in the summer after their junior year.
Students will complete 30 credit hours of Masters-level Clinical Psychology coursework by May of their 4th year. These 30 credit hours are taken for graduate credit as part of undergraduate degree record and will satisfy up to the final 30 hours of their undergraduate degree as elective credits. After conferral of their undergraduate degree these 30 credit hours of MCP coursework will also be transferred to their graduate degree record to count towards the MCP program. Thus, by May of their 4th year, students will have completed at minimum120 hours toward their BA degree in psychology and will have completed their first year as an MCP student. Students must apply for undergraduate graduation through MyBenU during Fall of their fourth (senior) year at the latest to graduate in Spring of their senior year. After one more year of full- time enrollment, these students will graduate with an MS in Clinical Psychology in spring or summer of their 5th year of enrollment at the University. For students that have completed more than 90 credit hours before starting their MCP coursework, they must only complete a minimum of 120 credit hours total to be considered eligible for their undergraduate psychology degree. In such cases students may apply for earlier undergraduate graduation and may apply less than 30 credit hours of Masters-level Clinical Psychology coursework towards their undergraduate degree.
Student Type: Graduate Quarter
Campus: Lisle Campus
Students may not enter the M.S. in Clinical Psychology program on quarters after the Spring 2021 term.
Existing students should refer to original catalog of entry for appropriate academic requirements.
Semester Curriculum
Organized by Licensure Category. The Clinical Psychology program requires 60 semester credit hours at minimum for graduation.
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Group | ||
| CPSY 6516 | Group Process 1 | 1 |
| CPSY 6633 | Group Counseling and Psychotherapy 1 | 2 |
| Professional Practice, Ethics and Law | ||
| CPSY 6601 | Professional, Ethical and Legal Issues in Counseling I 1 | 2 |
| CPSY 6602 | Professional, Ethical and Legal Issues in Counseling II 1 | 1 |
| Psychopathology | ||
| CPSY 6603 | Clinical Interviewing and DSM 1 | 2 |
| CPSY 6651 | Maladaptive Behavior and Psychopathology 1 | 2 |
| CPSY 6622 | Dialectical Behavior Therapy | 2 |
| Counseling Techniques | ||
| CPSY 6607 | Counseling Laboratory 1 | 2 |
| Select one of the following: 1 | 2 | |
| Principles of Behavior Therapy | ||
| Cognitive Therapy | ||
| Brief Counseling and Psychotherapy | ||
| Introduction to Art Therapy | ||
| Theory and Practice of Play Therapy with Children | ||
| Counseling Theory | ||
| CPSY 6629 | Theory and Practice of Counseling and Psychotherapy 1 | 2 |
| CPSY 6630 | Theory and Techniques of Counseling and Psychotherapy 1 | 2 |
| Career Counseling | ||
| CPSY 6658 | Career Counseling, Testing and Planning 1 | 1 |
| CPSY 6659 | Job Search Strategies 1 | 2 |
| Appraisal | ||
| CPSY 6664 | Psychological Assessment: Measurement and Test Evaluation 1 | 1 |
| CPSY 6665 | Psychological Assessment: Personality Evaluation and Report Writing 1 | 2 |
| Family | ||
| CPSY 6672 | Marriage and Family: Systems and Theory 1 | 2 |
| CPSY 6673 | Workshop in Marital Therapy 1 | 2 |
| Social and Cultural Foundations | ||
| CPSY 6683 | Social and Cultural Foundations 1 | 2 |
| CPSY 6684 | Workshop in Counseling the Diverse Populations 1 | 1 |
| Human Growth and Development | ||
| Select two of the following: | 4 | |
| Human Development: Infancy and Childhood | ||
| Human Development: Adolescence | ||
| Human Development: Adulthood | ||
| Substance Abuse | ||
| CPSY 6550 | Understanding Family Roles in Substance Use Disorder Treatment 1 | 2 |
| CPSY 6551 | Substance Use Disorders: Diagnosis and Treatment 1 | 2 |
| Practical Experience and Internship | ||
| Select seven credit hours of the following: 2 | 7 | |
| Supervised Field Experience in Mental Health I 1 | ||
| Supervised Field Experience in Mental Health II 1 | ||
| Research Development and Utilization 3 | ||
| Select one of the following tracks: 1 | 3-7 | |
Track A: Non-thesis option | ||
| Methods of Research | ||
| Research in Counseling and Psychotherapy | ||
Track B | ||
| Methods of Research | ||
| Research in Counseling and Psychotherapy | ||
| Master's Thesis | ||
| Elective Courses | ||
| Select courses for a total minimum of 60 credits of the following: | 5-9 | |
| The Physiology and Pharmacology of Psychotherapeutic Drugs | ||
| Psychology of Women | ||
| Grief and Loss | ||
| Independent Study | ||
| Stress Management | ||
| Substance Related Disorders: Application of Theory | ||
| Brief Counseling and Psychotherapy | ||
| Problems in Counseling and Psychotherapy | ||
| Human Sexuality | ||
| Behavior Disorders of Childhood | ||
| Readings in Clinical Psychology | ||
| Supervised Field Experience in Human Services, Student Personnel, Supervision, Teaching and Research | ||
| Total Hours | 60 | |
- 1
Indicates program core requirement.
- 2
A background check is required of all students prior to going out on placement.
- 3
Credit hours are counted as elective credit.
Concentrations
Subspecialty Tracks
The subspecialty tracks allow students to develop special expertise in psychological approaches to understand and treat specific populations. Students who enroll in a subspecialty track complete the core courses required of all students. In addition, they complete a series of classes in the subspecialty and acquire clinical experience relevant to the area. A concentration is not required to graduate from the program.
Courses required for a Child Subspecialty are as follows:
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Core Courses | ||
| CPSY 6646 | Human Development: Infancy and Childhood | 2 |
| CPSY 6647 | Human Development: Adolescence | 2 |
| CPSY 6664 | Psychological Assessment: Measurement and Test Evaluation | 1 |
| Eelctive Courses | ||
| CPSY 6560 | Principles of Behavior Therapy | 2 |
| CPSY 6650 | Introduction to Art Therapy | 2 |
| CPSY 6653 | Behavior Disorders of Childhood | 2 |
| CPSY 6655 | Theory and Practice of Play Therapy with Children | 2 |
| Clinical Field Placement 1 | ||
| CPSY 6690 | Supervised Field Experience in Mental Health I | 1-6 |
| or CPSY 6691 | Supervised Field Experience in Mental Health II | |
| Total Hours | 14-19 | |
- 1
In a setting treating children and adolescents
Courses required for a Marriage and Family Subspecialty are as follows:
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Core Courses | ||
| CPSY 6550 | Understanding Family Roles in Substance Use Disorder Treatment | 2 |
| CPSY 6551 | Substance Use Disorders: Diagnosis and Treatment | 2 |
| CPSY 6648 | Human Development: Adulthood | 2 |
| CPSY 6672 | Marriage and Family: Systems and Theory | 2 |
| CPSY 6673 | Workshop in Marital Therapy | 2 |
| Electives | ||
| CPSY 6580 | Psychology of Women | 2 |
| CPSY 6649 | Human Sexuality | 2 |
| Clinical Field Placement 1 | ||
| CPSY 6690 | Supervised Field Experience in Mental Health I | 1-6 |
| or CPSY 6691 | Supervised Field Experience in Mental Health II | |
| Total Hours | 15-20 | |
- 1
In a setting treating families and couples.
Courses required for an Addictions Subspecialty are as follows:
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Core Courses | ||
| CPSY 6550 | Understanding Family Roles in Substance Use Disorder Treatment | 2 |
| CPSY 6551 | Substance Use Disorders: Diagnosis and Treatment | 2 |
| CPSY 6648 | Human Development: Adulthood | 2 |
| Electives | ||
| CPSY 6510 | The Physiology and Pharmacology of Psychotherapeutic Drugs | 2 |
| CPSY 6616 | Stress Management | 2 |
| CPSY 6619 | Substance Related Disorders: Application of Theory | 2 |
| CPSY 6649 | Human Sexuality | 2 |
| Clinical Field Replacement 1 | ||
| CPSY 6690 | Supervised Field Experience in Mental Health I | 1-6 |
| or CPSY 6691 | Supervised Field Experience in Mental Health II | |
| Total Hours | 15-20 | |
- 1
In a setting serving families and couples. Supervision must be provided by a Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor.
Declaring a subspecialty is not a requirement.
Quarter Curriculum
Organized by Licensure Category. The Clinical Psychology program requires 90 quarter credit hours at minimum
for graduation.
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Group | ||
| MCP 6516 | Group Process 1 | 2 |
| MCP 6633 | Group Counseling and Psychotherapy 1 | 3 |
| Professional Practice, Ethics and Law | ||
| MCP 6601 | Professional, Ethical and Legal Issues in Counseling I 1 | 3 |
| MCP 6602 | Professional, Ethical and Legal Issues in Counseling II 1 | 2 |
| Psychopathology | ||
| MCP 6603 | Clinical Interviewing and DSM 1 | 3 |
| MCP 6651 | Maladaptive Behavior and Psychopathology 1 | 3 |
| Counseling Techniques | ||
| Select two of the following: | 4-6 | |
| Principles of Behavior Modification | ||
| Counseling Laboratory | ||
| Cognitive Therapy | ||
| Brief Counseling and Psychotherapy | ||
| Introduction to Art Therapy | ||
| Behavior Disorders of Childhood | ||
| Theory and Practice of Play Therapy with Children | ||
| Counseling Theory | ||
| MCP 6629 | Theory and Practice of Counseling and Psychotherapy 1 | 3 |
| MCP 6630 | Theory and Techniques of Counseling and Psychotherapy 1 | 3 |
| Career Counseling | ||
| MCP 6658 | Career Counseling, Testing and Planning 1 | 2 |
| MCP 6659 | Job Search Strategies 1 | 3 |
| Appraisal | ||
| MCP 6664 | Psychological Assessment: Measurement and Test Evaluation 1 | 2 |
| MCP 6665 | Psychological Assessment: Personality Evaluation and Report Writing 1 | 3 |
| Family | ||
| MCP 6672 | Marriage and Family: Systems and Theory 1 | 3 |
| MCP 6673 | Workshop in Marital Therapy 1 | 3 |
| Social and Cultural Foundations | ||
| MCP 6683 | Social and Cultural Foundations 1 | 3 |
| MCP 6684 | Workshop in Counseling the Diverse Populations 1 | 2 |
| Human Growth and Development | ||
| Select two of the following: | 6 | |
| Human Development: Infancy and Childhood | ||
| Human Development: Adolescence | ||
| Human Development: Adulthood | ||
| Substance Abuse | ||
| MCP 6550 | Addiction and the Family 1 | 3 |
| MCP 6551 | Alcohol and Other Substances of Abuse 1 | 3 |
| MCP 6619 | Substance Related Disorders: Application of Theory | 3 |
| Practical Experience and Internship | ||
| Select 10 quarter credit hours of the following: 2 | 10 | |
| Supervised Field Experience in Mental Health I 1 | ||
| Supervised Field Experience in Mental Health II 1 | ||
| Research Development and Utilization | ||
| Select one of the following tracks: | 7-9 | |
Track A: Non-thesis option | ||
| Methods of Research 1 | ||
| Research in Counseling and Psychotherapy 1 | ||
Track B | ||
| Methods of Research 1 | ||
| Research in Counseling and Psychotherapy 1 | ||
| Master's Thesis 3 | ||
| Elective Courses | ||
| Select courses for a total minimum of 90 credits of the following: | 7-11 | |
| The Physiology and Pharmacology of Psychotherapeutic Drugs | ||
| Psychology of Women | ||
| Grief and Loss | ||
| Independent Study | ||
| Stress Management | ||
| Substance Related Disorders: Application of Theory | ||
| Brief Counseling and Psychotherapy | ||
| Problems in Counseling and Psychotherapy | ||
| Human Sexuality | ||
| Behavior Disorders of Childhood | ||
| Readings in Counseling Psychology | ||
| Supervised Field Experience in Human Services, Student Personnel, Supervision, Teaching and Research | ||
| Total Hours | 86-94 | |
- 1
Indicates program core requirement.
- 2
A background check is required of all students prior to going out on placement.
- 3
Credit hours are counted as elective credit.
Concentrations
Subspecialty Tracks
The subspecialty tracks allow students to develop special expertise in psychological approaches to understand and treat specific populations. Students who enroll in a subspecialty track complete the core courses required of all students. In addition, they complete a series of classes in the subspecialty and acquire clinical experience relevant to the area. A concentration is not required to graduate from the program.
Courses required for a Child Subspecialty are as follows:
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Core Courses | ||
| MCP 6646 | Human Development: Infancy and Childhood | 3 |
| MCP 6647 | Human Development: Adolescence | 3 |
| MCP 6664 | Psychological Assessment: Measurement and Test Evaluation | 2 |
| Elective Courses | ||
| MCP 6560 | Principles of Behavior Modification | 3 |
| MCP 6650 | Introduction to Art Therapy | 3 |
| MCP 6653 | Behavior Disorders of Childhood | 3 |
| MCP 6655 | Theory and Practice of Play Therapy with Children | 3 |
| Clinical Field Placement 1 | ||
| MCP 6690 | Supervised Field Experience in Mental Health I | 1-6 |
| or MCP 6691 | Supervised Field Experience in Mental Health II | |
| Total Hours | 21-26 | |
- 1
In a setting treating children and adolescents
Courses required for a Marriage and Family Subspecialty are as follows:
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Core Courses | ||
| MCP 6550 | Addiction and the Family | 3 |
| MCP 6551 | Alcohol and Other Substances of Abuse | 3 |
| MCP 6648 | Human Development: Adulthood | 3 |
| MCP 6672 | Marriage and Family: Systems and Theory | 3 |
| MCP 6673 | Workshop in Marital Therapy | 3 |
| Electives | ||
| MCP 6580 | Psychology of Women | 3 |
| MCP 6649 | Human Sexuality | 3 |
| Clinical Field Placement 1 | ||
| MCP 6690 | Supervised Field Experience in Mental Health I | 1-6 |
| or MCP 6691 | Supervised Field Experience in Mental Health II | |
| Total Hours | 22-27 | |
- 1
In a setting treating families and couples.
Courses required for an Addictions Subspecialty are as follows:
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Core Courses | ||
| MCP 6550 | Addiction and the Family | 3 |
| MCP 6551 | Alcohol and Other Substances of Abuse | 3 |
| MCP 6648 | Human Development: Adulthood | 3 |
| Electives | ||
| MCP 6510 | The Physiology and Pharmacology of Psychotherapeutic Drugs | 3 |
| MCP 6616 | Stress Management | 3 |
| MCP 6619 | Substance Related Disorders: Application of Theory | 3 |
| MCP 6649 | Human Sexuality | 3 |
| Clinical Field Placement 1 | ||
| MCP 6690 | Supervised Field Experience in Mental Health I | 1-6 |
| or MCP 6691 | Supervised Field Experience in Mental Health II | |
| Total Hours | 22-27 | |
- 1
In a setting serving families and couples. Supervision must be provided by a Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor.
Declaring a subspecialty is not a requirement.
Clinical Psychology - CPSY
Clinical Psychology - MCP
Our faculty do not simply lecture, they involve you. In the classroom, you will be guided through a learning environment that builds as much on your own experience and understanding as on theirs. Most importantly, they couple exemplary credentials with up-to-date knowledge, keeping them at the cutting edge of their professions and their disciplines.
Faculty
Dianne R. Moran (1986), Ph.D., L.C.P.C.
Program Director, Clinical Psychology
Associate Professor, Psychology
Ph.D. 1988, University of Notre Dame
M.A. 1984, University of Notre Dame
B.A. 1979, University of Illinois at Chicago
Brian Patterson (2007), Ph.D.
Department Chair, Clinical Psychology
Associate Professor, Psychology
Ph.D. 2007, DePaul University
M.A. 2003, DePaul University
B.A. 1990, University of Mount Union
Patricia Somers (2013), PhD., L.C.P.C.
Clinical Psychology
Associate Professor, Psychology
Ph.D. Walden University
M.A. 1994, Liberty University
B.A. 1969, University of Illinois, Champaign
Students in the Masters of Clinical Psychology program will achieve the following student learning outcomes (SLO):
Student Learning Outcome 1: Evaluate and utilize current research related to clinical practice
• University SLO: 2. Critical and creative thinking; 1. Disciplinary Competence and Skills
Student Learning Outcome 2: Utilize ethical decision-making in clinical practice
• University SLO: 2. Critical and creative thinking; 7. Civic Engagement and Social Responsibility
Student Learning Outcome 3: Apply multiculturally appropriate counseling skills with diverse client populations
• University SLO: 6. Global Awareness and Cultural Competence
Student Learning Outcome 4: Apply developmental theory and research to human subjects
• University SLO: 2. Critical and creative thinking; 1. Disciplinary Competence and Skills