Mission
Program Philosophy
Program Objectives
Accreditation
Disclosue of Education/Training Outcome

Greetings from the Program Director
Welcome to the Clinical Psychology Program at Midwestern University. Although it is a new program, the roots of our University extend back over 100 years to the establishment of our founding college, the Chicago College of Osteopathic Medicine in 1900. Midwestern University's osteopathic tradition of treating people, not just symptoms, fits closely with the practice of clinical psychology. Today, the Clinical Psychology Program joins a community of professional programs that educate and train the health professionals of tomorrow. As you pursue your studies, you will be learning in an exciting environment surrounded by students in osteopathic medicine, pharmacy, physician assistant studies, physical therapy, occupational therapy, and biomedical sciences. The interactions you will have in the classroom and throughout the campus with these future health care professionals will be an invaluable addition to your formal education and clinical experiences. During your time at Midwestern University, you will be learning in a welcoming atmosphere of professional development where faculty, students, and staff convey a team spirit. Dedicated basic science faculty and licensed clinicians with many years of practical experiences will serve to mentor you through the educational stages toward becoming a mental health practitioner.

In this new millennium, clinical psychologists are working in a greater array of settings then ever before in our professional history. The importance of the knowledge and clinical expertise possessed by persons completing a doctoral program in clinical psychology is being recognized in numerous arenas of practice. This is an exciting time in the evolution of clinical psychology, and I encourage you to recognize the full potential of earning an advanced degree in this field. To take advantage of the expanding market place, the Clinical Psychology Program at Midwestern University is designed to provide a premier educational and training experience in the practitioner-scholar model that can be adapted for many arenas of practice. You will receive a firm foundation and elaboration of the core areas of clinical psychology and learn to effectively apply the principles in clinical practice. Although our program does not emphasize any one theoretical model, this generalist approach emphasizes the biopsychosocial aspects of clinical psychology. With successful completion of your studies, you will be ready to succeed in todays challenging and diverse environment. Upon graduation, you will also enter the ranks of the select group of Midwestern University alumni who have shown remarkable success in private practice and many health care settings. I believe you will soon share my excitement for your choice of joining the Midwestern University family.

Frank J. Prerost, Ph.D.
Director, Clinical Psychology Program

Mission Statement
The Midwestern University Doctor of Psychology (Psy.D.) in Clinical Psychology Program is designed to educate and train students in the general practice of clinical psychology. The program integrates theory, research, professional practice, and training to provide an excellent education for a variety of careers in psychology and related behavioral sciences. The program prepares clinicians who can work with a diverse population of persons who are in need of psychological services.

Program Philosophy
The Doctor of Psychology in Clinical Psychology Program follows the practitioner-scholar model of preparation that was accepted by the American Psychological Association at the Vail Conference. This model recognizes the ongoing need in society for expertly trained practitioners in the field of clinical psychology. The practitioner-scholar philosophy dictates that competent practitioners are required to have an extensive understanding of the theoretical principles in the clinical practice of psychology and the ability to utilize the knowledge in specific clinical situations. This program has the philosophy of educating and training individuals to enter careers emphasizing the delivery of direct psychological services and consultation. Relevant theory, research, and field experiences are integrated toward the development of competent and ethical practitioners who are respectful of individual and cultural differences in the provision of psychological services, and promote the importance of the biopsychosocial model in the assessment and treatment of individuals.

Students are only admitted into the PsyD Program. There is no separate master degree program. Students in the PsyD program may elect to earn a master degree while pursuing the doctoral degree.

Program Objectives
The Doctor of Psychology in Clinical Psychology degree is designed to be a professional degree similar to the doctoral degrees provided in medicine, law, pharmacy, physical therapy, and dentistry. The Psy.D. has become the degree of choice for persons interested in becoming a high-level practitioner when pursuing a career in clinical psychology. The curriculum for the program does not follow any one theoretical perspective. The program includes an expansive and diverse training model that includes a wide range of theoretical perspectives that have a sound psychological knowledge and research base. The emphasis is upon the development of the essential diagnostic, therapeutic, and consultative skills for the practice of clinical psychology in a variety of settings. Students receive clinical training experiences beginning in the first year of study through a supervised clerkship.

The program of study follows the objectives of the training models endorsed by the American Psychological Association and the National Council of Schools and Programs of Professional Psychology. Students are educated and trained in the core competency areas related to the current body of knowledge on the biological aspects of behavior, cognitive and affective aspects of behavior, social aspects of behavior, history and systems of psychology, psychological measurement, research methodology, techniques of data analysis, individuals differences, human development, dysfunctional behavior and psychopathology, professional standards and ethics, theories and methods of assessment and diagnosis, effective interventions, consultation, supervision, efficacy of interventions, and issues of cultural and individual diversity. The curriculum also has a strong emphasis on understanding the uses of pharmacotherapies for mental disorders.

Practicum training in the second and third year of study is completed at numerous hospitals, agencies, and organizations throughout the Chicago metropolitan area. Midwestern University has an extensive network of training sites established for a variety of health care professions including medicine, psychiatry, physician assistant studies, physical therapy, occupational therapy, and pharmacy. Alumni of Midwestern University are practicing as clinicians, educators, supervisors, and administrators at many facilities throughout the State of Illinois.

Although the Doctor of Psychology (Psy.D.) Program in Clinical Psychology will seek the status as an approved program from the American Psychological Association at the earliest time, this status is not necessary for graduates to become licensed in the State of Illinois.

Licensure requirement and standards for professional practice vary from state to state and prospective students are urged to examine the requirements of the specific state in which they plan to practice. The Association of State and Provincial Psychology Boards can provide useful information on this issue.

Accreditation
Midwestern University is accredited by The Higher Learning Commission, A Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools (HLC/NCA), 30 North LaSalle St., Suite 2400, Chicago, IL 60602.

Since MWU’s Clinical Psychology Program is relatively new, it is not accredited by the American Psychological Association (APA). The program applied for APA accreditation as soon as it was eligible and an accreditation site visit was completed in April of 2007. Accreditation information can be obtained from the Committee on Accreditation of the American Psychological Association, 750 First Street NE; Washington, DC 20002-4242. Phone: 202-336-5979; TDD/TTY: 202-336-6123. Web Site: http://www.apa.org/ed/accreditation/status.html