Clinical Psychology Program, Glendale Campus

To be considered for admission within our competitive selection process applicants must submit the following documented evidence:

• Completion of a bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited college or university.
• Minimum cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 3.00 on a 4.00 scale.
• Completion of 18 semester hours or equivalent of prerequisite coursework in psychology, with a grade of B- or better, including:
  • Introductory/General Psychology
  • Human Growth & Development or Personality Theory
  • Abnormal Psychology
  • Statistics or Tests and Measurements
• A personal statement that reflects the educational and career goals of applicants and provides a self-appraisal of their qualifications for the Program and profession. Applicants are encouraged to include explanations of any factors in their application materials that might impact evaluation of their application. 
• Three (3) letters of recommendation.

Full list of requirements

Application Deadline

Completed applications are reviewed by the Clinical Psychology Admissions Committee. Qualified candidates will be invited to participate in group interviews, during which candidates meet with Program faculty, staff, and students. All application materials, including evaluations in the interview process, are then reviewed by the Admissions Committee for final admissions decisions. Please see below for the application deadlines.

Priority Application Deadline - December 2nd

Applicants who submit their completed materials on or before December 2nd will be given first consideration for admission and will be notified of the admissions decision on or before February 17th. Those who are not accepted into the Program at this time will have the option of forwarding their application into the standard deadline (see below).

Standard Application Deadline - April 22nd

Applicants who submit their complete application on or before April 22nd will be considered for admission and will be notified of the admissions decision on or before May 22nd. Applications received after April 22nd will be considered on a rolling basis for seats that may be available or placement on the alternate list.

Scholarships

Midwestern University is pleased to announce that it will offer limited scholarships to first-year students enrolled in the 2024-2025 academic year.  The two types of scholarships available are:  

• Academic Excellence Scholarship - Academic excellence will be evaluated using information provided in the application, including undergraduate and graduate grade point average, GRE scores, academic, and clinical and research achievements and honors. 
• Diversity Scholarship - Consistent with MWU's commitment to fostering diversity in the health care field, the Diversity Scholarship recognizes students from diverse backgrounds, including cultural and individual differences.    

Students who are offered admission into the program will automatically be considered for one of these two scholarships.

Midwestern University’s Doctor of Clinical Psychology (Psy.D.) program utilizes a practitioner-scholar model for an extensive understanding of theoretical principles in psychology and then apply your knowledge to a clinical setting.

The APA-accredited Clinical Psychology Program at Midwestern University, Glendale Campus emphasizes a broad and general training in psychology designed to be completed in four years of full-time study. Utilizing a practitioner-scholar model, our program will help you develop an extensive understanding of the theoretical principles in the clinical practice of psychology and the ability to use that knowledge in a clinical setting. 

Through coursework and clinical training experiences, students develop the essential therapeutic, assessment, diagnostic, and consultative skills for a successful career as a clinical psychologist. Because the Clinical Psychology Program is housed within a medical school and healthcare environment, students have the opportunity to interact with many healthcare professionals. As part of an interprofessional approach, our training provides opportunities for professional interaction and collaboration with other healthcare professionals through various formal and informal activities such as research forums and community outreach and involvement activities. 

The Clinical Psychology curriculum is designed to be completed in four years. In the first three years, students complete all of their coursework and requisite practicum training experiences. In the fourth year, students complete a full-time, pre-doctoral Internship. Students also have the option to complete their program of study on a 5-year curriculum plan.

If students choose the option of applying to the Neuropsychology concentration/track, they will need to complete the program on a specialized 5-year curriculum plan.

Information about the curriculum plans for the 4-year, 5-year, and Neuropsychology track options can be found in the Academic Catalog. For specific questions, please email Adam Fried, the Program Director, at afried@midwestern.edu. 

Curriculum details

The Clinical Psychology Program at Midwestern University skillfully blends patient-centered learning in the sciences with a team-oriented, interdisciplinary approach to create an outstanding professional education that will take you into 21st century healthcare practice.

Individualized In-Depth Learning

Our comprehensive curriculum includes courses across a wide range of therapy modalities including CBT, psychodynamic, family systems, and group therapies. Under the guidance of our exceptional faculty, students receive unique training opportunities, including simulated patient learning experiences, individualized research mentorship with opportunities for professional publications and presentations, and interdisciplinary education with students from an array of healthcare professions.

Diverse Practicum Training Opportunities

Students receive supervised training in therapy and assessment (including neuropsychology) with children and adults at one of our 90 practicum field placements in the greater Phoenix area, including medical centers, psychiatric hospitals, veterans hospitals, private practices, specialized schools, prisons and other forensic settings, and at our Midwestern University Multispecialty Clinic.

Integrated Healthcare and Interdisciplinary Opportunities

Learning how to integrate psychology services into healthcare care settings is just one skill students will develop. Our unique One Health initiative promotes interdisciplinary education and patient care; students interact with professionals across healthcare disciplines including family medicine, optometry, pharmacy, speech-language pathology, and others. Advanced students also have the opportunity to provide clinical consultation services through the Behavioral Health Consult Program in the Midwestern University Multispecialty Clinic.

Neuropsychology Concentration

Our optional 5-year Neuropsychology Concentration tailors the student's program of study through elective courses, practice field experiences, and research to concentrate in neuropsychology, neuroscience, and neuropsychological assessment. Students accepted to the neuropsychology concentration have a unique opportunity to take an interdisciplinary neuroanatomy course with an accompanying dissection lab.

Student Activities and Achievements

Students have the opportunity to participate in our many psychology and multi-disciplinary clubs and activities on campus.  

The Midwestern University Clinical Psychology Program's central purpose is to train prospective students using a Practitioner-Scholar model of training through an academic curriculum designed to integrate disciple-specific knowledge in psychology and theory with the practice and delivery of evidenced-based psychological interventions, diagnostics, assessments, and scholarship. Training and educating within the program emphasizes the application of psychological knowledge and skills and the integration between science and practice in a manner that is respectful and appreciative of diversity and contextual factors

Program Aim: To provide broad and general training in clinical psychology that is empirically-based and diversity-informed to be able to practice as health service psychologists who deliver psychological services in intervention and assessment in a manner consistent with accepted ethical and legal practices; account for appropriate diversity and contextual factors in application; and incorporate scientific and evidentiary knowledge in practice using accepted professional wide competencies and discipline specific knowledge.

Program Competencies: The Program assesses student competency using a portfolio-based system (the Comprehensive Assessment Method in Psychology [CAMP]) to evaluate work samples throughout the Program for demonstrations of competency. The Comprehensive Assessment Method in Psychology (CAMP) serves as the Program's focal point for information regarding its effectiveness in training students on the nine Health Service Psychology Profession-wide Competencies outlined in the Standards of Accreditation for Health Service psychology approved by the American Psychological Association in 2015. These areas include:

1. Research
2. Ethical and legal standards
3. Individual and cultural diversity
4. Professional values, attitudes, and behaviors
5. Communication and interpersonal skills
6. Assessment
7. Intervention
8. Supervision
9. Consultation and interprofessional/interdisciplinary skills

The profession-wide competencies demonstrate functional abilities and skills essential to the professional practice of health service psychology. CAMP was developed to evaluate competency through portfolios of student work samples, such as literature reviews, intervention tapes, and testing reports. Many of the CAMP assignments are included in course requirements and are therefore reflected in course grades. Course grades provide a general measure of developmental progress, knowledge, and skills, while CAMP assignments provide assessment of student achievement of competency. In addition to gauging how students are progressing along Program competencies, the CAMP system provides a concrete method for students to assess and monitor their own unique strengths and weaknesses as they progress in a sequential, and increasingly complex manner through the curriculum.

The profession-wide competencies are predicated on the acquisition of discipline specific knowledge that serves as the foundation for the identity and orientation to health service psychology. These core areas of knowledge base and foundation are acquired through the Program's curriculum and include: History and Systems of Psychology, Basic Content Areas (Affective, Biological, Cognitive, Developmental, and Social Aspects of Behavior), and Research Methods, Statistical Analysis, and Psychometrics.

The foundational courses expose students to knowledge through learning experiences with primary source materials, critical thinking and communication at an advanced level, and integration of discipline-specific knowledge with practice. Diversity and culture as well as scientific and evidence bases of psychology are incorporated throughout the foundational classes through primary source articles and class activities. The student's knowledge is assessed by course grades as well as a capstone project or specific class assignment for each area identified above.

The Program views self-reflection as a critical element in adopting a commitment to life-long learning and interest in scholarly activity. The developmental nature of competency achievement in a cumulative progression from basic- to intermediate-level tasks allows students first to acquire knowledge and skills in distinct areas of competency, followed by opportunities to demonstrate competency through integration and application of knowledge and skills on more complex tasks required within the profession.

Overview

The Clinical Psychology Program offers a 5-year Neuropsychology Concentration that tailors the student’s program of study through elective courses, practice field experiences, and research and scientific inquiry to concentrate in the area of clinical neuropsychology. The Neuropsychology Concentration is based on the APA Division 40 and Houston Conference Guidelines with the goal of providing students with training that will serve as a foundation for internship and post-doctoral neuropsychology training. Students who are selected for the Neuropsychology Concentration will earn a degree in Clinical Psychology, which appears on all transcripts and diplomas. Students in the Clinical Psychology Program apply to the Neuropsychology Concentration in the first year of study; acceptance into the Program does not guarantee acceptance into the Concentration.

Requirements

• Additional required coursework
  • Introduction to Neuropsychology
  • Three electives which typically include: Clinical Neuroscience; Clinical Neuroanatomy, and Advanced Neuropsychological Assessment
• Three, year-long practica, including two years at Neuropsychology focused sites
• Approved dissertation on neuropsychology topic
• Completion of internship

Neuropsychology curriculum

• Class size: 26
• Female: 77%
• Male: 23%
• Average Age: 26
• Average overall GPA: 3.63
• Average overall GRE score: 56%
• In-State: 47% (The remaining students come from California, Illinois, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Michigan, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, North Dakota, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Utah and Washington.)

• MWU Clinical Psychology Program in Downers Grove
• Getting into Graduate School in Clinical Psychology
• American Academy of Clinical Psychology
• Association of State and Provincial Psychology Boards (ASPPB)
• American Board of Professional Psychology (ABPP)
• American Psychological Association (APA)
• American Psychological Society (APS)
• Association of Psychology Postdoctoral and Internship Centers (APPIC)
• National Council of Schools and Programs of Professional Psychology (NCSPP)
• National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)
• Midwestern University Clinics

The Clinical Psychology Program is accredited by the American Psychological Association (APA). Questions related to the program's accredited status should be directed to the Commission on Accreditation, Office of Program Consultation and Accreditation, 750 1st Street NE, Washington, DC, 20002; phone: 202-336-5979; email: apaaccred@apa.org. 

Midwestern University is accredited by The Higher Learning Commission, a Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools (HLC/NCA), 230 South LaSalle Street
Suite 7-500, Chicago, IL 60604-1413; phone: 800-621-7440.

This program meets the "Guidelines for Defining 'Doctoral Degree in Psychology'" as implemented by the ASPPB/National Register Designation Project. Therefore, a graduate of this designated program who decides to apply for licensure as a psychologist typically will meet the jurisdictional educational requirements for licensing. However, individual circumstances vary, and, there are additional requirements that must be satisfied prior to being licensed as a psychologist. Please contact the state / provincial / territorial licensing board in the jurisdiction in which you plan to apply for exact information. Additional information, including links to jurisdictions, is available on the ASPPB web site.

Once licensed, a graduate of a designated program is eligible to apply for credentialing as a Health Service Psychologist by the National Register of Health Service Psychologists. Graduation from a designated program typically ensures that the program completed meets the educational requirements for the National Register credential. However, individual circumstances vary, and there are additional requirements that must be satisfied prior to being credentialed by the National Register of Health Service Psychologists and listed on the FindaPsychologist.org database. Doctoral students may apply to have their credentials banked and reviewed prior to licensure. For further information about the National Psychologist's Trainee Register and the National Register application process, consult the National Register web site.