Ph.D. International Psychology

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CHICAGO • WASHINGTON  D.C. • ONLINE-BLENDED

Doctor of Philosophy, International Psychology

Program Overview

The International Psychology program trains doctoral-level leaders and applied psychologists for corporate, consulting, higher education, and other work settings. The world is becoming increasingly interconnected through globalization requiring individuals and groups to repair, integrate with or create new communities. International psychology professionals seek to assist individuals and organizations through understanding, education, and outreach. International Psychology Professionals work in a variety of diverse organizational environments and cultural settings. They may conduct research to better understand socio-cultural differences, develop and apply culturally competent organizational practices, support mental health services to underserved populations or those suffering due to man made and natural disasters, launch grassroots initiatives to improve access to services, advocate and raise awareness about international mental health needs, or work with immigrant and refugee populations both at home and abroad. Graduates are able to apply psychological principles in development of policy and are concerned with individual and group consequences of global events.

The International Psychology program is taught in online and blended formats. This is a non-licensure, post-masters, 60 graduate semester hour degree, for individuals working in or desiring to work in the international arena. The program is designed for working professionals.

Students enroll in the program with a master’s degree into one of two concentrations: Trauma Services and Organizations and Systems.

Admission Requirements

Application to The Chicago School’s International Psychology doctoral program is open to any person who has earned a master’s degree from a regionally accredited institution in psychology, the behavioral sciences, or other field, and who meets other entrance requirements. Students must submit official transcripts from all schools where a degree was earned. It is recommended that transcripts are submitted from all schools where credit was received to enhance their applications.

It is preferred that candidates have had three or more years of work experience prior to admissions. The Graduate Record Examination is not required for admissions. Letters of recommendation may be required on a case by case basis. Students will be required to write a 500 word personal statement

• Students seeking admissions to the Organizations and Systems concentration enter with a master’s degree from a regionally accredited institution and must show evidence of nine semester hours of predefined undergraduate or graduate psychology coursework with a grade earned of “C” or better. Courses must be completed prior to enrollment, however the program may allow a student to take the courses concurrently in their first two terms. Predefined courses include:
  
  • two specific courses: developmental psychology and abnormal psychology/psychopathology;
  • the third course can be in statistics, research methods, social, or other area of psychology that may be met prior to enrollment but that must be completed prior to the completion of the first year in the program.
• Students seeking admission to the Trauma Services concentration enter with a master’s degree in Psychology or a related field such as Pastoral Counseling, Social Work, Psychiatric Nursing, Marriage and Family Therapy.

Based on the evaluation of these materials, selected candidates will be invited to interview for further consideration of their application. Please see the application for detailed instructions and information regarding application requirements. Applications must be submitted with the $50.00 (USD) application fee in order to be evaluated.

TOEFL or IELTS, International Credentials, and International Students

TOEFL or IELTS: If English is not the primary language, the student must submit official TOEFL or IELTS scores with the application (TOEFL School Code: 7161). International students who received a master’s degree from a regionally accredited United States institution are exempt from this requirement. The minimum scores are : TOEFL – 550 paper based, 79 internet based; IELTS – 6.5.

ELS Educational Services, Inc.: The Chicago School is a cooperative member of ELS Educational Services, Inc. which provides intensive English language programs. Students who have successfully completed ELS course 112 may be considered for admission in lieu of the TOEFL or IELTS.

International credentials: Applicants with international credentials must obtain and submit an official “course-by-course” evaluation through an evaluation agency such as World Education Services (www.wes.org) or Educational Credential Evaluators Inc (www.ece.org). In addition to the agency evaluation, all official graduate and undergraduate transcripts must be submitted.

International students: International students residing in the United States may not be eligible to obtain an F-1 visa and, thus, may not enroll in this online program.

Applicant Notification

After the initial review of all application materials, and if the Admission Committee so recommends, the candidate will be invited for an interview either face to face or via electronic means (i.e., telephone, webinar, Skype) with members of the faculty. Interviews are by invitation only and mandatory for full consideration. Post interview, the candidate will be notified of the Admission Committee’s decision regarding his or her application. The Chicago School does not share information or provide any feedback regarding admission decisions.

If a student is offered admission and in order to secure a place in the incoming class, a non-refundable tuition deposit of $250 (Online-Blended) and $500 (Chicago) will be required by the deposit deadline indicated in the offer of admission. The non-refundable deposit will be applied in full toward the student’s tuition upon enrollment.

Policies

The following policies are located under Academic Policies and Procedures  : Transfer of Credit, Waiver of Courses, Satisfactory Academic Progress, Grading Scale, Grade Change Requests, Degree Completion, Degree Conferral, Minimum and Maximum Timeframe requirements, and Credit Hours per semester for Financial Aid.

Academic Development Plans

An Academic Development Plan (ADP) is initiated and created by the Department in which the student is enrolled when a student demonstrates deficiencies in competencies that interfere with academic performance, training competence, and/or professional behavior. Academic Development Plans (ADPs) do not constitute disciplinary action, but failure to complete the plan may lead to disciplinary action.

Student Learning Assessment

The Chicago School of Professional Psychology (TSCPP) is committed to offering the highest quality graduate and undergraduate completion programs in applied professional disciplines. In order to meet the TCSPP standard for academic quality, all programs will develop overall program competencies, learning objectives, assessment instruments, course descriptions, and course learning objectives. Each of these curriculum components must align in order for students to understand how their program will prepare them for the profession and how they will learn what TCSPP intends. 

All academic programs at TCSPP are required to develop, conduct, and report annual assessments of student learning and program effectiveness in compliance with the processes and procedures established by TCSPP.  These assessments provide reliable and valid information to monitor, maintain, and advance the quality of academic programs. 

Foundations for Scholarship and Practice 

To ensure academic preparedness, a key to success in graduate school, The Chicago School of Professional Psychology requires new students to complete the program Foundations for Scholarship and Practice (Foundations). This program reinforces the skills new students need to achieve their academic goals. Foundations is an integral part of the first term’s curriculum (first and second terms’ curriculum for the Online-Blended Programs) and all students are required to complete the program successfully and in a timely manner.  Failure to complete any element of the program can lead to academic consequences, including dismissal.

Foundations for Scholarship and Practice consists of three elements: 

1.  Academic Focus Program – Academic Focus is an online, self-paced orientation to graduate academics. Completion of these tutorials is required by Friday of the fourth week of the first term. A final  grade of “pass” is considered successful completion of this element of Foundations.

2.  Writing Assessment Process – In this component of Foundations, each student writes an essay in response to an assigned question and submits it for evaluation. Based upon the results of this assessment, , the school may waive the Academic Writing Course requirement (#3, below). Essays are due by Friday of the third week of the first term and essay submission by the given date is considered successful completion of this element of Foundations.

3. Academic Writing Course (AWC) – This online course is taken before or during the first or second term at The Chicago School of Professional Psychology. A final grade of “pass” is considered successful completion of this element. Failure to earn a final grade of “pass” may result in an Academic Development Plan or referral to the Student Affairs Committee. All students are required to take the course, unless they place out through the Writing Assessment Process. Students who place out of the Academic Writing Course may elect to take the course. Based on academic performance concerns, instructors may require AWC completion by a student by creating an Academic Development Plan.

Failure to complete any element of Foundations by the required due date may result in Academic Development Plan or referral to the Student Affairs Committee. 

Preparing for the Academic Writing Course

It is solely the responsibility of the student to make the necessary adjustments to his/her school, work and personal schedules as required for full participation in this course. The Chicago School is not responsible for ensuring that these adjustments are made. Students failing AWC must retake the course in the subsequent semester. The successful completion of AWC is a graduation requirement.

Fees associated with Foundations for Scholarship and Practice

All students incur a one-time fee for their participation in Foundations for Scholarship and Practice. See Tuition & Fees schedule for a full list of applicable course fees.

Residency Requirements (Online-Blended Students Only)

Students enrolled in the Online-Blended International Psychology doctoral program are required to participate in two Residential weekend sessions at the Chicago campus of The Chicago School of Professional Psychology. The two weekend residencies focus on research and presentations on topical issues and are required for both concentrations. A third, optional, residency will be held in the summer of the third year for those students who wish to present their completed dissertations to faculty and first year students in an oral presentation.

Ethical and Professional Behavior

Students are expected to engage in all graduate work, including but not limited to course work, field placement and scholarship, with a high degree of integrity and professionalism. It is essential that students approach professional working relationships, collegial relationships, and client/partner-contact with respect. Further, students are expected to adhere to the American Psychological Association’s (APA) Ethical Principles of Psychologists and Code of Conduct as well as the “evolving universal code of ethics” (Gauthier, 2005). Students who choose to seek employment in the field of psychology shall not work beyond their level of competence and shall not use titles governed by credentialing statutes and/or regulations unless authorized by the relevant jurisdictional authority. Students who fail to comply with ethical and professional behavior guidelines are subject to department remediation and/or referral to the Student Affairs Committee for disciplinary action and possible dismissal.

The Program

Philosophy

The Department of International Psychology offers a Ph.D. degree in International Psychology with concentrations in: Organizations and Systems, and Trauma Services. The International Psychology Ph.D. degree program espouses the philosophy of psychology as a transformational discipline focusing on broad competencies rather than narrow skills or type of education. Graduates function as scholars, faculty, advocates and consultants in a wide variety of settings and contexts. The program emphasizes theory, research and scholarship from a Global Psychology perspective. The Models of Research and Scholarship that are introduced and encouraged are culturally sensitive, multimodal and reflective of multiple ways of knowing. Program graduates develop cultural competencies, cognizant that behavior cannot be considered apart from specific contexts.

The program concentrations are predicated on the belief that a competent international psychologist must have both a broad knowledge of the scientific and theoretical principles of psychology from a global perspective and the ability to apply that knowledge in culturally sensitive ways and in diverse settings. The curriculum exposes students to a broad range of theoretical principles, international scientific research and relevant practice skills in class assignments and in field placement settings. Finally, the program is structured to be flexible in order to adapt course content to reflect developments in the field and emphasizes critical thinking, social justice, sensitivity to ethical principles, the role of personal values, and cultural diversity.  As change agents, students are expected to be able to critically reflect about their identity, as cultural beings, and to identify and understand their impact on others.  International psychology is a new field that should facilitate psychological theory, research and practice that is context and culture specific.

Program Outcomes

1. Students will systematically investigate, qualitative and quantitative research development, testing and evaluation, designed to develop or contribute to generalizable knowledge within an international context.

2. Students will preserve and promote identities and hybrid identities of race, nationality, ethnicity, language, gender, age, sexual orientation, socioeconomic status, religious belief and ability, while advocating for the integrity of all human expression.

3. Students will consistently chose actions that are shaped by universal ethics, respect and care for the rights of all life. 

4. Students will practice benevolent treatment and provision of assistance to other humans, based on understanding of the value of all human life, for the purpose of improving the moral and ethical levels of humanity.

5. Students will thoughtfully and skillfully use their own self, both strengths and limitations, to engage in, mediate, preserve and promote the human encounter that is the foundation of practice in international psychology; students will be able to acknowledge, identify, describe and manage any behaviors and perspectives that facilitate or impede their effectiveness in communicating with individuals, groups or systems.

6. Students will investigate the intellectual heritage of psychology, its component worldview, historical and philosophical underpinnings, for the purpose of establishing commonality of thought between mainstream and indigenous populations and phenomena.

7. Students will thoughtfully and skillfully practice informing decisions with the concern for seizing common opportunities and defending against shared threats for all humanity. 

8. Students will facilitate, preserve and promote intellectual, social and political environments that allow individuals and groups to gain power, access resources and control their lives, based on the understanding of the value of all life and the right of all human beings for self-determination. 

Program Delivery Options and Learning Format

The Online-Blended format offers the program core courses are offered online and students in both concentrations will participate in these courses. Program concentrations are available in two venues: Organizations and Systems is offered online while Trauma Services is offered in an online/blended format. The two required program residencies focus on research skills, group cohesion and support, and presentation of topical issues in the field.  A third, optional, residency will be held in the summer of the third year for those students who wish to present their completed dissertations to faculty and first year students in an oral presentation.

The Blended format offered at the Chicago and Washington D.C. campuses and combines both on-ground and online coursework.  On-ground courses in the Blended format will be taught on weekends for the convenience of working adults. Each of the four courses in the Trauma Services concentration requires the one weekend on campus experience.

Field Experience Requirements

Students engage in two required, minimum nine-day international field experiences; one in year two and another in year three.The second field experience may be an extended field placement for those seeking additional international research, service learning or practice experiences. This extended field placement replaces the second nine-day experience.

Field Experience Options

First Field Experience (Year 2)

All enrolled students will participate in a minimum nine day field experience at one international destination. Components of this experience are:

• Up to three of the nine days may be consumed by travel.
• The students will be in country for up to seven nights and they will have five to six full days for the field/service learning experience based on the number of students in the cohort, levels of international experiences and professional interests.
• The Chicago School will arrange an agreement with one or more international organizations in country.
• A minimum of one full time Chicago School faculty member will accompany students during this first international field experience.

Second Field Experience (Year 3)

Students will be given three options to complete this second, required field experience.

Option One: Students will participate in a second minimum nine day field experience with their cohort. The International Psychology program will identify a country and organization/s to support the field experience. 

Note: Students participating in option one are required to accumulate additional service learning hours in a USA-based or in-home country based international organization or an organization serving international populations. The Chicago School or the student with program approval could identify organizations in their city or region of residence. Examples might include the International Red Cross, a field office of CARE, or some other like organization or service agency. In addition to the nine day field experience, students are expected to accumulate up to 40 hours of service learning during that semester.

Option Two: Students may choose an extended 7½ week experience at a Chicago School secured site. This option would be developed as a contracted independent arrangement with supervision and that includes learning outcomes. All learning contracts will require the approval of International Psychology Department. Participants will earn a certificate of completion. 

Option Three: Students may choose an international organization that provides relevant services or have contacts with such organizations. This option would be developed as a contracted independent arrangement with supervision and that includes learning outcomes. All learning contracts will require the approval of International Psychology Department. It is incumbent on the student in his/her application to indicate how this field experience is distinctly different from his/her day to day responsibilities as an employee of the organization. Participants will earn a certificate of completion. 

All students in the cohort will participate in one of the three options within the same timeframe or semester.

Dissertation

Completion of the dissertation is an essential aspect of International Psychology students’ academic experience and professional education. It provides the school the opportunity to evaluate the student’s ability to apply International Psychology theory and research and to think critically and creatively about relevant research issues in International psychology.

The dissertation should clearly and concisely demonstrate the student’s command of the research in a specific area of International psychology. In the dissertation, the student will critically evaluate and synthesize relevant research and theory in the topic chosen for study. The student’s dissertation Committee is responsible for determining the appropriateness and acceptability of the dissertation proposal and for final approval of the dissertation.

More specific information is located in the Program Guidebook.