Ph.D. International Psychology

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CHICAGO • ONLINE-BLENDED

Doctor of Philosophy, International Psychology

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, three year-long 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.

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.

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 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

Transfer of Credit

Prior graduate course work, if within the area of study, may be eligible for transfer or waiver of credit. Students accepted to the program may petition by submitting a “Transfer of Credit Request Form” and all required documentation. The decision to accept transfer credit is solely that of the school, which reserves the right to require satisfactory performance on an examination before awarding a transfer of credit. No credit will be transferred for course work that is more than 10 years old. Transfer of credits is subject to the following conditions:

• Transferred course credit is restricted to graduate level courses from a regionally, regionally accredited (or comparable international college or university) graduate degree granting institution.
• Transfer of credit is not granted for practicum or internship.
• Each hour of credit accepted for transfer a fee will be assessed, please see the tuition and fee page of the TCS website.
• Transfer of credit is granted only for courses in which the grade obtained was a “B” of higher. Pass/Fail grades are not eligible.
• No credit will be transferred for coursework that is more than 10 years old.
• A maximum of 12 semester hours of credit for course work completed prior to matriculation may be transferred into the program.
• Internal transfers do not pay the transfer course fee.

A course that does not meet the specific content requirements of an existing TCS elective course may be accepted as transfer credit as an elective if the course supports the required competencies and learning objectives of the program and meets the following conditions:

• The course must meet all other requirements for transfer credit.
• The course must be at the equivalent degree level.
• Approval by the Department Chair for the transfer credit and documentation of this approval is required.

Course credits used to confer another degree may not be accepted as transfer credit toward a TCS degree.

• Course credits conferred as part of another degree may be used to waive courses in a TCS program if all other requirements are met.
• Course credits conferred as part of a degree program that is required for admission to a TCS program may be applied to the TCS program.
• Exceptions may be made for specific articulation or dual-credit arrangements approved by the CAO.

Effective for students applying to start Fall II of 2010 or later, course credits used to confer another degree may not be accepted as transfer credit toward a Chicago School degree.

Waiver of Courses

An international student, who has completed a course(s) that, in the judgment of the program director, is equivalent to a required course at The Chicago School, may apply for the course to be waived.

In addition, any student (domestic or international) with previous graduate course work who has already received the maximum transfer credit may request a waiver of additional course work to be completed at The Chicago School.

Students may seek a waiver for a total of 12 credit hours taken in another doctoral program upon approval of the department.

Satisfactory Progress

Matriculated students must be continuously enrolled in the program until graduation unless granted an approved leave of absence. The program requires attendance during the fall, spring, and summer semesters. Each student must take a minimum of six semester hours of course work in the fall, spring and summer semesters, unless the student has fewer than the required number of hours of course work remaining or is on an approved leave of absence. Satisfactory progress semester hours may not include waiver or transfer credit hours. A student must maintain satisfactory academic progress by complying with the following requirements:

Credit Hours per Year:

International Psychology program students must complete at least 18 semester hours of credit each year during fall, spring, and summer semesters.

Program Length

The International Psychology doctoral program is 3 years in length. Students must complete all requirements within 5 years.

Residency Requirements (Online-Blended Only)

Students entering the International Psychology doctoral program online and blended formats are required to participate in two Residency sessions at the Chicago campus of The Chicago School of Professional Psychology. The two weekend residencies focus on research and preparation for the dissertation 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.

Graduation Requirements

All requirements for the International Psychology Doctoral Program, including the dissertation, are designed to be completed within the designated program length. Program duration may not exceed five years, depending on point of entry. Students must be in good standing in their program for the doctoral degree to be awarded and have completed all of their degree requirements before the degree can be conferred. Students who meet the following requirements are eligible to graduate:

• Satisfactory completion of all program required credit hours
• Cumulative grade point average of 3.00 or higher
• Successful completion of a comprehensive exam measuring integration and synthesization of knowledge in this field
• Successful defense of the dissertation and submission of bindable copy

Upon completion of all requirements and after final grades are posted; a degree audit will be conducted to verify degree completion. The degree is then conferred, posted to the transcript, and a diploma is issued.

Students must complete the online Petition for Degree Completion through the Office of Student Services and Academic Records in order to have their degree conferred, diploma issued, and to participate, if desired, in the annual commencement ceremony. The petition must be submitted by the end of the third week of the semester in which a student expects to meet the program requirements for the degree. Students who will complete their requirements in the upcoming summer term, and wish to participate in the annual commencement ceremony must submit the Petition for Degree Completion in the spring term by the deadline indicated on the graduation page of the website.

* Detailed information regarding petitioning and commencement can be found on the website under: Current Student, Student and Academic Services Forms, Petition for Program Completion

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 Objectives

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 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 Blended Format combines both online coursework and on-campus classes at the Chicago campus of The Chicago School. The online/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.

Study in the International Psychology doctoral program culminates in completion of the dissertation. The two required program residencies, one in the spring term of the first year and one in the summer term of second year, have the dissertation project as their primary focus. 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.

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 (spring, 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 (spring, 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.  

Center for Academic Excellence

The Center for Academic Excellence (CAE) supports and advances teaching and learning within the educational community of The Chicago School. CAE believes that academic course work and scholarship provide the foundation for success in professional practice. CAE helps faculty develop teaching styles that engage students in the learning process and which improve student learning. CAE’s Academic Support Center offers programs to TCS community including one-on-one writing consultations, weekly tutorials, presentations (e.g., on APA style), and online resources, and in-class presentations.

Foundations for Scholarship and Practice

Believing that academic preparedness is a key to success in graduate school, The Chicago School of Professional Psychology requires new students to complete its innovative program, Foundations for Scholarship and Practice. This program, offered by the Center for Academic Excellence (CAE), reinforces the skills new students need to achieve their career goals. “Foundations” is an integral part of the first and second term’s curriculum and all students are required to complete the program successfully and in a timely manner.

Foundations for Scholarship and Practice consist of three elements: 

1. Writing Assessment Process – In this component of “Foundations,” each student writes an essay in response to an assigned question and submits it to CAE for scoring. CAE returns the scored essay with constructive feedback. Based on the student’s performance, the school may waive the Academic Writing Course requirement (#2, below). Essay submission by the given date is considered successful completion of this element of “Foundations.”  
2. Academic Writing Course – This online course in professional writing is taken before or during the second term at The Chicago School. A final grade of “pass” is considered successful completion of this element.
3. Academic Focus Program – Academic Focus is an online, tutorial-driven orientation to graduate academics offered the first term. A final grade of “pass” is considered successful completion of this element.

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.