Snapshot of NIU’s Clinical Psychology Program:
These data were compiled from the most recent 5 years
(partial update Fall 2023)
See the complete data here:
niu.edu/psychology/academics/graduate/clinical/outcomes.shtml
• APA-accredited doctoral training program (since 1972; currently accredited through 2028)
• Mentor model: Students are admitted to work primarily with particular faculty member
• Only students intending to pursue PhD are considered (i.e., no terminal masters)
• Formal thesis and dissertation are curriculum-required
• Program is scientist-practitioner
o Relative balance between research and clinical practice. We consider our program to be slightly weighted toward research but I'm not sure if that's true for my lab spanning the last several years since several students have aimed for applied roles.
• Students begin their clinical training in term 2 of year 1; students do majority of clinical work in the in-house Psychological Services Center (PSC) through year 3
• There are 7 core clinical faculty members, plus the PSC Director, Dr. Danielle Baran.
• Both child and adult foci; major topics include:
o Trauma; family and intimate partner violence;
o Anxiety;
o Parenting practices;
o Effects of poverty and parental psychopathology on child psychopathology;
o Infant/toddler emotion regulation
• Mean number of applications per year since 2011 was 219 (range = 181-235), but the last few years have shown numbers closer to 250.
• Most students admitted have completed BA or BS in psychology; rare exceptions
• Incoming classes (most recent five classes)
o Mean size = 6.6; UPDATE: We've taken classes of 8 and 9 the last two years
o 100% incoming students receive funding (via assistantships);
o Monthly stipend = $2,050.00
o 100% incoming students receive partial tuition waiver of ~$370 per credit hour; responsible for fees of ~$135 per credit hour
o Mean GPA = 3.73
o Most successful applicants have formal, extensive research experience
o GRE -- UPDATE: The GRE is no longer required
• Mean (Verbal, Quantitative, Writing) = 160, 156, 4.6
• Subject test not required
• Graduates work in
o Research positions;
o Applied clinical settings;
o Undergraduate instruction