The MA program at Wheaton College makes every effort to integrate Christian belief and practice with the best of contemporary scholarship and professional standards in the discipline of psychology. At Wheaton your training will shape you to become a competent clinical psychologist one who models a commitment to professional practice as service, along with a balanced approach to spiritual, personal, professional, and interpersonal growth and development. Our goal is to produce graduates who will be distinctive as Christians in their practice of professional psychology.

The MA in Clinical Psychology prepares you for one of two licenses.

LMFT - Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist
LPC - Licensed Professional Counselor

Degree Requirements (48 credit hours)

Many students take more than 48 hours to meet a particular state's requirements for licensure.

Course descriptions

1st Year

Fall

611 - Social, Cultural, and Spiritual Foundations of Mental Health I (1)
618 - Clinical Research Design (3)
621 - Humanistic/Experiential Theory & Practice (2)
621L - Basic Interviewing Skills Lab (1)
623 - Cognitive-Behavioral Psychology (3)
624 - Issues: Professional Practice (3)

Spring

612 - Social, Cultural, and Spiritual Foundations of Mental Health II (1)
614 - Group Therapy (2)
614L - Group Therapy Lab (1)
622 - Psychodynamic Psychology (3)
636 - Family Systems Theory (3)
641 - Psychological Assessment (3)

Summer (not required)

653 - Lifestyle & Career Development (3)

849 - Human Sexuality and Sex Therapy (3)

893 - Seminar: Advanced Topics in Clinical Psychology (1);

several sections about different topics (limit 4 hours)

2nd Year*

Fall

613 - Social, Cultural, and Spiritual Foundations of Mental Health III (1)

642 - Psychopathology: Biological and Sociocultural Foundations (3)

696 - Graduate Internship (3)

697 - Internship Seminar (0)

Psychology Electives (3-7)

Theological Studies Requirement (choose one)

BITH 565 - Christian Theology (4)

BITH 566 - Foundations for Biblical Interpretation (4)

BITH 576 - History of Christianity to 1900 (4)

Spring

696 - Graduate Internship (3)
697 - Internship Seminar (0)
Psychology Electives (6-9)

BITH 561 - Theological Anthropology (2)

* Thesis students plan their second year in accord with their adviser.