Northern Illinois University
Department of Psychology
College of Liberal Arts and Sciences

You may also ask to work with other department faculty or Julie Crouch, director of the Center for the Study of Family Violence and Sexual Assault.

Please note: the ability to work with faculty members outside of the core clinical faculty depends on funding and faculty interest. If the initial match is not satisfactory, you may work with another faculty member.

Application Process

NIU Graduate School Application

You'll apply to the program through the NIU Graduate School. The online application includes a $60 fee and the following materials:

• Transcripts of all undergraduate and graduate work. Unofficial transcripts are accepted, but you'll need to submit official copies if you're admitted.
• TOEFL or IELTS score, if you received a degree outside the United States. Read more about international admissions.
• A statement of preparation for graduate school and professional interests (also commonly referred to as your statement of purpose or personal statement). This statement should outline your preparation for graduate study in clinical psychology, as well as your goals for graduate school and beyond. It should also explain why you believe the program at NIU can best help you meet those goals, including an indication of which faculty member(s) you are interested in working with. Our program is committed to training students who are prepared to contribute to research and clinical practice in our diverse society. We encourage you to include in your statement how your background and experiences fit with this program goal. The clinical faculty has decided not to dictate a word limit for this statement. Please use the space you need to share what you think is important for us to know. However, recognize this is also a writing sample, so sharing your story succinctly will be viewed positively.
• Your curriculum vitae (CV). The CV is an academic resume providing information beyond your work experience. You may find this article by the American Psychological Association helpful in identifying what to include in your CV.
• Names and email addresses of three people who agreed to write letters of recommendation (preferably psychology instructors or research supervisors who know your potential as a Ph.D. candidate). By listing them in the application system, an email will be sent to them, instructing them how to upload their letter to your application. Inform them of our deadline and submit your application with ample time for them to upload their letters.

Admissions Approach

The clinical faculty employs a comprehensive approach in the evaluation of applicants' admission packages, considering all materials when making decisions. Applicants who may exhibit relative weaknesses in one area may find those weaknesses compensated by strengths in other areas.

Diversity Fee Waiver

We are happy to have limited funds to provide a fee waiver to competitive applicants from marginalized racial/ethnic populations. Ten applicants will be selected based on their competitiveness. Please complete this survey to apply for the application fee waiver. You will be asked to upload your CV in Word or PDF format as part of the survey. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis. All applicants will be notified of decisions about fee waivers by Nov. 15 or until all waivers have been given… whichever comes first. Note – please do not submit your application/pay your application fee if you are applying for the fee waiver until you have heard from us.

Bachelor's Degree Applicants

Applicants holding only a bachelor's degree should indicate on the application their intention to pursue the doctorate. If admitted, you will earn the master's degree, but you are being admitted to the Ph.D. program. Our program does not offer a “terminal” master's degree and, as such, there is no option to apply to an M.A. program in clinical psychology.

Supplemental Application

In addition to the Graduate School application, complete the supplemental application survey indicating that you are specifically interested in the program. This is necessary for application review.

Though not required, we strongly encourage you to submit a writing sample to clinicalpsychologyadmissions@niu.edu.

Virtual Open House

In mid-January, after applications have been reviewed, select candidates will be invited to attend a virtual open house, which will be held synchronously on Monday, February 9, 2026. This event will allow applicants to meet with faculty and students and learn more about the program and the broader university. Interviews with specific faculty will also be scheduled from Feb. 9-12, 2026.