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Admission's FAQ'sWho founded IPS?
The Institute for the Psychological Sciences was founded by a group of mental health professionals, academicians and clinicians, under the leadership of Dr. Gladys Sweeney, who perceived a need for a proper understanding of the interrelationship between psychology and faith life. Their experiences in sponsoring workshops for licensed mental health professionals convinced them of the need for a new degree-granting institution. The Institute for the Psychological Sciences was established in September of 1999, and offered instruction leading to the Master of Science degree in Clinical Psychology. The following year, it initiated and enrolled its first class for the Doctor of Psychology degree program in Clinical Psychology. Throughout its history, IPS has been guided and supported by the Legionaries of Christ.
What makes IPS unique? Are there other programs like IPS out there?
Because of our commitment to the continued development of modern psychology, our M.S. and Psy.D. curriculums involve coursework and training that is similar to many other programs in Clinical Psychology. However, to our knowledge, IPS is the only institution dedicated to the explicit and systematic integration of this education and training with a Catholic Christian anthropology, in adherence to the magisterium of the Catholic Church. This aspect of the mission is unique, even among many programs offered by Catholic colleges or universities. You may find programs in other mental health disciplines that incorporate a Catholic perspective, however, such as the M.A. program in counseling at Franciscan University in Steubenville, Ohio.
Does IPS have a dominant school of thought?
Our programs do not assume or require any one particular approach to philosophy, theology, or psychology. Clinical training and supervision is offered from a variety of perspectives including psychodynamic, interpersonal, cognitive behavioral, systems and integrations of these models.
Does IPS offer degrees that are accredited?
Please look here to find more information about the history and accreditation status of IPS.
The Institute for the Psychological Sciences is accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools to award masters and doctoral degrees.
Southern Association of College and Schools (SACS)
1866 Southern Lane, Decatur GA. 30033 (404) 679-4500
The Psy.D. program at IPS has been developed in line with the ultimate goal of accreditation by the American Psychological Association (APA).
How long does it take to get a degree at IPS?
The M.S. curriculum is 48 credit hours, which can be completed in two years of fulltime study. All students must complete the program within five academic years.
The Psy.D. curriculum consists of 122 credit hours and can be completed in 5 years of full time study. All requirements must be completed within ten years of admission to the Psy.D. program.
All applicants to the Psy.D. program must have a masters degree in Clinical Psychology or a related mental health discipline. Students who complete the M.S. degree requirements at IPS and are admitted to the Psy.D. program can transfer all 48 credit hours, leaving 3 additional years of full time study necessary to complete the Psy.D. requirements. Students admitted to the Psy.D. program with a masters degree from another institution are able to transfer up to 18 credits and will need to complete any M.S. requirements not covered by these transfer credits as part of their doctoral curriculum. Completion of the Psy.D. program under these conditions will require at least 4 years of full time enrollment.
What is the pre-doctoral internship that is required for the Psy.D. degree?
The current model of doctoral-level training in Clinical Psychology requires that students complete a 12 month, full time (or its equivalent) internship placement prior to obtaining their degree. Typically, students obtain these internship placements through a matching process that is organized by the Association of Psychology Postdoctoral and Internship Centers (APPIC; see their website at www.appic.org for more information about internships). It is important to know that this requirement often involves a temporary move to another city or state. Internships, as well as further post-doctoral supervision, are required for licensing as a Clinical Psychologist in every state. IPS students are encouraged to apply to, and have been accepted at, internships accredited by the American Psychological Association.
How do students support themselves while taking courses at IPS?
The Financial Aid Office is here to assist you to manage your resources and get the high quality of education you seek. We are here to help you bridge the gap between your own resources and the amount of money you need to pay for your education. The Institute for the Psychological Sciences offers the following to eligible students: Federal Student Loans, Institutional Grants, and the IPS Graduate Teaching / Research Assistantship (TA/RA) Program. Please visit the Financial Aid portion of the IPS website for more information.
IPS does not have an official policy forbidding students to work while they are enrolled. So, some students choose to maintain a part-time job outside of the Institute. However, these students rarely take a full load of courses and usually take significantly longer to complete their program requirements. Outside employment in the Psy.D. program is particularly problematic because doctoral students are expected to take part in clinical externships and training opportunities that may require 20 or more hours per week.
How can I learn more about student life at IPS?
Please visit the Student Services section of our website for more information about the social, spiritual and supportive aspects of the IPS community.
What can I do with a degree from IPS?
Although the integrative nature of our training offers special advantage to those interested in working in Catholic or faith-based settings, the M.S. and Psy.D. programs at IPS are designed to prepare students for the kinds of careers and job opportunities open to anyone with comparable training. Therefore, students considering an education at IPS should consult some of the resources on careers in psychology offered by organizations like the American Psychological Association (www.apa.org) for more information about the profession of Clinical Psychology and the activities of people in this field.
Graduates with an M.S. degree may find opportunities in research, government settings, private companies, or teaching at the high school or community college level. A masters degree may also provide some opportunities for practice in community mental health centers or other counseling agencies, although additional training and coursework beyond the degree may be required.
Graduates with a Psy.D. degree will be eligible for post-doctoral supervision and licensure in most states and, therefore, will have a wide range of practice opportunities. Psy.D. graduates may also find opportunities in teaching and research at the college or graduate level.
What will make me competitive as an applicant to IPS?
Given the integrative nature of our programs, we seek applicants with a foundational knowledge of Catholic theology and an ability to approach philosophical issues at a substantive level. However, given the psychological focus of our mission, we are especially interested in applicants who are mature and interpersonally sensitive, and who have performed well in psychology courses at the undergraduate level. We will consider all these factors, as well as standardized test scores and overall undergraduate GPA, in reviewing your application.
If you have not taken much psychology at the undergraduate level, we recommend that you complete basic courses such as Introductory Psychology, Abnormal Psychology, Personality Theories, or Methods and Statistics at an accredited university, college, or community college. Students with solid academic backgrounds and good aptitude for graduate level education may be allowed to re/mediate weaknesses in psychology through summer courses offered at IPS. However, applications demonstrating achievement in these areas prior to application will be most competitive.
Do you offer online courses/distance education? Will you offer them in the future?
We would like to offer distance learning options at some time in the future. At the present time, however, all coursework (other than credits transferred) must be completed at our campus in Arlington, VA.
Will IPS ever offer degrees in other areas such as School Psychology or Philosophical Psychology?
The Institute is planning to develop degree programs in other areas of psychology in coming years. We will begin offerieng a M.S in General Psycholgy in Fall of 2006. We invite you to stay in touch with IPS as we continue to grow.