In 1977, a pioneering group of practicing psychologists set out on a bold mission -- to create an institution of higher learning dedicated solely to applied psychology. Two years later, The Chicago School of Professional Psychology was born. With guidance from the Midwestern Psychology Development Foundation, the nonprofit Chicago School received degree-granting authority from the Illinois Board of Higher Education (IBHE) in 1980. That same year, the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools (NCA) awarded Candidate for Accreditation Status to The Chicago School. The school achieved full accreditation in 1984.
The Clinical Psychology Doctorate program gained Provisional Accreditation by American Psychological Association (APA) in 1988 and Full Accreditation in 1992, a status it retains to this day.
While achieving these many milestones, The Chicago School underwent explosive growth. As a fledgling institution, the school held courses in its temporary quarters located at 30 West Chicago Avenue. By 1980, a permanent campus was established at the Fine Arts Building on Michigan Avenue. In 1986, The Chicago School moved to the historic Dearborn Station in Chicago’s South Loop. And to keep pace accelerated growth this century, the school found its current downtown Chicago home in 2004. In 2008, The Chicago School opened its first campus on the West Coast in Southern California. Today, the school has three campuses in Southern California and two community counseling centers. Its locations in Westwood and Irvine are the result of The Chicago School’s recent acquisition of the California Graduate Institute, which was founded in 1968 as the nation’s first nonprofit independent psychology school.
The Chicago School offers numerous Master's degree programs, including Clinical Psychology, Industrial/Organizational Psychology, and Forensic Psychology, along with numerous certificates and specializations. In 2006 the school expanded its degree programs to include an Ed.S. in School Psychology. And in keeping with its innovative reputation, The Chicago School launched its Online Campus with new degree and certificate programs in 2007.
For more than three decades, the Chicago School of Professional Psychology has been pushing the envelope in psychology education. It's a mission we take seriously, and one we'll pursue for decades to come. Take advantage of our rich educational history by enrolling in one of these innovative programs:
