The Chicago School believes that higher education is not merely about transferring knowledge, but about equipping students with both the desire and the ability to use their knowledge, skills, and attitudes to serve the greater good. In addition to their classroom work, our students learn through ongoing professional mentorship, career planning support, and an unparalleled range of relevant, hands-on training experiences—equating to more than 600,000 hours of high-impact, resume-building work in the community every year. Our students are able to choose from the following opportunities, tailoring their experiences to their unique career aspirations and personal callings.

Internships and Practica
Each year, students are linked with enriching practica and internships at approximately 500 diverse organizations across the country, where they provide invaluable psychology services to thousands of individuals and families with diverse backgrounds and needs, while refining their skills as top-notch professionals. Learn about our Office of Placement and Training.

Counseling Center Apprenticeships
Students at our Los Angeles, Irvine, and Westwood campuses may apply for the unique opportunity to complete their required clinical training hours at one of our Chicago School Counseling Centers, two of southern California’s largest and most well-respected community counseling centers. Through our innovative apprentice model, students learn marketing and operations related to running a private practice, assist with building their own client case loads, provide individual and group psychotherapy services—and graduate with a thriving client base already established as they launch their careers as licensed practitioners.

Community Service Opportunities
In addition to their required clinical training placements, Chicago School students have the opportunity to participate in what we call community-engaged scholarship—learning by working in the local community to identify, bring awareness to, and develop solutions to universal societal problems. Working alongside faculty and staff, our students help nonprofit and for-profit organizations conduct research, answer critical strategic questions, strengthen treatment models, build new programs, and more. Learn about our Office of Community Partnerships.

Clinical Service Work
In keeping with our mission to expand the reach of psychology to underserved populations, many Chicago School students assist with bringing psychology services to organizations that would like to offer mental health services but do not have the resources and capacity to do so—by essentially setting up and staffing counseling centers within existing agencies and organizations. Many students choose to contribute their expertise at these sites, broadening their professional experience while helping countless organizations meet the needs of those they serve. Learn about our Clinical Services department.

Career Support
Chicago School students enjoy one of the most robust career support programs among all psychology schools. Our Career Services department provides personal coaching as well as dynamic trainings and workshops to assist students with making marketable and meaningful career choices, preparing for licensure, and becoming sophisticated networkers and job seekers. Learn about Career Services department.