Community Psychology Program Highlights

​​A Strong Commitment to Service and Diversity

DePaul’s Community Psychology program emphasizes cultural diversity throughout its curriculum, research, coursework and fieldwork experiences.

Its philosophy and values align with DePaul’s urban and Vincentian mission — focusing on providing services to and preventing problems among disenfranchised people and communities.

Contribute to Social Justice in Chicago

Students engage in 2 years of fieldwork. In fieldwork, students partner with community members and organizations to develop and implement a project that advances their skills and provides value to the community. Projects are guided by the principles of community psychology and community based participatory research. Students have completed diverse projects from conducting program evaluation, to developing and implementing trainings, to grant-writing, and capacity-building. Students have partnered with schools, non-profits, community organizers, and government agencies at the local, state, national, and international levels. Students take fieldwork as a year-long course and receive support and supervision from their Professor. ​

Extensive Research Opportunities

Research in the program focuses primarily on social issues and is conducted in collaboration with marginalized populations and nonprofit organizations. You’ll have the opportunity to consult with community partners, obtain external funding through government agencies and private foundations, teach classes, study abroad through our Global Growth Experience, mentor graduate and undergraduate students, and work on the Global Journal of Community Psychology, which is housed at DePaul.​

Faculty members have received national awards for distinguished contributions in research, teaching and service, and serve on the American Psychological Association and Society for Community Research and Action governance boards and committees. They also serve as editors and members on a variety of editorial boards for journals in the field.

You’ll also have the opportunity to do research and evaluation work outside the department at the Steans Center for Community Based Service Learning, the Egan Urban Center, the McNair Scholars Program and the DePaul Family and Community Services.

Research Collaboration

The Community Psychology program collaborates with departments and centers within the university, such as the Center for Community Research​, the McNair Scholars Program, the   Access & Attainment Research Lab, the DePaul Family and Community Services center and the Center for Urban Education, as well as with more than 50 nonprofit community based organizations, including:

• Chicago Public Schools
  
• Local and National Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and Myalgic Encephalopathy Organizations
• Oxford House
  
• Local Rape Crisis Centers and Sexual Assault Response Teams
  
• St. Mary's Mobile Health Clinic, The Ignatius Spirituality Project, and Joliet Catholic Charities
• APA Task Force on Violence Against Educators and School Personnel
• Hanul Family Alliance
• The Illinois Board of Higher Education
• The Illinois Coalition Against Sexual Assault
  
• Other Local, National, and International Universities​

A Broad Funding Base

Recent faculty research has been funded by:

• Chicago Public Schools
• Department of Justice
  
• National Institutes of Health (e.g., NIDA, NIMH, NICHD, NINDS)
  
• National Science Foundation
  
• Spencer Foundation