Adler University

Type	Graduate school
Established	1952 (1952)
Founder	Rudolf Dreikurs
Location	Chicago , Illinois , United States
Website	www.adler.edu

Adler University is a post-baccalaureate, non-profit institution of higher education and private graduate school of social and health sciences located in Chicago, Illinois and Vancouver, British Columbia. Adler University continues the pioneering work of psychiatrist and first community psychologist Alfred Adler by graduating socially responsible practitioners, engaging communities, and advancing social justice. Formerly named The Adler School of Professional Psychology, in November 2013 the institution's Board of Trustees voted unanimously to advance the institution's collegiate status to that of a university. The name change—to Adler University—occurred officially in January 2015 to reflect both the growth of the institution and its broadening pedagogical focus beyond psychology.

Adler University offers three doctoral degrees, one in clinical psychology (Psy.D.), a Doctor of Couple and Family Therapy (D.C.F.T.), and a Ph.D. in Counselor Education & Supervision—and more than a dozen master's degree programs in areas such as counseling psychology, art therapy, public policy, nonprofit management, emergency management leadership, criminology, and rehabilitation. Adler enrolls more than 1,200 students at both its campuses in Chicago, Illinois and Vancouver, British Columbia. The current president of Adler University is Raymond E. Crossman, Ph.D. Crossman is the fifth president of university, appointed in 2003, and since then has realized a new vision, new academic programs, and significant growth for the institution.

In striving to be the leader in educating socially responsible practitioners, Adler University attracts applicants to its graduate programs who are broadly interested in social justice—and its interface with social science, public policy, and the health sciences, rather than applicants who are merely interested in traditional private practice.

Adler Toronto and the Adler Graduate School in Minneapolis, Minnesota are not affiliated administratively with Adler University in Chicago, Illinois and Vancouver, British Columbia.

History

Adler University is named for Alfred Adler (1870–1937), a physician, psychotherapist, and founder of Adlerian psychology, sometimes called individual psychology. He is considered the first community psychologist, because his work pioneered attention to community life, prevention, and population health.

Among Adler’s advocates and followers was Adler University founder Rudolf Dreikurs (1897–1972), a psychiatrist who immigrated to Chicago in 1937 after Adler’s death. Dreikurs lived and worked in Chicago’s Hull House, and he was instrumental in the child guidance movement in the U.S.

In 1952, Dreikurs founded the Institute of Adlerian Psychology that, in 1954, changed its name to the Alfred Adler Institute of Chicago, and in 1991 became known as the Adler School of Professional Psychology, and in 2015 as Adler University. Early instructors and founders of the Institute were also Bernard Shulman, Harold Mosak, Bina Rosenberg, and Robert Powers.

Dreikurs, Shulman, Mosak, Rosenberg, and Powers educated thousands of practitioners, primary educators, and parents with coursework and programs about common sense, effective, and optimistic ways to support health and community life.

In 1963, the Institute was chartered as a not-for-profit Illinois corporation and approved as a post-secondary educational provider. A year later, the Institute created a group therapy program for those incarcerated at Cook County Jail, a program that was a precursor to the school’s later focus on the incarcerated and the formerly incarcerated. In 1972, the Institute established its on-campus Dreikurs Psychological Services Center, a community mental health center and training site for students, which was the precursor to today’s Adler Community Health Services (ACHS), directed by Dr. Dan Barnes. In 1973, the Illinois Office of Education granted the Institute the authority to award the Master of Arts in Counseling Psychology. The Institute received full accreditation of master’s level programs and awarded its first M.A. degrees in 1978. It received doctoral level accreditation in 1987, and awarded its first Psy.D. degrees in 1990. The Psy.D. program was accredited by the American Psychological Association in 1998.

Adlerian Psychology

Adlerian psychology emphasizes the human need and ability to create positive social change and impact. Adler held equality, civil rights, mutual respect, and the advancement of democracy as core values. He was one of the first practitioners to provide family and group counseling and to use public education as a way to address community health. He was among the first to write about the social determinants of health and of mental health. Adler’s values and concepts drive the mission, work, and values at the Adler School today.

Academics

Master and doctoral programs are offered at both the Chicago and Vancouver campuses. In fall 2013, the Vancouver campus began offering a Psy.D. in Clinical Psychology—the first traditional Psy.D. program in Canada.

Adler University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission and the American Psychological Association. Adler University’s doctoral and master’s programs prepare students to become socially responsible practitioners. Based on a scholar/practitioner model, our mission-driven curriculum has earned national and international recognition. Adler students, faculty, and staff engage with communities to advance social justice—reaching out to those facing the greatest barriers to mental health support.

All of Adler University's masters and doctoral programs offered at the Vancouver campus are offered under the written consent of the British Columbia Ministry of Advanced Education having undergone a quality assessment process and been found to meet the criteria established by the Ministry.

Campuses

In addition to its main campus in downtown Chicago, which is located at 17 N. Dearborn Street. Adler University also maintains a campus in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, located at 1090 West Georgia Street, Suite 1200.

Adler University is the oldest independent school of psychology in North America and is a full member of NCSPP, the National Council of Schools and Programs of Professional Psychology. Adler University strives to attract applicants to its graduate programs who are interested in the interface between psychology and social justice, rather than those who are merely interested in the private practice of counseling and clinical psychology.

Community Partnerships

Annually, Adler University students provide over 650,000 hours of community service. Adler University partners with more than 700 agencies to advance community health. Adler Community Health Services (ACHS) provides psychological services to under-served populations through its clinical training programs.

ACHS training programs include the Adler Community Mental Health Doctoral Internship in Clinical Psychology as well as psychotherapy and diagnostic assessment externships, also known as clinical practica. The pre-doctoral internship at ACHS is accredited by the American Psychological Association (APA) and is a member of the Association of Psychology Post-doctoral and Internship Centers (APPIC).

A distinctive feature of Adler's programs, the Community Service Practicum (CSP) is a requirement for all first-year students at the School. The CSP is unique non-clinical experience, meant to expose future practitioners to concepts of social justice and social change, and to instill in them the ethos and the skill set necessary to engage in socially responsible practice.

Institutes + Centers

Adler Child Guidance Center

The Adler Child Guidance Center (ACGC) was established to help care-providers meet the challenges and responsibilities of child guidance. Based on the importance of raising children who are responsible, cooperative, and respectful of self and others, the ACGC emphasizes democratic leadership, encouragement, and reliance upon respectful, non-oppressive, non-coercive methods of teaching discipline. The Center strives to meet the needs of diverse communities providing cost-effective, non-exclusionary services within the mission and vision of social justice and socially responsible practice.

See also

• Classical Adlerian psychology
• North American Society of Adlerian Psychology
• Alfred Adler
• Rudolf Dreikurs