. . . education, therefore, is a process of living and not a preparation for future living.

– John Dewey

Ph.D. in Psychology Overview
The Ph.D. in Psychology curriculum offers four years of coursework in Imaginal Psychology (three years for Advanced Standing students) drawing on spiritual traditions, somatic practices, creative arts, mythology, indigenous wisdom, literary and poetic imagination, deep ecology, mystical philosophy, cultural history, and social critique.

Building on the core curriculum of the first two years, the third and fourth years of the Ph.D. program emphasize research, clinical, and cultural praxis skills as well as acquiring the knowledge base of
psychology as a profession.

The following concentrations are offered:

• Clinical Psychology
• Somatic Psychology
  
• Creative Arts Therapy
  
• Cultural Leadership
  
• Transformative Learning
  

The research coursework prepares students for the completion of an original research dissertation, while the clinical coursework, available for students who wish to pursue the clinical licensure option, prepares students for state licensure as either a Psychologist or Marriage and Family Therapist (MFT).

The Ph.D. in Psychology is designed to meet the educational requirements for the State of California Psychologist license. This program is also designed to meet the educational requirements for the State of California license in Marriage and Family Therapy (MFT), and, in accordance with section 4980.38(a) of the Business and Professions Code, meets the requirements of sections 4980.37 and 4980.40.

Graduation Requirements for Ph.D. in Psychology

• Students who enter with a Bachelors degree must complete four years (170 units) of coursework. Students who enter the program’s second year with a Masters degree (Advanced Standing) must complete three years (140 units) of coursework. Supervised fieldwork (750 hours) and dissertation units are included in these unit totals.
  
  
• Students entering with a Bachelors degree are required to take the written and oral comprehensive exams for the Master's in Psychology after completing two years of coursework.
  
  
• After completing all coursework, students must pass written and oral comprehensive examinations.
  
  
• The completion of an original research Dissertation is required.
  
  
• Sixty hours of personal therapy in an individual, couple, family, or group setting are required. In some cases, this experience may be obtained prior to enrollment in the Institute’s graduate program.
  
  
• Students have a maximum of six years after ending coursework with their cohort to complete the Doctoral degree requirements.
  

Curriculum Overview for Ph.D. in Psychology
Please consult the 2008-09 Course Catalog for the curriculum overview, course descriptions, and clinical licensure information relevant to the Ph.D. in Psychology.

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