Psychology Programs

Master of Arts in Psychology

Doctor of Philosophy in Psychology

  • Concentration in Clinical Licensure

  • Concentration Integral Psychology

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Mission and Purpose

We are a California state-approved school by the Bureau for Private Post-Secondary Education (BPPE). CIHS offers traditional, clinical, and non-traditional holistic paths, as well as traditional and integral distinct options for the Ph.D. programs in psychology, (licensure and non-licensure). Our Ph.D. in Psychology - Concentration in Clinical Licensure program prepares students for license eligibility to become a Clinical Psychologist in professional psychology for students who want a more traditional career. We offer a M.A. in General or Integral Psychology as well as a Ph.D. in Integral or Clinical Psychology, with The Integral Psychology track is for those who choose an alternative route and may already have degrees as healing practitioners or psychotherapists, or in any of the holistic and healing arts. Whichever program you choose, our curriculum honors mind, body, spirit unity and views people as conscious, ever-evolving human beings. 

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The Master of Arts in General Psychology prepares the ground for all further study in psychology by examining perennial philosophical issues, research strategies, and practical application of theory and skills. A range of substantive coursework represents major areas of psychology, if a student has already been awarded a Master’s degree in psychology or other related field, admission may be granted directly into the doctoral program, at the discretion of the Program Director.

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A unique feature of the M.A. and Ph.D. programs is the opportunity to draw upon the Life Physics, Comparative Religion and Philosophy, and Integral Health curricula for elective requirements, providing a synthesis of holistic thought and an emphasis on consciousness and spirituality. It is important to check the rules and regulations of your state. Please note that for licensure track students, the availability of electives is limited by fulfilling a core curriculum of required and recommended classes. However, the underlying mission of the school informs all curricula.

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Primarily, the clinical study of psychology focuses on a traditional, clinical curriculum that is competitive with a traditional Clinical Psychology program in other universities, while embracing an emphasis on the Institute’s core belief system. Attending CIHS' Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology program will provide the student with the necessary training to be effective in the field as a professional psychotherapist, research psychologist or teaching psychologist. The program meets and/or psychologist (in addition to the student meeting all state licensing requirements if that is the intended path). Additionally, the CIHS graduate is schooled in viewing the clients as a whole and, spiritual human being simply needing guidance at this point in their lives . The emphasis on consciousness, mind, body, spirit, and the importance of proven other healing modalities is honored throughout the curriculum. In this way, the Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology affords the student a unique opportunity to apply for licensure become licensed as a Clinical Psychologist in California (or other reciprocal states as determined by each state’s licensing body) with a solid core education in a curriculum that emphasizes consciousness, healing, and spirituality.

 

Our program is for the student who wants to go beyond the medical-model psychology programs to view the client as a human being seeking wholeness. The CIHS student will learn how to address the fundamental questions in psychology, namely, "What is wrong? How and why did it develop? What can be done?" from a holistic with the perspective of psychotherapy and clinical psychology. Qualitative and quantitative research and dissertations are included because CIHS recognizes that clinically relevant issues must be examined in an experiential way while honoring the idea that the client’s experience should be respected and valued. The experience itself provides new learning information. The qualitative or mixed design emphasis on research is a strong and unique feature of the CIHS education. Many of our students welcome this opportunity to write a dissertation from this perspective. Mixed-method and quantitative dissertations are encouraged as well as these validate impact of holistic healing processes. Ranges of topics relevant to psychology as a healing art are available as electives.

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**Please note that at the time of publication, this catalog reflects the known requirements and best recommendations by the Board of Psychology (BOP) to partially prepare students to pursue licensure. The nature of these regulations changes annually. Ultimately, it is the student’s responsibility to ensure his/her program complies with his/her professional goals. It is important to learn the rules and regulations of your state licensing board. The regulatory board regularly updates the requirements. The California BOP rules and regulations can be downloaded from, at https://www.psychology.ca.gov/laws_regs/2019lawsregs.pdf  

 

Please also note that the electives listed in this catalog at the time of publication accurately reflect our most recent course of study. The nature of these electives can be dynamic within the scope of a comprehensive education in graduate psychology and it best reflects trends and proper scope of the industry.

 

CIHS recognizes the distinctions and interstices between Master’s level psychology and doctoral psychology. Please note that many of the courses integrate both M.A. and Ph.D. students together. However, the assignments, requirements, and course objectives diverge to reflect the appropriate course of study.

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Prerequisites

  • Master of Arts in Psychology: Bachelor’s degree from an approved or accredited institution.

  • Doctor of Philosophy in Psychology: Master’s degree from an approved or accredited institution in a related field.

 

MASTER OF ARTS IN PSYCHOLOGY

Learning Objectives

The Master of Arts in Psychology program is designed to provide entry-level graduate students with a solid grounding in the basic foundations of psychology. Upon successful completion of the core curriculum, the student fulfills the remaining degree requirements by taking courses in substantive areas in psychology. The psychology program as well as the integral track prepare the student to enter the doctoral programs, including the Doctor of Philosophy in Psychology. The M.A. program follows a more interdisciplinary track with an emphasis on general psychology, integral psychology, Comparative Religion and Philosophy, and/or Life Physics.

Program Learning Outcomes

Psychology Masters PLOs.  Graduates of CIHS Psychology Master’s program will be able to:

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  • PLO 1: Understand people as ever evolving, multidimensional beings on a developmental journey toward wholeness, which encompasses the domains of mind, body, and spirit.

  • PLO 2: Apply transdisciplinary research, theory and praxis for effective counseling and communication in both traditional and non-traditional settings.

  • PLO 3: Explain and use holistic thought, that includes consciousness and spirituality.

  • PLO 4: Describe the theory and application of a broad spectrum of healing modalities, to include both traditional and non-traditional approaches.

  • PLO 5: Discuss a personal framework for the ‘self-as-healer,’ underscored by the notion that personal healing and ongoing self-development is positively correlated with professional aptitude.

Degree Requirements

Fifty-six (56) graduate quarter units are required to complete the Master of Arts degree in Psychology. Twenty-eight (28) graduate quarter units are earned in seven (7) core courses designed to establish a basic foundation in the philosophy, science, and practice of psychology based on the Institute’s mission.  Elective coursework toward the 56 degree units necessary for graduation may be selected from any of other Master’s programs: Life Physics or Comparative Religion and Philosophy. Doctoral-level courses in Psychology, Life Physics, or Comparative Religion and Philosophy may be taken with the approval of the Psychology Program Director.

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For Master’s level students, graduate transfer credits may be granted for a total of 8-quarter units of relevant graduate courses previously completed at an approved or accredited institution for non-licensure students.

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Challenge exams (2 exams or 8 units) may be taken for equivalent coursework. This would provide additional credit toward the degree, at the discretion of the Program Director.

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If the Master of Arts student is completing his/her degree with no intention of continuing in the Ph.D. program, the completion of a thesis (psychology) or special project (Integral/Energy Psychology) must be completed as a degree requirement.

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If the student is planning to immediately enroll upon degree conferment into the Institute’s Ph.D. program, a course may be taken in lieu of the Master’s thesis or senior project.

 

Core courses                             28 units

Electives                                     28 units

TOTAL                                        56 units

Core Curriculum

Courses

  • PSY 500 Academic Writing Within the Human Sciences (4 units)

  • PSY 501 Foundations in Integral studies (4 units)                         

  • PSY 502 Consciousness Studies (4 units)

  • PSY 503 Counseling & Communications Skills (4 units)   

  • PSY 504 Spiritual Education (several possible courses) (4 units)   

  • PSY 505 Introduction to Qualitative and Quantitative Research Methods (4 units)

  • PSY 690 Thesis or Special Project (4 units)                                      

                                                                                                                

Electives

Students may also choose appropriate interdisciplinary electives from any of the other programs. Courses relevant to the field are below, but the electives are not limited to these course options, at the discretion of the Program Director.

Sample Elective Courses

  • PSY 506 Statistics (4 units)

  • PSY 622 Mind-Body and Energy in Psychology (4 units)

  • PSY 624 Psychobiology (4 units)

  • PSY 625 Sociocultural Influences and Intervention Strategies (4 units)

  • PSY 632 Somatic Psychology (4 units)

  • PSY 633 Introduction to Energy Psychology (4 units)

  • PSY 634 Pranic Healing (4 units)

  • PSY 636 Psychology of the Chakras (4 units)

  • PSY 637 Group and Community Relationships (4 units)

  • PSY 651 Psychoacoustics (4 units)

  • PSY 657 Lifespan Development (4 units)

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DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY IN PSYCHOLOGY 

Learning Objectives

The aim of the Ph.D. program in Psychology is to provide advanced coursework that addresses core issues in clinical psychology as a treatment and research area. In addition to the state course requirements for licensure, CIHS’ Ph.D. provides elective coursework opportunities in the field of psychology. Areas in which psychology overlaps with other disciplines will be addressed. In particular, in addition to the traditional clinical psychology curriculum, an emphasis on consciousness, spirituality, and holistic treatment is included.

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The aim of the program is the understanding and application of consciousness and its relationship on the mind-body relationship and spiritual development. The focus is holistic and integrative.

Program Learning Outcomes

Psychology Ph.D. PLOs.  Graduates of CIHS Psychology Ph.D. program will be able to:

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  • PLO 1: Examine people as ever evolving, multidimensional beings on a developmental journey toward wholeness, which encompasses the domains of mind, body, and spirit.

  • PLO 2: Apply transdisciplinary research, theory and praxis for effective counseling and communication in both traditional and non-traditional settings.

  • PLO 3: Construct a synthesis of holistic thought, that includes consciousness and spirituality.

  • PLO 4: Explore and advance the theory and application of a broad spectrum of healing modalities, to include both traditional and non-traditional approaches.

  • PLO 5: Develop a personal framework for the ‘self-as-healer,’ underscored by the notion that personal healing and ongoing self-development is positively correlated with professional aptitude.

Degree Requirements

Ninety-four (94) graduate quarter units beyond the Master's Degree are required to complete the Doctor of Philosophy degree program in Clinical Psychology. The number of core courses and quarter units (including dissertation) required would depend on the number of core courses that students have completed at the Master’s Level.  This would include 1) the core courses associated with the school’s mission and 2) students with a M.A. level clinical license or degree that includes the core courses required for clinical licensing. 

 

It is important for students working towards licensure to establish that they have completed the required number of core courses in consultation with the Program Director. The remaining elective units will be planned with student’s career goals in mind. With the Program Director’s approval, students may draw on the Ph.D. programs in Integral Health, Life Physics and Comparative Religion and Philosophy for coursework electives. 

 

An additional requirement for students preparing for licensure is 50 hours of personal counseling with licensed professionals. This is arranged by the student. Please see the California Board of Psychology Laws & Regulations for details about licensure. Some of these hours can count toward licensure if undertaken during the supervision process.

 

Students in this program may be required to take prerequisite courses if their background at the M.A. level has not fully prepared them to succeed in the Institute's Ph.D. program, at the discretion of the Program Director.

 

For Ph.D. students, graduate transfer credits may be granted for a total of 16-quarter units of relevant graduate courses previously completed at an approved or accredited institution for non-licensure students.* For licensure track doctoral students, two relevant courses or 8 units of graduate coursework may be transferred at the discretion of the Program Director. 

 

Advancement to Candidacy consists of successful completion of all coursework (except PSY 896, PSY 897, and 2 research-based papers as detailed under Advancement to Candidacy (please see page 5) upon discussion with the Dean of Academic Affairs and/or Program Director). Successful Advancement to Candidacy is a prerequisite for a clinical internship and the dissertation sequence (4 courses). The examination tests the student's ability to provide sophisticated written discussions concerning substantive matters in psychology relating to the practice of Psychology.

Ph.D. in Psychology – Concentration in Clinical Licensure

Core courses                                 50 units

Licensing Requirements              28 units

Electives                                         16 units

TOTAL                                             94 units

Ph.D. in Psychology – Concentration in Integral Psychology

Core courses                                  50 units

Electives                                          44 units

TOTAL                                              94 units

Prerequisites

For Admission

  • Completion of a Master’s degree in Psychology or related field.

  • PSY 505 Intro to Qualitative and Quantitative Research (or equivalent course from an accredited institution)

  • PSY 607 Psychology of Personality (or equivalent course from an accredited institution)

Course Prerequisites

  • Core courses must be completed first.

  • PSY 890-A and 890-B: When students reach 68 quarter credits, they enter into the Practicum class. This is preparation toward beginning internship (psyc trainee) upon 72 quarter credits. These hours can be obtained through an internship within a local community mental health agency or through the eventual CIHS Tele-therapy Clinic or both.  All positions require a supervisor to guide and sign off on the trainee hours per licensing requirements.

Core Curriculum

Courses

  • PSY 700 Academic Writing Within the Human Sciences (4 units)

  • PSY 701 Foundations in Integral (4 units)

  • PSY 702 Consciousness Studies (4 units)

  • PSY 703 Counseling & Communications Skills (4 units)

  • PSY 704 Spiritual Education (several options available) (4 units)

  • PSY 705 Advanced Qualitative Research Methods (4 units)

  • PSY 706 Advanced Quantitative Research Methods (4 units)

  • PSY 896 Dissertation Topic Research (5 units)

  • PSY 897 Dissertation Methodology Review (5 units)

  • PSY 898A Dissertation I (6 units)

  • PSY 898B Dissertation II (6 units)

Concentration in Clinical Licensure

  • Students intending to obtain state licensure are required to take a minimum of seven courses (28 units) from this section. Clinical licensing courses must be taken at the Doctoral level. Master level courses cannot transfer.

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Required courses (28 units)

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Courses

  • PSY 708 Human Sexuality: Clinical Considerations (4 units)

  • PSY 713 Family Violence, Partner Abuse, and Child Abuse: Assessment & Intervention (4 units)

  • PSY 715 Aging, Long-term Care, and Grief (4 units)

  • PSY 718 Substance Abuse: Assessment, Intervention, and Treatment (4 units)

  • PSY 710 Ethics and Law in Psychology (4 units)

  • PSY 719 Diagnosis in Clinical Psychology (4 units)

  • PSY 819 Psychotherapy: Approaches and Strategies (4 units)

  • PSY 890-A Practicum I (2 units)

  • PSY 890-B Practicum II (2 units)

Licensing Requirements as a Psychologist in California

The Board of Psychology is the relevant governing body for the psychology license in California. Upon WASC accreditation, Graduates who have earned a Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology from a State approved educational institution (such as CIHS) are eligible to take the licensing exam after they have completed a total of 3000 hours of supervised clinical experience. The Board will accept a maximum of 1500 hours of pre-doctoral supervised clinical experience toward the total of 3000 hours, once the student has advanced to candidacy.

 

CIHS students intending to become licensed in California should map out their doctoral curriculum with the Program Director.

It is recommended that all Ph.D. students write to the Board of Psychology and obtain the most recent edition of the Laws and Regulations.  It can also be downloaded at  https://www.psychology.ca.gov/laws_regs/2019lawsregs.pdf

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 Board of Psychology

1625 North Market Blvd, Suite N-215
Sacramento, CA 95834
Office Main Line 916-574-7720
Toll Free 866-503-3221
E-Mail: bopmail@dca.ca.gov

 

All regulations change yearly. Although each student works closely with his/her program director, ultimately it is the student’s responsibility to ensure their program meets his/her future educational and professional goals.

Electives

Students in the Concentration in Clinical Licensure must select 16 units from the list of electives.

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Students in the Concentration in Integral Psychology must select 44 units from the list of electives. Student may also select up to 16 elective units from Integral Health and Comparative Religion and Philosophy.

Sample Elective Courses

  • PSY 707 Psychology of Personality (4 units)

  • PSY 708 Human Sexuality: Clinical Considerations* (4 units)

  • PSY 709 Human Development and Archetypes (4 units)

  • PSY 717 Psychopharmacology (4 units)

  • PSY 723 Sociocultural Influences and Intervention Strategies (4 units)

  • PSY 724 Neuropsychology (4 units)

  • PSY 725 Psychology of Mind-Body and Energy (4 units)

  • PSY 726 Psychological Testing & Assessment* (4 units)

  • PSY 727 Couple Therapy* (4 units)

  • PSY 730 Psychopathology and Psychopathogenesis (4 units)

  • PSY 733 Depth Psychology (4 units)

  • PSY 736 Psychology of the Chakras (4 units)

  • PSY 749 Clinical Aspects of Energy Psychology (4 units)

  • PSY 750 Energy Psychology: Foundations & Therapy (4 units)

  • PSY 751 Psychoacoustics (4 units)

  • PSY 754 Pranic Healing (4 units)

  • PSY 763 Psychology of Shamanism (4 units)

  • PSY 764 Transpersonal Psychology (4 units)

  • PSY 784 Ecopsychology (4 units)

  • PSY 732 Somatic Psychology (4 units)

  • PSY 756 Psychospiritual Healing Practices (4 units)

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* These courses are not applicable to the Integral Psychology options for electives.