![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() |
---|

On Campus.
Online.
In the Community.
Graduate Programs in Psychology
General, Clinical & Licensure Tracks
CIHS’ California-approved license eligible psychology programs, both the Master of Arts in Clinical Psychology, and the Doctor of Philosophy in Clinical Psychology (which is a partial requirement for licensure as a psychologist), provide a unique opportunity for students. CIHS’ innovative curriculum instructs the graduate student in psychology with the knowledge to practice clinical psychology with an emphasis on consciousness and the mind, body, spirit connection, rather than a primary focus on the medical model.
Students can meet the partial requirements for licensure by the state of California’s Board of Psychology (Clinical Psychology) with an innovative curriculum that sees the client as a human being seeking health and wholeness, rather than a reductionist diagnosis. CIHS recognizes the practice of psychology as one of the healing arts that can be useful on a person’s search for health, healing, and wellness. CIHS’ clinical psychology programs emphasize integration and an expansive model of consciousness and well-being.
The core courses in both programs emphasize general psychology and clinical psychology, whereas the course electives can be in integral psychology. Ph.D. students may choose to pursue a Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology with Integral Psychology emphasis or a Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology for candidates intending to obtain a clinical licensing. Students are allowed to draw upon the programs in Life Physics, Comparative Religion and Philosophy, and Integral Health to fulfill their course electives.
The core curriculum clinical emphasis of the General Psychology Master of Arts 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, including clinical psychology. The clinical psychology emphasis is designed to prepare students for the Institute’s Ph.D. program in Clinical Psychology. If an integral emphasis is desired, the course program follows a more interdisciplinary track with an emphasis on general psychology, integral psychology, Comparative Religion and Philosophy, and/or Life Physics.
View Courses and Degree Requirements
Doctor of Philosophy in Clinical Psychology (Licensure Track Available)
The aim of the Ph.D. program in Clinical 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, emphasis will be placed on consciousness, spirituality, and holistic treatment in addition to the traditional clinical psychology curriculum.
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.
View Courses, Degree and Licensure 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. Students who wish to go on from the Institute’s General Psychology M.A. program to the Institute’s Ph.D. program in Clinical Psychology must take the M.A. clinical psychology emphasis.
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. Doctorate-level courses in Psychology, Life Physics, or Comparative Religion and Philosophy may be taken with the approval of the Psychology Program Director.
​
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. 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.
​
If the Master of Arts student is completing his/her degree with no intention of continuing in the PhD program, the completion of a thesis (psychology) or special project (Integral/Energy Psychology) must be completed as a degree requirement. 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.
Code
PSY 500
PSY 501
PSY 502
PSY 503
PSY 504
PSY 505
​
PSY 506
Code
PSY 505
PSY 690
​
Students on a non-licensure track following may also choose appropriate interdisciplinary electives from any of the other programs. Courses relevant to the field are below, but electives are not limited to these course options, at the discretion of the Program Director.
Course Tittle
Academic Writing Within the Human Sciences
Foundations in Integral studies
Consciousness Studies
Counseling & Communications Skills
Spiritual Education
Introduction to Qualitative and Quantitative Research
Statistics
Units
(4)
(4)
(4)
(4)
(4)
(4)
​
(4)
Course Tittle
Introduction to Qualitative and Quantitative Research
Thesis or Special Project
Units
(4)
(4)
​
Code
PSY 622
PSY 624
PSY 625
PSY 633
PSY 634
PSY 636
PSY 637
PSY 644
PSY 651
PSY 680
PSY 699
Course Tittle
Mind-Body and Energy in Psychology
Psychobiology
Sociocultural Influences and Intervention Strategies
Introduction to Energy Psychology
Pranic Healing
Psychology of the Chakras
Introduction to Four Expressive Arts Modalities
Dynamic Group Therapy: Theory and Practice
Psychoacoustics
Topics of Special Interest
Independent Study
Units
(4)
(4)
(4)
(4)
(4)
(4)
(4)
​
(4)
​
(4)
(4-8)
(2-12)

Doctor of Philosophy in Clinical Psychology (Integral Emphasis)
Ninety-Four (94) graduate quarter units beyond the Master’s Degree are required to complete the Doctor of Philosophy degree program in Integral 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 Masters level.
​
Required for all Ph.D. students (unless the courses were completed at the Master's level, then other courses will be substituted).
Code
PSY 700
PSY 701
PSY 702
PSY 703
PSY 704
PSY 705
PSY 706
PSY 896
PSY 897
PSY 898A
PSY 898B
Course Tittle
Academic Writing Within the Human Sciences
Foundations in Integral Studies
Consciousness Studies
Counseling & Communications Skills
Spiritual Education
Advanced Qualitative Research Methods
Advanced Quantitative Research Methods
Dissertation Topic Research
Dissertation Methodology Review
Dissertation I
Dissertation II
Units
(4)
(4)
(4)
(4)
(4)
(4)
(4)
​
(5)
(5)
(6)
(6)
Core Courses for Integral Psychology (Clinical Psychology)
Code
PSY 709
PSY 708
PSY 730
PSY 749
PSY 750
PSY 800
Course Tittle
Human Development and Archetypes
Human Sexuality: Clinical Considerations
Psychopathology and Psychopathogenesis
Clinical Aspects of Energy Psychology
Energy Psychology: Foundations & Therapy
Psychology of Personality
Units
(4)
(4)
(4)
(4)
(4)
(4)
Elective Courses for Integral Psychology Emphasis
Code
IH 790
IH 799
PSY 709
PSY 736
PSY 749
PSY 750
PSY 751
PSY 754
PSY 755
PSY 756
PSY 763
PSY 764
PSY 784
PSY 790
PSY 799
Course Tittle
Topics of Special Interest
Independent Study
Human Development and Archetypes
Psychology of the Chakras
Clinical Aspects of Energy Psychology
Energy Psychology: Foundations & Therapy
Psychoacoustics
Pranic Healing
Advanced Integrative Therapy (AIT)
Meditation Practice, Guided Imagery, & Alternative Techniques to Complement Psychotherapy
Psychology of Shamanism
Transpersonal Psychology
Ecopsychology
Topics of Special Interest
Independent Study
Units
(4-8)
(2-12)
(4)
(4)
(4)
(4)
(4)
(4)
(4)
(4)
​
(4)
(4)
(4)
(4-8)
(4-12)
Doctor of Philosophy in Clinical Psychology (Licensure Emphasis)
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 Masters 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 PhD 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 doctorate 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 Academic Dean 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.
Required for all PhD students (unless the courses were completed at the Masters level, then other courses will be substituted).
Code
PSY 700
PSY 701
PSY 702
PSY 703
PSY 704
PSY 705
PSY 706
PSY 896
PSY 897
PSY 898A
PSY 898B
Course Tittle
Academic Writing Within the Human Sciences
Foundations in Integral Studies
Consciousness Studies
Counseling & Communications Skills
Spiritual Education
Advanced Qualitative Research Methods
Advanced Quantitative Research Methods
issertation Topic Research
Dissertation Methodology Review
Dissertation I
Dissertation II
​
Units
(4)
(4)
(4)
(4)
(4)
(4)
(4)
(5)
(5)
(6)
(6)
​
Students intending to obtain state licensure are required to take a minimum of nine (9) courses from this section, unless these courses have been taken at the masters level and do not need to be repeated at the Ph.D. level but can be replaced with other electives to fulfill the 94 unit requirement for the Ph.D. degree. Those with asterisks are either recommended and/or required by the California Board of Psychology as courses to fulfill a licensure track PhD in Clinical Psychology degree.
Code
PSY 609
PSY 708
PSY 710
PSY 713
PSY 715
PSY 717
PSY 718
PSY 719
PSY 723
PSY 724
PSY 725
PSY 726
PSY 730
PSY 800
PSY 819
PSY 820
Course Tittle
Human Development and Archetypes
Human Sexuality: Clinical Considerations
Ethics and Law in Psychology
Family Violence, Partner Abuse, & Child Abuse: Assessment & Intervention
Aging, Long-term Care, and Grief
Psychopharmacology
Substance Abuse: Assessment, Intervention, & Treatment
Diagnosis in Clinical Psychology
Sociocultural Influences and Intervention Strategies
Neuropsychology
Psychology of Mind-Body and Energy
Psychological Testing & Assessment
Psychopathology and Psychopathogenesis
Psychology of Personality
Psychotherapy: Approaches and Strategies
Pre-Doctoral Internships
Units
(4)
(4)
(4)
(4)
(4)
(4)
(4)
​
(4)
(4)
(4)
(4)
(4)
(4)
(4)
(4)
(4)
If licensing is the ultimate goal of the student, the Institute encourages the student to check with her or his respective state, and professional associations to ascertain requirements as these change from time to time.
​
The Board of Psychology is the relevant governing body for the psychology license in California. 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 when 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.
​
All regulations can be annually dynamic. 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. It is recommended that all Ph.D. students contact to the Board of Psychology and obtain the most recent edition of the Laws and Regulations.
​
More information is available online: http://www.psychology.ca.gov/