MA in Clinical Psychology
Advocate for and implement change by helping others
Marriage and Family Therapists and Professional Clinical Counselors are engaged people, involved in real relationships that require commitment and genuine emotions in the midst of professional work. Our clinical psychology degree program emphasizes authentic relationships. At Antioch University, you’ll join a community of students and faculty who are active, engaged, and socially conscious. You’ll be part of a small cohort of classmates in an environment that fosters collaboration.
This degree is offered by Antioch University’s Los Angeles Campus.
Program Overview
The Master of Arts in Clinical Psychology program prepares you to work in today’s society by introducing you to a wide range of theories and techniques. You are challenged to look inward and arrive at new psychological insights that will help you develop greater depth as a psychotherapist and socially-engaged citizen of the world.
The 90-unit program meets the educational requirements for licensure as a California Marriage and Family Therapist (MFT) and by including the PCC specialization as part of your degree program as a Professional Clinical Counselor (PCC). Our Master of Arts in Clinical Psychology program is known for the successful preparation of compassionate, highly trained, multiculturally competent therapists.
Students in the Master of Arts in Clinical Psychology program choose from one of our unique and richly stimulating specializations in Addiction and Recovery, Applied Community Psychology, Child Studies, General Practice Specialization, LGBT-Affirmative Psychology, Professional Clinical Counselor, Psychological Trauma Studies, and Spiritual and Depth Psychology. Each specialization has a highly-regarded curriculum that is embedded in the program. The specializations were developed to meet the growing demand for clinicians with expertise in focused areas of practice, enrich your experience, increase appreciation for cultural diversity, and help develop a successful career path in a chosen area of interest.
Inside the classroom, you are encouraged to explore multiple perspectives and approaches and to engage instructors and peers in mutually beneficial learning experiences. Beyond the classroom walls, you have the opportunity to implement your learning by practicing therapy under professional supervision at one of over 100 affiliated mental health services agencies.
The Master of Arts in Clinical Psychology degree is a 90-quarter unit program, taken over eight full-time quarters or 16 part-time quarters.
PSY-5100: Introduction to Psychotherapy Theory and Practice (0 units)
New students may also be required to complete PSY-5100: Introduction to Psychotherapy Theory and Practice during or (at the student’s option) prior to the first quarter of study. If so, the course must be successfully completed in order to advance in the program.
The following pertains to a student who earns a No Credit evaluation in this course:
- If a student fails the final paper for PSY-5100: Introduction to Psychotherapy Theory and Practice, the student has one opportunity to redo it within the same quarter.
If the student does not pass the course the second time, the following consequence will occur:
- The student will be withdrawn from the MAP Program. The student’s registration may be voided if necessary. The student, following procedures specified elsewhere in this catalog, may appeal the No Credit decision and its consequences.
If a student receives a No Credit for some reason other than failure to successfully complete the final exam/final paper, the student may appeal to the Psychology Department Chair to request remediation that does not result in withdrawal from the program.
Waiver of the PSY 5100 Requirement
Normally, an incoming student would not be required to take this course if the student has, within the last five years, completed a psychology degree or taken and achieved a B or better on the following coursework at a regionally accredited college or university:
- Personality Theory
- Abnormal Psychology
- Developmental Psychology
If, however, in the opinion of the admissions interviewer, an incoming student needs the coursework to prepare them for our program, the student may be required to take the course regardless of prior study in psychology.
Additional Information
Full-Time and Part-Time Course Loads
A full-time course load is a minimum of 8 units, and a half-time course load is 4-7 units. Students who want to complete the program in two years will need to be full-time and take 8-12 units per quarter. The minimum length of the program is two years, and students cannot complete the program in less than two years by taking more than 12 units in a quarter.
Flexible Schedule vs Cohort Schedules
The cohort schedule is great for full-time students who have limited availability because they will take over half of their courses on one day of the week. Cohort students take between nine and twelve units each quarter and must remain full-time to stay in the cohort. Students who join a cohort are guaranteed a seat in their cohort’s classes.
The flexible schedule is similar to a traditional college schedule. Students may be full-time or part-time. Each quarter, flex schedule students can choose both which courses and how many units they will take.
The major difference between Flexible and Cohort schedule is when and how students take their core classes.
Flexible Schedule
Flexible schedule students have many options for taking their core classes.
Flexible Core Courses
The majority of core classes are offered Monday through Thursday, with start times of 10:00 AM, 1:00 PM, 4:00 PM, and 7:00 PM Multiple sections of each core class will be offered each quarter, but the exact schedule for these weekday courses will vary. Weekly core courses meet once a week for 2 or 2.5 hours.
Two core courses are all-day workshops, which may be held on Friday, Saturday, or Sunday, from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM. The program also offers a small number of asynchronous courses each quarter. In asynchronous courses, students work independently and do not attend class meetings.
Saturday Cohort
Students who join a Saturday cohort will take over half of their courses on Saturdays.
Cohort Core Courses
Cohort students take their required core courses in a predetermined, recommended order.
Twenty core courses (51 units) will be held on Saturdays, with start times of 9:00 AM, 12:30 PM, and 3:15 PM. The remaining five core courses (13 units) are a combination of asynchronous courses and full-day workshops. Saturday cohort workshops are always held on Sundays, 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM.
Weekday Cohort
This scheduling option is only available for incoming students who start the program in the Winter Quarter. The weekday cohort starting in Winter 2024 will be on Thursday; in Winter 2025, it will be on Wednesday.
Weekday and Saturday cohorts have the same organization, with weekday cohorts taking twenty core courses (51 units) on the same day. Weekday cohort start times are 10:00 AM, 1:00 PM, and 4:00 PM, and weekday cohort workshops may be held on Saturdays or Sundays.
PSY-5000W Graduate Writing Seminar and PSY-5100 Intro to Psych
Students may be required to take PSY-5000W and/or PSY-5100 in their first quarter. These classes are zero units and will be offered on both a weekday evening and during the day on Friday.
PSY-5100 is required of students who do not have an undergraduate degree in Psychology. Prospective students can also take this course before starting the program.
All students will take a writing assessment after New Student Orientation. This assessment will be evaluated by the second week of the quarter, and students will learn if PSY-5000W is strongly recommended or required for them.
Many students choose to take PSY-5000W even if it is not required. A three-day condensed version of the class is also held the week after New Student Orientation twice a year.
If prospective students would like to take these courses prior to starting the program, they should contact their admissions counselor.
In addition to the required core classes, students will take 17 units of elective coursework. These electives will be a mix of weekly classes and all-day workshops.
Electives are not held on Saturdays. Both Saturday and weekday cohort students should plan to take some electives on a different day of the week.
Most weekly electives fall under a specialization and are offered on a fixed schedule of Tuesday, Wednesday, or Thursday at 7:00 p.m. A few general practice electives are offered on a variable schedule and often meet earlier in the day on Monday through Thursday. Most weekly electives meet once a week for 2 or 2.5 hours.
A variety of elective workshops are also offered each quarter. Elective workshops meet on Friday or Sunday, typically from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM.
The Master of Arts in Clinical Psychology is designed to meet the following objectives:
- Prepare students for MFT and/or LPCC licensure in California and for doctoral study in psychology
- Develop reflective psychotherapists who are sensitive to issues of diversity, including gender, class, sexual orientation, race, ethnicity, and disability
- Promote student personal growth and development
- Provide practical clinical experience in highly varied, community-based mental health settings
- Train mental health professionals to meet the needs of California’s diverse communities
New students are required to attend an online registration/orientation event.
MA in Clinical Psychology Low Residency – New Student Orientation Dates
| Term | Event Date/Time |
|---|---|
| Spring | March 9, 9:30 AM |
| Summer | June 8, 9:30 AM |
| Fall | September 7, 9:30 AM |
| Winter | December 7, 9:30 AM |
| Orientation is mandatory for first-quarter students. | |
Licensure
This program is designed to lead to state licensure.
In order to practice as a marriage and family therapist or clinical counselor in the state of California, individuals must have a Master’ level education and register through the California Board of Behavioral Sciences.
To become a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) in California, practitioners must:
- Obtain a qualifying Master’s degree
- Register as an Associate Marriage and Family Therapist (AMFT)
- Pass the California Law and Ethics Exam
- Accrue supervised experience – 3,000 total supervised hours, over 104 weeks (minimum). Hours include those accrued during school.
- Pass the California Marriage and Family Therapy Exam
To become a licensed Professional Clinical Counselor (LPCC) in California, practitioners must:
- Obtain a qualifying Master’s degree
- Register as an Associate Professional Clinical Counselor (APCC)
- Pass the California Law and Ethics Exam
- Accrue supervised experience – 3,000 postgraduate total supervised hours, over 104 weeks (minimum).
- Pass the California Clinical Mental Health Counseling Exam
Licensure requirements of state boards and licensing agencies vary from state to state in the United States, as well as internationally. Additionally, licensure requirements may change over time. Consequently, successful completion of Antioch degree requirements does not guarantee that a state or overseas board or licensing agency will accept a graduate’s application for licensure. States and countries may require additional coursework and clinical placement hours not included in the Antioch curriculum. Students are responsible for researching the educational requirements for the intended licensure or certification in the state(s) or countries where they will seek licensure or certification.
Faculty Spotlights
Sandra Stark Shields, LMFT, LPCC, ATR-BC
Senior Lecturer
Kristen Muché
Clinical Supervisor, Adjunct Lecturer
Michael Anthony-Nalepa, LMFT
Adjunct Faculty
Lucy Cotter, LMFT
Adjunct Faculty
Admissions
How to Apply
- Complete an online application.
- Submit the Application Fee $50. Note: The application fee is waived for anyone attending an information session. Interested in attending? Sign up now!
- Submit an official transcript indicating Bachelor’s degree conferral from a regionally accredited college or university to AULA Admissions.
- Complete and submit the admissions essay. The admissions essay must be typed in 12 pt. font and double-spaced, with your name typed on the top of each page. The admissions reviewer(s) is interested in your capacity for self-reflection and your ability to think critically, as well as your writing ability. Some people may be asked to take steps to improve their writing skills when they enter the program so that they are writing at the graduate level. (Min. 800 words, Max. 1500 words)
- The applicant should choose to respond to one of the following essay prompts in support of the application. 1.) How have your life experiences to this point prepared you for graduate study in psychology? (Please be specific) OR 2.) What does the term social justice mean to you? What is a personal bias you would be willing to address during your participation in the MAP Program?
- Applicants are required to submit one professional letter of recommendation. The letter must come from a faculty member (present/former teacher), employer, or mental health professional. Letters from peer co-workers, friends, relatives, or personal therapists are not acceptable and will not be reviewed. The letter should address the applicant’s potential for success in graduate study in psychology. Please attach the written recommendation to the form when submitting the recommendation. The letter of recommendation must be submitted in either Word or pdf format and we strongly encourage that the letter of recommendation be one page in length.
- After we receive your application materials, we will contact you to make an appointment for a group interview. This interview is an opportunity for you to present your goals and qualifications and to ask questions about Antioch University’s program.
Please submit all materials to: Admissions Office, 400 Corporate Pointe, Culver City, CA 90230 or [email protected]. All application materials submitted become part of an applicant’s file and cannot be returned.
Application Deadline
| Quarter | Priority Deadline* | Application Deadline*** |
|---|---|---|
| Summer | January 1 | April 1 |
| Fall | April 1 | July 1 |
| Winter | August 1 | November 1 |
| Spring | November 1 | February 1 |
| *International application deadline is priority deadline | ||
| Please review the Academic Calendar for additional details. | ||
Cost
Clinical Psychology (MA) & Psychological Studies (MA)
| Cost per unit | 876 |
|---|---|
| View the Cost of Attendance Components | |
Financial Aid
A majority of AULA students finance their education through some form of financial aid. You may not be sure which federal, state, public and private aid packages – such as loans, scholarships, and grants—are right for you. Our staff is here to help you, so you can focus on what’s most important: beginning your academic program at AULA.
Start your Antioch Journey
Take your next step – talk to our admissions team to find the right program for you.