Ph.D. in East-West Psychology California Institute of Integral Studies

The East-West Psychology program offers a global approach to the exploration and study of psychology and spirituality. Students are encouraged to become thought leaders in cross-cultural relations that are rooted in ancient spiritual traditions. Graduates create positive and sustainable paradigms in global and personal change.

Courses are cross-disciplinary and include academic inquiry of systems, spiritual traditions, and psychological teachings. Our program explores the interface of psychology and spirituality, including:

• Transpersonal and integral psychology
• Asian psychologies
• Modern consciousness studies
• Participatory spirituality
• Depth psychology (Jungian, archetypal, and psychoanalytic)
• Contemplative psychology
• Religious comparative studies
• Shamanic studies
• Ecopsychology

Teaching/Research Assistantships

A limited number of paid teaching and research assistantships are available every semester. Possible responsibilities for teaching assistants include facilitation of experiential learning; teaching portions of a class; working with students outside the classroom on projects; miscellaneous administrative and logistical tasks; providing feedback to the faculty member on student learning and perceptions; and reading student papers and giving feedback (but not as the only reader). Research assistants assist faculty in specific research areas in tasks such as annotated bibliographies, scholarly networking, and maintaining scholarly databases.

Internships

An internship is an opportunity to integrate the career-related experience into an academic education through on-the-job training rather than merely employment. Internships are typically a means for students to gain practical experience in their chosen field in a supervised professional work environment. The department provides students with a list of associated organizations in which internships are available: East-West Psychology Department Internship Opportunities, Internships can be carried out as fieldwork up to a maximum of 6 units.

Combined Ph.D./Spiritual Counseling

Students entering the Ph.D. program with a license and mental health practice, or pastoral counseling training, may apply for the East-West Spiritual Counseling Certificate. Spiritual counseling becomes the area of specialization for such a doctoral student.

Ph.D. students complete 36 units of coursework and one comprehensive exam; they then write a dissertation. Students work closely with their advisors to design an individualized curriculum and participate in research colloquia to articulate their dissertation research project.

All students complete 6-units of core requirements:

• East-West Psychology Community Retreat
• Introduction to East-West Psychology
• Conscious Diversity: Inner and Outer—A Diversity Process Class
• Knowledge Work and the Modern Academy

All students complete 6-units of Advanced Ph.D. Seminars

All students complete 6-units of research courses:

• Qualitative Research Methods
• Research Methods Lab

All students complete:

• Two Research Colloquia
• Comprehensive Exams
• Dissertation Proposal
• Dissertation

(The dissertation proposal and dissertation seminar classes are each 0 units and are charged at a flat rate.)

Students have 16-units of electives in their area of specialization. Possible areas include:

• Depth Psychology
• Asian and Yoga Psychology
• Integral and Transpersonal Psychology
• Ecopsychology
• East-West Spiritual Counseling
• Indigenous and Shamanic Studies
• Culture and Psychology
• Spiritual Traditions
• Psychospiritual Practice
• Consciousness Studies