M.A. in Psychology
A flexible master’s degree bridging science, consciousness, and transformation.
The M.A. in Psychology at CIHS offers a distinctive graduate foundation in psychological theory, research, and practice while opening space for transpersonal, humanistic, integral, and consciousness-based approaches often left at the margins of conventional psychology programs.
This 48-unit master’s program may be completed as a terminal degree, used as preparation for doctoral study, or pursued as part of an efficient M.A. to Ph.D. pathway at CIHS. Students develop a grounding in psychology, research methods, human development, spirituality, consciousness studies, and mind-body-spirit approaches to wellbeing while shaping their studies through concentration options aligned with their interests and future goals.
Program at a Glance
An innovative and accessible graduate foundation in psychology.
The M.A. in Psychology is designed for students who want more than a conventional survey of the field. The program combines academic grounding with meaningful flexibility, allowing students to study psychology as a science, a humanistic discipline, and a path of insight, transformation, and contribution.
Integrative Psychology with Scientific Depth
Study psychology as both a rigorous science and a path of insight, transformation, and contribution. The M.A. bridges psychological theory, research, and practice with transpersonal, humanistic, consciousness-based, and mind-body-spirit approaches, preparing students for doctoral study, research, clinical pathways, or other transformative work.
World-Class Faculty
Study with clinicians, scholars, researchers, and practitioners working across clinical psychology, transpersonal psychology, positive psychology, psychedelics, parapsychology, consciousness studies, and integrative approaches to transformation. Meet the Psychology faculty.
Accessible Online Format
The program is designed for distance students and working adults, with accessible online coursework and opportunities for connection with faculty, classmates, and the broader CIHS learning community.
Quarterly Start Dates
Students may apply throughout the year, with intakes available at the beginning of each quarter so they can begin when the timing is right.
One-Year Full-Time Completion
The 48-unit M.A. can be completed in as little as one calendar year by full-time students taking three 4-unit courses per quarter, while part-time students may complete the degree at a pace that better fits their professional and personal responsibilities.
Efficient M.A. to Ph.D. Pathways
Students who continue into doctoral study at CIHS may be able to transfer approved M.A. units into the Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology or the Ph.D. in Integral, Transpersonal, and Positive Psychology, creating a more efficient academic progression.
Degree Requirements & Program Learning Outcomes
Program Learning Outcomes
Graduates of the M.A. in Psychology program will be prepared to:
- PLO 1: Multidimensional Development Consider people as ever-evolving, multidimensional beings on a developmental journey toward wholeness, encompassing the domains of mind, body, and spirit.
- PLO 2: Research, Theory & Praxis Apply multidisciplinary research, theory, and praxis to aspects of psychology and/or psychotherapy.
- PLO 3: Consciousness & Spirituality Explain holistic thought in a way that includes consciousness and spirituality.
- PLO 4: Human Wellbeing Describe the theory and application of psychological knowledge to human wellbeing.
- PLO 5: Personal & Community Development Apply mind-body-spirit principles to personal or community development.
Degree Requirements
The M.A. includes core coursework, required psychology courses, concentration study, and a thesis or capstone project.
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Curriculum
Core psychology training with room for focused exploration.
The M.A. in Psychology combines core coursework, required psychology courses, concentration study, and a thesis or capstone project. Students build a foundation in psychology, research methods, consciousness studies, spirituality, human development, and integrative approaches to transformation.
Core & Required Courses
Foundational coursework in psychology, research, and transformation.
- PSY 566 Scholarly Writing for Psychology I (4 units)
- PSY 565 Foundations in Whole Person Psychology (4 units)
- PSY 571 Consciousness Studies for Psychology (4 units)
- PSY 504 Spiritual Education — several options available (4 units)
- PSY 505 Introduction to Qualitative and Quantitative Research Methods (4 units)
- PSY 602 History of Systems of Psychology (4 units)
- PSY 642 Cognitive & Affective Basis of Behavior (4 units)
- PSY 657 Lifespan Development (4 units)
- PSY 690 Thesis or Special Project, or PSY 691 Capstone Project* (4 units)
*Students who are on an M.A. to Ph.D. path may complete either a thesis or capstone project. Students receiving the M.A. in Psychology as their final degree must complete a thesis.
Concentration Electives
Use concentration coursework to shape your focus.
- General Psychology / Pre-Clinical PSY 607 Psychology of Personality, PSY 625 Multiculturalism and Diversity in Counseling, and PSY 611 Diagnosis in Clinical Psychology (12 units)
- Consciousness & Transformation PSY 577 Meditation and Personal Transformation, PSY 573 Neuroscience of Consciousness, and one additional approved elective (12 units)
- Spirituality & Whole Person Psychology PSY 578 Anatomy of Presence, PSY 574 Psychological Energy, and one additional approved elective (12 units)
- Parapsychology Sample courses include PSY 509 Introduction to Parapsychology, PSY 528 Remote Viewing, PSY 525 History of Psychical Research, and PSY 537 Practical Application of Psi
- Psychedelics, Consciousness & Transformation Sample courses include PSY 682 Phenomenology of Psychedelic and Self-Transcendent Experience, PSY 683 Self-Transcendence: An Experiential Journey, and PSY 576 Psychedelics for Transformation
Concentration requirements may be updated over time. Students should consult with the program director or advisor regarding current concentration options and course availability.
Concentrations
Focus your M.A. around a specialized area of inquiry.
Students may complete the M.A. in Psychology through one of several program-designed concentrations. The M.A. concentration structure allows students to focus their studies within established program-designed areas while maintaining a shared foundation in psychological theory, research, and integrative approaches to human experience. Each concentration uses 12 units of coursework and focuses on a specific area of inquiry, practice, or future doctoral preparation.
General Psychology / Pre-Clinical
Designed for students preparing for advanced clinical study, this concentration provides coursework in personality, multicultural counseling, and diagnosis as a foundation for further clinical psychology training.
- Clinical preparation
- Personality and diagnosis
- Multicultural counseling foundations
Consciousness & Transformation
Explore consciousness, meditation, transformation, and psychological development through coursework that connects contemplative practice, neuroscience, personal growth, and integrative psychology.
- Meditation and transformation
- Neuroscience of consciousness
- Personal and psychological development
Spirituality & Whole Person Psychology
Study psychology in relation to spirituality, presence, psychological energy, meaning, mind-body-spirit integration, and the deeper dimensions of human experience.
- Spirituality and psychology
- Presence and psychological energy
- Mind-body-spirit approaches
Parapsychology
Investigate exceptional human experiences and capacities that appear to fall outside conventional psychological and scientific explanation, including remote viewing, telepathy, psychokinesis, precognition, healing, and survival research.
- Exceptional human experiences
- Remote viewing and psi studies
- Survival and consciousness research
Psychedelics, Consciousness & Transformation
Engage psychedelic studies through psychology, consciousness studies, spirituality, human development, ecology, and personal growth, with attention to self-transcendent experience, transformation, and integration.
- Psychedelic and self-transcendent experience
- Consciousness and transformation
- Integration and personal growth
Admissions
How to apply.
The CIHS admissions process is designed to be clear, personal, and program-specific. You can begin by requesting information, speaking with Admissions, or starting an online application when you are ready.
A clear path from inquiry to application.
Applicants should hold a bachelor’s degree, or foreign equivalent, from a regionally accredited institution. Admission is subject to transcript review and may be subject to additional prerequisites depending on prior academic preparation.
Application Materials
To apply, applicants submit materials through the CIHS online application process.
- Completed online application
- Non-refundable application fee
- Official transcripts from all undergraduate and graduate institutions attended
- Two letters of recommendation
- Personal essay describing your interest in CIHS and the program
- Current CV or resume, if applicable
- Representative academic or professional writing sample
Next Program Start Date
Fall 2026CIHS admits students throughout the year, with program starts available at the beginning of each academic quarter. We recommend beginning the admissions process early so there is time to review materials, answer questions, and prepare for the next available start date.
Faculty-Guided Application Process
CIHS admissions is not an anonymous pipeline. Prospective students may connect with admissions staff and program leadership who understand the field of study and can offer thoughtful guidance about readiness, timing, program expectations, and next steps.
State Authorization for U.S. Residents
U.S.-based distance students must reside in a state where CIHS is authorized to offer distance education. Please review CIHS’s State Authorization information or contact Admissions for the most current guidance before applying.
International Applicants Welcome
Applicants living outside the United States are welcome. CIHS works with students from many backgrounds and locations, and our admissions team can help applicants understand transcript review, program format, and documentation requirements.
Students whose native language is not English must submit a satisfactory English proficiency score through an approved test such as IELTS Academic, TOEFL iBT, Cambridge CEFR, Duolingo, or Pearson Test of English Academic.
DR. ARTHUR SUN
“CIHS is the best graduate school. I love the emphasis on scientific rigor and spirituality, and the integration of personal growth in each class. The professors are amazing and the administration is committed to the success and growth of each student. CIHS is an integral school that encourages multiple perspectives. If you want to grow not just academically but personally and spiritually, as well, come check out CIHS.”
CHRIS ORREY
“Receiving higher education from an institute such as CIHS was the most transformative journey of my life. Academic rigor paired with spiritual awakening, psychological healing, and professional development put me through the wringer. I had never felt more complete, whole, and connected to the higher truths that I had never known I already knew. At the same time, my entire worldview was shaken and flipped upside down. I have come to see life, existence, and the perception of the physical world in an entirely new way. I have come to understand, witness and meet the force of nature that underlies human consciousness, that is to the extent of my own pscyho-spiritual evolution.”
FRANCESCA PARETTA
“CIHS has provided me with opportunities to understand psychology in a grounded scientific way, simultaneously exploring life, healing, and consciousness. CIHS is an ideal setting for those who are motivated to contribute to the evolution and progression of academic engagement, experiential learning, and research, and an equally supportive environment for healing practitioners seeking to deepen their skills and add to their credentials, where a multitude of perspectives are accepted and integrated, from wisdom traditions, to clinical understandings, to transpersonal awareness and beyond.”
MICHAEL SCOTT
“CIHS has been an incredible experience so far, both academically and personally. I have found a “home” here where I can study consciousness and subtle energy in ways I couldn’t at previous graduate institutions. The students, faculty, and administration are amazing and have such diverse backgrounds and interests. I can’t wait to see how the school continues to evolve and grow!.”
LAUREN HICKEY
“I am so pleased with my recent PhD from CIHS. Nowhere else could I have achieved such a blended education of psychology, spirituality, and consciousness. The instructors were all well qualified and knowledgeable and assignments were reasonable. CIHS gave me the confidence I needed to expand my private practice. I also have now begun running international retreats. I feel well prepared to present myself as an expert in the field.”