DOCTORAL DEGREE ADMISSIONS INFORMATION
Accredited, Innovative, and Affordable Online and In-Person Doctoral (Ph.D.) Degree Programs in Psychology, Integral Health, Integral Noetic Sciences!
Furthering your education is a big decision, and we support you every step of the way.
Throughout the process you’ll work with two key people to make easy to start in the direction of an exciting new future:
- Your Program Director: Your program director is one of the leading professors in your chosen field. You’ll start working with him or her right away to craft your vision for the future. S/he will help you to understand if CIHS is right for you (and if not, what other school might be), what your plan should be to get to where you want to go, and how we’re going to get there together.
- Ash Zawaideh, Dean of Admissions: Ash’s job is all about the details. He’ll help you to understand when you need to fill in a form, and how to get us things like letters of recommendation and transcripts. Like your Program Director he’s a seasoned expert with decades of experience in helping students to succeed.
CIHS enrolls students on a “Quarter” basis. New students are able to begin their studies in the Fall, Winter, Spring, or Summer term. Each quarter (academic term) is 10 weeks long (2.5 months).
We are currently accepting applications for the Winter (Jan.) 2025 Quarter which starts on Jan. 6, 2025.
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The Application Deadline for the Winter 2025 term is December 16, 2025.
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Please submit your application by the application deadline to avoid any processing delays. Applications received after the deadline are not guaranteed admission in the desired term.
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Please visit our Academic Calendar Page for information on other start dates.
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Residents of the following 29 states and those outside the United States are able to complete their degree program online-through Distance Education-from the comfort of their own home: AZ, CA, CO, DE, FL, HI, ID, IL, IN, KY, ME, MI, MS, MO, NE, NH, NJ, NY, NC, NV, OH, OK, PA, SC, SD, TN, TX, UT, WA, and all countries worldwide.
CIHS prides itself on the evaluation of the whole student and the individual experience. As such, GRE exams are not required. All interested students are welcome to apply.
GENERAL REQUIREMENTS
To be admitted into one of CIHS’ Ph.D. degree programs, the applicant is required to have obtained a master’s degree, from a U.S. regionally accredited institution, in an academic area of study relevant to the Ph.D. degree program to be undertaken at CIHS. When deemed necessary, the applicant may be required to take validating examinations or preparatory work/prerequisite courses. If the M.A. is in a different field, or if the Master’s degree is from a foreign university that is not regionally accredited in the U.S., approval by the Program Director is necessary.
A U.S. applicant, or international applicant who intends to attend CIHS through the distance education online modality, may be admitted to CIHS full-time or part-time. International students who wish to study on the CIHS campus must maintain full-time enrollment. Additional information for international applicants is available on our International Students page.
FULL-TIME/PART-TIME DEFINITIONS
- Full-time Graduate Students must be enrolled in a minimum of 8 units per quarter, and at least 3 quarters per year. One quarter off is optional except for the Fall quarter. Ph.D. students in the Dissertation Sequence will be considered full-time as long as they are registered for 5-6 units per quarter.
- Part-time Graduate Students must be enrolled in a minimum of 4 units per quarter, and at least 3 quarters per year. One quarter off is optional except for the Fall quarter.
Please note, acceptance into one of CIHS degree programs, does not guarantee admission to other CIHS programs. Students who are accepted into a degree program at CIHS will be granted admission to another degree program only after they fulfill all the degree requirements of the first program they got admitted into, and/or on the acceptance of the other degree program’s Program Director.
APPLICATION PROCESS & HOW TO APPLY
To start the application process, the materials listed below must be submitted/uploaded to our online application portal at the time of your application submission:
A completed online application.
Non-refundable application fee:
Domestic applicants (U.S. citizens and permanent residents): $65
International applicants (F-1 Visa International Students): $100
Official undergraduate (Bachelor’s) degree transcripts and graduate (Master’s & Ph.D.) degree transcripts, if you have any – with proof of degree completion/graduation. All transcripts should be e-mailed directly from the issuing institution(s) to CIHS at admissions@cihs.edu. If Email is not an option from one or more of your former institutions, your transcripts must be mailed directly by each institution to: California Institute for Human Science, Admissions Office, 701 Garden View Court, Encinitas, CA 92024 USA. If you are requesting any transfer credit, official course syllabi may also be required for departmental approval and in compliance with CIHS’ Transfer Credit Policy.
Two letters of recommendation from individuals who can address your academic and/or professional qualifications. The person recommending you may use the online form at www.cihs.edu/letter-of-recommendation OR e-mail the letter of recommendation to admissions@cihs.edu with your name in the subject line.
A personal essay in which you explain the reason(s) for seeking admission to CIHS. The essay should show evidence that you have read the CIHS website, understand the CIHS mission, and have some knowledge of the field of study of the program for which you are applying. Please explain how this program could add to your academic background and help you fulfill your professional and/or personal goals. Suggested length of narrative: 1-2 pages, double-spaced, Times New Roman font, Font Size: 12, approximately 250-500 words. Applicants may exceed this limit if needed.
A current curriculum vitae (CV) or resume, if applicable.
A representative term paper or another sample of academic or professional writing or publication(s). For tips on how to choose a writing sample, click here.
For applicants seeking a Ph.D. in Psychology: An interview with the Program Director via Zoom.
Additional requirements for International Students can be found on the International Students Page.
What Happens After You Apply:
Once your online application is submitted, and your supporting documents have been received by the Admissions Office, your file will be evaluated by the Admissions Committee and an admission decision will be rendered. Accepted students will be notified via email by the Admissions Office.
Accepted Students:
Once you have been officially accepted into a degree program at CIHS, our Registrar’s Office will send you information on next steps including completing the CIHS Enrollment Agreement forms. Once you complete and sign your Enrollment Agreement forms, our Registrar will then provide you with your CIHS email address and CIHS student ID number. as well as: 1) information on how to select your first term classes under the guidance of your Program Director, 2) how to register for classes during the registration period using the proper online registration form, 3) how to pay your first term tuition and fees, 4) and how to access your online classes. Finally, you’ll receive information on our new student orientation, which is held online.