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-credit program meets the educational requirements for licensure as a California Marriage and Family Therapist (MFT) and by including the PCC track 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 and tracks in Addiction and Recovery, Child Studies, General Practice, LGBT-Affirmative Psychology, Professional Clinical Counselor, Psychological Trauma Studies, and Spiritual and Depth Psychology. Each track has a highly-regarded curriculum that is embedded in the program. The tracks were developed to meet the growing demand for clinicians with expertise in focused areas of practice, to 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 credit program, taken over eight full-time quarters or 16 part-time quarters.
President's Merit Scholarship
The President’s Merit Scholarships are awarded to new students seeking a master’s degree. Awards are determined by prior academic performance (minimum 3.40 GPA) and work/life experience. Awards of $6000 are distributed equally over the first two academic years of a student’s program. You must remain enrolled full-time, and your academic progress will be reviewed each term. You must complete each course in which you are registered in order to continue receiving the scholarship. To learn about this scholarship and more, visit our Scholarships and Grants page.
Additional Information
Full-Time and Part-Time Course Loads
A full-time course load is a minimum of 8 credits, and a half-time course load is 4-7 credits. Students who want to complete the program in two years will need to be full-time and take 8-12 credits 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 credits 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 credits 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 credits) 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 Fall Quarter. The weekday cohort starting in Fall 2025 will be on Thursday; in Fall 2026, it will be on Wednesday.
Weekday and Saturday cohorts have the same organization, with weekday cohorts taking twenty core courses (51 credits) 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.
A variety of workshops are also offered each quarter. 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 |
|---|---|
| Summer | June 13 |
| Fall | September 12 |
| Winter | March 13 |
| Spring | June 12 |
| 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
Terry Simpson, PsyD
Adjunct Faculty
Charley Lang, LMFT
Teaching Faculty
Celina Jacques
Adjunct Faculty
Victor Cohen
Adjunct Faculty
Admissions
How to Apply
- Start your online application.
- Submit an official transcript showing your bachelor’s degree conferral from a regionally accredited college or university. If you attended an undergraduate program outside of the United States, please see the international transcript evaluation instructions on our website for further information.
- Electronic transcripts: Have your institution send them to [email protected]. Many institutions offer electronic delivery through Parchment and National Student Clearinghouse.
- Mailed transcripts: Send to our central campus location:
Antioch University
Attn: Admissions
900 Dayton Street
Yellow Springs, Ohio 45387
- Complete and submit the admissions essay. See essay prompt for details and instructions.
- Optional: Submit one professional letter of recommendation from a current or former instructor, employer, or mental health professional who can speak to your potential for success in graduate study in psychology. Letters from peer coworkers, friends, relatives, or personal therapists will not be reviewed.
- Submit the $50 application fee.
Note: The application fee is waived for anyone attending an information session. Interested in attending? Sign up now!
After we receive your application, the admissions team will contact you about a virtual group interview.
Application Deadline
| Quarter | Priority Deadline* | Application Deadline*** |
|---|---|---|
| Summer | February 1 | March 15 |
| Fall | March 15 | August 1 |
| Winter | August 1 | November 1 |
| *International application deadline is priority deadline | ||
| Please review the Academic Calendar for additional details. | ||
Cost
Clinical Psychology (MA) & Psychological Studies (MA)
| Cost per credit | $ 956 |
|---|---|
| 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.