Master of Arts
MA in Clinical Psychology, Applied Community Psychology Specialization
Foster Community Health for Individual Success
Engaging in community based work and supporting powerful organizations helps to serve diverse cultural populations. While students in this field can choose to work with a seemingly infinite number of organizations each pursuing their own unique goals, we equip you with the fundamental skills of program development and evaluation, prevention and promotion, and professional consultation and collaboration. This specialization combines traditional coursework with real-world field experience to work toward championing the community change you wish see.
This degree is offered by AU Los Angeles.
Program Overview
The Applied Community Psychology Specialization provides you both the clinical and non-clinical program opportunities to develop community practice skills. You will also learn how to develop and implement psycho-educational groups and in-service training workshops. The specialization may also be completed as a free-standing Certificate in Applied Community Psychology.
The Applied Community Psychology program emphasizes academic excellence and real-world applications of community practice skills, combined with individualized attention to the professional development needs of specialization students. The specialization employs a professional development model that provides you with ongoing support and career development opportunities.
These efforts have been recognized by the largest member organization of community psychologists, the Society for Community Research and Action (Division 27 of the American Psychological Association), honoring the Applied Community Psychology Specialization with the 2010 Outstanding Program Award and its director, Dr. Sylvie Taylor, with the 2008 Outstanding Educator Award.
Licensure Information
This program is designed to lead to state licensure.
Are you an International Student? Get more information here.
Are you a Military Connected Student? Get more information here.
Visit the Library for links to the library catalog, databases, and guides.
Professional Developmental Model
Core to the specialization’s philosophy is the commitment to ensuring that our students leave the program with marketable skills that will make them stand out against the professional competition. The Applied Community Psychology Specialization formalized a comprehensive Professional Development Model designed to maximize the capacity of our students to prepare for their future careers.
Additional Information
Specialization Courses (17 units)
- Field Study in ACP
- Community Consultation and Collaboration
- Program Development and Evaluation
- Prevention and Promotion
- Psychoeducational Groups
- ACP Electives (3 Units)
For detailed curriculum and degree requirements, please visit the AULA catalog.
The Community Partnership Speakers Bureau is a community service sponsored by the Applied Community Psychology Specialization. The Speakers Bureau links community-based organizations and public schools with graduate student speakers who conduct workshops on a variety of issues that impact wellness in our communities. The services of the speakers are provided free of charge. (Donations are accepted to defray the cost of materials.) Speakers are available to provide brief workshops or more lengthy trainings on a variety of topics of interest to both staff and client populations of community-based organizations, and to administrators, teachers, school staff, parents, and students in public schools. Since its inception in May of 2004, the Speakers Bureau has conducted over 900 workshops and in-service trainings, serving over 20,000 people in the greater Los Angeles area.
For five consecutive years (2007 – 2011), Antioch University Los Angeles was named to the President’s Higher Education Community Service Honor Roll. The Honor Roll was established in 2006 “to recognize institutions of higher education that support innovative, effective, and exemplary community service programs.” The award is the “highest recognition an institution can receive for its commitment to service-learning and civic engagement.” The activities of the Community Partnership Speakers Bureau were instrumental in garnering this honor for the University.
Some of the organizations that our students have collaborated with include:
- Los Angeles Mayor’s Crisis Response Team
- Village Health Foundation
- The Relational Center
- Catholic Charities
- Westside Regional Center
- Well Baby Center
- Make a Wish Foundation-Los Angeles
- Ocean Park Community Center
- Center for Non-Violent Parenting
- The Usual Suspects
If you would like to learn more about Applied Community Psychology, check out our article on Values-Driven Pedagogy or contact Dr. Sylvie Taylor.
Faculty Spotlights
Dr. Shadeiyah Edwards
Adjunct Faculty
Joanie Nelson
Adjunct Faculty
Elizabeth Jauregui MA, LMFT
Adjunct Faculty
Kristen Muché
Clinical Supervisor, Adjunct Lecturer
Admissions / Cost / Aid
Admissions
How to apply
- Completed the online admissions application.
- A Bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited institution is required. Submit official transcripts from ALL colleges/universities you have attended to the Admissions Office. Transcript evaluations are required for all coursework completed outside of the U.S. or Canada (except Quebec). See Transcript Evaluation section on International Students webpage for details.
- Two recommendations are required. Use the online application form to enter the names and email address of your recommenders.
Your recommenders should include people who can best assess your capabilities and readiness to enter a graduate clinical training program. These include social science instructors that you may have had in college as well as professionals who have provided supervision of work you have been involved in a helping role with people in a mental health, social service or educational setting. Recommendations from peer co-workers, friends, relatives, or personal therapists are not acceptable and will not be reviewed. - Admission Essay
Submit a typewritten, double-spaced, one to two-page (between 250 and 500 words) response for each question and clearly number your response for each question.
Essay questions:- We are curious about your previous experiences (e.g., personal,professional, and academic) and would like to know how these experiences have led you toward the choice to apply to the Clinical Mental Health Counseling Program at Antioch University Seattle. Please describe a few of those fundamental experiences.
- The Clinical Mental Health Counseling Program is both academically and emotionally rigorous. What challenges, if any, do you foresee encountering during your studies? What forms of support will you use to meet those challenges?
- Antioch University Seattle and the Clinical Mental Health Counseling Program are committed to preparing professional counselors to be culturally competent and become advocates for social, economic, and environmental justice. How does social justice and becoming culturally competent align with your interest in becoming a professional counselor?
- What are your professional goals in relation to the Clinical Mental Health Counseling Program and how will this program specifically help you to reach those goals
- Abnormal Psychology is a required course for all Creative Arts Therapy Clinical Mental Health Counseling(CMHC) students as a pre or co-requisite and must have been taken within the past 5 years or before a student takes Psychopathology.
- Select applicants may be invited to participate in a group interview with faculty.
All admission application supporting materials, transcripts, essays, etcetera, should be emailed to [email protected] or mailed to the:
Admissions Office
Antioch University Seattle
2400 3rd Avenue, Suite 200
Seattle, WA 98121
Application Deadlines
| Quarter | Application Deadline* |
|---|---|
| Fall | July 1 |
| * Complete applications received after the Deadline date may be considered if space is still available in that quarter or will be reviewed for the next available term. | |
| Please review the Academic Calendar for additional details. | |
Cost
| MA in Counseling- Clinical Mental Health Counseling | |
|---|---|
| Cost per Credit (Weekend) | $992 |
| Cost per Credit (Online) | $884 |
| Total Program Credits | 60 Semester Credits |
| View the Cost of Attendance Components | |
Financial Aid
Financial Aid is also available to most students.
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