MA in Clinical Psychology (Low Residency)

Foster positive change as a licensed therapist.

Psychotherapists are professionals committed to helping others achieve psychological and emotional well-being and overall quality of life. Antioch University Santa Barbara’s Award-winning Master of Arts in Clinical Psychology program is a two-year one day per week, cohort based program which is primarily remote, with residencies on our Santa Barbara, CA campus twice a year, for a total of four residencies within the two-year program. Students attend classes remotely within a one day a week model devoted to experiential learning within the remote classroom with time allotted for out of class assignments and course related experiences. The on campus residencies will offer additional opportunities to connect with the cohort and instructors in person as well as with other student peers within the University and community professionals and mentors.

The overall program emphasizes authentic relationships from multicultural perspectives, qualifying you for an MA in Clinical Psychology with eligibility to become a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) and/or Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor (LPCC). At the core of the graduate degree program is a strong emphasis on supporting positive individual, family, couples and group change within the greater context of diverse communities and with an eye towards social justice. Student in the Low-residency program can also choose to enroll in a ninth quarter Somatic Psychotherapy course of study on the Santa Barbara campus upon completion of their first eight quarters.

The evolving world of psychotherapy has reached unprecedented demands for qualified practitioners offering therapy and assessment, supervision, management, applied research, administration, and organizational development. Our experienced faculty find themselves with a wealth of opportunities in their fields having experienced a strong real-world experience in the classroom, through an experiential learning model attending to serving diverse populations. As a full-time MACP low-residency student, you could attend classes from any location, one day per week, and attend classes 4 times a year on the Santa Barbara campus to complete the program towards an MA in Clinical Psychology in just two years (for Somatic Psychotherapy, this includes a ninth quarter of Somatic training).

This degree is offered by AU Santa Barbara.

Program Overview

The MA in Clinical Psychology degree provides students with a community-based, holistic approach to psychotherapeutic practice. You will gain practical and theoretical knowledge for a sustainable and successful career within varied practice contexts with skills to work with diverse client needs and perspectives. Graduates of the MACP program and its concentrations complete academic requirements for LMFT licensure in California (with optional courses for LPCC licensure), while gaining the necessary preparation for academic coursework and local community traineeships.

Degree Requirements

Program Length:

The MA in Clinical Psychology program can be completed in a minimum of 8 quarters (24 months) of remote learning through consecutive, full-time study in a one-day-per-week schedule from anywhere. The MA in Clinical Psychology is a 90 quarter unit program. Depending on optional concentrations and LMFT/LPCC track, additional units may be required. All MACP concentrations meet California licensing requirements for Marriage and Family Therapists (MFTs). To complete the degree a student must meet both a 90- unit requirement and practicum (traineeship) requirements.

In the MACP program, students must be enrolled for a minimum of 90 units and 8 full- time quarters, or 16 half-time quarters, or the equivalent. Some of the coursework requirements are satisfied through weekend courses or may be completed in asynchronous courses online. A full-time quarter consists of 10-15 units. All quarters must be completed for graduation. To complete the program with a Master in Clinical Psychology with a concentration in Somatic Psychotherapy, Low-residency students will enroll in a ninth quarter of (ten weeks of) intensive study on the Santa Barbara campus.

Concentrations

Students in the Low-residency track have an option to pursue their Master’s in Clinical Psychology Degree or, a Master’s in Clinical Psychology Degree with a concentration in Somatic Psychotherapy.

In addition to already qualifying toward MFT licensure upon completion, the Program also offers a track for students interested in meeting qualifications for Professional Clinical Counselor (LPCC) licensure through asynchronous courses.

Completion Deadlines

Students must complete their degree within 5 calendar years of the first admission including any leaves of absence or periods of withdrawal. Students are able to transfer up to 9 units of graduate psychology courses taken elsewhere if they meet Antioch University’s requirements for transfer credit. Units must be current and no older than 5 years. To apply for transfer credit, obtain the Permission to Transfer Units Form from the Registrar’s Office.

Course Sequence

First Quarter:

• Theories of Psychotherapy in Context
• Human Development and Diversity
• Multicultural Awareness: Self, Culture, and Context
• Crisis, Disaster, and Emergency Response *

Second Quarter:

• Research Methods
• Psychopathology *
• Clinical Skills I: The Psychotherapeutic Relationship
• Contemporary Theories of Psychotherapy

Third Quarter:

• Lifespan Human Development: The Older Adult *
• Theories of Family Systems
• Clinical Skills II: The Psychotherapeutic Process
• Professional Ethics and the Law

Fourth Quarter:

• Clinical Skills with Families and Couples
• Psychological Assessment *
• Group Theories
• Practicum: Professional Orientation  -w-
• Domestic Violence: Spousal, Elder and Child Abuse

Fifth Quarter:

• Practicum I: Clinical Evaluation and Crisis Intervention
• The Process of Group Psychotherapy
• Intimate Relationships
• Psychopharmacology for Therapists *

Sixth Quarter:

• Practicum II: Treatment Planning and Clinical Interventions
• Psychotherapy with Children and Adolescents
• Loss and Bereavement -w-
• Substance-Related Disorders and Other Addictive Behaviors

Seventh Quarter:

• Practicum III: Case Conceptualization
• Clinical Skills in the Multicultural Context
• Advanced Family Therapy: Special Populations -w-
• Community Mental Health
• Dual Diagnosis: Substance-Related and Co-Occurring Disorders  *

Eighth Quarter:

• Practicum IV: Integrating Clinical Skills
• Advanced Family Therapy: Evidence-Based Practice  *
• Trauma Counseling
• Human Sexuality and Counseling

Ninth Quarter (Concentration in Somatic Psychotherapy only):

• Introduction to Theories and Techniques of Somatic Psychotherapy
• Somatic Approaches to Trauma and PTSD
• Movement, Mindfulness, and the Expressive Arts in Somatic Psychotherapy
• Practicum: Somatic Psychotherapy Consultation -w- (3)
  Or
  Practicum: Somatic Psychotherapy Consultation- The Art and Science of Sensory Awareness in the environment (Field Studies
  course in Costa Rica)

Optional LPCC coursework:*

• Assessment and Evaluation for PCC
• Social and Cultural Factors of Assessment and Evaluation
• Career Theories and Practices I
• Career Theories and Practices II
• Psychopharmacology for PCC

* = online/asynchronous/hybrid or weekend

w = weekend only

View the course sequences for the MACP concentration in Somatic Psychotherapy.

Licensure & Career Outlook

Students in the MA in Clinical Psychology Program gain the professional skills towards competency in psychotherapeutic diagnosis, treatment planning, and counseling for individuals, couples, and families.

Board of Behavioral Sciences Educational Requirements

Students awarded the MA degree in Clinical Psychology from Antioch University meet the Board of Behavioral Sciences (BBS) curriculum requirements for licensure as a Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) in the State of California. Students interested in licensure in a state other than California should contact that state’s professional licensing body for information on academic and clinical training requirements for licensure in that state. Although our accredited degree generally meets out-of-state requirements, most states have specific course or training requirements unique to that jurisdiction.

The California Board of Behavioral Sciences regulations specify the coursework and professional training experience that must be completed within a 90 unit degree. Degree requirements for all students include 225 hours of face to face hours of clinical training experience. Students enrolled in the Healthy Aging Concentration must complete 75 clinical training hours in face-to-face contact and/or client advocacy with older adults and their families. Students enrolled in the Latinx Mental Health Concentration must complete 75 clinical training hours in face-to-face contact and/or client advocacy with Latinx or Hispanic clients.

Students awarded the MA degree in Clinical Psychology from Antioch University will have met the California BBS curriculum and training requirements leading up to licensure.

Personal Psychotherapy Requirement

The Psychology Program requires all students in the Clinical Program to engage in personal therapy. This requirement is based upon the belief that psychotherapy is a vital component of the training and growth of psychotherapists, and that it is the professional responsibility of every therapist to identify, address, and work through personal issues that may have an impact on clinical interactions with future clients.

Graduate students in the MACP program are required to complete 20 hours of personal individual, couples, family, or group therapy during the course of the program and must begin before the end of their second quarter. This requirement is met by seeing a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT), a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW), a Licensed Psychologist, or a Board Certified Psychiatrist. A completed Psychotherapy Documentation form is filed with the Office of Student Services to verify the completion of the personal psychotherapy requirement. Psychotherapy hours earned prior to beginning the program are not eligible for meeting this requirement. Students are advised to plan for this requirement and to complete their hours early in their enrollment in order to finish prior to graduation.

Clinical Training

Clinical traineeships are an integral component of the MACP program. These experiences prepare students for psychotherapy and counseling work, and the training is completed under the supervision of a licensed professional.

The clinical training portion includes:

• 225 hours of face-to-face counseling experience with individuals, couples, families, and/or groups are required.