Location:

Rosemead, United States

Program Type:

Full Degree

Degree Level:

Master

Specialty:

Psychology

Program Overview

Program Description:

The M.A. Psychology Program at UWest prepares students for careers in a wide variety of applied counseling and consultation settings. Furthermore, the psychology program is designed to meet the prerequirements for the Marriage and Family Therapy (MFT) license.

The Multicultural Counseling M.A. program is based on regulations provided by the California Board of Behavioral Sciences and on guidelines suggested by the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy and the California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists. Coursework is designed to prepare the student for the California MFT license examinations. More information about the MFT license can be found at http://www.bbs.ca.gov.

Unique to UWest is a Multicultural Generalist focus, as well as a one-of-a-kind Buddhist Psychology track.

In such a globally connected world, it has become imperative to train psychology professionals who are proficient in working with a wide variety of cultural identities. For this reason, the M.A. Psychology at UWest focuses on exploring both the Western and Eastern contributions to psychology.

The Buddhist Psychology track holds the same multicultural emphasis as the Multicultural Generalist track, but with the additional inclusion of Buddhist perspectives. Buddhist concepts and practices have been successfully used in Western counseling settings, and many are central to current best practices in psychotherapy. For example, the concept of mindfulness and meditation has been empirically supported and widely integrated into contemporary Western psychology practices. Students following this track will gain additional expertise in these areas.

Both the Multicultural Generalist and the Buddhist Psychology specialty track require a minimum of 60 semester units. Units are divided into 3 introductory units, 15 foundational course units, 21 core level course units, 3 advanced level units, 6 units of practicum at an approved practicum site, and a minimum of 12 units to be taken from a list of electives. Specialty tracks (i.e. Buddhist Psychology) require 12 units of coursework in the area of specialty which are taken in lieu of electives. Furthermore, all students are required to pass a comprehensive exam in their final semester.

Additional Program Information

Accreditation:

University of the West is accredited by Western Association of Schools and Colleges.