Psychology, Depth Psychology Emphasis, M.A.

Please see Addendum: Program/Degree Changes and Updates  

The Psychology Department, working in conjunction with the School of Extended and International Education, offers a Masters of Arts in Psychology with a depth psychology emphasis. This Special Sessions program is a partnership between the School of Social Sciences and the School of Extended & International Education (SEIE). Academic criteria for the program are set by the department and are determined in accordance with all applicable SSU and CSU policies. As a tuition, self-supported program, unique and separate fees are charged on a per-unit basis for all courses required for this program. These fees are set annually by the SSU President. Information about fees, financial aid and scholarships are available through SEIE. Degrees are awarded by the School of Social Sciences.

Curriculum in Depth Psychology

The curriculum offers a strong, supportive small-group learning environment within a structured 36-unit two-year curriculum. In the first year, the 12-15 students take four foundational courses.

The Theories course explores the basic concepts of Jungian psychology, which is an in-depth language for understanding psychological development and creative expression. The Methods and Applications course teaches the techniques of depth inquiry, which are methods for accessing, exploring and understanding the hidden parts of the self. This is accomplished through intensive work with different symbolic forms, such as dreams, art, active imagination, sandplay, movement, myth, nature, and the body. The Cross-Cultural Mythology and Symbolism course focuses on common archetypal motifs across cultures as expressed in image, myth, fairy tale, ritual, rites of passage, and indigenous practices. The Research Methods course explores depth inquiry methodologies and develops skills in reviewing the literature, conducting a study, and interpreting the findings.

In the second year, students develop a research proposal for their culminating Master’s requirement and begin implementing their study in the fall Culminating Paper Tutorial. In the spring students complete their study and prepare for the public presentation of their work in the Article Evening in May. Students have a choice of completing an article of publishable quality or a master’s thesis focused on an area of passionate interest. Students choose seminars in depth psychology oriented around student interests. Past seminars have explored individuation; earth-based rites of passage; expressive arts; trauma; transformational teaching; neuropsychology; typology; and object relations.

The second year internship offers students community work experience in their field of interest, such as teaching, the arts, mental health, ecopsychology, and rights rites of passage. Students may apply to teach an undergraduate course in their field of expertise in the SSU Psychology Department as an internship. Past student- taught courses include cross-cultural rites of passage; myth and narrative; and indigenous wisdom. The Program coordinator assists students in developing curriculum and supervises the teaching internship.

Students also have the option, at additional expense, of enrolling in University courses that meet their specific learning needs. After completion of coursework, university policy requires students in master’s programs to maintain continuous enrolment until completion of the M.A. program. A maximum of 10 academic units may be taken post-coursework. Students may sign up for 3 semesters of PSY 578, Project Continuation, and then renew thesis units with 3 units of PSY 599, Masters Thesis, at the current tuition rate. There is a 7-year limit on coursework for the M.A.

The Master’s program sponsors a monthly Saturday lecture series open to the public that invites noted authors, therapists, and practitioners to come and discuss their work. Past presentations have included discussions of emotion and the archetypal imagination; spirituality; archetypal masculine and feminine; sandplay case studies; images of enlightenment; and psychological initiation.