The Master of Arts in Psychological Studies (MAPS) program is a 48-unit program uniquely designed for students who:
1. are interested in non-clinical, master’s-level training in applied psychology (e.g., research, program evaluation) at the master’s level.
2. want a more theory-focused master’s program in psychology
3. are interested in pursuing licensure at the doctoral level and therefore do not wish to pursue clinical training opportunities at the master’s level (in part because hours accrued at the master’s level will not count toward hours needed for doctoral level licensure unless supervised by a doctoral level psychologist).
MISSION & GOALS
The M.A. in Psychological studies program identified has the following program learning goals :
- Provides students with the opportunity to learn about psychological research and the science of clinical psychology through the lens of Antioch's social justice philosophy.
- Allows design of specialized programs as a foundation for doctoral study.
- Offers opportunities to learn about applied clinical psychology for individuals interested in pursuing doctoral level licensure as a psychologists.
- Provides opportunities to design, implement, and evaluate an original, introductory-level research projects (eeflecting each student's personal interests, ideals, values, and career paths) with feedback from instructors and colleagues.
- Fosters creativity and innovation in psychology and society.
PSYCHOLOGICAL STUDIES DEGREE PROGRAM
- 48 units of coursework, one year minimum residency (minimum 4-quarters full time). 12 units per quarter, including summer, for those who want to be finished in one year and transfer to a doctoral program
Students in the Psychological Studies program have the opportunity to matriculate in one of the six specializations offered by the Department of Psychology on the Los Angeles campus (Applied Community Psychology, LGBT, Conflict and other related Trauma, Child Studies, Spiritual and Depth Psychology, or Addiction). The Master of Arts in Psychological Studies program will have the same amount of units for both non-specialization and specialization students.
Specialization: Non-specialization:
+20 units core +20 units core
+8 units of thesis +8 units of thesis
(2u 1st qtr, 3u’s 2nd & 3rd qtrs) (2u 1st qtr, 3 u 2nd & 3rd qtrs)
+3 units of prosem (1u for 3 qtrs) +3 units of prosem (1u for 3 qtrs)
+17 units of specialization +9 units of menu option electives
48 units total +8 u of electives
48 units total
20 units required core
| PSY 5450 | Society and the Individual | 3-4 |
| PSY 5450A | Community Psychology: Theories and Methods | 3-4 |
| PSY 5310A | Personality Theory I: Psychodynamic Theories | 3-4 |
| PSY 5410F | Assessment of Psychopathology (90) | 3 |
| PSY 5360D | Research for Mental Health Professionals | 3 |
| PSY 5010D | History and Systems of Psychology | 3 |
| Research For Evidence Based Practices | 2 | |
9 units non-specialization, menu option electives
Students not wishing to enter a specialization must take one course from each of three menus:
Menu 1, PSY 5450E: Program Development and Evaluation OR PSY 5420: Psych Testing
Menu 2, PSY 5510B: Group Treatment Methods OR PSY 5750E: Psychoeducational Groups
Menu 3, PSY 5320A: Personality II OR PSY 5350: Systems Theory and the Family I
*** Students wishing to matriculate in an existing MAP specialization do not take these courses but rather take the specialization coursework. ***
Thesis Units and Proseminar
As part of the Master of Arts in Psychological Studies program, students will be required to enroll in a pro-seminar at the same time that they register for their thesis project
All students must complete 8 units of thesis over three quarters of residency. These units must be taken in the students’ final three quarters prior to graduation:
- 1st Quarter of Thesis: 2 units
Thesis Design, Project Literature Review, ends in Thesis Proposal
- 2nd Quarter of Thesis: 3 units
Thesis Implementation; if research project, data collection; if workshop or consultation, implementation, ends in methods or project data
- 3rd Quarter of Thesis: 3 units
Thesis Evaluation; if research project, data analysis and write-up; if workshop or consultation, evaluation and write-up, ends in submission for binding to campus services
In addition, all MAPS students enroll in a proseminar at the same time that they enroll in thesis units. This seminar-style course meets five times throughout the course of the quarter. The proseminar gives students an opportunity to discuss their projects, to attend research colloquia at AULA or in their communities relative to their topic, and to have guest speakers come and discuss information related to doctoral programs entry, research methodologies, and/or careers paths related to non-licensure psychology.
Professional Development Coursework (PDC)
Like the MAP program, students would be able to enroll in Professional Development Coursework (PDC) if they wish to exceed the required number of units (48) units in their degree program. Psychological studies students are able to take 1-12 units over their 48 unit curriculum but cannot add this post-candidacy (e.g., students enrolling in PDC must add this coursework to their degree program before they advance to candidacy for the Master of Arts degree). A student would need to meet with and have a conversation with an advisor about such further study, prior to submitting the form for it to the Office of Student Retention and Integrated Student Services (OSR-ISS).
Students who do not complete their thesis program after the 8-unit sequence must enroll in Thesis Completion units, which are zero unit courses that allow the student continued consultation with the student’s thesis advisor. PDC units cannot be used to for thesis completion purposes.